Sunday 30 December 2018

Two indoor courses from Nick Chidlaw

Two Indoor Courses from Nick Chidlaw

Nick Chidlaw has sent me the following:-




Information on courses



I am currently offering two 1-day courses for next March; these are indoor-based, and describe field areas where I have run courses and trips in the past. These courses may be attractive to people who are not in a position to visit these areas e.g. insufficient time available because of family / work commitments, or health problems.
Details of each course is provided at the bottom of this message.
Each course would comprise powerpoint-based lectures, together with examination of hand specimens of relevant mineral and rock types, and published geological maps of the field areas. The hand specimens have been collected by the tutor in the field areas described.
A handout outlining the day’s programme containing sketch maps and other relevant drawings, stratigraphic tables and a list of optional reading,  would be provided on each course. No prior knowledge of geology or the study areas would be assumed.  
Please note that these courses are run on the same weekend and in the same venue, but are independent of one another – you can enrol on both if you wish to, or one of them, according to your interests / availability.

Venue for both courses

The Buckingham Room (single storey building by the car park) at The Chantry, 52 Castle Street, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire. BS35 1HB. See website for further details www.thechantry.org.uk
I will provide Information on accommodation options to those who live beyond reasonable commuting distance. 
On each course, attendees would bring their own packed lunch and other refreshments, or go into the town for lunch.  

Tuition Fee 


£27.00 per person for each course.
Payment of Tuition Fee
Cheque payable to me sent to 8, Silver Street, Dursley, Glos. GL11 4ND. Bank Trans can be arranged if required (let me know).

Deadline for viability of both courses 

Saturday 16th February (4 weeks before the courses are due to run).

Both courses to have a minimum of 10 attendees / fee equivalent. Maximum of 30 attendees on each course. If viability for either or both courses is reached, those enrolled will be informed on the deadline date and arrangements will be able to continue. Further enrolments can be made up to 1 week before the courses are due to run. If the minimum number of attendees / fee equivalent is not reached for either course by the deadline, that course will be cancelled and fees received will be returned to those who have sent them in.
Any queries, do get in touch with the tutor nickchidlaw@gmail.com

EVIDENCE FOR A TERRANE BOUNDARY: THE HIGHLAND BORDER, SCOTLAND


Saturday 16th March 10.00 am – 5.00 pm

Many tectonic plate collision zones around the world contain ‘terranes’: regions of crust with well-defined boundaries, that differ significantly in their geological development from neighbouring regions. Ancient long-since stabilised collision zones globally are often composed of a set of interlocking (often fault-bounded) terranes, each of which originated in different places and had different tectonic histories, but which were progressively amalgamated into the  arrangement seen today. The crust of the British Isles is composed of a number of such terranes, brought together by plate collisions that culminated in the ‘Caledonian Orogeny’ (mountain-building episode, Early Silurian – Mid Devonian times). On this course, we trace one of these terrane boundaries along the Highland Border of Scotland between the Isle of Bute (near Glasgow) in the west, to Stonehaven (near Aberdeen) on the east coast.We will look at the character of the two terranes involved, the nature of the boundary between them, evidence for when the terranes were separated, and for when they finally became joined.

GEOLOGY OF THE HOLM ISLANDS, BRISTOL CHANNEL


Sunday 17th March 10.00 am – 5.00 pm

This indoor day focuses on the geology of the small relatively inaccessible islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm, located in the Bristol Channel Between Weston super Mare and Cardiff. The islands, on which rock exposures are widespread, are composed of a variety of chiefly fossil-rich tropical marine shelf and lagoonal limestones of Carboniferous age, deformed by major earth movements during that geological period. Stratal dips of up to 70 degrees occur, and both large-scale and small-scale folds are present, together with thrust and reverse faults. Later, in Middle Jurassic times, crustal extension permitted hot saline mineralizing fluids to rise into fissures on what is now Steep Holm, forming veins of galena and baryte.  The bedrock geology underlying the Bristol Channel around the islands and between Weston and Cardiff will be described, providing a basis for establishing the geological history of the islands; this includes such contrasts as their presence as discrete limestone hills within desert lake flats during Late Triassic times, and their location either side of a deep ravine containing the River Severn 10,000 years ago.

