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1. Report of the Boulder Committee, with Remarks by the Convener

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

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Extract

Between Crinan Bay on the north and the head of Loch Fyne on the south, there is a trough or hollow now occupied by the Crinan Canal. The highest point along this trough, is about 150 feet above the sea. A series of locks occur at this summit-level, to allow of the passage of vessels between the two sea-lochs.

At the summit-level, the rocks form a sort of ridge across the valley, with smooth surfaces towards the north, and rough surfaces towards the south.

On both sides of this rocky ridge, there are large boulders; on the north side, I counted between forty and fifty, on the south side, there are not more than two or three. The boulders are a syenitic gneiss; the rocks in situ, are shivery clay slate, nearly vertical, dipping steeply towards the south.

Type
Proceedings 1880-81
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1882

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References

page 263 note * Since this report was written, I have discovered a reference to the glaciations of this part of Bute, in a valuable paper by Professor Geikie, “On the Glacial Drift in Scotland,” in the first volume of the Glasgow Geological Society's Transactions. The following extracts may be given, as confirmatory of what is said in the Committee's report:—

“A most wonderful exhibition of worn mammilated and striated rocks in this part of Scotland, occurs among the slate hills to the north of Loch Fad, one of a chain of lakes which nearly cut the Island of Bute into two. The hand silurian strata dip at high angles towards the S.E., and present in consequence their upturned edges towards the N.W. But instead of forming rough-rugged crags,as these rocks when left to themselves tend to do, the slates and grits are thrown down into the most perfectly smooth-faced knolls. The edges of the beds have been planed off obliquely. Moreover, on Barone Hill, the top of which is a about 520 feet above the sea, the abrasion has been done by an agent which came up the steep northern face of that eminence, went right over its summit, and pursued its course down into the next valley beyond. The striations run from N. 15° W. to N. 20° E.

page 276 note * By Ordnance Surveyors it is made 3547 feet.

page 284 note * The Convener having sent to Mr Jamieson a proof of this part of the Report for his revisal, he returned it, with the following note:—“The Rev. J. G. Michie of Dinnet, accompanied by the Rev. Mr Davidson of Logie-Coldstone, paid a visit to Morven on the 12th October 1874, in order to make a special examination as to the occurrence of these boulders. Mr Michie wrote to me, that they saw some large blocks of granite at the base of the mountain, and small boulders of granite were likewise found sparingly all over the top of the hill, up to the very summit; but there was a considerable space about half way up, where there seemed to be an absence of these boulders. No granite rock was found in situ on Morven itself; the rock, so far as could be seen, being of the nature of hornblende schist.”

page 288 note * See an interesting article by Professor Turner of Edinburgh University, on these fossil seals, in “Journal of Anatomy,” vol. iv. p. 270.

page 289 note * Fragments of Voyages.

page 289 note † “Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain for 1844,” vol. i. p. 383.

page 289 note ‡ Kane's “Arctic Explorations,” London, 1875. Dr Hayes's “Open Polar Sea,” London, 1867.

page 290 note * “Ogygia,” seu “Rerum Hibernicarum Chronologia,” London, 1685.

page 291 note * The chart alluded to is a French navigating chart, of which a copy is given in the 5th volume of the Royal Irish Geological Society.

page 291 note † “Report of Soundings by H.M.S. ‘Porcupine’ in 1862”.

page 291 note ‡ “North Atlantic Sea-bed,” by G. C. Wallich, F.L.S. and F.G.S., naturalist to expedition under Sir F. L. M'Lintock, “to survey the proposed North Atlantic route for a telegraphic wire between Great Britain and America.”