Alongside the gold in our pans, another treasure reveals itself — one less flashy, but just as rich in character.
Black sands.
Heavy, dark, and full of story.
These mineral-rich grains are the quiet companions of gold, settling in riverbeds and bends where the water slows. Composed of dense, iron-bearing minerals like magnetite, ilmenite, and hematite, they’re far more common than gold — but no less important to our work.
Where gold gives lustre, black sands bring contrast, depth, and a sense of grounding.
We collect these sands by hand as part of our panning process, keeping what others might discard. In the studio, we grind, sieve, and blend them into clay bodies and glazes.
Their natural iron content creates:
• Freckles
• Speckles
• Flecks and texture
— subtle reminders of the rivers they came from, and the landscapes they’ve travelled through.
In high-fire glazes, these minerals can rise to the surface, forming crystallised or mottled textures depending on the firing atmosphere. When added to raw clays, they lend a natural speckling — each pot holding its own quiet map of the Highland soil.
But for us, it’s not just about surface effects. It’s about honouring what the land offers. Making use of what’s already there. And letting the overlooked speak.
As with everything we gather, these black sands are part of a wider philosophy:
• Use what’s local
• Tread lightly
• Celebrate provenance over perfection
Turning what’s underfoot into something that lasts.