5 East Dunbartonshire's Geodiversity Site Results

In total 36 sites were visited and assessed. Of these, 34 are recommended as Local Geodiversity Sites. These sites have a good geographical spread across East Dunbartonshire, encompassing both urban and rural areas. Together they show typical geological strata, structure and features of all the geological units present immediately beneath the surface of East Dunbartonshire.

Although all the rocks seen at outcrop in East Dunbartonshire are Carboniferous in age, together the sites expose much of the Carboniferous sequence which underlies Central Scotland.

The sites, chosen primarily for their geology, have revealed numerous links to the character of the landscape, historical structures, ecology, and the economic and cultural history of the area.

Many of these sites could be enhanced to encourage visitors and students to learn more about the geology beneath their feet and how the geology, as the foundations of our landscape, has influenced the form and nature of what lies at the surface; from the inter-drumlin depressions which have created a wetland habitat to the ironstones and fireclays which were exploited as raw materials for the heavy industry which flourished around Glasgow, resulting in the development of large conurbations.

Scored out of 10, the 34 sites assigned geodiversity values of between 3 and 8 are recommended for designation as Local Geodiversity Sites.

(Table 7) Geological scores for the Geodiversity Sites.

(Table 8) Geological features at the Geodiversity Sites.

Bibliography