Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xfwgj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-19T23:47:04.390Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

XIX.—The Late-glacial History of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 July 2012

J. K. Charlesworth
J. K. Charlesworth
Affiliation:
Professor Emeritus of Geology, Queen's University, Belfast.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Synopsis

From the abounding moraines, drainage features (fig. 21) and other marginal indications an attempt has been made to reconstruct the successive phases of the ice in its retreat into the corries of the Highlands and Islands (Pl. I). Two late-glacial stages are recognised. During the first, the Highland Glaciation, an ice-margin ran from the Orkney Islands across the mouth of the Moray Firth to the Buchan and out to sea north of Aberdeen. Twelve substages (A–L) of retreat, arbitrarily selected, have been traced through the country, except in the Moraineless West where they are unrepresented.

At the maximum of the second stage, the Moraine Glaciation, the ice readvanced to the line stage M (beaded line in Pl. I). The retreat from this line, the inner boundary of the Moraineless West and of the 100-foot raised beach (Pl. I), is divided into nine substages (N–V), based upon a consideration of snowlines. Substage N corresponds to the 50-foot raised beach, substage P to an important readvance.

The snowline throughout the late-glacial period ran in the west parallel with the meridians and rose eastwards. The disposition of the snowlines for stage M is given in fig. 22, p. 900.

The distribution of the ice in the British Isles during the North British, Highland and Moraine Glaciations is represented in fig. 23, p. 923.

Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 62 , Issue 3 , 1955 , pp. 769 - 928
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1955

