An ancient and long-extinct volcano lies at the heart of Scotland's
capital. It roared into life some 350 million years ago and has been a
source of fascination since it was first studied in earnest during the
Enlightenment by James Hutton, one of the most significant geologists of
all time. Many of Hutton's ground-breaking ideas of how the world works
were predicated on the rocks and landscapes of his home city and
surrounding area. This book is a fascinating exploration into
Edinburgh's geological history over millions of years - including the
passage of ice during a great freeze that has left an indelible stamp on
Edinburgh's cityscape, the use rocks quarried locally from ancient, now
long disappeared seas to create the stunning elegance of Edinburgh's New
Town, and the coal deposits and oil shale which were exploited from the
Industrial Revolution to the present day.