Ancient beginnings
The rocks west of the Strathy River have fascinated geologists for a long time. Their age and origin have been subject to debate and even today this still rages on.
The most ancient rocks in the Brittish Isles are known as the Lewisian and outcrop on the Outer Hebrides and along the west coast of the Northern Highlands.
The most ancient rocks in the Brittish Isles are known as the Lewisian and outcrop on the Outer Hebrides and along the west coast of the Northern Highlands.
Latest research points to the rocks of the Strathy Complex having been deposited in a region where there was active volcanoes (arc-related) next to a warm sea (marble). The rocks are probably sub-Moine and thus can be considered to be Archean, yet they are distinct from all the other outcrops of Archean rocks in Scotland. Some authors have suggested that the Strathy Complex was related to the Grenvillian mountain building event (1100-1000Ma) that took place on the Rondianian Supercontinent.
Samhchair