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References to Literature

1. Absalom, R. G., and Henderson, S. M. K., 1947. Geol. Mag., 181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Agassiz, L., 1842. Proc. Geol. Soc., 3, 327.Google Scholar
3. Allan, D. A., 1929. Geol. Mag., 66, 27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Anderson, J., 1888. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 8, 316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Anderson, J., 1896. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 10, 198, pl. iv.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Anderson, J. G. C., 1949. Geol. Mag., 239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Bailey, E. B., and Mathieson, J., 1922. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 11, 193.Google Scholar
8. Bell, D., 1873. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 9, 345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Bell, D., 1894. Proc. Phil. Soc. Glasg., 25, 118.Google Scholar
10. Bell, W. H., 1888. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 5, 513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Bremner, A., 1912. The Physical Geology of the Dee Valley. Aberdeen.Google Scholar
12. Bremner, A., 1921. The Physical Geology of the Don Basin. Aberdeen.Google Scholar
13. Bremner, A., 1915. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 10, 334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Bremner, A., 1920. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 11, 25, 61.Google Scholar
15. Bremner, A., 1928. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 12, 147.Google Scholar
16. Bremner, A., 1934. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 13, 1, 17, 174, 378, 474.Google Scholar
17. Bremner, A., 1934. Rep. Brit. Ass., 18.Google Scholar
18. Bremner, A., 1939. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 55, 65.Google Scholar
19. Bryce, J., 1872. The Geology of Arran and Clydesdale. 4th Ed. Glasgow.Google Scholar
20. Buckland, W., 1842. Proc. Geol. Soc, 3, 332.Google Scholar
21. Cadell, H. M., 1896. The Geology and Scenery of Sutherland. 2nd Ed. Edinburgh.Google Scholar
22. Chambers, R., 1855. New Phil. J., new ser., 1, 97.Google Scholar
23. Charlesworth, J. K., 1926. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 55, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
24. Charlesworth, J. K., 1926. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 55, 25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25. Conacher, H. J. R., 1937. Trans. Geol. Soc Glasg., 19, 385.Google Scholar
26. Cowie, C. R., 1900. Trans. Geol. Soc Glasg., 11, 282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27. Crosskey, H. W., and Robertson, D., 1875. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 5, 29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28. Dinham, C. H., 1927. Proc Geol. Ass. Lond., 38, 490.Google Scholar
29. Dougal, J. W., 1932. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 12, 17.Google Scholar
30. Finlay, T. M., 1926. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 54, 553.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31. Forbes, J. D., 1846. New Phil. J., 40, 76.Google Scholar
32. Geikie, A., 1863. Trans. Geol. Soc Glasg., 1, 1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33. Geikie, A., 1925. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 17, 354.Google Scholar
34. Geikie, A., 1892. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 6, 249.Google Scholar
35. Geikie, A., 1892. Geological Map of Scotland with Explanatory Notes. Edinburgh.Google Scholar
36. Geikie, A., 1901. Scenery of Scotland. 3rd Ed. London.Google Scholar
37. Geikie, A., 1877. Nature, 16, 415.Google Scholar
38. Geikie, A., 1878. Quart. J. Geol. Soc. Lond., 34, 819.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
39. Geikie, A., 1881. Prehistoric Europe. London.Google Scholar
40. Geikie, A., 1882. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 6, 137.Google Scholar
41. Geikie, A., 1893. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 37, 128.Google Scholar
42. Geikie, A., 1894. Great Ice Age. 3rd Ed. London.Google Scholar
43. Geikie, A., 1906. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 22, 397.Google Scholar
44. Gregory, J. C., 1922. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 17, 91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
45. Gregory, J. W., 1914. Trans. Geol. Soc Glasg., 15, 85.Google Scholar
46. Gregory, J. W., 1915. Proc. Geol. Ass., 26, 151.Google Scholar
47. Gregory, J. W., 1922. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 17, 354.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
48. Gregory, J. W., 1931. Trans. Geol. Soc Glasg., 18, 313.Google Scholar
49. Gregory, J. W., 1926. Trans. Roy. Soc Edinb., 54, 395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
50. Gregory, J. W., and Renwick, J., 1907. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 13, 45.Google Scholar
51. Gregory, J. W., and Tyrrell, G. W., 1924. Proc Geol. Ass. Lond., 35, 401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
52. Harker, A., 1904. Mem. Geol. Surv., “Tertiary Igneous Rocks of Skye”.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
