Scotfot at 12:33, 8 February 2022

2022-02-08T12:33:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:33, 8 February 2022
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	From 1960 to the present the field staff in Scotland have continued to pursue their primary commitment of keeping the geological maps of the country up to date and publishing descriptive matter on the geology. In the South Lowlands district, published works include a map and memoir of the Langholm area and new maps and descriptive papers concerning large parts of Ayrshire, the Douglas, Muirkirk and Sanquhar coalfields. Revision mapping of East Lothian and Berwickshire has also been completed. In the North Lowlands area, large parts of Fife, Perthshire, Kinross and the Central Coalfield have been mapped and memoirs and numerous papers have been published. The Highlands and Islands Unit has continued the primary survey in the Great Glen area but difficulty of access and short field seasons, in addition to other commitments, have hindered progress. The Elgin district was surveyed in 3 years and a descriptive memoir published. The geology of the Shetlands was revised and work on the Outer Hebrides is in progress.		From 1960 to the present the field staff in Scotland have continued to pursue their primary commitment of keeping the geological maps of the country up to date and publishing descriptive matter on the geology. In the South Lowlands district, published works include a map and memoir of the Langholm area and new maps and descriptive papers concerning large parts of Ayrshire, the Douglas, Muirkirk and Sanquhar coalfields. Revision mapping of East Lothian and Berwickshire has also been completed. In the North Lowlands area, large parts of Fife, Perthshire, Kinross and the Central Coalfield have been mapped and memoirs and numerous papers have been published. The Highlands and Islands Unit has continued the primary survey in the Great Glen area but difficulty of access and short field seasons, in addition to other commitments, have hindered progress. The Elgin district was surveyed in 3 years and a descriptive memoir published. The geology of the Shetlands was revised and work on the Outer Hebrides is in progress.

	In recent years the time spent by the staff on advisory work, both for the government and public, and in the collation of new information from boreholes and excavations, has increased steadily. Although these activities reduce the time available for normal mapping programmes, the information gained adds appreciably to the accuracy of future maps as has been shown throughout the history of the Survey. Staff members have acted in an advisory capacity on such projects as sites for dams, reservoirs, power stations, underground storage, major sewage schemes, new towns and buildings of all kinds, quarries, tunnels and routes for major roads and pipe lines. Throughout the last 120 years, the demands on the experience and accumulated information of the Geological Survey in Scotland have never been greater than at the present time.== Palaeontology ==		In recent years the time spent by the staff on advisory work, both for the government and public, and in the collation of new information from boreholes and excavations, has increased steadily. Although these activities reduce the time available for normal mapping programmes, the information gained adds appreciably to the accuracy of future maps as has been shown throughout the history of the Survey. Staff members have acted in an advisory capacity on such projects as sites for dams, reservoirs, power stations, underground storage, major sewage schemes, new towns and buildings of all kinds, quarries, tunnels and routes for major roads and pipe lines. Throughout the last 120 years, the demands on the experience and accumulated information of the Geological Survey in Scotland have never been greater than at the present time.

			== Palaeontology ==

	The services of palaeontologists were called upon almost from the start of the Survey in Scotland. In 1858 J. W. Salter, the Palaeontologist in London, visited East Lothian and Fife to study the fossils and help with the correlation of the Carboniferous strata. In the Edinburgh District Memoir of 1861 he contributed a list of Silurian and Carboniferous fossils found in the area. Up to 1871 palaeontological work was based in London and crates of specimens were sent there for identification. In that year R. Etheridge jun. was appointed to deal with such matters in Scotland because A. Geikie had asked for speedier service in this field. Etheridge jun. worked in the Edinburgh office for 7 years during which time he did an amazing amount of work on Silurian and Carboniferous fossils. He supplied lists of fossils for publication in memoirs and described numerous new species in a great many papers. The specimens he studied were collected mainly by J. Bennie and A. Macconochie, the official Fossil Collectors, both of whom made many significant discoveries during their careers. Etheridge jun. resigned in 1878, eventually becoming Director of the Australian Museum.		The services of palaeontologists were called upon almost from the start of the Survey in Scotland. In 1858 J. W. Salter, the Palaeontologist in London, visited East Lothian and Fife to study the fossils and help with the correlation of the Carboniferous strata. In the Edinburgh District Memoir of 1861 he contributed a list of Silurian and Carboniferous fossils found in the area. Up to 1871 palaeontological work was based in London and crates of specimens were sent there for identification. In that year R. Etheridge jun. was appointed to deal with such matters in Scotland because A. Geikie had asked for speedier service in this field. Etheridge jun. worked in the Edinburgh office for 7 years during which time he did an amazing amount of work on Silurian and Carboniferous fossils. He supplied lists of fossils for publication in memoirs and described numerous new species in a great many papers. The specimens he studied were collected mainly by J. Bennie and A. Macconochie, the official Fossil Collectors, both of whom made many significant discoveries during their careers. Etheridge jun. resigned in 1878, eventually becoming Director of the Australian Museum.

Scotfot: /* Introduction */

2019-10-07T12:28:11Z

Introduction

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	=== Introduction ===		=== Introduction ===

	The Geological Survey of Great Britain has its origins in the early work of the Ordnance Survey and in the research of eminent members of the Geological Society of London. In the early part of the 19th century accurate maps of the British Isles were being produced by the Ordnance Survey. In some areas the surveyors coloured their maps to depict the boundaries of the various rock formations observed, but the geology thus shown was of a very general nature. The value of accurate geological information was becoming apparent not only as a basis for research but as an aid in assessing the national mineral wealth and in formulating land utilisation policies. Consequently in 1835 the Geological Survey of Great Britain was established by the government for the purpose of producing geological maps of the country to be based on the Ordnance Survey maps as they became available. At the same time it was expected that accompanying memoirs would be published explaining in detail the geology shown on the maps.== Field Staff ==		The Geological Survey of Great Britain has its origins in the early work of the Ordnance Survey and in the research of eminent members of the Geological Society of London. In the early part of the 19th century accurate maps of the British Isles were being produced by the Ordnance Survey. In some areas the surveyors coloured their maps to depict the boundaries of the various rock formations observed, but the geology thus shown was of a very general nature. The value of accurate geological information was becoming apparent not only as a basis for research but as an aid in assessing the national mineral wealth and in formulating land utilisation policies. Consequently in 1835 the Geological Survey of Great Britain was established by the government for the purpose of producing geological maps of the country to be based on the Ordnance Survey maps as they became available. At the same time it was expected that accompanying memoirs would be published explaining in detail the geology shown on the maps.

			== Field Staff ==

	=== The early years ===		=== The early years ===

Scotfot: Created page with "'''From: Wilson, R.B. A history of the Geological Survey in Scotland. NERC, IGS, 1977.''' File:WilsonHistory_01.jpg|thumbnail|Front cover. From: Wilson, R.B. A history of t..."

2019-09-30T08:36:38Z

Created page with "'''From: Wilson, R.B. A history of the Geological Survey in Scotland. NERC, IGS, 1977.''' File:WilsonHistory_01.jpg|thumbnail|Front cover. From: Wilson, R.B. A history of t..."

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History of the Geological Survey in Scotland - Revision history

Scotfot at 12:33, 8 February 2022

Scotfot: /* Introduction */

Scotfot: Created page with "'''From: Wilson, R.B. A history of the Geological Survey in Scotland. NERC, IGS, 1977.''' File:WilsonHistory_01.jpg|thumbnail|Front cover. From: Wilson, R.B. A history of t..."