In 1854, the discovery of fossils near Durness on the north coast of Scotland triggered one of the bitterest scientific controversies of Victorian times. Geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchsion, director of the Geological Survey, claimed that the fossils proved that much of NW Scotland was a conformable sequence of rocks belonging to his Silurian system. But geologist James Nicol of Aberdeen University, suggested that the fossils were younger and went on to suggest that the geological succession was broken by a series of major faults.

In 1860, Murchison invited the ambitious, young survey geologist Archibald Geikie, on a tour of NW Scotland to pass on his knowledge of the geology. During the 1860s, Geikie rose through the ranks of the Geological Survey with Murchison’s support, eventually taking up the chair of Geology at the University of Edinburgh, endowed for him by Murchison, in 1871.

Against an increasing tide of scientific dissent during the 1870s, Geikie continued to support Murchison’s view on the geology of NW Scotland. In 1883, Geikie, now Director of the Geological Survey, assembled a team of Survey geologists to map NW Scotland, who eventually showed that Murchison was wrong.

Peter Gutteridge Bio

I’m a geologist specialising in carbonate rocks, recently retired from doing consulting work that took me all over the world, particularly Latin America, the Middle and Far East and around Europe. I am continuing my geological career at Manchester University, writing all the papers I never had time for when I was working. I was introduced to the Moine thrust controversy as an undergraduate at Leeds University where it, and NW Scotland, has become part of my life ever since.

Places are limited. Free entry to Lochbroom Field Club Members and Geopark Ambassador & Friends.  £4 entry fee for others.  Please book via pete@nwhgeopark.com