Can I check with you - is the rock of Orkney all sandstone? I have searched the Orkneyjar site and can't find a clear answer there. Thanks Lyn

> Can I check with you - is the rock of Orkney all sandstone? The vast majority is Middle and Upper Old Red Sandstone and some other sandstones and siltstones, but not all. There's a granite intrusion around Stromness and a few sills and dykes of dolerite, camptonite, monchiquite and bostonite; also one or two breccia sediments here and there. And if I could put my hand on my copy of 'British Regional Geology: Orkney and Shetland' then I'd mention a volcanic vent or two...but I can't so I won't. But it's *practically* all sandstone. Martin -- Martin McCarthy /</ http://www.non-prophet.org marty@ancient-scotland.co.uk \>\ http://www.ancient-scotland.co.uk /</ http://www.ehabitat.demon.co.uk

> Can I check with you - is the rock of Orkney all sandstone? I have searched the Orkneyjar site and can't find a clear answer there. > Thanks > Lyn > > Haven't seen a reply to your post Lyn. I'm no geologist so I'm not the best qualified person to answer your question, but much of Stromness, my home town, is built on a granite outcrop. I have a copy of "The New Orkney Book" published in 1966. That has a chapter "Geology of Orkney", which I would be happy to type and e-mail to you, if you want. Wouldn't be any problem. Just say the word. Regards Mike Clouston