Hutton’s Unconformity
Siccar Point, Scotland
Explore Siccar Point by following the Deep Time Trail to the viewpoint
Latitude: 55.931588, Longitude: -2.3012
Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: NT812709
Hutton’s Unconformity
This most significant location of all attracts geologists from around the world to the birthplace of modern geology
The underlying rock type, known as greywacke, was originally formed from the erosion of even older rocks, with the sediment being progressively deposited in layers on the seabed. Here, buried deeply and with increasing heat and pressure, it become rock once again.
The greywacke layers then became folded (crumpled) as a result of continents being pushed together as part of the processes of plate tectonics; this happened about 420 million years ago. Further movements of the Earth’s crust and erosion of overlying rock exposed these distorted layers at the Earth’s surface, with the layers lying almost vertically.
Millions of years later, these upended layers became buried again where they were blanketed in new layers of sediment of a different type. Eventually, these too became rock, and further Earth movements brought them back to the surface where ongoing erosion continues to this day.
Siccar Point close-ups
Resources
Take a Virtual Visit to Siccar Point with these 3D Photogrammetry Models
Tip: Click to launch a model, then click on its bottom-right arrows icon to make it full-screen.
You can then click to drag the model and zoom in/out in three dimensions.
(You may need to press your ‘Esc’ key to return to this web page.)
Close-up View 1
by Marissa Dudek on Sketchfab
Close-up View 2
by Marissa Dudek on Sketchfab
Now experience Siccar Point for yourself…
See it with your own eyes
Feel the rocks under your feet
Touch the 65 million year time gap…
…and imagine back to when James Hutton landed here in 1788,
turning a page in our understanding of the world and how it works.
Take the Deep Time Trail
The Birth of ‘Deep Time’
Towards the end of the eighteenth century, one man’s theories about the real age of the Earth transformed the way people thought about how truly ancient the planet is.
His name was James Hutton – the Founder of Modern Geology and the pioneer of Deep Time.
Questions / comments?
If you have any comments or questions about this website, please contact Angus Miller at the Edinburgh Geological Society: promotion@edinburghgeolsoc.org