The Edinburgh Geologist Issue no 43

Editor: Alan Fyfe

Published November 2004

Cover illustration: Near-horizontal beds of Torridonian sediments form the massive bulk of Liathach. The dominant peak of Spidean a' Choirs Léith is the highest of the Torridonian mountains.

The photograph is chosen to mark the start of a new series on Mountain Geology (see article by Suzanne Miller).

Photograph taken by and published by permission of Peter Robson.
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Contents

Page

Editorial

1

Mountain geology - starting at the top: Ben Nevis  by Suzanne Miller

3

A visit to the Leadhills (report from 1857  by Helen Smailes

10

An Edinburgh Walk  by Peter Dryburgh

16

Scottish slate  by Alan McKinney

24

Strange Earth No. 20 - Pwdre Ser or 'Star Jelly'  by Bill Baird & Ronnie Leask

26

Poet's Corner  Song of a Geologist by Robert Dick (contributed by Gareth Peach)

28

Appeal from an arenophile  by Jean-Yves Boudet

30

Geo-vineyards - Loess  drunk by Lesley Morrison and the Editor

31

Book Reviews
     Volcanoes and the making of Scotland, reviewed by Angus Duncan

32

Rocksword Puzzle No. 12  by Angela Anderson

34

Proceedings of the Edinburgh Geological Society
     for the 170th session, 2003-2004

35