Geopark Rock Route 15 - Corran (Onich)
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An interesting board describing the enormous contribution of James Hutton to the field of geology. In the 18th Century Hutton argued, contrary to popular belief, that the Earth has been subject to a continual state of change (involving cycles of mountain building, volcanic activity, erosion and deposition) and was indeed very old. He introduced the idea of uniformitarianism in which he speculated that the processes operating today were the same as those that operated in the past, and revolutionised the study of the Earth.
The board describes how the Highlands are made up of three different terranes: Grampian Terrane, Northern Highland Terrane and the Hebridean Terrane, each characterised by different geological histories and rock types. The board describes how these three regions were brought together by the collision of tectonic plates which led to the uplift of the Caledonian Mountain Chain and the formation of the Great Glen Fault. Subsequent glaciation events resulted in the sculpturing of the Highlands, to produce such features as U-shaped valleys and corries, as well as a range of depositional landforms as the ice retreated.
The board is located in the small car park on the east side of the Corran ferry terminal.
A fascinating insight into the long and turbulent geological history of the Highlands.