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Lochaline Mine

Morvern, SW of Loch Aline, Lochaline, Argyllshire.

Mine (Silica Sand), active.

Highly extensive pillar-and-stall complex, reportedly Europe's only underground sand mine with at least 30km of collective passageway. It extends under the eastern flank of Eiligear as far north as approx. Achafors [NM 685 471], and south to the original area of workings which underlie the ground between Lochaline High St & the nearby allotment gardens.

Alternative Names: Lochaline Silica Sand Mine

Notes: Still an active mine producing silica sand for optical glass. Operated from 1940-2008, & was reopened in 2012. The mine's opening in 1940 was largely driven by the need for a domestic source for military equipment during WW2 (e.g. gunsights & periscopes).

Given coordinates are for the current working entrance. There were two older closely-spaced adits further S, at [NM 6796 4485] and approx [6797 4487].

The 5m-thick silica band, which is capped by Tertiary basalt, is one of the very few Cretaceous rock formations exposed in Scotland.