Discovery of a meteorite ejecta layer at the base of Palaeogene lavas, Isle of Skye NW Scotland

In 2015 following extensive PhD fieldwork concerning the role of silicic volcanism and allied pyroclastic deposits on the Isle of Skye, two localities containing very strange looking rocks were re-examined. Extensive electron micro-probe analysis showed that samples from both these localities on South Skye contained compelling evidence of both extra terrestrially derived mineralogy, and shocked terrestrial minerals (reidite). One mineral, vanadium rich osbornite (TiVN), had only been previously reported by NASA during their Stardust mission in the early 2000s. During this mission the Wild II comet was trailed, and material was collected from its wake. Another mineral we have recorded in our samples, niobium rich osbornite (TiNbN) is new to science. We have constrained the date of meteorite impact to between 61.5 – 60 Ma from U-Pb and Ar- Ar dating.

Following publication of our findings one of the meteorite sites we reported on suffered from commercial removal of rock by meteorite hunters. Subsequently samples were offered for sale on Ebay, and a UK based Spacerock website.  In September 2018 following extensive national press and media coverage a campaign to get both sites protected began. Liason with Scottish Natural Heritage, and several other partners has thankfully now resulted in an agreement to protect these fragile sites.