Download Geology/physical Geography trail

Geology/physical Geography
trail
2. The path to the waterfall
1.
The viewpoint….
Origins.
Geology is the science that studies earth- its birth,
evolution, workings and how we can preserve it.
The earth formed an estimated 4.53 billion years
ago! Life first started on earth around 3.5 billion
years ago with the first living cells.
Around 4.4 billion years ago earth began to
change, as a result of a huge impact with other
space material the earth started to melt! Heavy
materials sank to the core, lighter materials
floated to the surface – we call this differentiation.
Differentiation resulted in the structure of the
earth we have today…a solid iron inner core, liquid
iron outer core, mantle and thin crust. The core is
the reason we have a protective magnetic field
and the mantle and thin crust is the reason the
earth’s plates move around.
Volcanoes formed in this early earth and the out gassing produced our oceans and atmosphere.
[Date]
Once you have made your way down the steps
toward the waterfall you will see exposed
sandstone. The sandstone you see formed
millions of years ago when Scotland was in a
different position on earth. The red colouring
present in some of the sandstone is from Iron
Oxide present during the Devonian period
(approx 400 million years ago) The rocks present
along the side of the burn; scots for river,
represent a time when Kelburn (and Scotland)
was desert, tropical seas and then a desert once
more. If you look up at the castle you will notice
it is built from the sandstone you see present
along the exposed surfaces around you!
This Sandstone is a sedimentary rock – it is
material deposited and buried over time. The
weight of material pressing down causes it to
become a hardened rock.
3. The bottom of the Waterfall
Here you can see erosion ongoing, erosion (the
wearing away of material) has and is still, creating
and changing the shape of the land. When the ice
melted at the end of the last ice age huge amounts
of water made its way to the coast, valleys were
eroded and our rivers and waterfalls still run these
courses today.
4. South Glen path
Along this stretch of path which follows the
course of the burn you should see the effects
of ongoing erosion and deposition. More
resistant rock is harder to erode and so forms
small rapids, the swirling of the water is called
an Eddy.
The steep sides of the gorge are a result of
vertical erosion by the burn…it is eroding
down thus making the gorge deeper.
You can see from the exposed roots and trees
already fallen that erosion and weathering
along the bank has an impact on the trees in
the glen here. The burn winds around more
resistant rock and finds the easiest route to
the sea.
5. The Ranger Pool
The waters level in the gorge have varied over
time. Look up above the current water level and
see if you can find signs of the old water level.
Erosion would have taken place leaving marks on
the rocks, caves or small pot holes.
Now make your way back to the viewpoint and
take the path into the glen…….
A lot of work has taken place here after a
severe flood in 2010. You can see huge
boulders present that were moved here by the
power of the water during a heavy flood.
Bridges and paths were destroyed. Events like
this can totally change the course of a river.
Look for the materials moved by the burn
during the flood!
Further round you will also see another
waterfall, plunge pool and rapids. Try to spot
the soft and hard rocks.
Use the attachment (types of erosion) to spot
processes in the burn.