Saturday 29 December 2018

Unusual lava type in Hawaii

Latest Eruption had Unusual Features

This Article tells of the detailed work done on the lava flows which destroyed much property in the South East corner of the Big Island of Hawaii.

This involved retrieving lava samples from "live" flows. In Hawaii one expects that the lava will be basalt. Mostly it was, but some of the early lava was richer in silica - it was andesite. This would indicate that the original basalt had evolved (something had happened to it) before it reached the surface.

In this 2015 photo, a scientist from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory collects a molten lava sample from KÄ«lauea using a rock hammer. Volcanologists in Hawaii and elsewhere often brave blistering heat and other hazards to gather fresh lava samples for research and to monitor lava properties that can foretell how hot and fluid subsequent flows may be. This monitoring helps authorities plan emergency responses. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Is there some unknown magma chamber between the magma source at Kilauea and where it reached the surface?

The article is well worth reading. 

Saturday 15 December 2018

17th December 2018 to 6th January 2019


NEXT Three WEEKS EVENTS

17th December 2018 to 6th January 2019

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT FROM BRISTOL AND WEST COUNTRY GEOLOGY CALENDARS

MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE BRISTOL AND THE WEST COUNTRY CALENDARS AND ON THE WEB SITES OF THE RELEVANT SOCIETY OR ORGANISATION.


MONDAY 17TH


Dave Green's Annual Geological Reunion Dinner
When
Mon, 17 December, 19:30 – 20:00
Where
Watersmeet Bar & Restaurant, 1 Gloucester Rd, Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BT, UK (map)
Description
Annual Geological Reunion Dinner at Watersmeet, Hartpury 7.30 for 8.00pm

Contact Dave Green by email at davegeostudies@gmail.com, by phone at 01594 960858 and by post at Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9QU

Tuesday 18th


SMFS Evening Meeting
When
Tue, 18 December, 19:30 – 22:00
Where
The Friends' Meeting House, 1A, Ordnance Rd, Southampton. SO15 2AZ (map)
Description
Fun Quiz & Christmas nibbles.
Members’ Display Table: Your favourite minerals & fossils from 2018.

Wednesday 19th


Thursday 20th


Thornbury Geology Group, 7.30pm, The Chantry, Thornbury
When
Thu, 20 December, 19:00 – 21:30
Description
Thornbury Geology Group, 7.30pm at The Chantry, Thornbury, and every 3rd Thursday in the month.  

Friday 21st


saturday 22nd


sunday 23rd


MONDAY 24TH


TUESDAY 25TH


WEDNESDAY 26th


THURSDAY 27th


FRIDAY 28th


SATURDAY 29th


SUNDAY 30th


MONDAY 31st


TUESDAY 1st


WEDNESDAY 2nd


THURSDAY 3rd


FRIDAY 4th


SATURDAY 5th


SUNDAY 6th


Saturday 8 December 2018

10th to 16th December 2018

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

10th to 16th December 2018

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT FROM BRISTOL AND WEST COUNTRY GEOLOGY CALENDARS

MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE BRISTOL AND THE WEST COUNTRY CALENDARS AND ON THE WEB SITES OF THE RELEVANT SOCIETY OR ORGANISATION.


MONDAY 10th

Course - Geology of the Bristol and Gloucester Region.
When
Mon, 10 December, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)
Description
Geology of the Bristol and Gloucester Region. 
One of the most varied regions of Britain, spanning the major divisions of the Variscan Front/Bristol Channel-Bray Fault, and the Malvern fault/ Worcester Graben, incorporating rocks varying in age from late PreCambrian to Cretaceous, and three of the terranes making up the geological “jigsaw” of Britain. The course will cover roughly the area covered by the eponymous BGS publication in the British Regional Geology series (3rd edition 1992).  Starts Mon 17th September  for 10 weeks (not 22nd or29th Oct or 5th Nov), until 10th December   Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays.  Cost £75 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green by email at davegeostudies@gmail.com, by phone at 01594 960858 and by post at Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9QU

