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Angus Glens - Mesothermal Gold

A significant amount of reconnaissance work was carried out by the British Geological Survey  between Pitlochry and the Glen Clova area in the early 1990's and is documented in BGS MRP 126, 1993.  Further work during this programme concentrated on the Burn of Fleurs area in Glen Clova where a mineralised fault zone was found together with high concentrations of gold within green soapy clay fault gouge.

 

However no further work was carried out North of Glen Clova which is a pity because  one of the more prolific areas for placer gold lies just to the north east of this reconnaissance area.  The land owners within the Glen and river do not wish gold panning to take place and for this reason I have not discussed exact localities further although the river  is known locally. Fortunately I was privileged to have land owner permission for a couple of years to access the river in question prior to the estate being sold in 2012. 

 

The original gold "Hot Spot" appears to be a localised gold trap. Minor evidence  of metasomatism of the Dalradian rock in the immediate vicinity of the trap exists but appears insufficient in comparison to the level of gold found in the area. Further afield of the "Hot Spot" metasomatised quartz veins are present in areas of bedrock along the river but again in comparison to the amount and degree to which gold can be found in the area they appear to be too small. Lamprophyres are presented on BGS 1:50,000 map on a hill to the east of the river and are also present in river gravels being quite felsic in appearance.

 

Around the Burn of Fleurs area where a tributary of this river originates a large granitic vein complex is presented by the BGS around the Cairn Trench Granite within Dalradian host rock. It is not clear whether this could be a potential source of gold in the region.

 

Further afield minor quantities of gold can be found in a number of burns that lie in proximity to the Highland Boundary Fault to the north east.

 

Land owners have kindly granted me permission over the years and continue to do so in some cases to allow me to prospect the area.

 

 

 

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