March 7, 1785, Scottish farmer & naturalist James Hutton presents his full "Theory of the Earth" at a meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
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07.03.2026 14:14
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March 7, 1785, Scottish farmer & naturalist James Hutton presents his full "Theory of the Earth" at a meeting of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
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Fascadale, West Ardnamurchan.
“Stone remembers fire.”
Ardnamurchan’s shores are the roots of an ancient volcano, shaped now by tide and weather.
To walk here is to feel time underfoot
Read part 25 of Spiorad aird nam Murchan - The Edge of the Sea: Oir na Mara:
www.rkphotographic.com/blog/2026/2/...
#WritingTheLand
John Playfair by Henry Raeburn, National Portrait Gallery, London
Playfair Monument, Calton Hill, 15 November 2024
JOHN PLAYFAIR? Does anyone remember John Playfair? Is anyone interested in John Playfair (1748–1819)? He was a major scientist, mathematician, and professor of natural philosophy and he has his own monument on Calton Hill. The anniversary of his birth is on 10 March.
Delighted to hear these altars are now on display! I was privileged to do the pigment analyses of these objects. They were once quite brightly painted #romanpainting #pigments
Ancient Roman altars found in Scotland to go on display www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thorntonloch Sands are changing every day, and throwing up some tremendous fossil rocks ##eastlothian
Microscope image of Ailsa Craig Common Green microgranite thin section. Mostly quartz and cloudy feldspar with patches and clots of very dark green and brown minerals infilling gaps.
A tiny replica curling stone sitting on top of a sample of the same green spotty rock. They are sitting on a desk under a computer monitor next to other minerals.
Olympic curling has to be the sporting highlight of the Scottish geological calendar. 🥌 All the stones come from Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde. The distinctive black spots are (mostly) the very weird and rare amphibole arfvedsonite. #ThinSectionThursday
The A Landscape Fashioned by Geology was a series of books published by Scottish Natural Heritage (now Naturescot) and the British Geological Survey. I got them all from a little bookshop in Glasgow, but you can download them for free from www.scottishgeologytrust.org/geology/reso...
Great to see a friend of the GA Dr Ruth Siddall @pavementgeology.bsky.social in the spotlight for her geological walking tour of London
Check out the website of London Pavement Geology for more information: www.londonpavementgeology.co.uk
www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/...
Indeed. The veg processors are still friendly and accommodating but the new plans will take people off the narrow road earlier and make it easier to find your way to Siccar Point. We've heard of people getting lost!
⚒️ Here's a worthy geoheritage cause; the Scottish Geology Trust is running a crowdfunding campaign for a "Deep Time Trail" at Siccar Point ahead of the 300th anniversary of James Hutton's Birth next year. 4 days left to contribute!
A viewpoint which overlooks one of the world's most important geological sites could be set to receive a major upgrade
I've got a new online course starting in January: Geology of Scotland for beginners. An excellent Christmas present for the person in your life who has everything apart from a basic understanding of the geology of Scotland!
geowalks.scot/geology-cour...
Thanks for your support Callan. We have just received news of substantial grant funding so the Deep Time Trail is going to be built on schedule. Would be great if we can hit the fundraising target and fully deliver the vision!
Looking forward to finding out about the #geology and history of Calton Hill with @caltonhill.bsky.social & @geowalks.scot at this event next week! 🌋
"Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill", Tues 25 November, 6pm, online
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...
Booking for 'WHERE'S THE VOLCANO?' is now open on Eventbrite.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...
Volcanic rocks smoothed by the last glaciation, Calton Hill, Edinburgh
ANGUS MILLER @geowalks.scot, the well-known geologist, is giving a programme about Calton Hill’s geology on Tuesday 25 November 18.00. entitled: 'WHERE'S THE VOLCANO? THE MAKING OF CALTON HILL'. Online/Zoom. Free public event. All welcome. Contact <info@caltonhilltrust.org> for info/ invitation. 1/
Geology of Scotland episode with the Science Tourists! Trailer: youtu.be/wkhi3n1nMtQ
Finding deep time stories. Flux, flow. A wee burn descending, a mountain towering. A partnership between rock & water. Prehistory remembered in place names & folklore.
📷 Allt Toll a' Mhadaidh pouring from Sgùrr Mòr (Beinn Alligin) into Abhainn Coire Mhic Nòbuil, Torridon mountains, Wester Ross
Achnaha, West Ardnamurchan.
“The ring of Centre 3 doesn’t so much rise as brood around the moor.”
Step inside Ardnamurchan’s cooled volcanic heart, where fire lingers in the land’s quiet posture.
👉 Read here:
www.rkphotographic.com/blog/2025/11...
#Ardnamurchan #ElementalSeries #Fire #DeepTime #VisualStorytelling
Would someone like to donate £98 and give a nice round end to a good week?
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/siccar-point
Fascinating place and burial site of the remarkable Helen Hall, and her husband James (friend of James Hutton and father of geochemistry!).
Photograph of the Tassie medal, featuring a white cameo of James Hutton, in profile, set on a blue background, mounted in an oval wooden frame. The right hand panel shows the reverse of the medal. Handwritten on it is: “ James Hutton M.D. (1726-1797), B Edinburgh 1726 D. 1797. Chemical Philosopher. Took the degree of Doctor of Medicine at Lyden in 1749. Medallion modelled and cast by James Cassie in 1792"
Do you know what a Tassie Medal is?
They are glass paste reproductions of engraved cameos portrait medallions made by James Tassie (1735–1799), a Scottish gem engraver and modeller.
We're offering an exclusive chance for you to own one:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/siccar-point
Holyrood Park High Road has re-opened to pedestrians and cycles following the grassfire and rockfall assessment. #EdTravCyc @edi.bike @spokes.org.uk www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-plac...
BGS' GeoIndex viewer has been given a major upgrade and is available as a beta release.
It includes core geological data layers, such as 625K- and 50K-scale digital geological mapping and borehole datasets, to allow for focused user testing.
Visit the app: geoindex.bgs.ac.uk?_ga=2.224738...
A beige book cover with a grey rock in the middle cut by white streaks. The title says ROCKS, below, the subtitle is A Guide to the Stones Around Us and the Stories They Tell, Vojta Hybl. Illustrations of rocks surround the cover.
Ahh I wrote & illustrated my first book!
It’s been a secret I’ve kept for over a year, but very excited to finally reveal ROCKS – published by @quartobooksuk.bsky.social in March 2026!
You can pre-order from all the usual places here: geni.us/Rocks
#SciArt #PortfolioDay #illustrator #BookSky
Catch #ScotGeolFest25 Director @palaeokatie.bsky.social talking about the history of Glasgow building stones!
📅 Friday 9th Oct 7:00pm at the Hunterian
The Radical Road by Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh has been closed for far too long. Today’s site visit went through the plans for phase 1 reopening from the top end as far as Hutton’s Rock in the south quarry. Due by Spring 2026.
Tomorrow! My final #urbangeology walk for this year - And it looks like it’s going to be a sunny day! All info in the post below.
A person stands next to a river. Behind the river is a rocky cliff face showing different sedimentary layers of various thicknesses and textures
Did you know that Midlothian was once a tropical swamp? Join Mark Wilkinson for a short walk in Roslin Glen to learn about its coal deposits🪨
view of Edinburgh and Salisbury Crags
Come learn about the geology of Edinburgh through a comprehensive introductory course! A series of 6 guided walks and 5 online learning sessions will teach you about the geology of Edinburgh and Scotland at the beginner level. No previous geological knowledge required 📚