53. Harker, A., 1905. Trans. Roy. Soc Edinb., 40, 221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
54. Harker, A., 19. Scot. Mtn. Cl. J., 10, 26.Google Scholar
55. Harker, A., 1941. The West Highlands and the Hebrides. Cambridge.Google Scholar
56. Hinxman, L. W., 1892. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 6, 249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
57. Hinxman, L. W., 1901. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 17, 185.Google Scholar
58. Hinxman, L. W., 1907. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 23, 192.Google Scholar
59. Home, D. Milne, 1873. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 8, 137.Google Scholar
60. Home, D. Milne, 1878. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 9, 660.Google Scholar
61. Home, D. Milne, 1880.Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 10, 148.Google Scholar
62. Home, D. Milne, 1884. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 12, 819.Google Scholar
63. Jamieson, T. F., 1858. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 14, 509.Google Scholar
64. Jamieson, T. F., 1863. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 19, 235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
65. Jamieson, T. F., 1865. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 21, 161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
66. Jamieson, T. F., 1874. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 30, 317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
67. Jamieson, T. F., 1882. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 38, 171.Google Scholar
68. Jamieson, T. F., 1906. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 62, 13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
69. Jehu, T. J., and Craig, R. M., 1925. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 53, 419, 615.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
70. Jehu, T. J., and Craig, R. M., 1926. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 54, 467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
71. Jehu, T. J., and Craig, R. M., 1927. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 55, 457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
72. Jehu, T. J., and Craig, R. M., 1934. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 57, 839.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
73. Lennie, A. B., 1911. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 27, 18, 128.Google Scholar
74. Lewis, F. J., 1906. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 22, 241.Google Scholar
75. Lewis, F. J., 1906. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 45, 335.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
76. Lewis, F. J., 1911. Trans. Boy. Soc. Edinb., 47, 793.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
77. Lewis, H. C., 1894. Notes of Glacial Geology of Great Britain and Ireland. London.Google Scholar
78. Louis, H., 1934. Berl. Geogr. Arb., 6.Google Scholar
79. Lyell, C., 1842. Proc. Geol. Soc., 3, 337, 342.Google Scholar
80. Mccallien, W. J., 1937. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 19, 385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
81. Mackie, W., 1901. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 8, 91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
82. Mackinder, H. J., 1907. Britain and the British Seas. 2nd Ed. Oxford.Google Scholar
83. Maclaren, C., 1853. New Phil. J., 54, 229.Google Scholar
84. Maclaren, C., 1855. New Phil. J., new ser., 1, 189.Google Scholar
85. Maclaren, C., 1869. Selected Writings. Edited by Cox, R. and Nichol, J.. Edinburgh. Vol. 2.Google Scholar
86. McNair, P., 1908. Geology and Scenery of the Grampians and the Valley of Strathmore. 2 vols. Glasgow.Google Scholar
87. Mathieson, J., and Bailey, E. B., 1922. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 11, 193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
88. Morrison, W., 1885. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 5, 275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
89. Mort, F., 1914. North Arran.Google Scholar
90. Nicol, J., 1866. Geology and Scenery of the North of Scotland. London.Google Scholar
91. O'Dell, A. C., 1939. Historical Geography of the Shetland Islands. Lerwick.Google Scholar
92. Ogg, W. S., 1928. “Scottish Soils and their Relation to Climate and Vegetation”, Prof. Pap., 1st Int. Congr. Soil Sc Washington, 1, 301.Google Scholar
93. Ogilvie, A. G., 1923. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 53, 377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
94. Peach, B. N., and Horne, J., 1879. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 35, 778.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
95. Peach, B. N., and Horne, J., 1880. Quart. J. Geol. Soc., 36, 658.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
96. Peach, B. N., and Horne, J., 1881. Proc Roy. Phys. Soc. Edinb., 6, 316.Google Scholar
97. Peach, B. N., and Horne, J., 1910. In Sir Murray, J. and Pullar, L., Bathymetrical Survey of the Freshwater Lochs of Scotland. Edinburgh. 6 vols.Google Scholar
98. Peach, B. N., and Horne, J., 1917. Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 37, 327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
