Loch na Keal again
Posted: Sunday, 14 October 2007 |
Just a very quick wee posting here - was along the shore of Loch na Keal the other day. For once I actually had more than a few minutes for lunch and the weather was nice, so I decided to take a look.
I mentioned in a previous blog that the rocks at the side of Loch na Keal show the effects of glaciation - the rocks have channels cut in them and some of these are really noticable. I took a few pics since the weather was good and the sun was just in the right position.
anda another:
and a third:
The other great thing about this shore is the number of dykes that cut it - dozens of the things. Some of these have been extensively studied by geologists and you can see in places where samples have been taken:
Those round holes (about 1" across) are where a core sample has been taken - as you can see there are several holes. Must say, I have mixed feelings about this sort of thing - they can look a bit unsightly but so does rock that has been extensively hammered in order to get samples - in some places (and that includes Mull) it is very noticeable. The holes are supposed to be filled in afterwards, but this never looks right either. However, bear in mind that this sort of sampling is generally done for serious research purposes and isnt just some gratuitous exercise in grabbing lumps of rock. To you and me, these are just holes. To someone else it might be major step towards a PhD!
Thats all for today - see you soon!
MM
I mentioned in a previous blog that the rocks at the side of Loch na Keal show the effects of glaciation - the rocks have channels cut in them and some of these are really noticable. I took a few pics since the weather was good and the sun was just in the right position.
anda another:
and a third:
The other great thing about this shore is the number of dykes that cut it - dozens of the things. Some of these have been extensively studied by geologists and you can see in places where samples have been taken:
Those round holes (about 1" across) are where a core sample has been taken - as you can see there are several holes. Must say, I have mixed feelings about this sort of thing - they can look a bit unsightly but so does rock that has been extensively hammered in order to get samples - in some places (and that includes Mull) it is very noticeable. The holes are supposed to be filled in afterwards, but this never looks right either. However, bear in mind that this sort of sampling is generally done for serious research purposes and isnt just some gratuitous exercise in grabbing lumps of rock. To you and me, these are just holes. To someone else it might be major step towards a PhD!
Thats all for today - see you soon!
MM
Comments
Great photos again, MM. The rocks in pic 3 are very strange. If you hadn't mentioned the glaciation, though, I would have assumed that the first two pics resulted from the action of the sea. Pity about the woodworm in the last pic though :-)
Jill from EK
I wish you hadn't mentioned the provenance of the holes! They could have been caused by a massive rock-sucking leech (was watching Michael Palin being leeched and cupped by a terrifying gulag-woman in Kaliningrad last evening...) As for the glaciation...Henry Moore eat your heart out...oh, wait a minute, the worms probably already have...
Flying Cat from we never nicked stones from the shore guv
Ok, for years I've been wondering about similar holes in the rocks near where I live. Thanks for enlightening me.
Ruthodanort from Unst
Hi MM - Loch Na Keal is one of my favourite spots - its so atmospheric and you dont get hoards of people either! Its great in sunshine or driving rain! Great blog! WF
Wild Freckle from Mull sunshine and showers!
Hi Ruthodanort, interesting that you have seen this in Shetland as well. The geology of Shetland is fascinating - I d love to see it sometime - used to fly through Sumburgh on a regular basis out ot the North Sea rigs, but never such much more than what you see from a helicopter! There is a guy in Shetland does geological tours - Allen Fraser - do you know him? Cheers MM!
MM from Tob
Hello Wild Freckle. Yes, Loch na Keal - great place. The thing about it is that it is easy to get to - I pass through Salen at least twice a day, and if I ever have a a bit of time for lunch, I often head out there. Always something to see! And like you say it doesnt matter on the weather. MM
MM from Tob
I did a study of these channels etc in the rocks on the shore of Loch na Keal over 25 years ago and published in the Scottish Journal of Geology in 1981. They are known as p-forms and have been described from many places in Scandinavia and N. America, but not many places in the UK and these are the best examples in the country. The site is recognised by Scottish Natural Heritage as a geological conservation site.
Dr Murray Gray from Queen Mary, University of London
Exploring the hills and coasts of Mull and Iona and occasionally elsewhere, with a close eye on the geology
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