Highland Granite?

**MacWage** · 8th January 07, 07:14 PM

I was thinking of the Highland Granite tartan and also of the rock a few yards under my feet. I began to wonder . . .

I know much of the Scottish highlands are very rough and rocky. So, is much of the rock, geologically, granite or is it of another type?

In my (regional) area, we have A LOT of granite. A very large lump lies just below most of Atlanta, North Georgia, Upstate South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and more. The largest exposed lump is Stone Mountain near Atlanta, but that lump extends WAY out in all directions.

So, is Grantite a commonality of these two regions so many thousands of miles seperated?

**beloitpiper** · 8th January 07, 08:35 PM

Some of the best granite in the world is in Scotland. The highlands are very rocky and sit upon a fault (the Highland Boundary Fault), which creates the craggy mountains and deep lochs. The highlands are also replete with gneiss, schist, and sandstone. Also, some of the oldest rocks in Europe come from the Outer Hebrides, including Torridonian Sandstones which can be as old as 3 billion years. This is why Scotland has produced many great geologists, like James Hutton, the father of modern geology.

...sorry, I just completed a geology class.

**auld argonian** · 8th January 07, 09:06 PM

Aren't the stones used in curling made from Highland Granite...the BEST stones, that is...

Best

AA

**Pour1Malt** · 9th January 07, 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Aren't the stones used in curling made from Highland Granite...the BEST stones, that is...

Best

AA

nope!

the best curling stanes (including the Scottish Olympic Champion Teams Stanes)

arr frae the wee stane isle o' Aisla Craig...

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/mountains/ailsa.htm

also....

a lot o' high grade granite frae Dalbeattie (18 miles frae Ferintosh) is in the older buildings in New York...

it wuz used as ballast in the ships returnin tae usa after droppin cotton aff in Scotland & Englad...

the wee town o' Dalbeattie is almaist entirely built frae granite.... e'ery house. shop, kirk, an sae oan...

**Mike1** · 9th January 07, 04:59 AM

And Aberdeen's nickname is...?

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 9th January 07, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Mike1

And Aberdeen's nickname is...?

The Silver City!

**macwilkin** · 9th January 07, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by Mike1

And Aberdeen's nickname is...?

Why, "The Granite City", of course!

Happy to meet, sorry to part...

Todd

**turpin** · 8th January 07, 09:23 PM

About 450 million years ago, continental drift caused the European and North American continental plates to collide, creating a massive uplift and resulting in a mountain range taller than the Rockies. When plate tectonic activity dragged the plates apart, it created the the mountains of Scotland and the Central and Northern Appalachians. They are basically the same set of rocks.

**The Wizard of BC** · 8th January 07, 11:18 PM

Dr. Barb, where are you when we need you?

**MacWage** · 9th January 07, 05:00 AM

Originally Posted by turpin

About 450 million years ago, continental drift caused the European and North American continental plates to collide, creating a massive uplift and resulting in a mountain range taller than the Rockies. When plate tectonic activity dragged the plates apart, it created the the mountains of Scotland and the Central and Northern Appalachians. They are basically the same set of rocks.

As one who LOVES both, THAT is COOL!!!!