I am an enthusiastic amateur rock botherer, what got me hooked was wondering why mountains on why one side of our island are far more rugged, and the river gorges far harder to traverse, than the other.
Turns out that's what happens when on either sides of a subducting plate boundary.
What I love though, is that the fault that marks the boundary, was initially discovered by someone mapping natural hot springs and noticed they formed a rough line trending SW - NE.
I attended a talk by a geology professor about features in my area.
Mind completely blown. My area was once under the ocean. And the rocks I see in my regular walks bear clear evidence of having been in contact with water long-term.
Another mind blowing thing: if one digs 10 feet in my area, one hits a bed of limestone. And limestone is constructed from the skeletons of past marine life. And marble is compressed limestone. It just goes on and on. Simply mind-blowing field of study.
Turns out that's what happens when on either sides of a subducting plate boundary.
What I love though, is that the fault that marks the boundary, was initially discovered by someone mapping natural hot springs and noticed they formed a rough line trending SW - NE.