Dunans, fossils and fossil collecting |
High
Fossils are found regularly here as the soft clay is subjected to constant erosion. Although there is a vertical exposure at the high tide mark to the left of the beach access point, low-mid tide is best so as to be able to reach the patches soft clay bedrock exposed between the boulders. Find frequency is usually very good, though this erosion lifts and removes fossils just as easy as it can expose them. |
Suitable for Children
There is a cafe and public toilet at the Uig junction a few miles back from Dunans. This is a child friendly location here as there is a path to the shore, and there is no need for heavy tools here. A blunt knife, screwdriver or something similar is all that is required to dig out fossils. Just watch those wee ankles when crossing the boulders. |
Good Access
Access is very good at Dunans, A path leads to the Healing well, and the shoreline is only yards from here. It is a realatively short walk, but it is downhill with the climb back up proving a little more difficult. There is a small free car park at the gate and entrance to the pathway. 4 |
Cliff, Foreshore
This is a soft clay location with a vertical exposure and a few patches of soft clay bedrock. The foreshore boulders often move around in the current and waves at high tide, eroding the bedrock further and exposing new areas, while covering up others. |
SSSI
This is an SSSI. There are no restrictions to visit this area, but you must not hammer the cliff face. It is already eroding at a quick rate and there is plenty of material to be found at the base of the cliff and foreshore. |
If you collect fossils in Scotland, the advice on best practice in the collection and storage of fossil specimens, set out in the Scottish Fossil Code, applies to you. The Code may be viewed and downloaded from www.snh.org.uk/fossilcode.
Some of the foreshore can be slippery, and the eroded boulders are rounded and can be slippery if wet. Pretty safe location otherwise. |
| Last updated: |
2011 |
| last visited: |
2011 |
| Written by: |
Anthony Rybak |
Other Locations similar to Dunans
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Dunans is quite close to Flodigarry, another excellent location of Oxfordian clay sediment. However, due to the tidal nature of this area, only one location can be covered at a time, as low tide is the best time for the exposure of more clay bedrock fossil bearing areas. The Dunans shore can be covered quickly. Look along the high tide line at the vertical face.
Flattened ammonite impressions are found here, and look for belemnites protruding from eroded clay shale. Search over the clay bedrock patches nearby. Fossils are easily removed with a pen knife or similar.
The other factors can be weed growth and pebble locations. The groups of large pebbles and rocks are constantly being moved around at high tide. This allows fresh areas to be exposed or other previously rich areas to be covered up.
Cardioceras species of ammonites are the norm, and they are usually pyrite. The belemnites are often fractured when removed, but are easily mended. Dunans also has a very rich microfossil assemblage.
This is an SSSI. There are no restrictions to visit this area, but you must not hammer the cliff face. It is already eroding at a quick rate and there is plenty of material to be found at the base of the cliff and foreshore.
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Jurassic, 155mya |
Dunans clay consists of Oxfordian and early Kimmeridgian strata. The sedimentary features of Oxfordian mudrocks are asymmetrical decimetrescale cycles as well as bands of septarian siderite and calcite nodules. Each cycle varies between 10cm and 1m. Silty mudstone and calcareous mudstone prevail throughout the cycles. Crushed ammonites are found at various zones. Bivalves and belemnites are more robust and are common throughout....[more]
Green Clay Deposit
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Phone signals vary on Skye with some networks working better than others. No need for any heavy duty tools at this location. A penknife, screwdriver or similar is sufficient. Bring little minigrip bags for belemnites. Even if they break during removal, they are easily glued back at home.
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Stone Tumblers |
Microscopes |
Fossil Tools |
If you are interested in fossil collecting, then you may also be interested in a stone tumbler (Lapidary). You can polish stones and rocks from the beach which
will look fantastic polished using a stone tumbler.
You can polish rough rock and beach glass whilst collecting fossils, on those days where you come back empty handed.
These are all high quality machines to give a professional finish to your samples. They can even be used for amber and fossils. |
At most locations, you can find microfossils. You only need a small sample of the sand. You then need to wash it in water and sieve using a test sieve. Once the sand is processed, you can then view the contents using a microscope.
We have a wide range of microscopes for sale, you will need a Stereomicroscope for viewing microfossils. The best one we sell is the IMXZ, but a basic microscope will be fine. Once you have found microfossils, you will need to store these microfossils.
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We are your market leader for Fossil Supplies and Fossil Equipment. Suppling Retail, Education and Trade in the UK, Europe and beyond. UKGE Online Store sells equipment worldwide.
We sell a wide range of geological hammers and geological picks as well as fossil tools, starter packs and geological chisels. UKGE is your geological superstore, selling a wide range of field equipment, rocks, minerals, fossils, geological and even microscopy! |
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Take the A855 to Uig, Flodigarry, Duntulm etc. 
