Abstract Until the late 20th century, accounts of the Jurassic rocks of Scotland mainly comprised descriptions of the fine coastal outcrops of the Inner Hebrides region, with emphasis also on the east Sutherland coast with its spectacular boulder beds of Kimmeridgian age. That changed with the discovery and development of the North Sea oilfields, where much of Britain’s oil is found in Jurassic sandstone reservoirs and has its source in Kimmeridge shale. Thus for many geologists the Jurassic is known principally from seismic reflection lines and downhole geophysical logs. Hydrocarbon exploration also revealed a major episode of Jurassic volcanism in the Central North Sea. Nevertheless, the onshore outcrops retain their relevance. Those along the Moray Firth are directly marginal to the Inner Moray Firth Basin and provide many analogies to the other North Sea Basins. The western outcrops, with a much more complete section exposed, were important in the history of geology and continue to stimulate research in biostratigraphy, sedimentology and palaeoecology. They also serve as onshore guides to the stratigraphy of the recently explored basins to the west of Scotland.

Abstract The Hugh Miller collection (mainly NMS G.1859.33) held at the National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh, consists of 591 palaeobotanical specimens, 54 of which are of type and/or figured status. A preliminary assessment of this collection, in the light of renewed interest in Hugh Miller’s works in the bicentenary of his birth (2002), has provided new insights into this remarkable Scottish geologist. Miller, through writing popular articles in both newspaper and book format, publicized the various subdisciplines of palaeontology including palaeobotany. His distinctive writing style promoted public understanding of the science, and helped his readers to grasp the concept of deep time and the intricacies of past worlds. An appendix of type and figured material based on Miller’s collection is included.