Geological tartans

[Owl of Oban]

Being a geologist, I think I really need a kilt in the geo-inspired tartan of the Isle of Mull. Does anyone out there have a picture of the actual fabric? Graphic representations I've seen range from strange to hideous, yet this tartan was supposedly created to mirror rocks on the island....which I can personally attest, are beautiful to behold.

While I'm on the subject, is the Highland Granite tartan really grey, or is it a very muted pink? Granted, granite comes in both colors, but a dull Fionnphort pink I think would be just the ticket.

Thanks in advance. :-D

[Barb T]

Hi Iain

I'm a geologist, too, and I've made a kilt from the Highland Granite tartan and a shirt for my husband (also a geologist) from the Isle of Mull tartan.

The Highland Granite tartan is indeed dark gray, no trace of pink (pretty dark gray actually - more dioritic than granitic). Lochcarron used a twisted gray and black thread for some of the blocks, giving part of the tartan a "heathery" look that is reminiscent of intergrown qtz-fspar-hb or qtz-fspar-bt.

You can find a scan of the tartan that I posted on another thread at

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...8&page=2&pp=10

and a picture of the kilt at http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=12999 (scroll down to the second posted picture).

The Isle of Mull tartan is actually quite beautiful. I have a chunk of it at home, and I'll try to remember to bring it in to scan and post.

Cheers!

Barb

[Streetcar]

What a striking tartan!

I really like the subdued appearance of it. I think that just moved into my "top 3 choices" for my first traditional kilt.

Thanks for the photos!

[John M.]

Dang it Barb. Now I'm going to need to save even more money to get a kilt made in that Granite tartan.

BTW. My favorite colors are black & gray, plus I'm such an avid rockhound that people usually think I've been to school as a geologist when I start talking rocks.
I've also started cuting, cabbing & mounting stones for jewelry the past year or so.

Now I'm going to be jonesing until I can get a kilt made with that.

[Barb T]

Yeh, it's a pretty swell tartan. When the young man that I made the kilt for has worn it to Highland games, he has been inundated with questions about what tartan it is. I haven't yet seen another kilt made with the tartan, so it's still pretty unusual.

John M - where do you do most of your rockhounding?

Barb

[John M.]

John M - where do you do most of your rockhounding?

Barb

I'm a Utah rockhound for the most part.

[Graham]

I think geological tartans are a great idea. I believe that the Columba tartan (which I've been lusting for) is likewise.

Our Tasmanian tartan was designed after the colours in the Australian Wattle tree, so would that be called a Botanical tartan?

[Owl of Oban]

Thanks for the replies all.
Thanks especially to you Barb for the great photos.

Agreed on the colors being more on the dioritic side. All the same, it is quite striking, even if it doesn't have any K-spar thread in it!
(wonders if mebee mineralogic descriptors aren't a better way to define tartan colors... :-D )

Looks like my next kilt is Highland Granite.

[Barb T]

Here's the Isle of Mull tartan. Colors look pretty close (on my monitor, anyway!!). Maybe the real things is a hair darker. The sett is about 5". Definitely got some pink granite in this one!!

Barb

[starbkjrus]

**snip**

Hi Iain

... that is reminiscent of intergrown qtz-fspar-hb or qtz-fspar-bt.

Barb

My word you're multi-talented. You make kilts, write books and understand what the above line means.

Rock on! (groan)