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Stratigraphy refers to the way in which sedimentary rocks are laid down in sequence, one on top of the other. The diagram below shows the rocks of NW Scotland in order of age, youngest at the top, in a schematic stratigraphic section. The Moine schists have been omitted: they were probably deposited at about the same time as the Torridonian, but when that happened they were far away from their present position.
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Cambrian SuccessionLaid down in the sea
Durness: dolomitic limestone
Age 540 - 500 million years Thickness of Basal Quartzite plus Pipe Rock is about 150 metres |
Rocks
Fractured
limestone
Salterella Grit 1 Also: |
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Torridonian SuccessionLaid down mainly by rivers
Torridon Group
Stoer Group |
Rocks |
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Lewisian Gneiss ComplexMostly igneous rocks, folded and highly metamorphosed
Laxfordian
Scourian |
Rocks
Laxfordian granite
Felsic gneiss 1 |
In addition to the links to individual rocks, you can visit the following places:
For the igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Moine Thrust zone, see:
Scourie | Achmelvich | Laxford | Clachtoll | Stoer | Assynt | Skiag Bridge | Glencoul | Knockan | Borralan | Ledmore |
Home | Geological History | Stratigraphy | Area map | Rock Index | About |
D.J. Waters, Department of Earth Sciences, May 2003