Video introduction by British Geological Survey on Siccar Point
What is so special about Siccar Point?
One of the most famous geological sites, Siccar Point is where geologist Hutton realised that the earth is very old after viewing an angular unconformity.
Siccar Point itself consists of two distinct formations - the underlying underlying vertical greywacke layers and the overlying Old Red Sandstone which has a conglomerate layer consisting of cobbles and boulders of the underlying greywacke at its base. Keep in mind this is evidence the underlying unit had to be lithified, and the erosion had to be firm enough to break through solid rock.
Further closeup pictures of Siccar Point can be found here
Why does Sicca Point and angular unconformities imply that the earth is old?
Well, there are a few steps to make angular conformities, each of which takes time - totalling much longer than a year.
- Horizontal sediments are laid down on a sea bed
- As they are buried deeper, the sediments lithify
- Plate tectonics raises and puts at an angle the once horizontal layers
- Erosion levels off tilted layers to a once again horizontal surface
- Another ocean and lays further horizontal sediment over the angulated layers
- The new layers are buried and also lithify
- Erosion exposes the horizontal and angulated layers
Diagram illustrating the process
To young earth creationists, what is your alternative explanation for angular unconformities including Siccar Point? Is it a better explanation than mine listed above?
Thanks to /u/CorporalAnon for his feedback and contributions to this post.
Siccar point in Scotland is where James Hutton described an unconformity which supported his uniformitarianism theory. It's probably one of the most famous geological formation in the world. I've spent quite a bit of time there myself and it's stunning.
There are now plans afoot to stick a bloody great big trench down the edge of the site, have a pipeline laid through, then backfilled with concrete. Sensitive to the geology, I'm sure you'll agree. Then they pump untreated agricultural waste into some of the most beautiful coastline around Scotland.
If you have even the slightest interest in saving one of the most important sites in geology, please take the time to look at this: http://www.savesiccarpoint.co.uk/
I don't want to step on anybody's toes here, but the amount of non-dad jokes here in this subreddit really annoys me. First of all, dad jokes CAN be NSFW, it clearly says so in the sub rules. Secondly, it doesn't automatically make it a dad joke if it's from a conversation between you and your child. Most importantly, the jokes that your CHILDREN tell YOU are not dad jokes. The point of a dad joke is that it's so cheesy only a dad who's trying to be funny would make such a joke. That's it. They are stupid plays on words, lame puns and so on. There has to be a clever pun or wordplay for it to be considered a dad joke.
Again, to all the fellow dads, I apologise if I'm sounding too harsh. But I just needed to get it off my chest.
Do your worst!
I'm surprised it hasn't decade.
For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.
I said "hey look, an escaPEA"
No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!
Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂
