William Edmond Logan - A Geological Pioneer

A geologist with the then Ordnance Geological Survey (now the British Geological Survey) from its inception in 1835 and a contemporary of Henry de la Beche, William Edmond Logan went on the become the first Director of the Geological Survey of Canada which was formed in 1842. He remained in that post until 1869 when he was succeeded by another pioneer of the British Geological Survey, Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn. 

 

William Edmond Logan (20 April 1798 - 22 June 1875)

Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn
(20 July 1824 - 19 October 1902)

Henry Thomas De la Beche 
(10 February 1796 - 13 April 1855) 

From the British Geological Survey Library in Edinburgh, the following images show a couple of early examples of the Exploration Geologique du Canada: Rapport de Progrès or the Geological Survey of Canada: Report of Progress, the first published in 1846 with the progress from the year 1844. 

Exploration Geologique du Canada: Rapport de Progrès 

In a paper presented to the 'History of the Book in Canada’ Open Conference in May 2001: 

‘I wish these annual reports were at the devil’: William E. Logan and the publications of the Geological Survey of Canada,  Brian Shipley discusses the process undertaken by Logan in producing these Reports of Progress, revealing the objections Logan had in this approach to documenting the work of the Survey. 

Shipley's thesis; 'From Field to Fact: William E. Logan and the Geological Survey of Canada' is also available to download from Dalhousie University Library. 

A notable and honoured man, Logan is the subject of a Dinner Address made by J.M. Harrison at the Annual Dinner of the Geological Association of Canada on the 7^th June 1963, which makes for an entertaining and informative read. 

Harrison, J.M. and Hall, E. (1963) Dinner Address: "William Edmond Logan". Proceedings of the Geological Association of Canada. Vol 15.  

                 

There are many routes for further exploration of the life and work of this celebrated Geologist, Written in Stone : William E. Logan and the Geological Survey of Canada is just one of them.

Posted by : Emma Illingworth

Mining subsidence in Ferniehill, Edinburgh, 2000

BGS Image ID: P100363

Ferniehill, Gilmerton, Edinburgh. Limestone mine subsidence event, November 9th 2000 to March 2001; 'Tumbledown Terrace'. The subsidence has caused damage to buildings, roads etc. The Carboniferous Gilmerton Limestone was quarried and mined at Ferniehill from time immemorial until about 1829. Collapsing old limestone mineworkings were responsible for what became catastrophic damage to many properties.

Download a leaflet explaining the subsidence, by Mike Bowne

BGS image ID:  P100365

BGS image ID: P100398

Posted by Bob McIntosh

Edinburgh Castle Rock and the Arthur's Seat volcano

BGS image ID: P001266

Oblique aerial view of Edinburgh Castle Rock and the Arthur's Seat volcano, looking from the west-north-west. In the foreground, Edinburgh Castle sits on dolerite plugging a Lower Carboniferous volcanic vent intruded into softer sedimentary rocks. Glaciation from the west has left the crag-and-tail feature formed by the hard crag of the Castle Rock and the tail of the Royal Mile stretching eastwards. The remnants of another Lower Carboniferous volcano form Queen's Park in the middle distance: the Arthur's Seat summit is formed of agglomerate and intrusions filling the volcanic vents; the ridges of Whinny Hill to the left (north) are the remains of the lava flows. The sharp Salisbury Craigs in front are formed of a slightly younger teschenite (dolerite) sill.

Bob McIntosh

Geological Survey of Scotland staff on the steps of Sherriff Court, Edinburgh



BGS image ID: P008688

Early group photograph, Geological Survey of Scotland staff, from left to right H. Miller, B.N. Peach, W. Gunn, L.W. Hinxman, [Unknown]  sitting on steps, unknown.

BGS image ID: P008720

Later group photograph of eight Geological Survey of Scotland staff including H. Miller, L.W. Hinxman, B.N. Peach, J. Horne and J. Dakyns. 

These two photographs were taken on the steps of Sherriff Court in Edinburgh, the home to the Geological Survey of Scotland between 1879 and 1906. Perhaps these two pictures were taken on those two dates. The third photograph: The other residents!

BGS image ID: P008690

Sharing the offices with the Geological Survey at Sherriff Court, Edinburgh were the Sherriff's attendants in full regalia - I wonder if this was everyday dress for them.

Bob McIntosh