Geology North presents our investigations into the geological structures, rocks and minerals of Northern England and Southern Scotland.
St. Cuthberts Island
We are Stephen Marker and Ian Patience, two amateur geologists exploring igneous geology through fieldwork, microscopy, and reading. Although most of the work on this website relates to our home county Northumberland, we are beginning to record our explorations elsewhere in Northern England and Southern Scotland.
There is a section on the Cheviot Hills: the origin and structure of the igneous complex and its associated rock types and mineral types. Our related geological excursions pages present descriptions, maps and routes that take in the specific locations of the various rocks and structures at the centre of our investigations. There is a section relating to ‘Coastal Geology‘ and our field notes represents some of our thoughts on our return from various field trips.
There is also a section on Northumberland’s dykes and sills including a new section on the world renowned Great Whin Dolerite Complex or Whin Sill.
Our most recent addition to information relating to Northumbrian geology is the “North Pennine Orefield‘ page. It is still in development with images and accounts of locations, ores, minerals and thin sections to follow.
Our section on the Scottish Borders & Southern Uplands continues to grow. We have a general introduction to the region, an overview of its igneous rocks and the some detailed descriptions of the rocks associated with some of the volcanic plugs and vents in the Scottish Borders Region. Our latest addition is an introduction to the Ballantrae Ophiolite Complex with descriptions of our excursions there.
All the thin-sections and photomicrographs that appear on the website have been made by ourselves from samples that we have collected. Maps are based on Ordinance Survey and BGS geological maps.
Our methods pages show the equipment and techniques we use for sample preparation, microscopy, photography and recording our findings. They also present ways of doing geology on a low budget.
Complementing our scientific investigations, you will also find here an aesthetic response in the form of photographs that appear throughout the website and painting and drawings that appear in the Art with Geology section. Both science and art together are works in progress.
Finally, for climbers wanting to learn more about the geology associated with some of the classic Northumbrian rock climbing routes, there is an article celebrating ‘a marriage forged in fire and flood‘.
Whether you are viewing Geology North from a geology, arts, or leisure perspective, we hope you will find something here to interest and inspire you.
If you would like to get in touch with us to query, comment or advise, please do via our ‘Contact Us‘ page.