Geophysical surveys near Strontian, Highland Region

Reconnaissance VLF-EM and magnetic surveys have bean carried out over Ba- Pb-Zn prospects in an area near Strontian in the Highland Region of Scotland. Rather than attempting to detect the economic minerals directly, which is unlikely to be practicable by geophysical methods, the trials concentrated on exploration for the crush zones and associated Permo-Carboniferous basic dykes which act as hosts to mineralisation. The results are encouraging, with the VLF-EM method proving effective in delineating crush zones while magnetic traverses detected the basic dykes. To the east of Bellsgrove mine a crush zone and dyke extend eastwards along the strike of the Strontian Main Vein; however, to the west of the Whitesmith mine the evidence of a westward extension of the Main Vein is insubstantial. A number of crush zones and associated dykes have been identified in the Corrantee-Whitesmith area. Probable ext_ensions are indicated to a number of known veins in the vicinity of the Fee Donald mine. The rss~llts merit geophysical, geological and possibly geochemical follow-up.