Highland Boundary Fault

View along the Highland Boundary Fault from Conic Hill – the topographic ridge is mainly due to the presence of Devonian age conglomerates on the southwestern side of the fault and can be traced across Loch Lomond on the islands of Inchcailloch, Torrinch, Creinch and Inchmurrin, to Ben Bowie on the western shore

The Highland Boundary Fault is a major fault zone[1] that traverses Scotland from Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven in the east. It separates two different geological terranes which give rise to two distinct physiographic terrains: the Highlands and the Lowlands, and in most places it is recognisable as a change in topography. Where rivers cross the fault, they often pass through gorges, and the associated waterfalls can be a barrier to salmon migration.[2]

The fault is believed to have formed in conjunction with the Strathmore syncline to the south-east during the Acadian orogeny in a transpressive regime that caused the uplift of the Grampian block and a small sinistral movement on the Highland Boundary Fault.[3][4]

  1. ^ Tanner, G. (2008). "Tectonic significance of the Highland Boundary Fault, Scotland". Journal of the Geological Society. 165 (5): 915. Bibcode:2008JGSoc.165..915T. doi:10.1144/0016-76492008-012.
  2. ^ "Natural obstructions: How nature makes salmon leap for their lives" (PDF). Atlantic Salmon Trust Journal: 44–46. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Loch Lomond: Highland Boundary Fault". Scottish Geology. 2008. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Highland Boundary Fault". Gazetteer for Scotland. 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2006.