Preface • Acknowledgements • Chapter 1: Introduction1.1 Background • 1.1.1 Wider Significance of the Gairloch area • 1.1.2 Description of the study area • 1.1.3 Mapping history • 1.2 Summary of the Lewisian geology of the NW Scottish mainland • 1.2.1 Historical background to Lewisian chronology • 1.2.2 Subdivision of the mainland Lewisian outcrop • 1.2.3 The Scourian gneisses • Origin of the gneisses • 1.2.4 Scourian deformation and metamorphism • 1.2.5 The Inverian event • 1.2.6 The Scourie dyke swarm • 1.2.7 The Loch Maree Group • 1.2.8 Laxfordian modifications and younger events • The early Laxfordian • The Late Laxfordian • 1.3 Southern Region nomenclature • Chapter 2: The Early Stages – Scourian and Inverian 2.1 Petrography and distribution of the Archaean gneisses • 2.1.1 Quartzo-feldspathic biotite gneisses • 2.1.2 Hornblende gneisses • 2.1.3 Amphibolites of the ‘early basic’ suite • 2.2 Chemistry and origin • 2.2.1 Quartzo-feldspathic gneisses • 2.2.2 Amphibolites • 2.3 Structural chronology • 2.4 Scourian and Inverian structure • 2.4.1 Braigh Horrisdale • 2.4.2 Creag Mhor Thollaidh • 2.4.3 The Ialltaig block • 2.5 Metamorphism • Chapter 3: The Scourie Dyke Suite 3.1 Distribution and field relation • 3.1.1 SW of the LMG belt • 3.1.2 NE of the LMG bult • 3.2 Petrography • 3.3 chemistry and origin • Chapter 4: The Loch Maree Group 4.1 Semipelites • 4.1.1 Distribution • 4.1.2 Petrography • 4.1.3 Geochemistry and origin • 4.1.4 Zircon age date • 4.2 Other metasediment types • 4.3 Carbonate (marble) • 4.3.1 Distribution and petrography • 4.3.2 Geochemistry • 4.4 Banded-iron formation • 4.4.1 Distribution and petrography • 4.4.2 Geochemistry • 4.4.3 Origin • 4.5 Graphitic pelite • 4.6 Quartz-chlorite schist • 4.6.1 Distribution and petrography • 4.6.2 Geochemistry and origin • 4.7 Garnet-biotite schist • 4.7.1 Distribution and petrography • 4.7.2 Geochemistry and origin • 4.8 Origin of the BIF – carbonate – graphitic pelite assemblage • 4.9 Amphibolites • 4.9.1 Distribution and petrography • 4.9.2 Geochemistry • 4.9.3 Origin • 4.10 Stratiform sulphide deposits within the Loch Maree Group • 4.11 Origin of the Loch Maree Group • 4.11.1 Semipelites • 4.11.2 Other metasediments • 4.11.3 Amphibolites • Chapter 5: Laxfordian Intrusive Rocks 5.1 The Ard-type gneisses • 5.1.1 Distribution and structural relationships • 5.1.2 Petrography • 5.1.3 Geochemistry • 5.1.4 Geochronology • 5.2 Granite sheets • 5.3 Granitoid pegmatites • 5.3.1 Distribution and petrography • 5.3.2 Geochemistry • 5.3.3 Geochronology • Chapter 6: Laxfordian Structure and Metamorphism 6.1 Introduction • 6.1.1 Structural overview • 6.1.2 Deformation phases and chronology • 6.1.3 Metamorphic conditions • 6.2 Early Laxfordian (D1/D2) • 6.2.1 Narrow marginal shear zones in Scourie dykes • 6.2.2 SW of the Loch Maree Group outcrop • 6.2.3 Supracrustal rocks of the Gairloch schist belt • 6.2.4 The NE limb of the Tollie antiform • 6.2.5 The western margin of the Creag Mhor Thollaidh block • 6.2.6 The ard gneiss • 6.2.7 Relationship between D1 and D2 6.2.8 Change in plunge of L2 in the Ard gneiss outcrop • 6.3 Large-scale D2 structure • 6.4 Late Laxfordian • 6.4.1 D3 minor structure • 6.4.2 D3 major structures • The Tolloie antiform and Gairloch shear zone • The Mill na Claise fold • 6.4.3 D 4 structures • 6.5 Brittle-ductile shear zones • 6.5.1 Early (D2) mylonitic rocks • 6.5.2 D3 mylonites associated with the Gairloch shear zone • 6.5.3 Later movements in the zones • 6.6 Summary of Laxfordian tectonic history • 6.7 Faults • 6.7.1 Pre-Torridonian faults • The Flowerdale fault • N-S thrusts • N-trending strike-slip faults • NE-trending normal faults • 6.7.2 Post-Torridonian faults • The Loch Maree fault • NE-trending normal faults • Chapter 7: Tectonic Interpretation and Regional Significance 7.1 the Archaean (Scourian) • 7.2 The Inverian: earlier Palaeoproterozoic? • 7.3 The Scourie dyke swarm: evens from c.2.4 to c. 2.0 Ga? • 7.4 The Laxfordian: later Palaeoproterozoic • 7.4.1 The early Laxfordian: subduction – accretion- collision model • 7.4.2 Later Laxfordian structural history • 7.4.3 Post-D3 tectonic history • 7.5 Palaeoproterozoic belts of the North Atlantic region • References •

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