Ancient lost continent found buried under the Indian Ocean.
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Wednesday, 27 February 2013
In search of bentonite?
Can anyone help with this please?
"I'd like to obtain, if possible, some small hand specimens of bentonite (the soft smectite-rich clay with swelling properties, widely used in ground engineering and as an absorbent, and traditionally in our area for 'fulling' sheep's fleeces).
I could easily buy some cat litter bentonite from a pet shop, but this is ground down to gravelly particles - I'd ideally like to have specimens of the rock in its primary form as dug out from the ground.
I'm aware of the bentonite mine that once operated at Coombe Hay near Bath, but which has long been closed. Do you know anyone (e.g. the owner, local cavers) who has access into the mine? Id value details so I could contact them to see if I could get some specimens. There may also be somewhere where some of the bentonite has been left (e.g. an old storehouse near the mine) - this would be ideal as a source of specimens and would make unnecessary any potential visit into the mine."
If you can help, please email.
"I'd like to obtain, if possible, some small hand specimens of bentonite (the soft smectite-rich clay with swelling properties, widely used in ground engineering and as an absorbent, and traditionally in our area for 'fulling' sheep's fleeces).
I could easily buy some cat litter bentonite from a pet shop, but this is ground down to gravelly particles - I'd ideally like to have specimens of the rock in its primary form as dug out from the ground.
I'm aware of the bentonite mine that once operated at Coombe Hay near Bath, but which has long been closed. Do you know anyone (e.g. the owner, local cavers) who has access into the mine? Id value details so I could contact them to see if I could get some specimens. There may also be somewhere where some of the bentonite has been left (e.g. an old storehouse near the mine) - this would be ideal as a source of specimens and would make unnecessary any potential visit into the mine."
If you can help, please email.
Monday, 25 February 2013
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Caves and Holes
If you like stories from underground, you will enjoy Dave the Cave's blog. There is an amazing amount of information here plus some unbelievable photos.
Map and Photo from Dave the Cave's blog
Another good GeoBlog is added here
Another very good geology blog has been added to our list on the right-hand side of this blog.
Have a look at some of the posts on GeoBlogy
Have a look at some of the posts on GeoBlogy
Thursday, 14 February 2013
A poem for Valentine's Day
Valentine, By a Palaeontologist
by Edward Forbes
Borne upon Pterodactyle's wing,
This heart, which once you deemed of stone,
Model of maids, to thee I bring,
And offer it to thee alone!
Not Owen, pondering o'er bone
Of great Dinornis, fonder grew
Of mighty wingless birds unknown,
Then I, sweet maid, of you.
The Glyptodon, which Darwin found
Beside the South Atlantic main,
Was in no harder armour bound
Than that my spirit did enchain;
Till, bade by thee, Love rent in twain
The fetters which my fancy tied
To boulder, glacier, and moraine,
And bore me to thy side!
Like some fantastic Trilobite
That perished in the Silurian sea,And long lay hid from mortal sight,
So was the heart I yield to thee.
Now from its stony matrix free,
Thy palaeontologic skill
Once more hath call'd it forth to be
The servant of thy will.
Full details on The Geological Society's blog
by Edward Forbes
Borne upon Pterodactyle's wing,
This heart, which once you deemed of stone,
Model of maids, to thee I bring,
And offer it to thee alone!
Not Owen, pondering o'er bone
Of great Dinornis, fonder grew
Of mighty wingless birds unknown,
Then I, sweet maid, of you.
The Glyptodon, which Darwin found
Beside the South Atlantic main,
Was in no harder armour bound
Than that my spirit did enchain;
Till, bade by thee, Love rent in twain
The fetters which my fancy tied
To boulder, glacier, and moraine,
And bore me to thy side!
Like some fantastic Trilobite
That perished in the Silurian sea,And long lay hid from mortal sight,
So was the heart I yield to thee.
Now from its stony matrix free,
Thy palaeontologic skill
Once more hath call'd it forth to be
The servant of thy will.
Full details on The Geological Society's blog
February 16th - Brown's Folly
February 16th - Brown's Folly (one of the West Country Geology Field Trips)
This is our annual clear-up of the Geological sites on this SSSI reserve. Come along with gardening tools or just take the opportunity to visit the sites and talk about geology. Elizabeth Devon will lead a walk around the reserve.
Meet at 10.30 a.m. at Brown's Folly Car Park (G.R. ST 798663). Strong boots and waterproofs are required. Hard hats should be worn under or near exposures. Please bring one if you can; we do have some available.
Full details of all the Bath Geological Society's events are on the website.
