The biggest pile of sand the world has ever seen

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

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’

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