Geological Survey Of Scotland Research Articles

James Croll and 1876: an exceptional year for a ‘singularly modest man’

ABSTRACTJames Croll left school at the age of 13 years, yet while a janitor in Glasgow he published a landmark paper on astronomically-related climate change, claimed as ‘the most important discovery in paleoclimatology’, and which brought him to the attention of Charles Darwin, William Thomson and John Tyndall, amongst others. By 1867 he was persuaded to become Secretary and Accountant of the newly established Geological Survey of Scotland in Edinburgh, and a year after the appearance of his keynote volume Climate and time in 1875, he was lauded with an honorary doctorate from Scotland's oldest university, Fellowship of the Royal Society of London and Honorary Membership of the New York Academy of Sciences. Using a range of archival and published sources, this paper explores aspects of his ‘journey’ and the background to the award of these major accolades. It also discusses why he never became a Fellow of his national academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In the world of 19th-Century science, Croll was not unusual in being both an autodidact and of humble origins, nor was he lacking in support for his endeavours. It is possible that a combination of Croll's modesty and innovative genius fostered advancement, though this did not hinder a willingness to engage in vigorous argument.

The Geology of the Elgin District. One-Inch Geological Sheet 95. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland

The Geology of the Elgin District. One-Inch Geological Sheet 95. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland

Late- and Post-Glacial Shorelines, and Ice Limits in Argyll and North-East Ulster

EVER SINCE the raised beaches in the northern part of the British Isles were first described there has been considerable speculation as to their age and origin. Originally regarded as indicating a fall of sea-level, they are now generally accepted as proving the isostatic uplift of those areas most deeply buried by the ice-cap of the last glaciation. They are most conspicuous as great terraces of sand and gravels commonly in close association with terminal moraine debris in the different highland glens. At an early stage these 'beaches' were shown to be dissimilar from the modern ones in that they are composed of much more poorly sorted material, consistent with the view that they accumulated as deltas and fans of outwash debris from glaciers occupying the upper reaches of the highland glens. In Scotland, the highest deltas of this type were found in the Oban area at some I30 feet above sea level. Similar features to the north and south of Oban could be found only at considerably lower levels (60 feet at Ullapool, in Ross-shire), beyond which points they disappeared with remarkable suddenness. At the more exposed localities, particularly in western Mull, western Jura and northern Islay, massive storm beaches were found with crests rising as high as I 5 feet O.D. There has been only very limited consideration of these Late-Pleistocene beaches since the pioneer work of W. B. Wright (1911, 1928, 1937), and the partial mapping carried out by the Geological Survey of Scotland. Originally the view was held that the different Late-glacial 'beaches' could be correlated by means of altitude alone. Thus two main levels were postulated to be at Ioo feet and 50 feet. A similar method of correlation was also applied to the Post-glacial beaches, the highest one being regarded as a synchronous feature at 25 feet above sea-level. Although Wright succeeded in modifying this argument somewhat, the concept of horizontal synchronous strandlines persisted. The 25 foot 'beach' was regarded as being horizontal throughout much of the glaciated area, but it plunged beneath present sea-level towards the periphery of glaciation; for no raised beach was recorded in such marginal areas as that south of Dublin in the Irish Sea basin, in the Orkneys, and in the Outer Hebrides. However, the concept of horizontal synchronous beaches would appear to be difficult to accept in view of Wright's isokinetic theory (Wright, 1937, pp. 404-37). Using archaeological methods Wright found that the highest Post-glacial beach became progressively younger when traced outward from the area most deeply buried beneath the ice-cap. Even if his archaeological dating is considered questionable, this hypothesis accords with the findings of the Scandinavian workers. The original Scandinavian ice-cap was larger, and consequently the isostatic rebound was also

John Macculloch, F.R.S., and his geological map: An account of the first geological survey of Scotland

John Macculloch, F.R.S., and his geological map: An account of the first geological survey of Scotland

Marginal and Contact Phenomena of the Dorback Granite

The granite mass of Dorback in the Braes of Abernethy, a few miles east of the village of Tomintoul, occupies an area of from 5 to 6 square miles, the plutonic rocks outcropping through the siliceous schists and granulites of the Central Highlands of Scotland. For a highland district the exposures are rather poor, since the igneous rocks only rarely appear from under a thick covering of peat and glacial drift, but towards the eastern margin of the mass the complex is well exposed in the valleys trenched by the Allt Iomadaidh and tributary streams. Here the interest of the plutonic rocks is twofold, for they form a complex of acid, intermediate, and basic types exhibiting considerable variation in petrography, and they include a series of xenoliths of quartzite, schist, and limestone which range from a few inches in diameter to a great mass of limestone 1½ miles in length. This xenolith has been mapped by the Geological Survey of Scotland, and it was the occurrence of a contact between limestone and plutonic rocks at this locality that led to the investigations of the authors.

