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Geodiversity as a source of raw materials

Scotland's geological growth and development over 3 billion years of changing environments and drifting continents, has given rise to a huge variety of geological materials which have been exploited by people for thousands of years.  The location of these natural resources has been a fundamental factor in determining how and where people have lived and worked in Scotland. Industry and related settlements developed where these raw materials were found.

Examples of the use of the geodiversity:

  • Fuel: For many centuries coal as a fuel has been extracted to heat homes and power Scottish industry.  Peat also continues to be used locally for fuel.  Mining oil-rich shale to extract oil produced the distinctive bings of West Lothian.  Oil and gas continue to be extracted from the rocks of the North Sea.
  • Building materials: A variety of rock types such as sandstone, granite, basalt, slate and flagstone are used as building stone.  Rock is also used for concrete manufacture for roads and building construction.  Clay in the past has been quarried and mined for the manufacture of bricks, and limestone continues to be quarried for use in making cement.
  • Minerals: Mineral mining in Scotland from at least the 13th century, has yielded iron, lead, baryte, zinc, chromium, copper, manganese, talc, mica and a few tons of gold and silver.  Precious and semi-precious stones have also been collected, including sapphire, blue topaz, agates, amethyst and Cairngorm crystal (smokey quartz).
  • Agriculture: Lime derived from limestone has been used to improve soil quality.  The soil supports crops, forestry and natural habitats, and is an important factor in both water and air quality, vital for human life.

Utilisation of these resources has had and continues to have an impact on the landscape of Scotland.  There are the obvious impacts of quarrying, and spoil heaps are a legacy of mining.

Case studies: