Agglomerate. From neck; rhyolitic matrix. Mortonhall Quarry, near Buckstone. The first of c 17,000 photographs of rock specimens from the BGS Systematic Series captured and processed by BGS volunteers in Edinburgh.
The Systematic Series is arranged by Geological Survey 1"/1:50,000 map sheet area. Representative rocks from each sheet were collected or drawn from other collections to make a teaching collection for new Survey field geologists.
Ballochmyle Quarry, Mauchline. Ayrshire. New Red Sandstone (Permian) red desert sandstones showing large-scale aeolian (wind-blown) dune-bedding. The huge size of the quarry is indicated by the scale of the quarrymen – the quarry is often over 64 m deep. Access to the working face by ladder is clearly seen. Health & safety was not what is today! Large blocks are lifted by crane powered by a vertical steam boiler.
Date of image: 1921.
A sample of Ballochmyle sandstone from the National Building Stone Collection held at the British Geological Survey. Econ. 7471. The sandstone consists of well-sorted, mostly rounded and frosted sand grains. They are red in colour due to a coating of haematite, an iron oxide.
Emily Tracey
Building Stones Conservation Specialist.
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