That great road from Middleton to Innerleithen, the B7007 & B709.
Why's it called the Granites?
Is it as simple as there's lots of granite around?
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Why's it called "the Granites"?
(5 posts)- Started 8 years ago by Gilbot
- Latest reply from ejstubbs
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Posted 8 years ago #
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I was on that road yesterday there is granite quary in the area according to Google
Posted 8 years ago # -
As I understand it, the Moorfoots and much of the surrounding area lie above what's called a magnetic basement block, which is a granite batholith. Most of that lies up to 8km down, but it's much closer to the surface at Lammer Law and there is an intrusion at Broad Law, which is why it was quarried there.
But the bedrock of the Moorfoots is greywacke, a type of slate, that was laid down in the Silurian and Ordovician periods (about 450 million years ago, give or take).
Posted 8 years ago # -
Great answers. Cheers.
I was looking at the OS map and the is a disused quarry on Broad Law at the top of the B7007 climb from Middleton.
Fantastic riding round there.
I'm getting out of town and moving to that area and can't wait to explore it on the bike.Posted 8 years ago # -
@arellcat: there is an intrusion at Broad Law, which is why it was quarried there
Does that explain what appears to be a scarp slope that the B7007 traverses between there and Whitelaw Cleugh/Whitelaw farm? I've often admired the views from there on good visibility days, but I never paused to consider why it's actually there.
Posted 5 years ago #
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