Founded 1858 | Promoting public interest in geology and advancing geological knowledge
Founded 1858
We will examine beautifully exposed examples of contact metamorphic changes to the Dalradian Aberfoyle slate adjacent to a late Caledonian diorite intrusion, the Comrie pluton at Craig More.
An opportunity to examine Dalradian rocks (slates and grits of the Southern Highland Group) and structures related to the Tay Nappe
In this easy coastal walk we will examine sedimentary structures formed during the Early Carboniferous, the consequent changes of the flora and fauna, and tectonic structures imposed during the Late Carboniferous.
An excursion along the coast of County Antrim, where we will see rocks ranging in age from the Precambrian to the Quaternary and including the North Atlantic Igneous Province.
A stroll round Rouken Glen Park led by John Faithfull, looking at the varied rocks formed in Carboniferous times.
Regular guided tours of the Fossil Grove and surrounding quarry area led by society members Margaret Greene and David Webster and lasting about 45 minutes will take place on the hour at 1, 2 and 3 pm.
A short, easy walk along the White Cart Water to explore Linn Park’s geology, landscape and industrial past
A guided tour of two key localities illustrating the 650 million year old "Snowball Earth" glaciation and a full day visit to the remote north coast of Islay to view the classic stromatolite bioherms in the Bonahaven Dolomite plus some spectacular igneous intrusions and glacial features
We will examine a range of rocks within the Hebridean Terrane, ranging from Archaean gneisses of the Lewisian Complex and the overlying Proterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Torridonian Supergroup through to glacial deposits of the Pleistocene epoch.
We will be looking at several sites around the park, including the area around the now disused barite mine, and considering aspects of our industrial geological heritage.
We will continue our exploration of Glen Lednock and will visit the Comrie pluton to examine the igneous rocks themselves and their contact relations with the country rocks.
We will examine Devonian volcanic and sedimentary rocks (perhaps including the source of the Stone of Destiny) and look at a variety of building stones in Perth City.
The opencast coal site at Spireslack in East Ayrshire delivers a unique and stunning geological exposure of the Carboniferous. BGS is working closely with the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust to find ways of restoring the site to deliver a unique, natural rock laboratory for industry and university training and research.
This tour will take you behind the scenes of extremely rare isotope metrology at SUERC to illustrate the complexity and effort involved in making precise and accurate measurement of isotopes in minerals and rocks.
Beecraigs visitor centre (dyke and Carboniferous Limestone); Cairnpapple Hill and the Knock (lavas, sill, limestone and mineralization) via Witch Craig geology wall; Petershill Reserve (fossiliferous reef limestone); East Kirkton quarry (time permitting) (oil shales and limestones).
Devonian lavas and sedimentary rocks; Highland Border Complex (with superb pillow lavas); Highland Boundary Fault; ORS/Dalradian unconformity; Dalradian structure and metamorphism; Caledonian and post-Caledonian granites, gabbros, migmatites, dykes and breccia pipes.
1800 Ma gneiss, Precambrian metasediments and fossil stromatolites, the famous Port Askaig Tillite (possible "Snowball Earth"?), low grade metamorphic Dalradian rocks retaining original sedimentary structures, reactivated and reversed extensional faults, substantial mineralisation, 60 Ma igneous intrusions (opening of the Atlantic Ocean) and a large selection of Quaternary Ice Age features.
The Scottish Shale Oil Museum at Almond Valley; local mining bings; the Scottish National Mining Museum at Newton Grange Colliery. Multiple opportunities for coffee and cake!
Blairskaith Quarry is a brick-clay pit abandoned since the late 1970s. It is significant for both its abundant extinct fossils and habitats supporting a variety of plant and animal life, with large shallow pools of water that last throughout the year and some well-drained lime-rich soils.