The Glacial and Recent Drainage of the Lintrathen Area

Our knowledge of the geology of the district fringing the Grampians in Perthshire and Angus has been limited in the main to the published 1 inch maps of H.M. Geological Survey of Scotland (Sheets 48 and 56 in particular). A few papers in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society about the middle of the last century deal with certain exposures of special interest. The writer of the present contribution has conducted recently a detailed investigation of the area between Dunkeld and Fern, and an account of the solid geology has been published. The glacial geology presents no less interesting material or problems and, while the major portion of the results is being held over until further field-work is undertaken, one aspect, and over a limited area, will be considered here.

Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland. The Geology of the Glasgow District. Second Edition. Revised by M. Macgregor, M.A., B.Sc., C. H. Dinham, B.A., E. B. Bailey, M.C., B.A., and E. M. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc. pp. xi + 299, with 30 text-figures and 1 folding plate. 1925.

Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland. The Geology of the Glasgow District. Second Edition. Revised by M. Macgregor, M.A., B.Sc., C. H. Dinham, B.A., E. B. Bailey, M.C., B.A., and E. M. Anderson, M.A., B.Sc. pp. xi + 299, with 30 text-figures and 1 folding plate. 1925.

Petrological notes on the Houston Marl

In the autumn of 1921 my friend, Mr Cadell of Grange, sent me some specimens of Houston Marl, with the request that I would examine them with especial reference to the possibilities of finding some economic use for the rock. The main object he had in view has not been realised, but some facts have been brought to light which seem worthy of record. The following notes are based on specimens from a burn one quarter of a mile west of Ecclesmachan; from West Binney, one and a half miles west of Ecclesmachan; and from a locality, probably near Ecclesmachan, the exact position of which cannot be fixed; others were obtained from the Geological Survey of Scotland, through Mr D. Tait, from two bores near Blackness—those from No. 1 bore came from depths of 221 feet 6 inches and 240 feet, and those from No. 2 bore from 744 feet. The specimens from surface out-crops have naturally been affected by the weather; they break up readily into small angular fragments, and joint planes are often coated with a dark brown film of oxide of iron, with which some manganese is probably associated. One of the specimens from West Binney showed traces of “ ball-jointing,” a common feature of the Keuper marls of the Midland counties of England. With the exception of a reddish-brown marl “ interstratified with green marl ” in the Ecclesmachan burn, all the specimens have a greenish tinge, varying from very dark, in those from the bores,

Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland: The Geology of the Country round Banff, Huntly, and Turriff. Explanation of sheets 86 + 96. 1923. pp. i–viii and 1–240, text-figs. 1–11. Price 6s. 6d. net.

Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland: The Geology of the Country round Banff, Huntly, and Turriff. Explanation of sheets 86 + 96. 1923. pp. i–viii and 1–240, text-figs. 1–11. Price 6<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>. net.

Calendar of Scientific Pioneers

December 15, 1890. James Croll died.—Known for his writings on physical geology, such as his “Climate and Time,” 1875, Croll was successively a joiner, an insurance agent, an assistant at the Andersonian College, Glasgow, and keeper of maps in the Geological Survey of Scotland.

II.—Geological Survey of Scotland - The Economic Geology of the Central Coal-field of Scotland. Description of Area II. Mem. Geol. Surv. Scotland. pp. iv + 89, with folding maps and sections. Edinburgh, 1917. Price 4s. 6d.

II.—Geological Survey of Scotland - The Economic Geology of the Central Coal-field of Scotland. Description of Area II. Mem. Geol. Surv. Scotland. pp. iv + 89, with folding maps and sections. Edinburgh, 1917. Price 4s. 6d. - Volume 5 Issue 1

I.—Geological Survey of Scotland - The Geology of the Country round Beauly and Inverness. By J. Horne, LL.D., F.R.S., and L. W. Hinxman, B.A., F.R.S.E.; with contributions by B. N. Peach, LL.D., F.R.S., and E. H. Cunningham Craig, B.A. Memoirs of the Geological Survey, Scotland. Explanation of Sheet 83. H.M. Stationery Office, 1914. Price 2s.

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.

II.—The Geology of Caithness. By C. B. Crampton and R. G. Carruthers; with contributions by John Horne, B. M. Peach, John S. Flett, and E. M. Anderson. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland (Sheets 110 and 116, with parts of 109, 115, and 117). pp. viii and 194. 1914.

II.—The Geology of Caithness. By C. B. Crampton and R. G. Carruthers; with contributions by John Horne, B. M. Peach, John S. Flett, and E. M. Anderson. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland (Sheets 110 and 116, with parts of 109, 115, and 117). pp. viii and 194. 1914.

I.—Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland. Geology of Central Ross-shire (Explanation of sheet 82). By B. N. Peach LL.D., F.R.S., John Horne LL.D., F.R.S., and others; with Petrological Notes by J. S. Flett D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S, 8vo; pp. vi, 114. Edinburgh, (1913) 1914. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1 Adephi Terrace, W.C. Memoir, 2s. 3d; map, 2s. 6d.

