Cartographic curiosity - Geological Survey of Scotland 1:10,560 Argyll Sheet 18

Geological Survey of Scotland 1:10,560 Argyll Sheet 18. 1878 [eastern half added c.1933]  The 'Clean Copy' deposited for public consultation. 

While searching the old Survey geological maps of the Beinn Mheadhoin/Strontian area for information about mineral workings, Don Cameron, a BGS geologist, came across this handwritten note which seemed to be scurrilously referring to Edward Battersby Bailey (E.B.B.) the then Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Further investigation by Marcus Mulcahy of the BGS Enquiries Team in Edinburgh unearthed the original fieldslip with an admission in Bailey’s handwriting that he mapped the area in question, noting: 'I know this part may be very badly mapped. I did it myself before I knew anything at all about gneiss rocks.' This matches the writing on the 'Clean Copy' above, so its likely that Bailey made the admission before the map was copied! The field slip is shown below.

Original fieldslip: Geological Survey of Scotland 1:10,560 Argyll Sheet 18 NE by 'R.C.B.J.' i.e.   Robert Cyril Briscoe Jones with manuscript notes by  Edward Battersby Bailey.

Note on the maps: A geologist would survey the area by taking a set of Ordnance Survey maps cut up for convenience in the field. The geologist would walk over the ground drawing in the geology he sees and making notes on the field slips and collecting rock samples for identification. In the evening during field days he would 'ink in' the lines he had surveyed. Much later, back in the office a 'Clean Copy' of the map would be made with the final interpretation and deposited in the Survey Library for consultation, the map would also be used when compiling the various published maps. 

To learn about geological mapping in the early days of the Survey visit here. 

Today, the process of mapping is all digital.

Posted by Don Cameron, Marcus Mulcahy, Gill Nixon and Bob McIntosh