FOSSILS IN SCOTLAND
 

WHERE CAN YOU COLLECT FOSSILS IN SCOTLAND?

Eric<BR><BR>I am rarely completely flummoxed by a question in here, but this one takes the biscuit. Now, there may be people who have direct knowledge, but I find this internet thingy quite useful. look what I found!!<BR><BR>http://www.thefossilhunter.melb.net/fossils_uk.html<BR><BR>http://www.mwfossils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk<BR><BR>Both have other links. There were c6400 answers to the query and those were the most relevant web sites from the top 20.<BR><BR>I could probably find you a fossil hunter to ask, if this doesn't help.<BR>

OK, I'll bite, I'm a paleontologist. What types of fossils? Not a lot of dinosaurs in Scotland, but there are invertebrates. Most of the rock is metamorphic so the fossils have been destroyed. The age and types of rocks are very similar to New England (USA), since they used to be a continguous land mass. If you tell me where exactly you are going, I will check the geologic map and get back on possibilities. I know I have collected corals, brachiopods, trilobites and fossil ferns along the roadside in the Scottish highlands.

What are you doing with them? I would be careful to attempt to take them out of the country..... <BR> <BR>curious

You cannot collect them, they're all locked up inside Balmoral Castle.

We don't plan on visiting Scotland until after London, where we plan on picking up the Stone of Scone as well as the Elgin Marbles. <BR> <BR>Next stop Scotland, where with my Peabody Steam Shovel (carried in my backpack in Virgin Atlantic's overhead bin),I ought to be able to scoop up a Tyranesaurus Caledonius skeleton whole. There is a new museum in Atlanta interested in new exibits, and specializing in large dinosaurs. I figure the precedent has been set. <BR> <BR>Seriously though, we are perfectly satisfied with brachiopods, extremely happy with trilobytes, and thrilled by fossil fern or fish. The kids love to collect the fossil sharks teeth that can be found on some of our beaches. We will be near Edinburgh and Loch Lomand.

Something in my memory (there's less there every day) leads me to think that the rocks west of the Great Glen (Loch Ness et al) are incredibly old and match up with rocks in N. America like the Canadian Shield, while the rocks on the North Sea side are younger. <BR>Of course I could suggest your fossil hunting might entail stopping in any office of the Scottish Conservative Party, but that would probably offend someone. Invertebrates, mainly.

Eric, <BR> <BR>I love the plan! Will you please take the Elgin marbles back to Greece where they belong? <BR> <BR>I also love to encourage kids with geology. While your in London, pop into the Geological Museum, not on most peoples radar. They can give you lots of info, maps and books etc. The region around Edinburgh is called the Midland Valley of Scotland consisting of lots on non fossiliferous igneous rocks, but very cool extinct volcanoes (Authurs' seat, and Castle Hill) right in the town itself. The area of coastline near St Andrews is Carboniferous limestone that may yield fossil corals (and other marine fossils). Drive along the back roads and check at road cuts, as you know beaches are also good. The Coal measures (with possible ferns) are at the head of the Firth of Forth and inland from Edinburgh. I remember the region south of Edinburgh (the southern Scottish uplands) as being fossiliferous Silurian where you would find the brachiopods and corals, possible trilobites. Good luck and have fun encouraging your children in science. You can reach me at the e-mail address for other questions. <BR> <BR>Also I have never has problem with collecting rocks and bringing them home from anywhere. Soil, however is a no no. With the hoof and mouth problem immigrations may ask to see you specimens, but a dip in the bleach will not harm most rocks, and kill the microbes. Have fun! <BR>