I posted a thread in response to Cameron’s Time out in Flowerdale piece in the May issue, saying how I’d enjoyed it and asking for more articles with a geology theme. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence but the following issues haven’t disappointed.
In June we were treated to Andrew Terrill’s thoughtful and evocative ‘Rock sand and stars’ about the Canyonlands of Utah, along with stunning images of the rock formations.
After some searching I finally got hold of July’s copy and homed in on Colin Prior’s ‘How to be a rock star’. I always enjoy Colin’s photographs but admit to not always reading the detail. What an interesting insight into his knowledge of geology and how it inspires him to try and capture an image which reflects their age and history.
I must admit to being deeply sceptical about the Cambrian fossil leaf on An Teallach though. Plants with leaves didn’t appear until the Devonian I think - so such a find in Cambrian quartzite, would turn geological science on its’ head. Sadly he has no photographic evidence (would you believe it?) and return trips to locate it were fruitless. So I wonder what Colin did see? Are there any Devonian rocks that resemble quartzite further North? - I’m wondering if it was an erratic transported by ice.
Anyway, great stuff TGO, looking forward to more articles with a focus on geology - rock on!!
God that sounded corny and a bit 'David Essex', but you know what I mean:)
I was at his presentation in Stonehaven over the winter, and he recounted the tale there, saying he'd been back a number of times and now knows that there are an awful lot of stones on An Teallach.
The talk was organised by the camera club, but tickets were open to the public (like me). I'd certainly recommend going to one 'Mistress' <ooh, that was weird typing that 'out loud'>
I didn't think of that, I can see how Charnia could be mistaken for a leaf - a multicellular animal but it certainly looks very leaf like.
I think he just describes it as a leaf in the article and goes on to say that a Geology Professor read about his discovery and told him it would be of international importance. Hence his attempts to return and find it again I guess.
Still a very interesting story though, now wonder he tells it at his talks - I'm sorry I doubted him:)
Thank you Bearded Git - good lateral thinking!!
lol Duncan, I'm only a 'mistress' in a Skye the dug type of way.
Mistress of Skye: with regards to my Canyonlands feature, its appearance was a coincidence... the piece was written and scheduled for that issue many months before your Flowerdale thread.
But I did wonder when I saw your thread if you personally would approve of the Canyonlands feature. And now I know the answer!
This has turned into an epic post. I didn’t get round to saying anything on your ‘what makes a good piece of writing re. the outdoors’ so this covers that a little too plus it’s an opportunity to give rocks a plug:)
Part 1
There was a time when I only knew of N.A. desert landscapes from the mesas and butes of cowboy films and photographs of the Grand Canyon. I always thought it strangely beautiful in a barren and sterile sort of way.
I imagined an environment where you would either get shot by the baddies, trampled in a stampede, die of thirst , get washed away in a flash flood or be forced to negotiate rapids to escape a labyrinth of winding rivers.
As I learned more, those desert landscapes became fascinating, layers and layers of horizontal sedimets carved out by water into spectacular topography. I began to get to grips with the concept of geological time. Then last year, around the time that National Geographic published some extraordinary photographs of the Maze, I read Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. When I saw it through his eyes I realised that desert doesn’t necessarily mean lifeless. Sure, you could still die of thirst, get washed away in a flash flood or worse, but Abbey’s love of the desert and his passion to preserve it, shone through in his words and for me the perfect backdrop to his writing was the geology, flora and fauna, and the way his day to day existence reflected what was going on around him - the battle between the ‘natural world’ and ‘progress’.
Sometimes it takes a whole book, sometimes just a sentence, but occasionally the power of the written word touches something within us and moves us deeply.
Your article touched me in that way. It was the photographs which drew me at first - stunning. I think it helps to know a little about rocks to really appreciate those images. If you can imagine the processes that create rocks and appreciate the time scale involved, you start to see more than just a vision of contours, shapes and colours.
With Duncan’s comment - “I'll leave the geology talk to those wot know.” in mind -
A basic understanding of geology doesn’t need a great deal of scientific knowledge, simple powers of observation and imagination are all that’s necessary. Just look around at the geomorphological processes going on today - mountains get worn away, rivers carry sediment to the sea, mud and sand build up in layers to form new rocks and of course it all happens very very slowly. That concept of incredibly long periods of time stretch the imagination but it’s that, that makes geology so awesome for me. All those grains of sand over all that time plus the sun, wind and rain, as the continental plates migrate over the globe - then we get to go out and explore the end result. Well not quite the end result, the processes continue all around us.
When I look at a sedimentary sequences , see how the layers are stacked up, sandwiching plant and animal remains and then how weathering and erosion have sculpted them, I visualise the rocks in the context of rain washing boulders, pebbles and sand to lakes or sea and accumulating over 100s, 1000s, millions of years. Dry years, wet years, each variation in climate showing up as a slight changes in colour, texture and thickness of layers. There is the visual experience and also the geological story hidden within. That’s where that sense of awe comes into it for me.
I enjoyed experiencing the Canyonlands through your eyes, descriptions and thoughts and I particularly liked your angle on searching for that sense of ‘awe’. I guess we all experience awe from our own individual perspective but I felt an empathy with that desire to attain a feeling, waiting to be discovered, but slightly out of reach. As I read, I wondered if you would find it and what would ‘make it happen’ for you, then there was the satisfaction in knowing that you found what you had hoped for.
It's not going to be much of a search-party if it's just the two of us, we'll need many more. As part of the support team, I'll have to bring my butler to lug around my Tempest Prognosticator. And maybe Mr. Prior should take point (with the tools of his trade, this time)!
Alas, the huge waistcoat is nowhere to be found. But, changing the subject to hillwear, I could muster a rather fetching pair of blue and red breeks (if I breathe in). Excellent in juxtaposition with short red socks and my lily-white legs.
I’m so looking forward to this expedition, now that it’s beginning to take shape. I am at this moment, shaking out and dusting down the multi purpose crinoline and for once I shall not feel at all out of place in the hills. This specially designed garment provides me with overnight accommodation and the integral interior pockets are perfect for carrying all my essentials. You will all be welcome to join me inside for tea and cucumber sandwiches at rest stops and of course, it’s the perfect shelter in inclement weather.
I have been known to suffer from the palpitations during thunderstorms, so it is a great relief that you will be bringing Dr Merryweather’s Tempest Prognosticator. Forgive me for saying so, but as a scientist, I’m a little taken aback that you didn’t refer to it by its’ full title - The Atmospheric Electromagnetic Telegraph, conducted by Animal Instinct. I take it you are supplying (and feeding) the all important leeches)
I like your enthusiasm Commander Vimes - “I’m up for a geology hunt”
Indeed, so do you still want to come and if so what are you wearing?
"Forgive me for saying so, but as a scientist, I’m a little taken aback that you didn’t refer to it by its’ full title - The Atmospheric Electromagnetic Telegraph, conducted by Animal Instinct."
Give over, it's just another can of worms for me to open!
:-)
EDIT - LOL, but will the static from the crinoline affect the leeches?