Tuesday 11th

WEGA Christmas Lunch
When
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2018
Description
There is no lecture this month as parking and the weather can both be difficult.
But we do have a Christmas lunch!
It will be at the Oriental Buffet Restaurant, 
Hengrove Leisure Park, 
Hengrove Way, 
Bristol, BS14 0HR

Please book with the Treasurer at judyhible@talktalk.net
-------------------------------------

Cardiff University Lecture - When Sea levels Change...
When
Tue, 11 December, 18:30 – 20:00
Where
The 2018-2019 monthly Tuesday evening lectures in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences will be held in the Wallace Lecture Theatre (0.13), Main Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, CF10 3AT. Lectures begin at 18.30. Booking is not needed. (map)
Description
The Big Antarctic Freeze: ice sheet stability and sea-level
change.
Carrie Lear (Cardiff)

Wednesday 12th



Thursday 13th



Friday 14th

Cheltenham Mineral and Geological Society - Sale, quiz and raffle
When
Fri, 14 December, 19:00 – 21:00
Where
Shurdington at The Century Hall (map)

Saturday 15th



Sunday 16th




Saturday 1 December 2018

OUGS Wessex Branch Newsletter

OUGS Wessex Branch Newsletter


The much admired Newsletter of the Wessex branch of the Open University Geological Society has come to hand. You can get it HERE.


3rd to 9th December 2018

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

3rd to 9th December 2018

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT FROM BRISTOL AND WEST COUNTRY GEOLOGY CALENDARS

MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE BRISTOL AND THE WEST COUNTRY CALENDARS AND ON THE WEB SITES OF THE RELEVANT SOCIETY OR ORGANISATION.


MONDAY 3rd

Course - Geology of the Bristol and Gloucester Region.
When
Mon, 3 December, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)
Description
Geology of the Bristol and Gloucester Region. 
One of the most varied regions of Britain, spanning the major divisions of the Variscan Front/Bristol Channel-Bray Fault, and the Malvern fault/ Worcester Graben, incorporating rocks varying in age from late PreCambrian to Cretaceous, and three of the terranes making up the geological “jigsaw” of Britain. The course will cover roughly the area covered by the eponymous BGS publication in the British Regional Geology series (3rd edition 1992).  Starts Mon 17th September  for 10 weeks (not 22nd or29th Oct or 5th Nov), until 10th December   Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays.  Cost £75 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green by email at davegeostudies@gmail.com, by phone at 01594 960858 and by post at Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9QU

Tuesday 4th

OUGS Oxford - Lecture
When
Tue, 4 December, 19:30 – 21:00
Where
Earth Sciences Building, South Parks Road, Oxford (map)
Description
Thoughts of a Past President (TBC) 

Speaker: Dr Tom Argles 

Venue: Earth Sciences Building, South Parks Road, Oxford 

Location: Oxford 

Date: December 4th 2018 (Tuesday)



Wednesday 5th



thursday 6th

Course - Understanding Geology and Scenery around Ross-on-Wye
When
Thu, 6 December, 10:00 – 10:30
Description
Understanding Geology and Scenery around Ross-on-Wye 
Starts September 21st (not 25th Oct or 8th Nov), finishes 6th December.
This 10 week course aims to introduce you to the ways in which the varied and beautiful landscape round our area has come into being. The effects of folds, faults and tectonic dip in exposing  different rock types, and the past and present processes of uplift, weathering, erosion and deposition that have acted upon them, will be examined by reference to local scenery. Use will be made of local maps and cross-sections across them, both geological and topographic; together with specimens of local rocks. Contact Paul Mason on  01989 760399. Cost £60  Enrol  before 15th September to ensure that the course runs.
--------------------------------------------

Bath Geol Soc - Lecture
When
Thu, 6 December, 19:30 – 21:00
Where
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16 Queen Square, Bath (map)
Description
Diamond Eruptions

T.M. GERNON - Ocean & Earth Science, University of Southampton, SO14 3ZH


Kimberlite volcanism typically involves the formation of diverging pipes or diatremes (see image below), which are the locus of high-intensity explosive eruptions. The talk will first provide an overview of diatreme formation. I will then focus on a conspicuous and previously enigmatic feature of diatreme fills known as ‘pelletal lapilli’ — well-rounded clasts that consist of an inner ‘seed’ particle with a complex rim, thought to represent quenched juvenile melt. Such clasts are widely documented in a range of pyroclastic successions on Earth, yet are not fully understood. New observations of pelletal lapilli in kimberlites show they coincide with a transition from magmatic to pyroclastic behaviour, thus offering fundamental insights into eruption dynamics and constraints on vent conditions.