Meet at 10.30 a.m. at Brown's Folly Car Park (G.R. ST 798663). Strong boots and waterproofs are required. Hard hats should be worn under or near exposures. Please bring one if you can; we do have some available.
Full details of all the Bath Geological Society's events are on the website.
27th February - Geological Town of Lyme Regis
Bristol NATs - Geology section invite you to -
THE GEOLOGICAL TOWN OF LYME REGIS
Stephen Locke OBE
Stephen Locke was a member of the Junior and Geological Sections of BNS during the late 1950s early '60s and has held various posts in the Museum Service in the South West of England. Latterly he was head of the Hampshire County Council Museum Service and was responsible for bringing to fruition the project for a new museum in Basingstoke. Now retired, he is a Trustee of the Lyme Regis Museum and is much involved in the local geology scene.
He will give a general talk about the importance of Lyme Regis to the history of geology:
- The dynamic coast - brief stratigraphical introduction/geological context \u2013 the importance of landslips (Black Ven & the Undercliffs) creating exposures and supplying fossils
- Pioneer geologists associated with Lyme (Buckland, Conybeare, De La Beche etc)
- Collectors & collecting (Mary Anning, Elizabeth Philpot, modern collectors, Fossil Code)
- Some of the key fossils first described from Lyme specimens (Ichthyosaur, Plesiosaur, Pterosaur, Scelidosaurus).
- Designation as World Heritage Site
Talks take place in the S H Reynolds lecture Theatre, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1RJ. For those unfamiliar with this venue: Enter the Wills Building via main entrance and walk ahead between the two staircases. Turn right when you reach some display cases. The lecture room is on your left.
THE GEOLOGICAL TOWN OF LYME REGIS
Stephen Locke OBE
Stephen Locke was a member of the Junior and Geological Sections of BNS during the late 1950s early '60s and has held various posts in the Museum Service in the South West of England. Latterly he was head of the Hampshire County Council Museum Service and was responsible for bringing to fruition the project for a new museum in Basingstoke. Now retired, he is a Trustee of the Lyme Regis Museum and is much involved in the local geology scene.
He will give a general talk about the importance of Lyme Regis to the history of geology:
- The dynamic coast - brief stratigraphical introduction/geological context \u2013 the importance of landslips (Black Ven & the Undercliffs) creating exposures and supplying fossils
- Pioneer geologists associated with Lyme (Buckland, Conybeare, De La Beche etc)
- Collectors & collecting (Mary Anning, Elizabeth Philpot, modern collectors, Fossil Code)
- Some of the key fossils first described from Lyme specimens (Ichthyosaur, Plesiosaur, Pterosaur, Scelidosaurus).
- Designation as World Heritage Site
Talks take place in the S H Reynolds lecture Theatre, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1RJ. For those unfamiliar with this venue: Enter the Wills Building via main entrance and walk ahead between the two staircases. Turn right when you reach some display cases. The lecture room is on your left.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
19th February - Atacama Desert vs Andes?
The Atacama vs. the Andes: The driest desert in the world has long been held as the prime example of the rainshadow effect from a mountain range, but is it? New evidence suggests that not only is the desert not created by the mountains but that the desert created the mountains.
Refreshments will be available from 6.00 p.m. followed by the evening lecture commencing at 6.30 p.m. The event is open to non-fellows, so please feel free to invite your colleagues or friends.
S H Reynolds Lecture Theatre (Room G25), Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ.
Photo Competition
We would like to remind all members about our Photo Competition - We are still looking for more entries, especially as we are rapidly approaching the deadline of Friday 1st March. The winner will receive two places on a field trip, with lunch included, along with the honour of seeing their photography used for our presentation banners!
Please send entries by email
Early Career Geologist Award
Again, we would like to remind all members about the Early Career Geologist award. The deadline for receiving is this coming Friday 15th February! The competition is open to Fellows of the society, living or working in the region, who have a maximum of 10 years experience. Please do send us an abstract as soon as possible to be in with a chance of winning the local competition and advancing towards the national finals in April.
Please send entries by email
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Box Rock Circus - February 7th
The Rock Circus is down a lane off the A4 in the village of Box, signposted to the Selwyn Hall, (opposite the Pharmacy). Free parking is available close to the Circus in the Selwyn Hall car park.
Monday, 4 February 2013
February 23rd - Geology Rocks!
Geology Rocks
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 23rd February
10 a.m. - 3.p.m.
Free entry
Guest lecture - Prof Iain Stewart
- geological displays
- behind the scenes
- meet the Museum scientists
Further details
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