Penmaenmawr Mountain Top Quarry

BGS Image ID: P539567

Penmaenmawr Mountain Top Quarry. Conveyors down to loading pier.

BGS Image ID: P539617

Ship loading jetty - some of output went by boat to London.

BGS Image ID: P539574

Drilling shot holes.

Images from the Hugh O'Neill collection. Photographs taken c 1960-61.

Posted by: Bob McIntosh

Groundwater drilling in Scotland

BGS Image ID: P001426

Hardthorn Road site, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway Region. Water strike during drilling for groundwater at Hardthorn Road. 

The rotary drilling rig encountered only dry Permian breccia to 56 m. depth. At this level, a water-bearing fissure suddenly produced a surge of water at the surface. Other fissures were encountered at intervals to 130 m. depth. The final yield of water from the borehole was over 35 litres per second. The borehole is to be used by West of Scotland Water as part of the Dumfries public supply system. The Silurian hills can be seen in the background. These encircle the Permian aquifer in the floor of the basin.

BGS Image ID: P001434

 Adjacent to the A70 road near Tarbrax, Strathclyde Region. A V-notch tank in use during a pumping test on an exploratory groundwater borehole. 

The borehole was drilled by West of Scotland Water as an exercise to see whether groundwater could be used to supply the village of Tarbrax, and replace an unreliable surface stream source. The borehole, drilled into Upper Devonian sandstone and mudstone, yielded over 7 litres/second. The V-notch tank is used to measure the water flow, by comparing the height of water flowing over the V with flow rates in a reference table. The drill rig in the background was used to drill the borehole and install the electric pump to 50 m. depth.

BGS Image ID: P001440

Bridge Farm borehole, Machrie, Arran. An artesian, flowing, borehole drilled into the Permian sandstone aquifer at Machrie, Arran. A T.V. log of the borehole is being undertaken, using a BGS Land Rover.

The flow of water was measured at 10 litres/second, which makes it one of the highest naturally-flowing boreholes in Scotland. Most of the water is coming into the borehole at depths between 65 m. and 95 m. below ground level. The quality of the water is very high, and it is hoped that West of Scotland Water will use this source for most of the island's water supply before 2002.

BGS Image ID: P001441

Bridge Farm borehole, Machrie, Arran. Drilling a groundwater production borehole for West of Scotland Water at Machrie, Arran.

The drill rig is located close to the 'String' road from Brodick at a site chosen by the Hydrogeology Group of BGS. The rig is using an air flush hammer to drill through Permian sandstone. The compressor is seen at the left. Compressed air is sent down the drill rods to the hammer at the bottom of the borehole. The air operates the hammer and brings cuttings and water to the surface. The water flows away from the site to a stream. The 4-wheel drive tractor unit powers the rig and is highly maneuverable - useful for sites with problematical access.

Photographs by Derek Ball

Posted: Bob McIntosh

Exploratory oil drilling, D'Arcy, Midlothian. 1919-1922

BGS image ID: P000056

D'Arcy, 4.0 km. south-east of Dalkeith and 1.6 km. south-south-west of the mining village of Chesterhill, Midlothian. Site of borehole, 1919-1922.

The boring commenced on the Carboniferous Lower Limestone Group which rises as a clearly defined anticline and which was believed to be favourable to oil accumulation. The boring is situated on the crest of this anticline. The boring produced gas at 724 feet (mainly a mixture of methane and ethane). This was sealed off. At 1810 feet some good quality oil was struck in a sandstone; the bore was stopped at 1820 feet. General view of oil well drilling rig, showing derrick and pile or casing against wall in foreground. A length of casing is suspended in the derrick by the travelling block. Photographer: D. Tait. BGS old photograph number: C02882.

For a short account of other notable and interesting boreholes in the UK visit the Geoscience Data Blog.

Bob McIntosh