We provide strong evidence that pelletal lapilli form by fluidized spray granulation — a coating process used widely in industrial applications, including the chocolate industry. We propose that pelletal lapilli are formed when fluid volatile-rich melts (akin to molten chocolate) intrude into earlier volcaniclastic infill close to the diatreme root zone. Intensive degassing produces a gas jet in which locally-scavenged particles are simultaneously fluidized and coated by a spray of low-viscosity melt. Most fine particles are either agglomerated to pelletal coatings or elutriated by powerful gas flows. The origin of pelletal lapilli is important for understanding how magmatic pyroclasts are transported to the surface during explosive eruptions, where they can be asociated with high diamond grades. A similar origin may apply to pelletal lapilli in a range of alkaline volcanic rocks. 



friday 7th



Saturday 8th

Christmas Workshop at Broadmayne Village Hall
When
Sat, 8 December, 10:00 – 15:00
Where
Broadmayne Village Hall, Cowleaze Rd, Broadmayne, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 8EW (map)
Description
Christmas Workshop with buffet lunch at Broadmayne Village Hall. 
10.00am-3.00pm 
Booking required for display tables and/or lunch 


Sunday 9th





Thursday 29 November 2018

Monday 26 November 2018

How to deal with a lava flow - if you are a local authority in Hawaii

Lava Flow Housekeeping

I came across this video and found it fascinating. It is not very spectacular but has lots of fascinating details of dealing with a lava flow. If I ever have to protect an electricity pylon from a lava flow I know where to look!





GeoConservation Newsletter

GeoConservation Newsletter

The Autumn 2018 GeoConservation Newsletter has come my way and it is packed (in several senses) with news. You can get your copy HERE



Saturday 24 November 2018

26th November to 2nd December 2018

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

26th November to 2nd December 2018

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXTRACT FROM BRISTOL AND WEST COUNTRY GEOLOGY CALENDARS

MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE BRISTOL AND THE WEST COUNTRY CALENDARS AND ON THE WEB SITES OF THE RELEVANT SOCIETY OR ORGANISATION.


MONDAY 26TH

Course - Geology of the Bristol and Gloucester Region.
When
Mon, 26 November, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)
Description
Geology of the Bristol and Gloucester Region. 
One of the most varied regions of Britain, spanning the major divisions of the Variscan Front/Bristol Channel-Bray Fault, and the Malvern fault/ Worcester Graben, incorporating rocks varying in age from late PreCambrian to Cretaceous, and three of the terranes making up the geological “jigsaw” of Britain. The course will cover roughly the area covered by the eponymous BGS publication in the British Regional Geology series (3rd edition 1992).  Starts Mon 17th September  for 10 weeks (not 22nd or29th Oct or 5th Nov), until 10th December   Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays.  Cost £75 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green by email at davegeostudies@gmail.com, by phone at 01594 960858 and by post at Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9QU

Tuesday 27th



Wednesday 28th

Bristol Nats - lecture
When
Wed, 28 November, 19:30 – 21:00
Where
room G8, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1RJ (map)
Description
TRACE FOSSILS OF THE OLD RED SANDSTONE
Professor Susan Marriott Wednesday 28 November, 7.30 p.m.

Susan Marriott is Professor of Geology at the University of the West of England and has extensively studied the Old Red Sandstone and its trace fossils.

