Abandoned Croft Elphin, Sutherland. Highland Region. Scotland. GPL 4308-406
Knockan cliffs is one of major importance to the geological world and the displays and associated in the SNH visitor centre and Nature Trail give a comprehensive introduction to the surrounding landscape. Being situated above the main road between Coigach and Assynt, The geological interest in Knockan is brought about by the unexpected bedding of the rocks in this region. Usually beds of rock lie with the youngest layers on top, and the older rocks below. Whilst buried under the later layers, the older rocks have been exposed to high temperatures and pressures and hence have been significantly altered. However at Knockan it is the upper layers, the dark grey schists forming the crest of the cliff, that appear the most altered (and therefore actually the oldest). It was only in 1859 that a Professor Nicol argued that the normal sequence had been broken by a fault in the Earth's crust and that the older rocks had been driven bodily over the younger layers. This form of geological disruption created by the mountain building forces in the Earth's crust is now generally accepted and can be found on all continents, but was contested at the time. The fault at Knockan is now known as the Moine Thrust.
Size: 6144px × 4006px
Location: Elphin. Sutherland. Highland Region Scotland.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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