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The Coyles of Muick is a Special Area Of Conservation classified as "Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae".
Calaminarian grasslands occur on soils that have levels of heavy metals, such as lead, zinc, chromium and copper, that are toxic to most plant species. The greatest extent of the habitat occurs on artificial sites associated with past mining activities. Near-natural examples are much more localised but serpentine rock outcrops and associated debris can provide the habitat.
The Coyles of Muick represents the second-largest extent of near-natural, open serpentine debris with Calaminarian vegetation in Scotland. The habitat occurs at high altitude (450-600 m), exceeded in altitude only by Meikle Kilrannoch on Caenlochan. The serpentine here is more calcareous and less toxic than on other serpentine sites in north-east Scotland, perhaps favouring certain species that do not normally occur on serpentine. The Calaminarian community occurs in open serpentine debris on the summit and upper slopes.
Source: UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee website Link