The Old Red Sandstone of the Anglo-Welsh Basin comprises predominantly continental red bed deposits of Late Silurian to Early Devonian age. Body fossils of terrestrial faunas in these deposits are poorly preserved and often fragmentary but a diverse assemblage of trace fossils is preserved giving an insight into faunal behaviours. This talk will concentrate on the trace fossils preserved in fine-grained components of alluvial facies that include: perennial and ephemeral rivers, floodplain lakes and alluvial fans. The associated ichnocoenoses (An assemblage of trace fossils made by members of a single community.)  reflect the activities of aquatic and semi-aquatic fauna and include meniscate backfilled burrows and arthropod trackways, resting and foraging traces. The stratigraphic distribution indicates an increase in diversity from the Late Silurian into the Early Devonian.

It is intended that a Field meeting next summer to examine the Old Red Sandstone rocks in the Llansteffan area of Carmarthenshire will follow the talk.

Thursday 29th

Course - Understanding Geology and Scenery around Ross-on-Wye
When
Thu, 29 November, 10:00 – 10:30
Description
Understanding Geology and Scenery around Ross-on-Wye 
Starts September 21st (not 25th Oct or 8th Nov), finishes 6th December.
This 10 week course aims to introduce you to the ways in which the varied and beautiful landscape round our area has come into being. The effects of folds, faults and tectonic dip in exposing  different rock types, and the past and present processes of uplift, weathering, erosion and deposition that have acted upon them, will be examined by reference to local scenery. Use will be made of local maps and cross-sections across them, both geological and topographic; together with specimens of local rocks. Contact Paul Mason on  01989 760399. Cost £60  Enrol  before 15th September to ensure that the course runs.

Friday 30th

Field course - Geology of the Quantocks and West Somerset
When
30 Nov – 2 Dec 2018
Description
Field Course: 30th Nov – 2nd Dec (and possibly Monday 3rd too) Geology of the Quantocks and West Somerset 

A classic area for the study of the folded Upper Palaeozoic basement in the Quantocks and Cannington Park, and the unconformable Triassic and Jurassic sequence exposed in faulted basins associated with the Bristol Channel fault. What is the evidence for and against massive Variscan movement of formerly widely separated terranes along this fault? Excellent exposures, particularly of the Mesozoic rocks at and near the coast.

Contact Dave Green by email at davegeostudies@gmail.com, by phone at 01594 960858 and by post at Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, GL17 9QU

saturday 1st December


FIELD COURSE - GEOLOGY OF THE QUANTOCKS AND WEST SOMERSET - see Friday
----------------------------------

OUGS Severnside - Day of Lectures
When
Saturday, 1 Dec 2018
Where
National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP (map)

Sunday 2nd

FIELD COURSE - GEOLOGY OF THE QUANTOCKS AND WEST SOMERSET - SEE FRIDAY


Excursion to North-West Highlands

Excursion to North-West Highlands

WEGA are organising an excursion to the North-West Highlands of Scotland and would like a few more participants to fill the mini-bus. The dates are from Saturday 27th April to Friday 3rd May - in the midge free season! 

It will be run by the North-West Highlands Geopark. Pete Harrison, of the Geopark, will be guiding us round and driving the mini-bus. The centre of operations will be Ullapool and the programme will be something like this:-


Day 1 - arrive and evening get-together and talk with Pete.

Day 2 - Knockan/Assynt/Kylesku.

Day 3 - Achmelvich / Clachtol

Day 4 - Durness and Scourie (a long day)

Day 5 - Ullapool (a short day)

Day 6 & 7 - flexible, but maybe Achiltibuie, Ledmore, Inchnadamph.

Day 7 - -evening round-up. Q&A and farewells.

A typical day will start at 09.15 minibus pickup in Ullapool and return there by 17.30/18.00, although there is one longer day and one shorter.

The Geopark will charge a discounted rate of £225 per person, for which we get Pete, the minibus each day, his guiding and input daily, hand-out notes etc.  They will need a £50 deposit per person to secure the booking. 

Each participant will need to make their own travel arrangements to and from Ullapool and will need to book their own accommodation.  The costs of accommodation and travel are the responsibility of each participant.

I am looking forward to getting back to one of the greatest areas for geology in the world. To get your name on the participants list contact WEGA's Field Secretary, John McLellan at johnmac201@live.co.uk

You can find out more about the Geopark HERE.