geology of scotland

caledonian orogeny

the collision of laurentia, baltica, avalonia to form the UK

• variably metm. rocks in all terrains

• lots of magmatic activity + widespread granite formation

• faults reactivated to create extensional basin in midland valley

caledonian orogeny phase 1

• 470 Ma

• laurentia + grampian arc collide

caledonian orogeny phase 2

• 440 Ma

• baltica + laurentia collide

caledonian orogeny phase 3

• 420 Ma

• laurentia + avalonia collide

scottish coal

• UK at equator during cal. orog. → highly productive forests

• fluctuations in atm. CO2 caused glacial cycling + sea level changes → enhanced C burial

scottish oil

• during Jurassic (200 Ma) high sea levels + very warm

• N. sea is a failed rift system → sandstone + impermeable muds

scottish rocks

• sandstone

• granite

• aggregate

• for aquifers + water storage

dalridian supergroup

metasedimentary and igneous rock succession that was deposited on the eastern margin of Laurentia

scottish topography

• formed by orogenic effect

• magmatic intrusions inflating crust

• glaciers

epitherial deposit

hydrothermal processes w/in 1 km of surface

orogenic deposit

linked to circulation of mid-crustal fluids 10-20 km beneath surface

scottish gold

• orogenic deposits in grampian + S. uplands

• deposits eroded to form placer deposits

• associated w/ Ag + Pb in granite veins

scottish cultural resources

• whisky from peaty rocks + soft water

• pop. centers in midland valley

scottish geological synthesis

470-420 → cal orog.

420-300 → cal. faults reactivate to form midland valley (sandstone + coal-bearing sediment)

300-66 → failed rift in N. sea accumulates sed + forms oil/gas reservoirs

66-55 → N atlantic ign. provice, volcanism in N + NW scotland