Heavy mineral distribution in the Old Red Sandstone of the North-Eastern Midland Valley of Scotland

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Abstract
Synopsis: Heavy minerals from the Old Red Sandstone in the eastern part of the Midland Valley of Scotland include haematite (grouped with limonite and goethite), ilmenite (with leucoxene), amphiboles, pyroxenes, garnet, staurolite, epidotes, apatite, rutile, tourmaline, zircon and monazite. Although individual sources and transport paths cannot be recognized, the distribution of stable minerals demonstrates the presence of groups of streams draining particular families of source rocks. The three older formations of the Lower Old Red Sandstone have insufficient outcrop to reveal any general picture, but the Arbuthnott, Garvock and Strathmore Groups have a number of well defined centres of distribution related to sources both north of the Highland line and, probably, to the east of the present coastline. One of these centres lay in the vicinity of Stonehaven and others to the west, notably near Blairgowrie. There is insufficient evidence to reach general conclusions on the Upper Old Red Sandstone.