The Ballantrae Igneous Complex, South Ayrshire

Abstract

IN the early days of the Geological Survey of Scotland, the rocks of the Ballantrae Igneous Complex were thought to be of metamorphic origin. Thus in the memoir explanatory of sheet 7, scale 1 inch = 1 mile, published in 1869, it is stated that the chief interest attaching to the altered strata of this district consists in the fact that they exhibit certain arrested stages of metamorphic action. But less than ten years after that date the erroneous character of this opinion was made abundantly clear by Professor Bonney.Equipped with experience gleaned in the Lizard, Bonney quickly recognized in Ayrshire a correspondence in the nature of the phenomena. Excellent descriptions were furnished by him of some of the lavas, serpentines, and gabbros, and their true igneous character emphasized.