Question for a rock enthusiast

[El Gordo]

Nigel - I came across this pic on the web, and wondered if you knew where it was taken....

[Sweder]

It's Fred Flintstone's springboard.
Ha! You snooze, you lose Rockmeister

[Nigel]

Nope. It was somewhere around mile 21 of the Abingdon Marathon.

No wonder my legs ached so much afterwards. Great knees, though.

[Nigel]

Actually, it looks like some sort of dodgy grey igneous or metamorphic stuff. Not really my bag. Anyway, the lichen tells me it's Wales, maybe Snowdonia. But the sunshine suggests Morocco, or perhaps even California.

Alright - I give up, then.

[Seafront Plodder]

Really Nigel! What's that for an attitude? You are a scientist, an expert, nay an academic. We rely on you for all things with a potential pyroclastic texture! :lowscrapingbow:

Imagine going to the doctor and showing him a nasty rash on your err...arm, only for him to reply "well, it looks like some sort of dodgy stuff, but it's not really my bag'

Pull yourself together man.

[Sweder]

Looks like a Norwegian Blue.
Known for its beautiful plummage, the Norwegian Blue.
Can't we ask the bloke perched on the rock?

Oi! Where are you mate?







Hmm . . . damned rude if you ask me.
Must be the peroxide mullet.

[Nigel]

.... Suitably chastised by my patients, I can see that a direct diagnosis is duly required. Right then.

I'll venture they're Palaeozoic metarenites / pyroclastics of the Variscan or Caledonian orogens, possibly in the western Cantabrians, the Lake District or Wales.

Or then again, maybe not.

[Seafront Plodder]

.... I'll venture they're Palaeozoic metarenites / pyroclastics of the Variscan or Caledonian orogens,.

I was thinking along similar lines meself.

[Nigel]

Right then - we're still waiting for the correct answer from Andy.

Oh - yeah, yeah. Running is the answer. That's a given ....

[El Gordo]

I can't remember where I saw it. Now I'm worried that this might become some lifelong quest. I can just see it. Traipsing round backpacker conventions and geology conferences, whipping a dog-eared photo from my back pocket. "Excuse me madam, have you seen this rock...?"

[Sweder]

Had to check that post twice.
You definately said 'rock' - phew!

Off for a windy plod.

[stillwaddler]

I think I've seen a picture of this before, will make less than discreet inquiries.

[stillwaddler]

that it's in Snowdonia, one bloke is convinced he knows where abouts, is going to check in a book this evening!

[Tim]

Nigel - I came across this pic on the web, and wondered if you knew where it was taken....

Could this be it?

http://brilwalks.teap.co.uk/index.htm

Also

http://www.ianferguson.me.uk/photo/photo...?photo=243

[stillwaddler]

"On the summit of Glyder Fach you will find the famous cantilevered rock"


http://snowdonian-photography.co.uk/gall...20dawn.htm

knew I'd seen it before!

[El Gordo]

Ah, well done guys, that's the one I'd say.

Another place to add to the list I guess...

[Nigel]

“…. it looks like some sort of dodgy grey igneous or metamorphic stuff..... Anyway, the lichen tells me it's Wales, maybe Snowdonia….. I'll venture they're Palaeozoic metarenites / pyroclastics of the Variscan or Caledonian orogens, possibly in the western Cantabrians, the Lake District or Wales.”

Phew. Geology is all about interpretation from a limited set of data. It’s not exactly rocket science, sniffing out a rock from the colour of the lichen on it, but it can still work. Some might use the words ‘luck’ and ‘guesswork’, but that would unreasonably diminish my paycheque.

So let’s just call it ‘effective intuitive analysis’ – with a few extra long words thrown in for good measure.....