Micro-Analysis, Processes, Time (MAPT)

FIELDTRIPS

Sunday, 30th August, 2009
Field trip to Holyrood Park and Siccar Point – Hutton’s Classic Localities
Leader: Godfrey Fitton (godfrey.fitton@ed.ac.uk)

The trip will visit some of the classic geological localities that featured in James Hutton’s Theory of the Earth (1788). The morning excursion will be based in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh and will consist of a tour around the Salisbury Crags sill and parts of the deeply dissected Arthur’s Seat volcano. Both represent rift-related volcanism that was active throughout the Scottish Midland Valley from the Early Carboniferous to the Early Permian (354-327 Ma). The afternoon excursion will be to Siccar Point on the East Lothian coast to visit Hutton’s famous unconformity between  a steeply dipping Silurian turbidite sequence and near-horizontal Devonian conglomerate. It was at this locality that Hutton demonstrated the passage of geological time.

There will be approximately two miles of walking around Holyrood Park, mostly on well-maintained tracks and footpaths. Although there will be less walking in the afternoon, the trip to Siccar Point involves walking down and back up a steep grassy slope.

The trip will assemble in Holyrood Park at 09.00, depart Edinburgh for Siccar Point by motor coach after lunch, and return to Edinburgh at ~18.00 hours. Siccar Point is approximately a one-hour drive from Edinburgh. A packed lunch will be provided.

Thursday, 3rd September
Field trip to Barrow’s Zones in Glen Esk, Scottish Highlands.
Leader: Ben Harte (ben.harte@ed.ac.uk)

The trip will survey the sequence of metamorphic zones in Dalradian rocks famously described by George Barrow (1893). It will commence near the Highland Boundary Fault in Glen Esk, which lies in the heart of the area originally described in 1893, and will proceed northwards and up-grade through chlorite, biotite, garnet, staurolite, kyanite and sillimanite zones.

There will be approximately three miles of walking, largely along the valley floor but then climbing about 400 feet up the valley-side. The ground will be generally uneven, and there may be slippery surfaces by the river-side. Stout footwear will be essential. If time permits, a further climb (ca 1000 ft) up a hillside higher up the Glen may be included for those who are interested.

The trip will depart Edinburgh by motor coach at 09.00 and return to Edinburgh at ~19.00 hours. Glen Esk is approximately two hours drive from Edinburgh. A packed lunch will be provided.