February 5th - Supercontinent

'Supercontinent: Ten Billion Years in the Life of our Planet'

Dr. Ted Nield, editor of Geoscientist
BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath at 7.30 p.m.
Free to members of Bath Geological Society
£4.00 for visitors who are most welcome

The shifting continents of the Earth are heading for inevitable collision. Two hundred and fifty million years from now, all the landmasses on this planet will come together in a single, gigantic supercontinent. That future supercontinent will not be the first to form on Earth, nor will it be the last. Each cycle lasts at least half a billion years, making it the grandest of all the patterns in nature. It is scarcely a century since science first understood how Pangaea, the supercontinent that gave rise to the dinosaurs, split apart, but scientists can now look back into the Earth’s almost indecipherable past to reconstruct Pangaea’s predecessor, and predict the shape of the Earth’s far-distant future. Ted Nield will tell the astounding story of how that science emerged (often in the face of fierce opposition), and how scientists today are using the most modern techniques to draw information out of the oldest rocks on Earth. It also reveals the remarkable human story of the Atlantis-seeking visionaries and madmen who have been imagining lost or undiscovered continents for centuries. Ultimately all supercontinents exist only in the human imagination, but understanding the Supercontinent Cycle represents nothing less than finally knowing how our planet works.
Toppings will have a stand with Ted Nield's books for sale.
The author will be available for signings.

Geology courses, University of Bristol

There are some interesting geology courses offered by the University of Bristol's Lifelong Learning Department All the details are on this website.

Fieldtrip to Cornwall - 4th - 11th April

It's decision time! Oxford Geology Group need a deposit of £50 by the 15th January. So if you are going, send your money!
The trip looks quite a bargain as it will only cost in total less than £100.
Food and transport you will provide yourself but the cost of accommodation and the services of a leader are included in the bargain price.
Anyone can book with the Oxford Group
Details:-
Oxford – Camelford 211 miles, 4 hours.
Lanteglos Lodges, Camelford
(self-catering), £395 per lodge (sleeps 6)

• Sat – lunch at the Bay View Inn, Widemouth Bay
• Sun – Granite topography on Rough Tor and Bodmin Moor copper trail(3,4)
• Mon – N Cornish coast – folded Devonian sediments (1,2)
• Tues - St Agnes, Cligga Head and Lands End areas (minerals and alteration of granites)
  
• Wed – Lizard peninsula (ophiolite)
• Thur – Boscastle and Tintagel
• Fri – Delabole Slate Quarry

Useful links and references:
Thematic Trails
Exeter University
G.A. Guides 10 and 19
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January 8th - Fossil marine reptiles from Wiltshire

On Thursday January 8th Bath Geological Society is hosting a lecture by Simon Carpenter, a local fossil collector of great repute. Simon has been collecting fossil marine reptiles from the clay pit at Westbury, Wiltshire for several years. He has found many exciting fossils including a turtle, pliosaurs, plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs - all preserved in the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay at Westbury. More recently, he has found a new species of crocodile. All these fossils belong to the Jurassic Period and are approximately 140 million years old. Simon will talk about his latest finds, how they were discovered, prepared and conserved. Simon will be bringing a selection of his finds with him for people to see and hold.
The meeting will take place In the Duncan Room, BRLSI, 16 Queen Square, Bath at 7.30 p.m. It is free to members - £4 for visitors - free refreshments. Everyone is most welcome.