Harthope Linn (NT 92734 20229)

We are pursuing the idea that the rocky features in the mostly rounded Cheviot Hills were caused by a more mafic content making the rocks harder. This would account for waterfalls such as Harthope Linn and Linhope Spout. Field work has shown that the andesite at the Carey Burn Linn and at Davidson’s Linn are of the dark harder variety.

There seems to be considerable variety in the rocks of the Cheviot pluton. The 1” geological survey shows the whole area as ‘granite’ but it is also apparent that the visible mineral content make this classification doubtful. This has led me to begin working with Ian to investigate and map the area in an effort to find out what is there and to better understand how it came to be so .

Today’s work at Harthope Linn did reveal rocks with a high colour index and mafic content but there were also other paler varieties and some showing substantial alteration.