The BGS "Wilson Collection" of geological materials from the Wanlockhead-Leadhills mining field, southern Scotland

Tulloch, G., Stone, P., Bergman, B. and Togher, M. (2021) The BGS "Wilson Collection" of geological materials from the Wanlockhead-Leadhills mining field, southern Scotland. Russell Society Newsletter(78),

Abstract

The British Geological Survey (BGS) holds many specimen collections, derived from disparate sources. Many of the collections were made during mapping surveys carried out by BGS staff over the organisation?s 185-year history, with others being donated by eminent professional geologists, academics or amateur collectors. Generally, the donations have good documentation confirming where the material was found, when and by whom. Unfortunately, some do not, and one such was the ?Wilson Collection?, for which even the identity of the eponymous Wilson was uncertain. The collection had arrived at BGS in the 1950s and comprises just over 800 specimens, mostly derived from the mineral veins of the Wanlockhead-Leadhills district, which are contained in a variety of glass containers: laboratory tubing and test tubes, second-hand confectioners? tubes, and a variety of small bottles, some new but many recycled. Some specimens are labelled with mineral, mine and vein names, together with a date of collection, but for other specimens less data are recorded and inevitably some specimens have missing or illegibly damaged labels. To try to gain a better understanding of this collection?s origins, a short article in The Edinburgh Geologist (Tulloch & Togher 2020) included an appeal for more information.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Bergman, Dr Beverly
• Authors: Tulloch, G., Stone, P., Bergman, B., and Togher, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Russell Society Newsletter
• Publisher: The Russell Society
• ISSN: 2514-5665
• ISSN (Online): 2514-5665
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Russell Society
• First Published: First published in Russell Society Newsletter 78
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the Publisher

Related URLs

• Organisation
• Author