Dynamic Earth is Edinburgh’s world-class Science Centre and Planetarium, telling the epic story of planet earth from beginning to mend.
The EarthCache is located in a geo-park in front of the Dynamic Earth Center and is accessible free of charge 24/7.
To solve this EarthCache, answer the following questions and send me the answers via Messenger or alternatively via email. You can log your find immediately after sending the answers. If there are any uncertainties or incorrect answers, I will contact you.
1.) What is the oldest rock in Scotland? Describe its appearance in terms of shape, color, and texture, and tell me its age.
2.) Do you find fossil inclusions in the displayed stones? If yes, what type of fossils are they and when were they deposited?
3.) After observing Scotland's journey over millions of years, how do you think it might continue to develop in the future? In which direction could it continue to move? How might the climate change as a result?
4.) Take a photo of yourself or a personal item at "The past is the key to the future" and upload it to your log. (Scotland´s Journey)
Geological Formation of Scotland
The geological formation of Scotland is a complex process that spans billions of years. Here is a chronological overview of the key geological events that contributed to the formation of Scotland:
Archaean (about 2800 to 2500 million years ago)
- Lewisian Gneiss Complex: The oldest part of Scotland consists of the Lewisian Gneisses, which formed about 2800 million years ago. These rocks are mainly found in the Outer Hebrides and the northwest of Scotland. They formed deep in the Earth's crust under conditions of high temperature and pressure, leading to metamorphism.
Proterozoic (about 2500 to 541 million years ago)
- Torridonian Sandstone: Between 1200 and 1000 million years ago, the deposition of the Torridonian Sandstone began. These sedimentary rocks were deposited in a large rift valley and today form a large part of the Northwest Highlands.
- Moine Supergroup: Between 1000 and 870 million years ago, the rocks of the Moine Supergroup were deposited, which were later metamorphosed during the Caledonian Orogeny.
Cambrian to Silurian (about 541 to 419 million years ago)
- Dalradian Supergroup: These sediments were deposited during the Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic (about 800 to 500 million years ago) in a passive continental margin basin. The Dalradian rocks are now found in the Grampian Highlands and were also metamorphosed during the Caledonian Orogeny.
- Caledonian Orogeny: This mountain-building event occurred about 490 to 390 million years ago when the continents Laurentia (present-day North America and parts of Scotland) and Baltica (present-day Northern Europe) collided. This led to the formation of the Caledonides, a major mountain range that stretched from Norway to Scotland.
Devonian to Carboniferous (about 419 to 299 million years ago)
- Old Red Sandstone: During the Devonian and Carboniferous periods (about 419 to 359 million years ago), the Old Red Sandstone was deposited in a large continental lake that formed after the Caledonian mountain-building event. These rocks are now found in the Midland Valley and the northeast of Scotland.
Permian to Cretaceous (about 299 to 66 million years ago)
- Post-orogenic erosion: After the Caledonian Orogeny and the deposition of the Old Red Sandstone, the mountains gradually eroded, and Scotland experienced relatively calm geological conditions.
- Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments: During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, additional sediments were deposited in some coastal regions of Scotland, particularly in the Hebrides.
Tertiary (about 66 to 2.6 million years ago)
- Volcanism: About 60 to 50 million years ago, during the Paleogene, Scotland experienced intense volcanism. This process led to the formation of the famous volcanic landscapes on the Inner Hebrides, including the islands of Skye and Mull. The volcanism was part of the opening of the North Atlantic as Europe and North America drifted apart.
Quaternary (about 2.6 million years ago to present)
- Ice Ages: During the Quaternary, Scotland was repeatedly covered by ice, leading to profound changes in the landscape. Glaciers carved out valleys, fjords, and left behind numerous glacial deposits.
These geological processes have shaped the present-day landscape of Scotland, characterized by a diverse mix of ancient metamorphic rocks, sedimentary deposits, and volcanic rocks.
Sources:
wikipedia.org