I recently enjoyed some quiet holiday time on the beautiful Solway coast of Galloway in southern Scotland.
How familiar its grey rock appeared at first glance but how very different the geological history within! Unlike the grey sedimentary limestone of Gower which was formed in shallow tropical seas, this grey sedimentary rock was formed on the deep ocean floor (near the continental shelf) as a result of sub-marine avalanches of mud, silt and sand.
Called Greywacke (pronounced grey wackey) this is a hard Sandstone that contains clay. In this instance it’s surface is etched with angular, criss-crossed pressure lines, closely resembling lacerations which could easily have been thrust upon it by some sharp implement.
For me this conjures up imagery of being under attack, yet emerging scarred but not defeated from tremendous turmoil. A metaphor, perhaps, for the resilience now required by all, in the face of the continuing climate crisis.
