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Braes Mine (The)

The Braes, Ollach, Skye, Invernessshire.

Coal mine (19th century).

One of two coal mines opened by Lord MacDonald in the parish of Portree, c. 1800.

"The site of this coal-mine is marked by a small ruined building which is situated just above high water at the foot of the cliffs. The shaft has been filled in. The coal seam is visible at the base of the cliffs immediately to the S." [Canmore]

Alternative Names: The Braes Mine, Creag A' Ghuail Mine

Notes: Location approximate, from Canmore.

As well as being unusual by being one of the few coal mines in the Highland region, it is unconventional in that it extracted coal of Jurassic age (as opposed to Carboniferous coals in Central Scotland). However, the poorer quality / continuity of the seam relative to the coalfields elsewhere contributed to the short lifespan of the mine. Although similar in age to the commercial Middle Jurassic coalfield further east at Brora, the coals of interest on Skye were deposited in a separate depositional basin (Sea of the Hebrides) during the Aalenian, as opposed to the Inner Moray Firth during Bathonian-Callovian times.

See also: Vriskaig Point Mine