Talk:Geology of Scotland

Massive Error
The Midland Valley is most definitely not a Rift Valley. It's a Magmatic Arc. 217.42.114.234 (talk) 01:12, 8 November 2009 (UTC)


 * If you have a reference for this I'd be interested. I have added one that specifically states that it is a rift valley. Ben   Mac  Dui  09:59, 8 November 2009 (UTC)


 * To be picky, it was part of a magmatic arc (during the final stages of Iapetus closure), it was a rift valley during the Late Devonian to Carboniferous and right now it is a glaciated valley that more or less follows the earlier rift. However, I have no particular issue with it being described as a rift valley, as that is how it's defined (between the Highland Boundary and Southern Uplands faults). Calling it an arc would be bizarre, even if that represents an important earlier phase in the area's development. Mikenorton (talk) 10:36, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

Auto peer review
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Broad in coverage
The seems to be nothing on economic geology - mining, geological hazards (even to say there are no earthquakes at all) Graeme Bartlett 20:28, 8 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Earthquakes are infrequent and usually slight. The Great Glen is seismically active, but the last event of any size was in 1901. See Earthquakes in the Inverness Area. I'll add a comment to 'post glacial events'. Economic geology is mentioned in passing - see Carboniferous and Jurassic - but there is no section devoted to this. Oil and gas get a fair coverage in Economy of Scotland, but references to mining would be largely about its significance in the past rather than the present. Ben MacDuiTalk /  Walk  21:53, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

I'm no geologist, and I liked this article, but it is too technical in its language. You can't use words like "orogeny" without explanation. It's a really good article, but I can't help but feeling it is written for people who are geologists. Hope that helps.--Docg 15:30, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Many thanks for your tweaks Doc. It is certainly written for the benefit of those with an interest in geology, but I hope it's not too technical. Caledonian orogeny is linked after all, and by comparison with many science articles (e.g. Goldbach's conjecture, Rotaxane, Abdominal aortic aneurysm to take three at random) I hoped it might be fairly light-reading! Ben MacDuiTalk /  Walk  19:06, 11 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Are there any famous Geology schools, museums or other information resources in Scotland? Graeme Bartlett 20:00, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Edinburgh University are not shy of claiming that they are the 'Birthplace of Geosciences' - see and Aberdeen University are good on petroleum geology. I think the Hunterian in Glasgow has (or had) an exhibit, but there's nothing significant that I know of. Ben MacDuiTalk  /  Walk  21:45, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

GA comments
I think that it's mainly tidying up.
 * There are a number of multiple-linked items like Caledonian orogeny, Highlands and Islands and gabbro, should only be linked once.
 * Attempted and hopefully done.


 * petrology could do with a gloss - shouldn't need to have to link through find it means study of rocks
 * Done


 * "Map" of Pangaea sounds a bit definitive for what can only be a rough idea - not sure what would be better
 * Alternative provided, with slightly more impressive academic qualifications.


 * In the quote box, the ref looks very clunky - why not just leave the writer's name and reflink as with all the other in-lines?
 * Done - or at least I've figured out how to do it. It can be simplified further if desired.


 * I still think that the reflist would look better in two columns or with all the McKirdy quotes de-page numbered and multilinked to the in-lines - but that's up to you.
 * I'm intending to keep the detail as I'd like to think this is a possible FA candidate at some point in the future. I'd be delighted to put the refs in two columns, but having looked around I can't see an obvious method of doing it.
 * OK, I've two-columned the footnotes - I've split from general refs because I think it looks better, but by all means recombine if preferred.
 * Another interesting discovery 'on Safari'. I wondered why editors kept changing 'references to 'reflist2' - it looks just the same using this browser!


 * The one bold 84 in the quotes looks odd
 * This is a function of the citation template. I've replaced it.


 * Am I right in thinking that Scotland is still rising as a rebound from the last ice age? If so, is it worth mentioning.
 * Done

I'll have another read through tomorrow, too tired tonight. Jimfbleak 19:40, 14 November 2007 (UTC)
 * Me too! Ben MacDuiTalk /  Walk

OK, the only other issue was that "Lewisian gneiss" and "Torridonian sandstone" actually linked to just Gneiss and Torridonian respectively, which is misleading, but I've fixed those two at least. I think that all this needs now to pass is the MoS issues to be fixed wrt multilnks and the stray ref in the quote box. Jimfbleak 07:56, 15 November 2007 (UTC)

I've fixed a bit I messed up a few days ago, all the issues with style have been addressed, look forward to seeing this as an FA. Jimfbleak 06:43, 16 November 2007 (UTC)

Devonian marine fossils?
The devonian section refers to up to 11 km of sediments of this age divided into upper, middle and lower. It also mentions deposition in fresh water and in lakes. Without access to the two sources provided, I can't see where the marine fossils come in. Offshore marine beds are mainly restricted to the middle old red of the Kyle Group on the northern flank of the Mid North Sea High, while the overlying Buchan Group (upper old red) has only thin marine intercalations at three different levels in an otherwise fluvial sequence. Onshore, as far as I know, there is only local evidence of marine conditions developed very briefly. This information comes from; 'The Millennium Atlas: petroleum geology of the central and northern North Sea', and various publications in journals over the years, but is most clearly summarised in the atlas. The Devonian rocks of Scotland are indeed well known for their fossils, particularly the fish that swam in the Orcadian Lakes. So the question remains, which marine fossils is the text referring to? Mikenorton (talk) 22:30, 10 June 2008 (UTC)


 * You are right of course and I jumped the gun. I think it's fair to say they are not so much 'non-marine' as 'lacustrine'. If you are happy with that I'll make the change. Ben MacDuiTalk /  Walk  21:21, 12 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Of course we've no way of knowing if any of the fish species were like salmon, able to live in both freshwater and seawater, but we do know that they were at least lacustrine as you say. In actual fact, I think it might be better to say 'a rich source of fish fossils' and leave it at that. Mikenorton (talk) 22:27, 12 June 2008 (UTC)


 * 'Tis done. Thanks for pointing this glitch out. Ben MacDuiTalk /  Walk  07:47, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

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Divisions map
Any chance that the map that labels the 'Isles of Shetland' and the 'Isles of Orkney' can be tweaked or replaced. I doubt that those two terms are used by many people - somewhat twee! Just 'Shetland' and 'Orkney' will do (or 'Shetland Islands' and 'Orkney Islands' at a pinch. cheers Geopersona (talk) 19:13, 3 December 2016 (UTC)

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