WGCG Spring 2021 Newsletter - Flipbook - Page 8
WGCG
Spring 2021 Newsletter
This was not all that Corrie had to offer as, later in the day, we were able to see a giant myriapod trail made
by Arthropleura. This has been filmed by Sir David Attenborough for the ‘Life on Earth’ series, so may be
familiar to some of you.
Arthropleura trail, with trail highlighted
Photo credit: Deborah Parke
On day 4 we visited Kildonan on the southern coast of Arran. Kildonan is the site of one of the best examples
of a dyke swarm to be seen. The dykes are composed of black basalt and were formed as the continents of
Europe and North America were pulled apart (about 60 Ma ago). Magma, rising to the surface through cracks
in the Earth, cooled and solidified in situ. The dykes are intruded into sandstone and there is some thermal
metamorphism in the sandstones immediately surrounding the dykes, caused by heat from the rising
magma.
Dyke on Kildonan beach
Photo credit: Paul Abernethy
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