The Moine, a set of sedimentary rocks found in furthest north-west Scotland have enjoyed at least three cycles of metamorphism and deformation. My only sample from here is a migmatitic gneiss, so when I heard about people studying sedimentology in the Moine, my mind was a little bit boggled – gneisses have lost all trace… Continue reading The biggest pile of sand the world has ever seen
Category: sediments
Geology and life in the English ‘Coal Measures’
The geology of the North of England is where our modern industrial civilisation was born, based on the burning of fossil life. I’ve wanted to write about the fascinating geology I grew up with for a while. I’ve been spurred into action by Accretionary Wedge #46 where Cat asks us to write about “Geology, Life and Civilization”. The… Continue reading Geology and life in the English ‘Coal Measures’
Sicily’s other volcanoes
In early February I went on a trip to Sicily with friends. I had originally planned to visit Etna, but I was travelling with non-geologists and the cost and discomfort of going up there in the winter put me off. I was therefore a little narked that Etna decided to erupt a few days before I… Continue reading Sicily’s other volcanoes
AW #41 – why nothing is significant
In Accretionary Wedge #41 – “Most Memorable/Significant Geologic Event That You’ve Directly Experienced” Ron Schott asked us to relate the story of the most memorable or significant geological event that you’ve directly experienced. Living far from a plate boundary, I have a problem. There are no volcanoes in the UK. We have feeble earthquakes every now and then,… Continue reading AW #41 – why nothing is significant