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Episode: Dec 10, 2024 – Rob Strachan on the Caledonian Orogeny

This episode delves into the fascinating history of the Caledonian orogeny, a monumental series of tectonic events that occurred between 490 and 390 million years ago during the early stages of Pangea’s assembly. These collisions of crustal blocks gave rise to mountains rivaling the Himalayas in scale. Though these towering peaks have long since eroded, their remnants remain preserved in the rocks found across regions bordering the Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea. Geologist Rob Strachan explores the tectonic movements that led to this ancient orogeny, explaining how scientists piece together its history and what these findings reveal about the mountain-forming processes shaping the Earth today.


Rob Strachan is an Emeritus Professor of Geology at the University of Portsmouth with over 40 years of expertise studying the rocks of the Caledonian orogen. His research has focused on unraveling the geological history of this ancient mountain belt, particularly in the region that is now Scotland.

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