Latest news with #Tertiary
Daily Record
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
What is the giant scar that cuts across Scotland and is visible from space?
Satellite images of Scotland reveal a huge crevice that cuts across the Highlands- but what is it? Formed hundreds of millions of years ago, a huge crater in the landscape of Scotland cuts across the upper reaches of the land from northeast to southwest. Visible on most satellite images of the country, it appears as a line cutting diagonally across the Highlands. But what exactly is this huge line on the map, and how was it formed? Known as the Great Glen Fault, this geological phenomenon serves as a reminder that we live on an ancient planet whose history is reflected in our landscape. The fault tells a story of the land that has had a huge impact on Scotland's human and geological history. Here's everything you need to know about this giant crater that cuts deep into the core of Scotland's past. What is the Great Glen Fault? The Great Glen Fault is a deep scar in the land which is visible from space. It first formed around 430-390 million years ago, and cuts diagonally across the country between Fort William and Inverness. It is the most prominent fault in the UK, and was formed by a series of earthquakes. The fault line was eroded by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago, which deepened the long crater to below current sea levels, creating a series of lochs, including Loch Ness. It lines up almost exactly with the Great Glen, a 62-mile valley also running from Inverness to Fort William. A popular long-distance walk, the Great Glen Way largely follows the fault line of this famous strip of land for 75 miles. How was the Great Glen Fault first formed? The Caledonian Orogeny (430-390 million years ago) was a period where the landscape changed significantly, due to the moving of tectonic plates and subsequent earthquakes. The Great Glen Fault formed towards the end of this period, when the Laurentia and Baltic tectonic plates collided, which moved the rocks on either side about 62 miles past each other. In scientific terms, the Great Glen Fault is known as a strike-slip or wrench fault. According to Britannica, this type of fault is a fracture in the rocks of the Earth's crust where the tectonic plates slip past each other, parallel to where they have collided. Strike-slip faults can be either right-lateral (dextral) or left-lateral (sinistral), depending on the direction the opposite block of land appears to have moved. According to previous studies, the Great Glen Fault developed as a left-lateral strike-slip fault during the Caledonian Orogeny. However, it then reactivated right-laterally in the Tertiary period (65-5.2 million years ago), when the tectonic plates moved again. Is the Great Glen Fault still active? According to Historic Mysteries, there has been activity in the Great Glen Fault as recently as 2021. While we don't often see earthquakes in Scotland, there have been around a dozen recorded since 1816, when the largest known tremor with a magnitude of 5.1 was recorded near Inverness. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Online approval system for mining schemes in place in Raj
Jaipur: The department of mines has introduced an online approval system for mining plans and schemes with the aim of streamlining processes and enhancing transparency in the sector. The portal is already operational, and it accepts applications for mining plans related to limestone burning, masonry stone, granite, limestone crushers and quartz-feldspar from several districts, including Jaipur, Beawar, Sirohi, Baran, Banswara and Churu. "The new system eliminates the need for physical submissions and in-person visits for approvals, benefiting nearly 30,000 leaseholders and quarry license holders of minor minerals," said T Ravikant, principal secretary of mines, geology and petroleum current regulations require mining plans to be approved within 90 days, delays have been common. The digital system aims at resolving such bottlenecks."Leaseholders can now submit applications online, track their status, and receive timely approvals. The fully digital process ensures efficiency, reduces delays, and minimizes inconvenience," said Deepak Tanwar, director of work has begun to establish a Mining Sector Excellence Centre in Jaipur, as announced in the state Budget. Officials said this centre would give mining activities in Rajasthan a much-needed momentum. They highlighted the state's status as India's leading mineral-rich state, with a geological heritage spanning millions of years, including the Archaean, Tertiary, Mesozoic and Aravalli eras. The state has identified 82 types of minerals, including lead-zinc, gold-silver, copper-iron ore and limestone, with 57 being actively new centre will scientifically document and display Rajasthan's mineral wealth, including rare earth elements. Crude oil and natural gas production is also underway. "Mining Sector Excellence Centre will preserve and showcase the state's mining heritage while promoting sustainable, zero-loss mining techniques," said an official.
