The Permian & Triassic Periods (299 ~251 and 251 ~ 200 million years ago respectively)

Permian:

The rocks in Scotland that were formed during the Permian and Triassic are generally grouped together, as few fossils have been found within them, making it difficult to accurately date the rocks. The climatic and global conditions at these times were also fairly similar.

By the early Permian, all the continents of the world were joined together in one vast super-continent called Pangaea. Scotland lay ‘sandwiched’ between America and Europe and during these times, Scotland travelled from near the equator to a position of about 30°N.

Triassic:

Desert conditions prevailed over much of Europe and Scotland throughout the Permian. The upland regions of Scotland, such as the Highlands and the Southern Uplands were wetter, bare, rocky areas supplying sediment through flash flooding to the low lying ‘basins’ of the adjacent areas. Sand dune fields fringed these basins and desert oases were home to mammal-like reptiles and early dinosaurs. As time progressed, the climate became less arid and by the end of the Triassic, sea level had also begun to rise, helping to bring an end to the desert conditions.

Today, the largest outcrops of the sandstone formed from these ancient desert sands are found in Dumfriesshire, around Elgin (Morayshire) and on the Isle of Arran.

Scotland hasn't always been on the same postion on the face of the Earth and has not always had the same outline. These maps * show how 'Scotland' may have looked during the Permian & Triassic. Scotland's present outline has been drawn on the map to help you visualise where the Permian & Triassic rocks that we find today were formed in relation to the surrounding continent and seas.