On the Structure of the South-West Highlands of Scotland

Abstract

The following paper is an attempt to throw some light upon the relations of those rocks which figure in our geological maps as the mica-schist, clay-slate, the chlorite-series, and quartz-rock of the South-western Highlands, and the prolongations of which, ranging N.E. through the middle of Scotland, form so conspicuous a feature in the geology of that country. An examination of these rocks, as displayed in Bute and Argyle-shire, has led me to believe that from the quartz-rock of Jura to the border of the Old Red Sandstone we have a conformable series of strata which, although closely linked together, may be classed into three distinct groups, namely:— 1. A set of lower grits, of immense thickness. 2. A great mass of thin-bedded slates. 3. A set of upper grits, with intercalated seams of slate.