27th May to 2nd June 2019

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

27th May to 2nd June 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 27TH

SGMRG - Visit

When

Mon, 27 May, 10:30 – 16:30

Description

Ram Hill Colliery Open Day

Remains of a 19th century coal mine including engine house, horse gin and Dramway terminus.  A historic open site registered with Heritage England.  The open site is subject to weather.  Care needs to be taken under foot. Sensible footwear should be worn. Children and dogs must be supervised.  Wheelchair access to most of the site.  Limited car parking by the side of Christmas Cottage. 

Refreshments available.

Events, Exhibitions & Publications: Roger Gosling 01454 883607

Tuesday 28th

Dave Green - Geology and Landscape

When

Tue, 28 May, 19:00 – 21:00

Description

Geology and Landscape of Gloucestershire and surroundings 

A weekly field-based introductory course. 

No previous knowledge of geology is assumed Tuesday evenings 28thMay to 16th July 2019 

Gloucestershire is one of the most geologically diverse counties in Britain. 

The aim of this field-based course is to take you towards an 

understanding of local scenery.  We will look at the components 

- the highly diverse  rocks and their structure; and processes 

- weathering, slope forming and erosion - which have combined to produce this equally varied landscape - the materials from 

which the scenery has been sculpted and the processes that have acted upon them since the area emerged from the sea 65 million years ago 

(about the same time that the dinosaurs became extinct) 

No special equipment is necessary, apart from stout footwear and possibly waterproofs - although we will hopefully have six balmy 

summer evenings! Meetings are held on Tuesdays each week, 

(apart from breaks on Tuesday 4th and 11th June), meeting at 7.00 pm and finishing 

at 9.00 pm or later (whenever the party feels in need of refreshment !!) at the following meeting points (see over) 

Cost: £50 for 6 week course 

or £10 per session 

For further details see over or telephone 

Dave Green on 01594 860858 

Email Davegeostudies@gmail.com 

Website Geostudies.co.uk

28th May - Stinchcombe Hill

The most westerly point on the Cotswold escarpment, and possibly the most visible and easily recognised. The escarpment is formed from flat lying sedimentary rocks starting at the top with the often fossil-rich Middle Jurassic limestones (approx 170 million years old), which overlie weaker sands and mudstones forming the middle slopes. The harder Marlstone forms the famous platform on which the towns of Dursley and Wotton are built, underlain by more mudstones forming the Severn Vale, producing a step-like landscape. 

Meet at the car park on the left, beyond the entrance to the golf course GR SO 744 983

Wednesday 29th

Thursday 30th

Friday 31st

Saturday 1st

Sunday 2nd

Down to Earth Extra - June 2019

DOWN TO EARTH EXTRA - June 2019

You can get the latest edition HERE.

Mike Benton Lecture

Festival of Nature - Mike Benton Lecture

The Natural History Consortium has contacted me to inform me - and you - that Mike Benton will be giving a lecture at 6:30 on Thursday 6th June at The Station, Silver Street, Bristol, BS1 2AG. Book HERE

Details of the Lecture are:-

Festival of Nature 2019 includes a special series on nature writing. We’ve asked 5 different writers to join us at 4 feature events in Bristol to share their work, their upcoming projects, and to help us explore the nation’s ongoing love for nature writing. Join us!

We are living in ‘a new golden age of dinosaur science’ (The Times, 19 January 2019). It’s true. Recently, there has been a revolution in dinosaur science. Questions we thought we unanswerable can now be answered. How fast could dinosaurs run? What was the force of their bite? Were they feathered, and what colour were they? How did they care for their young? How could they be so huge?

Over the past twenty years, the study of dinosaurs has changed from natural history to a true scientific discipline. New technologies have revealed secrets locked in the prehistoric bones in ways that nobody predicted. Remarkable new fossil finds, such as giant sauropod dinosaur skeletons from Patagonia, dinosaurs with feathers from China, and even a tiny dinosaur tail in Burmese amber – complete down to every detail of its filament-like feathers, skin, bones, and mummified tail muscles – have caused media sensations. New fossils are the lifeblood of modern palaeobiology, of course, but it is the advances in technologies and methods that have driven the revolution in the scope and confidence of the field.

The Dinosaurs Rediscovered presents all the latest palaeontological evidence, with first-hand insights from behindthe scenes of the expeditions and in museum laboratories, tracing the transformation of dinosaur study from its roots in antiquated natural history to a highly technical, computational and indisputable scientific field today. In this engaging, anecdotal account, University of Bristol Professor Michael Benton explores what we know of the world of the dinosaurs, how dinosaur remains are found and excavated, and especially how palaeontologists read the details of the life of the dinosaurs from their fossils – their colours, their growth, feeding and locomotion, how the grew from egg to adult, how they sensed the world, and even whether we will ever be able to bring them back to life.

Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire

THIS WEB PAGE gives a rather beautiful overview of the dangers posed by the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean. 

And gives names to tectonic plates which I have never heard before! The Bird's Head Plate is one of several new names for me.

New Course from Dave Green

New Course from Dave Green

Geology and Landscape of Gloucestershire and surroundings 

A weekly field-based introductory course. 

No previous knowledge of geology is assumed Tuesday evenings 28thMay to 16th July 2019 

Gloucestershire is one of the most geologically diverse counties in Britain. The aim of this field-based course is to take you towards an understanding of local scenery.  We will look at the components - the highly diverse  rocks and their structure; and processes - weathering, slope forming and erosion - which have combined to produce this equally varied landscape - the materials from which the scenery has been sculpted and the processes that have acted upon them since the area emerged from the sea 65 million years ago (about the same time that the dinosaurs became extinct) No special equipment is necessary, apart from stout footwear and possibly waterproofs - although we will hopefully have six balmy summer evenings! Meetings are held on Tuesdays each week, (apart from breaks on Tuesday 4th and 11th June), meeting at 7.00 pm and finishing 

at 9.00 pm or later (whenever the party feels in need of refreshment !!) at the following meeting points (see over) 

Cost: £50 for 6 week course 

or £10 per session 

For further details see over or telephone 

Dave Green on 01594 860858 

Email Davegeostudies@gmail.com 

Website Geostudies.co.uk

-----------------------------------------------

28th May - Stinchcombe Hill

The most westerly point on the Cotswold escarpment, and possibly the most visible and easily recognised. The escarpment is formed from flat lying sedimentary rocks starting at the top with the often fossil-rich Middle Jurassic limestones (approx 170 million years old), which overlie weaker sands and mudstones forming the middle slopes. The harder Marlstone forms the famous platform on which the towns of Dursley and Wotton are built, underlain by more mudstones forming the Severn Vale, producing a step-like landscape. 

Meet at the car park on the left, beyond the entrance to the golf course GR SO 744 983 

---------------------------------------------

NOTE BREAK OF TWO WEEKS HERE – no meetings on 4th and 11th June 

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18th June Sandhurst and Wainlode 

The River Severn has eroded its course maily along the outcrop of the soft Triassic Mercia Mudstone or the Jurassic Lower Lias Clay. In between these formations is a thin series of beds of more resistant rock – the Rhaetic, which forms a series of low wooded ridges broken by faults, and occasionally cut into by the river (as at Aust, Sedbury, Westbury and here at Wainlode) to form impressive cliffs. This location is also a classic area to observe the Severn Terraces. Meet initially at the car park (along the lane) of the pub The Red Lion, at the foot of Wainlode Hill (SO848259), from where we will travel in a few cars to Sandhurst for a linear walk of about 3km with a climb of about 60m.

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25th June Bixslade and Bixhead 

Bixslade is a steep valley cut into the steep dip slope of the Upper Carboniferous Pennant Sandstone to the west of Cannop Pond> For hundreds of years used as a building stone, there used to be a tramway down from the main quarry at Bixhead to the stone cutting works at Cannop; a tramway that was also used to transport coal, and iron ore from deposits within the Pennant, that were worked within Bixslade. We will traverse the route of the tramway and return on a circular route involving a walk of about 3-4km and a climb and descent of about 130m. 

Meet in the layby (old section of road), on B 4234 north of Parkend, near the Stone Cutting Works, Cannop, at SO 615 095 

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2nd  July Glasshouse 

A complex area of geology, where relatively ancient Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous rocks meet younger Triassic sediments along the Malvern fault system. The older rocks have been thrown into a series of folds, whose north-south trend is faithfully reflected in the landscape by the outcrop of relatively resistant and weak rock, forming ridges and valleys They have also been cut by a major fault (the Glasshouse Fault), bringing older rocks (Lower Silurian) in the core of the May Hill anticline next to them, with consequent effect on the scenery.  This fault is an example of a strike slip fault, with mainly horizontal movement taking place; a little similar to the present San Andreas Fault in California. Meet at the roadside downhill from the Glasshouse Inn (used as the car park for the pub) SO709214. We will look at the geology by means of a circular walk of about 

3km with a climb of about 40m. 

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9th July The Avon Gorge 

Possibly the most famous landscape in our area, but one whose origin is still the subject of hot debate! Why does the River Avon cut through the hard Carboniferous and Upper Old Red Sandstone ridge forming hills like Clifton Down, and the steep sides of the gorge, when it could easily have reached the Severn either to the north (via Bradley Stoke) or south (via Nailsea) of Bristol? Why are the Downs so flat? 

