Every place on Earth, of course, has geology. But Scotland has a special relationship to the science of geology. It first developed as a science there. Principles like unconformities were first worked out by Scottish geologists. Petroleum was first commercially produced in Scotland. Scotland has some of the most intensively investigated ancient volcanoes in the world.

This is a fine book, worthwhile even to a Sassenach with an interest in Scottish geology and indispensable to anyone living actually living there who’s interested in the subject. (I’ve only seen a small part of the Scotland, and I didn’t keep an atlas handy or look up online all the places whose location I didn’t know.) I would say this book is the equivalent of an introductory textbook in physical geology. Its coverage of fault types and contact metamorphism is particularly well done. The book has a better breakdown of igneous rock types than I’ve seen before.

Its color plates are extensive and well-reproduced. There is an extensive glossary of Gaelic terms for various types of landscape. There are several good diagrams. There are inset sections on certain topics like petroleum exploitation in Scotland.

After the first chapter introducing general principles with nice coverage of dating techniques. I was a bit surprised to see no reference to the Hadean Bombardments under the Precambrian Eon. On the other hand, there were four eras of Scottish geology I hadn’t heard of in the Precambrian.

The second chapter covers the geological zones of Scotland with particular attention to the six very old fault lines, all running from northeast to southwest, that were so influential on Scotland’s future topography and geology.

We then have chapters covering those geologic zones from the oldest rocks to the youngest rocks which, for Scotland, is generally northwest to southeast. Then we go back to the northwest to cover Scotland’s youngest rocks, the volcanic isles of the Hebrides.

Then it’s on to the effects of ice ages on Scotland.

As seems to be somewhat traditional in these books on a region’s geology, the last chapter covers the energy and mineral resources of Scotland. However, Gillen takes the somewhat unusual approach of describing the geological conditions creating those resources and includes some of the significant building stones that came out of Scotland. Controversies about the effects on the Scottish landscape in developing those resources is also briefly covered.

As a wrap up, Gillen gives map resources the locals can use to do further exploration. ( )

A thoroughly readable account of the geology of Scotland putting it in the context of world processes. Given this is such a complex terrain, he has opted to go fr a regional approach, but has included how the major events which shaped that particular region have also affected elsewhere. For those interested in the history of the science, he also highlights specific areas of importance in the development of geological theory.
The work is extensively illustrated throughout with many clear B&W photographs supplemented by line drawings.
A useful feature is the further resources section, not merely a bibliography, it includes options for further study and a glossary of technical and Gaelic terms. ( )