Inspired by this thread, I thought it deserved its own.
Whether you are the only one in the cathedral trying to guess the age of the rock from the pillars based on fossil content, or the bank round the corner has some top notch phenocrysts in the walls, share your experiences and locations here.
I'm quite partial to examining the cross bedding in sandstone and gritstone blocks on walls and buildings at the moment. There are also a few lovely pegmatites to be spotted in some of the paving stones around The Shambles and old market place in York.
In Edinburgh you can actually do a "geology" tour of the building stones along the main street (Princes Street). The tour is in the "Geology of the Lothians and Edinburgh" (or similar) guide. Most of the shop fronts are igneous of some sort. The Scott Monument used to be a lovely yellow sandstone, but is now a black sandstone due to pollution (apart from the bits they replaced a few years ago which are kind of grey now).
I have to admit to looking at the great cross bedding on some sandstone blocks in a wall nearby - I don't actually stop and look, just surreptitiously as I walk past...
why dont you wack out your hand-lens and clinometer?? I'm dissapointed in you. If I had it my way, I'd wear my hard hat and high-vis all the time, and mr stappy (the hammer) would ride like a samari sword high on my back.... however this might attract funny looks so I tend to stick to my normal pirate gear when out in the street.
Rank: Corundum
Joined: 18/12/2006
Points: 3524
In Edinburgh you can actually do a "geology" tour of the building stones along the main street (Princes Street). The tour is in the "Geology of the Lothians and Edinburgh" (or similar) guide. Most of the shop fronts are igneous of some sort. The Scott Monument used to be a lovely yellow sandstone, but is now a black sandstone due to pollution (apart from the bits they replaced a few years ago which are kind of grey now).
I have to admit to looking at the great cross bedding on some sandstone blocks in a wall nearby - I don't actually stop and look, just surreptitiously as I walk past...
Geologists are gneiss!!
Rank: Calcite
Joined: 29/01/2006
Points: 236
Just to clarify, I don't stop and whip out a clinometer and hand lens... Just a passing glance. I sound marginally less nerdy now (I hope!)
Rank: Fluorite
Joined: 14/09/2006
Points: 292
a personal favourite of mine are those limstone paving slabs with the fossils in them!
Rank: Gypsum
Joined: 04/10/2006
Points: 61
why dont you wack out your hand-lens and clinometer?? I'm dissapointed in you. If I had it my way, I'd wear my hard hat and high-vis all the time, and mr stappy (the hammer) would ride like a samari sword high on my back.... however this might attract funny looks so I tend to stick to my normal pirate gear when out in the street.
:-D