Meet at the car park in the old quarry on the eastern (away from river) side of the A4 Portway below Clifton Down. ST 561 740, from where we will ascend a footpath “The Gully” to Durdham Down to gain a view and walk along towards the suspension bridge before returning to the car park

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16th July : Kempley and the Mystery Valley(s) 

The southernmost extremity of the Woolhope Dome lies just SW of the village of Kempley. The folded and heavily faulted marine Silurian rocks here form distinctive scenery in themselves, but the landscape is dissected by deep, steep-sided valleys, discordant to the underlying geology, some of them lacking any sign of the stream that must have eroded them. We will examine the geology and scenery of this beautiful area by means of a circular walk of between 4 and 5 km, along footpaths (some stiles involved) and quiet country roads over relatively gently undulating countryside. 

Meet at the large lay-by (SO672 295),  200 metres south of Kempley Church.

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20th to 26th May 2019

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

20th to 26th May 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 20TH

OUGS Severnside Field Trip (longer)

When

13 – 20 May 2019

Where

Bavaria, Germany (map)

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SMFS Field Trip to S. Devon

When

16 – 21 May 2019

Where

Liskeard. (map)

-----------------------

Course - The Practical Study of Minerals

When

Mon, 20 May, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

Wynstones School, Stroud Rd, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

Description

The Practical Study of  Minerals . 

How to identify minerals using techniques based on both physical (crystallographic, twinning, cleavage, hardness, density, streak, colour, lustre, acid reaction, taste etc) and optical properties under the petrological microscope  (relief, pleochroism, birefringence, extinction etc) Monday 29th April, for 10 weeks, until 15th July (not 6th nor 27th May). Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Rd, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £75.

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 21st

SMFS FIELD TRIP TO S. DEVON

WHEN

16 – 21 MAY 2019

WHERE

LISKEARD. (MAP)

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HOGG - Conference

When

21 – 22 May 2019

Where

The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London (map)

Description

Celebrating the Centenary of Geol. Soc. Female Fellows

Convenors: Prof. Cynthia Burek, Dr Bettie Higgs, Veronica Cubitt Holmes FGS

Celebrating the Centenary of Geol. Soc. Female Fellows

A two-day conference to be held at The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London

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SMFS Evening Meeting

When

Tue, 21 May, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

The Friends' Meeting House, 1A, Ordnance Rd, Southampton. SO15 2AZ (map)

Description

Collecting Fluorescent Minerals in Langban, Sweden – presentation by Michael Doel, Russell Society

 

Members’ Display Table: Fluorescent Minerals

Details at http://www.sotonminfoss.org.uk/smfsprog.htm

Wednesday 22nd

HOGG - CONFERENCE

WHEN

21 – 22 MAY 2019

WHERE

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY, LONDON (MAP)

DESCRIPTION

CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF GEOL. SOC. FEMALE FELLOWS

CONVENORS: PROF. CYNTHIA BUREK, DR BETTIE HIGGS, VERONICA CUBITT HOLMES FGS

CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF GEOL. SOC. FEMALE FELLOWS

A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, BURLINGTON HOUSE, PICCADILLY, LONDON

Thursday 23rd

Friday 24th

Saturday 25th

Sunday 26th

Support charities painlessly

Use Amazon to Support Your Favourite Charity - Especially North West Highlands Geopark

I was recently in the Scotland, in the Ullapool area, enjoying an excursion arranged by WEGA and run by the North West Highlands Geopark. And very good it was!

Suilven

The Geopark now has no government funding and needs to be self supporting. There are many ways you can help but an easy one is to use Amazon.

Assuming you have an account at Amazon go to smile.amazon.co.uk sign in, click on Account and Lists at the top right and, under Your Account, click on Your Amazon Smile and you can choose a charity. For the Geopark you will need to do a search but searching for North West Highlands Geopark will bring up only one choice. 

Next time you buy something from Amazon (make sure you go to smile.amazon.co.uk) about 0.5% of your purchase price goes to the Geopark. The price you pay is the same as normal, so you do not lose and the Geopark wins!

As of February 2019 they have received £44.39 - fourpence of which is mine!

A new type of tectite - Hiroshimaites

A New Type of Tectite - Hiroshimaites

THIS ARTICLE describes new minerals formed in the mushroom cloud of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb in August 1945. 

Small particles of metal and glass found on nearby beaches are said to have condensed from the fireball. 

Down to Earth Extra - May 2019

Down to Earth Extra - May 2019

You can get the latest edition HERE. Sorry this rather late but I have been away.