I.—Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Scotland. Geology of Central Ross-shire (Explanation of sheet 82). By B. N. Peach LL.D., F.R.S., John Horne LL.D., F.R.S., and others; with Petrological Notes by J. S. Flett D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S, 8vo; pp. vi, 114. Edinburgh, (1913) 1914. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1 Adephi Terrace, W.C. Memoir, 2<i>s</i>. 3<i>d</i>; map, 2<i>s</i>. 6<i>d</i>.

IV.—Geological Survey of Scotland - The Geology of the Fannich Mountains and the Country around Upper Loch Maree and Strath Broom. By DrB. N. Peach F.R.S., DrJ. Horne F.R.S., the late W. Gunn, C. T. Clough M.A., and E. Greenly; with contributions by L. W. Hinxman B.A., T. I. Pocock M.A., and C. B. Crampton M.B., and Petrological Notes by

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.

The Oil-Shales of the Lothians 1

THE memoir on the oil-shales of the Lothians published by the Geological Survey of Scotland in 1906 contained so much valuable information that the first edition was exhausted in 1911, and the second edition, brought thoroughly to date, has now been issued, and forms a most welcome and valuable addition to our knowledge at a time when the Scotch shale-oil industry is exciting so much interest as a possible asset to the Empire in the supply of fuel oil.

VI.—Geological Survey of Scotland - The Oil-Shales of The Lothians. Part I: The Geology of the Oil-Shale Fields. By R. G. Carruthers, based on the work of H. M. Cadell and J. S. Grant Wilson.—Part II: Methods of working the Oil-Shales. By W. Caldwell.—Part III: The Chemistry of the Oil-Shales. By D. R. Steuart. Second edition, pp. xii, 199, with

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. Please use the Get access link above for information on how to access this content.

XI. The Garriongill Section at Overtown, near Wishaw

The object of this paper is to describe in detail a natural section in the Upper Carboniferous of the West of Scotland that has been somewhat neglected by Glasgow geologists. The Garrion Burn lies, roughly, l½ miles S.W. of Wishaw, and is easily accessible from Glasgow by train to Overtown or to Law Junction. It was mapped on the 6-inch scale by the Geological Survey of Scotland in 1869-70 (see published 6-inch sheets of H.M. Geological Survey of Scotland, Lanark, 18 N.E. and S.E.), but no account of the section has so far been published. The Garrion rises near Bentyhillocks on the S.W. edge of Auchterhead Muir, and enters the Clyde opposite Dalserf. For the first few miles it pursues a winding course among boulder-clay drumlins, and only at one point exposes a section worthy of particular remark. This is at Hyndman Bridge, where a little rock is seen the stratigraphical position of which lies about the base of the Coal. Measures. It is not, however, until the burn reaches the sharp S.W. bend just N. of Gillhead Farm that it leaves the boulder clay and enters on the long rock section described below. From this point to Garriongill Bridge, near the Clyde, there is a fairly complete section of the strata lying between the Kiltongue Coal and a horizon approximately 50 to 53 fathoms above the Ell Coal of Lanarkshire. 1. Kiltongue Goal. —This is exposed on the left bank of the burn slightly west of This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract

IV.—Report on Fossil Fishes collected by the Geological Survey of Scotland from Shales exposed on the Shore near Gullane, East Lothian

In the year 1903 Mr Macconochie made an interesting collection of fossil fish-remains from beds of Lower Carboniferous age exposed on the seashore near Gullane, in East Lothian, which were submitted to me for determination by the Director of the Geological Survey. Accordingly, I prepared a preliminary account of these remains, which was published in the Summary of Progress for the year above mentioned.

Metamorphism in the Loch-Lomond District

I. Introduction. This communication has been written, not so much with the idea of describing any phase of metamorphism specially interesting in itself, as of contributing to our knowledge of what metamorphism is, and of distinguishing between different kinds of metamorphism. The term ‘metamorphism,’ or even ‘progressive metamorphism,’ has so often been used in a somewhat vague sense, without any distinct specification as to whether dynamic, thermal, hydrothermal, or contact-metamorphism, or a combination of two or more of these, is meant, that a study of an area where each of these types can be readily distinguished by its effects and considered separately, may prove of interest, as indicating the nature of those problems which workers among the Highland rocks have to investigate. In the ‘Loch-Lomond District’ I include all the Highland rocks on both sides of the loch, as well as the area lying to the eastward, including the Trossachs-—in fact that part of the Highlands which is embraced by Sheet 38 of the Ordnance-Survey map. The material for this paper was collected two years ago, after four years of work in the district, and the main conclusions will appear in the ‘Explanation of Sheet 38’ by the Geological Survey of Scotland. It is well-known that, in passing north-westward from the Highland Boundary-Fault, the metamorphism is seen to increase in degree. The progressive metamorphism in the Loch-Lomond district can be considered under two heads—dynamic, and what, for want of a better word, I call ‘constructive’ metamorphism. These processes have in