Hutton’s Section is at the base of Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.
This spectacular location is where a horizontal igneous intrusion created a dolerite sill during the Carboniferous period around 360 million years ago.
Hutton recognised that molten dolerite must have intruded into the older, underlying sedimentary rock, distorting it at this location.
Take a Virtual Tour of Salisbury Crags
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.)
Important:
Public access to Hutton’s Section is currently unavailable (as of June 2024). The area has been fenced-off for safety, following a rock fall some time ago. Meanwhile, you can still take a virtual tour using the links above, and locate the area in satellite view using the link to Google Maps below.
Click for map pinpointing Hutton’s Section
Geoguides on the Scottish Geology Trust Website
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