Monday 23 August 2010

Photos of the Cotswolds gas pipeline

Richard has sent some photos of the installation of the new gas pipeline through the Cotswolds - refer to post of 11th August. These were taken at Winstone. He reports that the geology map gives White Limestone at GR SO968090 (top photo) and Hampen Marly Beds at SO968095 (bottom photo), but passing to Fuller's Earth 100m away from the photo position. A fault is shown 200m away throwing White Limestone up.

Friday 20 August 2010

Wilshire fossils

Wilshire Heritage Museum, Devizes, has made available on-line records for a large collection of fossils found in Wiltshire in the late 19th century by William Cunnington III, a well-known amateur geologist. He started collecting fossils at the age of seven and his extensive collection, amounting to some 20,000 fossils and geological specimens, is divided between the Wiltshire Heritage Museum and the Natural History Museum in London.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Gas pipe-line through the Cotswolds

A gas pipeline is currently being dug into a route running the length of the Cotswolds. With liaison with the contractors, there could be interesting temporary exposures in nearly all the Middle Jurassic. The pipeline's route has been overlaid on to a geological map, and everything from the Lower Lias to the White Limestone/Great Oolite is crossed, in a trench to take the 1-metre diameter pipe. It will all be filled in soon.
Click here if you would like more details of the route.

NOTE: The following reply has been received about this post:
Members of Gloucestershire Geology Trust tried to get access through the AONB but the contractors are so worried about H&S they will not let anyone on site. The trench is dug, the pipe put in and then backfilled very quickly so the heavy machinery carrying the pipe is working all around the area where the trench has been dug.

11 - 12th September - Tavistock Quarries

Tavistock Quarries
Leaders: Eddie Bailey and Sam Rhodes
Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th September 2010
We will spend the first day in and around Greystone Quarry near Tavistock. We will look at the geology (dolerite sill intruded into the Greystone Formation which is an abyssal siltstone - a stretch of hornfelsed siltstone is clearly visible in the quarry). We may also be able to find one or two outcrops nearby that help expand the local geology being introduced. We will also introduce the quarry workings.
The following day we will visit Meldon Quarry famous for its volcanics, hornfels and slates and complex structure, which has recently had to find a new purpose! The traditional rail ballast contract has been withdrawn due to the recession but investigations found that the quarry had materials that could be worked competitively into the bulk fill market. This will help keep Meldon going until the ballast market resumes. Boreholes were also recently drilled to help elucidate the geology to the south of the current excavations - the first boreholes for years.
Although the cores may not be available for inspection in September (they will have been crushed and tested) they give an opportunity to unravel the enigmatic thrusting and folding that characterises Meldon. We will also introduce the Geodiversity plans we have for Meldon and have lunch at our new rock park!
Booking is required - contact the G.A.

Practical Sustainability in Geo-Science and Engineering

On Wednesday 17th November 2010, 1.30 - 6.30. The Western Regional Group of the Geological Society and the University of Bristol Department of Earth Sciences will hold their first joint annual half-day conference. The theme is 'Practical Sustainability in Geo-Science and Engineering'. This event will be FREE to attend, we just ask that you let us know if you wish to attend as, unfortunately, there is a limit on the numbers.
The conference is proposed to comprise a mixture of:
* Keynote speakers from industry, academia and statutory bodies
* Offered papers and posters
* Networking opportunities
making this a key event for geological professionals in the region.
The aim of the conference is to inspire the geological community in the Western UK though the opportunity to showcase the latest sustainable geological developments, present new research, introduce innovative technologies and in general, share current knowledge of practical ways
sustainability is being addressed within geo-science and engineering.
We are inviting entries for speakers, papers and posters which will enthuse and challenge delegates - entries from all areas of geology are welcome. As suggestions, topics could include:
* Carbon footprinting of geo-engineering projects
* Sustainable brownfield remediation
* Innovative engineering waste management
* Carbon capture and storage
* Climate-proofing geological schemes
Prospective speakers and those wishing to present papers and posters should submit an abstract via e-mail using the attached submission form to the conference convenor. The submission deadline is Wednesday 15th September 2010.
For further details contact the event convenor, Nicola Berry.