Talk:Orcadian Basin

Stromatolites

These are not restricted to marine environments and are also found in lacustrine settings. Mikenorton (talk) 16:10, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Plant Remains

I think we could expand the article by giving some reference to the Rhynie chert. I thinks more or less contemporaneous. The lakes give us a window on a terrestrial world which is rarely preserved and it would be good to give an impression of what the overall environment was like so long ago. Frank.corr (talk) 18:00, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

Well preserved fish? Good enough to eat?

Well preserved fish? Good enough to eat? Laurel Bush (talk) 12:22, 13 June 2008 (UTC).

Perhaps a little past there sell by date (~390 Ma), fossils added. Mikenorton (talk) 12:50, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

Orcadian Lakes or Orcadian Basin

Might I suggest that this article, with suitable enlargement, be re-titled 'Orcadian Basin' since that is a term which is more likely to be encountered and thus searched for. in any case 'Orcadian lakes' may at first glance be anticipated as an article on the current day lochs of the archipelago. The Basin is a well-known feature of this region in Devonian times (amongst geologists at any rate!) and it is in this context in which various lakes came and went. I had thought to establish a new page 'Orcadian basin' but at some stage there would likely then be discussion about merging the two articles. cheers Geopersona (talk) 06:46, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I would be very happy to see the change made, as 'Orcadian Lakes' is a term rarely used, 'Lake Orcadie' had some currency at one time, but 'Orcadian Basin' is the name most used. Mikenorton (talk) 08:20, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

See my sandbox where I'm putting together a draft for such an article, comments appreciated. Mikenorton (talk) 16:18, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

In which case see my sandbox ! You're welcome to make use of any of the text there - shall I leave the development of an Orcadian basin article with you!? cheers Geopersona (talk) 16:49, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Indeed your is more advanced than mine. Note too that I have recently put together articles on the Caithness Flagstone Group, Eday Group and Yesnaby Sandstone Group which may assist. I had considered putting them into the Geology of Orkney page but since the Caithness FG example extends beyond Orkney, and for consistency across all of the geological groups articles I'm in process of compiling I decided against that approach. cheers Geopersona (talk) 16:56, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I've actually published on this stuff so I'm a little wary about writing it, as I have strongly held views about the tectonics, so it might be better if you put it together. Also I will be taking a wikibreakholiday in a week's time, so may not get around to it before then, but I'll see how it goes. Mikenorton (talk) 19:23, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I'll take a further look then - you can always do further edits. By the way just checked out www.geograph.org.uk now in order to navigate my way to Orkney - only to find that a fine photo of waves crashing on the ORS at Yesnaby is photo of the day - how curious! cheers Geopersona (talk) 20:27, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

I've just started a commons Category:Geology of the Orkney Islands which may contain photos of interest (although I have a lot to upload from a field-trip to Orkney in October), from various parts of the Eday group and flagstones, including the Sandwick Fish Bed. Mikenorton (talk) 21:23, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

Flagstones

Good job, I learned a bit :) One line in the lead bothers me a bit: ... a sequence of flagstones was formed'. To me a flagstone is simply a flat dimension stone used in paving and construction. So, after a bit of link following, I discovered Upper Stromness Flagstone Formation and the Lower Stromness Flagstone Formation exist in the basin. OK - but still, the bare flagstone in the lead still begs for clarification. Vsmith (talk) 00:19, 27 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks, I've had a go at clarifying about flagstones - it was surprisingly difficult to find a source that explained exactly what an Orcadian flagstone was. I've also added something on their use as building material since the neolithic. I need to add an 'Economic importance' section I think, covering the flagstone industry and the Beatrice oilfield, which was sourced at least in part from the Devonian lake sequence. Mikenorton (talk) 22:30, 27 February 2012 (UTC)