3000 Ma of Scottish Geology

Thermo 2010 Pre-Conference Field Trip to the islands of Mull, Iona and Staffa

We will be holding a pre-conference field trip based on the island of Mull from 7th-14th August 2010. Mull is about 100km north-west of Glasgow, and features an incredible diversity of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary geology covering an immense span of geological time from the Archaean to the Palaeogene.

We will be staying at Scoor House, near Bunessan at the south-west end of the island. None of the excursions involve major ascent, but some will involve walking (up to 6km or so) across rocky, steep, or boggy ground, often without paths. However, all will have options for less physically fit.

Trips will include:

• Boat trip to Staffa to see Fingal’s Cave, and superb columnar basalts and volcanic breccias near the base of the Mull Palaeogene lava pile. 
• Ferry crossing to Iona to see the historic Iona Abbey, and the Archaean and Proterozoic orthogneisses, paragneisses, pseudotachylites, and deformed late Proterozoic sedimentary rocks.
• The Ross of Mull Granite pluton (Silurian/Devonian) at Knockvologan showing superb magma-mixing features, plus amphibolite-facies Proterozoic Moine country rocks at Ardalanish, and elsewhere.
• A road trip to Tobermory and back via Mull’s spectacular west coast, with geological stops en route to look at Palaeogene igneous rocks,
• A visit to the Isle of Mull Malt Whisky distillery in Tobermory. 
• Carsaig Bay and the Mesozoic sediments below the Palaeozoic lava pile, plus minor intrusions, and ignimbrites and magma-wet sediment interaction at the base of the lava pile.
• Palaeogene intrusive rocks layered Loch Uisg Gabbro and “Granophyre”, plus cone sheets at Loch Buie.

We also have a range of shorter excursions in the event of bad weather, or other contingencies.  A detailed excursion guide will be provided and will include information about all the planned excursions as well as a range of information on the local area.  

Details: Leave Glasgow on the morning of 7th August by minibus and Travel to Mull.  Ferry Crossing from Oban to Mull. Accommodation will be in shared twin/triple dormitory style rooms as Scoor House is a converted farmhouse with a number of self contained flats or cottages. Travel around Mull will be by minibus and on Iona and Staffa will be by foot.  Numbers are limited to 32 because of accommodation; places will be awarded on a first come fisrt served basis.  A price of £ includes all transport, accommodation and food and the field guide.  The terrain is not steep but can be very uneven and boggy in places.  All participants MUST have suitable, safe footwear (walking boots) and waterproofs as the weather on Mull can be changeable and is often wet, even in mid summer.  Registration is now open.  Please visit the website for more information.  If you have an questions please contact the organisers before you make your payment.

We do hope you can join us