Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

The Highland Boundary Fault : Reverse or Wrench Fault?

Abstract

DETAILED work which I have done in the Loch Lomond area suggests a definite answer to the above problem which is of some importance since it concerns one of the major geological features of the British Isles. The direction in which the principal stress acted in the production of the fault can be approximately determined from the pattern of structures in the Lower Old Red Sandstone conglomerates, and this supports the contention put forward in stratigraphical accounts (summarized by J. G. C. Anderson1) that the Highland Boundary Fault is a reverse fault of Caledonian age and not a Proto-Armorican wrench fault as envisaged by E. M. Anderson2.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson, J. G. C., Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin., 61, Pt. 2, 479 (1947).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Anderson, E. M., The Dynamics of Faulting (Edinburgh, 1951).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Du Toit, A. L., Trans. Geol. Soc. Edin., 8, Pt. 3, 315 (1905).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Griggs, D., and Handin, J., Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem., 79, 347 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

RAMSAY, D. The Highland Boundary Fault : Reverse or Wrench Fault?. Nature 195, 1190–1191 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/1951190b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1951190b0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing