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Click anywhere on this map for a magnified view |
This map describes both the solid (underlying) and drift (overlying) geology. The solid geology comprises coal-bearing sedimentary rocks of the Carboniferous Era (around 340 millions years ago), forming a large concave fold or syncline which is centred on the right-side of the map. These sedimentary rocks are broken by various large faults, and are penetrated by large volcanic features, which comprise both intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks.
The intrusive igneous rocks are all of Carboniferous age and include sills (such as Salisbury Crags) and volcanic plugs (such as Arthur's Seat). The extrusive igneous rocks, which are primarily lavas and ashes, are dominated by the older Devonian series (400 million years old) which form the Pentland Hills, Braid Hills and Blackford Hill. Elsewhere Carboniferous lavas and ashes can be found.
The overlying (drift) features are primarily glacial in origin, deposited during the Ice Age. These include outwash channels, which led the melt-water from the glaciers, and drumlins showing the direction of ice movement.
This map is produced with permission from "Edinburgh: A Landscape fashioned by Geology", published jointly by Scottish Natural Heritage and the British Geological Survey. ISBN 1-85397-024-7. Copyright © SNH and BGS.
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These pages are provided by the Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh as part of Scottish Geology Week. Scottish Geology Week is coordinated by Scottish Natural Heritage. |  |