The Geology of middle-earth

Abstract

Author Roger Mason seeks to create a geological sketch-map of middle earth. He concludes that Middle-Earth is not supposed to be an old version of Europe – rather, it is an alternative world that bears a similar resemblance with our world, except where Tolkien indicated otherwise. He then, using terms for our own Earth’s geology, describes the different locations. Of the Shire, he finds a close relation to Southern England’s geology, namely the clay and chalk within a basin. Of Emyn Muil, the rocky hills central in Middle-Earth, lies within a fault scarp, where the crust of the ground rises above the plains of Rohan. The Misty Mountains, he finds, is made up of two combined features – granite and metamorphic crystalline rocks, paired with sedimentary rocks – mainly limestone. He then includes a map of the geology of Middle-Earth on an additional page.