99. Renwick, J., 1895. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 10, 96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
100. Renwick, J., and Gregory, J. W., 1907. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 13, 45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
101. Ritchie, J., 1929. Proc Roy. Phys. Soc. Edinb., 21, 185.Google Scholar
102. Scott, A., 1915. Trans. Geol. Soc. Glasg., 16, 61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
103. Scott, J. F., 1931. Trans. Geol. Soc Glasg., 18, 174.Google Scholar
104. Simpson, S., 1948. Trans. Roy. Soc Edinb., 61, 687.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
105. Simpson, J. B., 1933. Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 57, 633.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
106. Veatch, J. O., 1928. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. Arts, 10, 179.Google Scholar
107. Wallace, T., 1887. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 5, 366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
108. Watson, W. R., 1945. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 14, 8.Google Scholar
109. Wilson, J. G. Grant, 1888. Scot. Geogr. Mag., 4, 251.Google Scholar
110. Wright, W. B., 1928. Int. Geogr. Union, First Report of the Commission on Pliocene and Pleistocene Terraces, 1, 99.Google Scholar
111. Wright, W. B., 1937. Quaternary Ice Age. New Ed. London.Google Scholar
112. Woodward, H. B., 1913. Trans. Edinb. Geol. Soc., 10, 192.Google Scholar
113. Arran, The Geology of, 1928.Google Scholar
114. Caithness, The Geology of (Sheets 110 and 116, with parts of Sheets 109, 115 and 117), 1914.Google Scholar
115. Cowal, The Geology of (Sheet 29, and parts of Sheets 37 and 38), 1897.Google Scholar
116. Glasgow District, The Geology of (parts of Sheets 30, 31, 22 and 23), 1925.Google Scholar
117. Islay, The Geology of (including Oronsay and parts of Colonsay and Jura) (Sheets 19 and 27, with the western part of Sheet 20), 1907.Google Scholar
118. Mull, Loch Aline and Oban, Tertiary and Post-Tertiary Geology of (parts of Sheets 43, 44, 51 and 52), 1924.Google Scholar
119. Orkneys, The Geology of (Sheets 117–122), 1935.Google Scholar
120. Buteshire (Sheet 21), 1903.Google Scholar
121. Knapdale, Jura and North Kintyre (Sheet 28), 1911.Google Scholar
122. Colonsay and Oronsay (Sheet 35), 1911.Google Scholar
123. Mid-Argyll, The Geology of the Seaboard of (Sheet 36), 1909.Google Scholar
124. Mid-Argyll, The Geology of (Sheet 37), 1905.Google Scholar
125. Oban and Dalmally (Sheet 45), 1908.Google Scholar
126. Ardnamurchan and Coll (Sheet 51 and part of Sheet 52), 1930.Google Scholar
127. Ben Nevis and Glen Coe (Sheet 53), 1916.Google Scholar
128. Corrour and the Moor of Rannoch (Sheet 54), 1923.Google Scholar
129. Blair Atholl, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy (Sheet 55), 1905.Google Scholar
130. Small Isles of Inverness-shire (Sheet 60), 1908.Google Scholar
131. Upper Strathspey, Gaick and the Forest of Atholl (Sheet 64), 1913.Google Scholar
132. Braemar, Ballater and Glen Clova (Sheet 65), 1912.Google Scholar
133. Skye, The Geology of West-Central Skye, with Soay (Sheet 70), 1904.Google Scholar
134. Glenelg, Lochalsh and South-east part of Skye (Sheet 71), 1910.Google Scholar
135. Mid-Strathspey and Strathdearn (Sheet 74), 1915.Google Scholar
136. Aberdeenshire (West), Banffshire, with parts of Elgin and Inverness-shire (Sheet 75), 1896.Google Scholar
137. Aberdeenshire (Central) (Sheet 76), 1890.Google Scholar
138. Central Ross-shire (Sheet 82), 1913.Google Scholar
139. Beauly and Inverness (Sheet 83), 1914.Google Scholar
140. Lower Findhorn and Lower Strath Nairn (Sheet 84 and part of Sheet 94), 1923.Google Scholar
141. Lower Strathspey (Sheet 85), 1902.Google Scholar
142. Banff, Huntly and Turriff (Sheets 86 and 96), 1923.Google Scholar
143. Fannich Mountains and the country around Upper Loch Maree and Strath Broom (Sheet 92), 1913.Google Scholar
144. Ben Wyvis (Sheet 93), 1912.Google Scholar
145. Aberdeenshire (Northern) and Eastern Banffshire (Sheet 97), 1882.Google Scholar
146. Strath Oykell and Lower Loch Shin (Sheet 102), 1926.Google Scholar
147. Golspie, Sutherlandshire (Sheet 103), 1925.Google Scholar
148. Central Sutherland (Sheets 108 and 109), 1931.Google Scholar
149. Summary of Progress for 1897.Google Scholar
150. Summary of Progress, 1898.Google Scholar
151. Summary of Progress, 1899.Google Scholar
152. Summary of Progress, 1900.Google Scholar
153. Summary of Progress, 1901.Google Scholar
154. Summary of Progress, 1902.Google Scholar
155. Summary of Progress, 1903.Google Scholar
156. Summary of Progress, 1904.Google Scholar
157. Summary of Progress, 1905.Google Scholar
158. Summary of Progress, 1907.Google Scholar
159. Summary of Progress, 1908.Google Scholar
160. Summary of Progress, 1909.Google Scholar
161. Summary of Progress, 1910.Google Scholar
162. Summary of Progress, 1911.Google Scholar
163. Summary of Progress, 1922.Google Scholar
164. Summary of Progress, 1936.Google Scholar
165. British Regional Geology, Scotland, “Northern Highlands”, 1936.Google Scholar
166. British Regional Geology, Scotland, “Grampian Highlands”, 1935.Google Scholar