The Geology around Loch Torridon

[@DavoidJohnson]

Many thanks for this. Never saw a fossil in ten years at Loch Torridon which correlates with the development of life on earth . So different in the east of Fife where carboniferous life was very much on the move.

[@salsmith1323]

I would love to go back here for the geology.

[@holyworrier]

Great fun. Absorbing.

[@张宏远-z8t]

Can I say that those gneiss units should be considered as the basement block with NW trending structural elements before the collision along the thrusting shear zones of that caledonian orogen?

[@robbutler2095]

Yes - absolutely. Slices of these ancient gneisses are carried up in the thrust belt. See the Glencoul and Arnaboll videos.

[@Tengooda]

Unfortunately "geological vandalism" is widespread throughout those parts of the Highlands (and maybe elsewhere) that are used by undergraduate and graduate geology students for their theses. This includes wanton destruction of ancient weathered surfaces for no reason whatsoever. They appear to be the result of bored students hacking away at the rocks simply because they have a hammer in their hands and think they must do something with it. I hope that university geology departments now make determined efforts to reduce this vandalism, but when I was a geology student at a major Scottish university, no such effort was made, indeed the lecturers also seemed to be completely unaware of their irresponsible behaviour, and possessed of a divine right to destroy whatever they wished.

[@robbutler2095]

You are right - in many cases students hammering rocks was a displacement activity for thought or indeed a mistaken view that if you torture the rock it will tell you what it is... Any field excursion I lead or support geological hammers are strictly forbidden (for at least the past 30 years) and all colleagues have agreed too. In most places there is absolutely no need to break a rock because there is already a fresh surface. Furthermore in many places, a weathered surface really useful (nature's chemistry set in action...). If it really is necessary, then seek out a fallen block ... and NEVER leave rock chips on the ground as they can cause injury... A rock hammer is a research tool and ANY collecting requires the permission of the landowner and, for formally protected sites (SSSIs), the national body - such as Nature Scot...

[@r2drone227]

You use many words that are not part of normal everyday language for the vast majority of people. Therefore what you explain means very little to most people. A more simple explanation telling the story of this regions construction over time, would I’m sure, create more followers for you. Just a suggestion.

[@robbutler2095]

Thanks for the comment. The majority of the videos are aimed at the enthusiastic amateur and student. There is a series of introductory vids in the piipeline....

[@bendenisereedy7865]

The earth is 5 billion years old but climate zealots try to tell me it's getting warmer?

[@robbutler2095]

which of course has nothing to do with this video....