Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009
Within this area are developed a series of quartz veins which cut three rock types, the Grainsgill granite, part of the southern margin of the Carrock Fell gabbro to the north, and an intervening area of hornfels belonging to the Skiddaw Slate Series. Both the hornfels and the gabbro have suffered thermal metamorphism due to the granite, and in addition, the hornfels has undergone a very localized metamorphism due to the gabbro. All three rock types have undergone a further hydrothermal alteration due to the quartz veins. The microscopic changes involved in this alteration are described and it is shown that the end product in each case is essentially similar to a greisen, with the addition of pyrite and arsenopyrite.