An unusual case of failure in old oil-shale workings at Pumpherston,West Lothian,Scotland

This paper discusses the result of a drilling exercise in the Camps Shale, at the base of the Upper Oil Shale Group which lies in the Lower Carboniferous. One borehole, later duplicated, indicated that the stooped out area had failed in a manner totally unexpected and unpredicted. The site investigated lies to the east of Livingston New Town, in an area being considered for an extension of Livingston's industrial area in West Lothian District. The work was supervised by the author, funded by the Scottish Development Agency, and the contract let by the Derelict Land Rehabilitation Unit of Lothian Regional Council.