Next week 8th to 14th May 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

8th to 14th May 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

Monday

19:30

 Dave Green's Geology of the Oceans

WhenMon, 8 May, 19:30 – 21:30

WhereWynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

DescriptionThe Geology of the Oceans past and present (including plate tectonics, environments, and current/developing ideas on oceanography and marine geology). Often termed the last frontier to be explored on Earth, there have been great advances in our understanding of the oceanic realm over the past half century. This course aims to study the main developments and what we might expect in the future, based on current research. Monday 24th April, for 10 weeks, until 10th July (not 1st nor 29th May). Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70.

Tuesday

18:00

 Geol Soc Lecture - Geological Fakes and Frauds

WhenTue, 9 May, 18:00 – 19:30

WhereThe Hub, Aztec West (map)

DescriptionAlistair Ruffell, Belfast The Western Regional Group is pleased to invite Dr Alastair Ruffell from Queen’s University Belfast. During this talk, Alastair will be sharing his experience using Earth science techniques in forensics for the search of hidden objects and trace evidence analysis, and how systems of valuation are affected by fraud. Some geological fakes and frauds are carried out solely for financial gain (mining fraud), whereas others maybe have increasing aesthetic appeal (faked fossils) or academic advancement (fabricated data) as their motive. All types of geological fake or fraud can be ingenious and sophisticated. Fake gems, faked fossils and mining fraud are common examples where monetary profit is to blame: nonetheless these may impact both scientific theory and the reputation of geologists and Earth scientists. The substitution or fabrication of both physical and intellectual data also occurs for no direct financial gain, such as career advancement or establishment of belief (e.g. evolution vs. creationism). Knowledge of such fakes and frauds may assist in spotting undetected geological crimes: application of geoforensic techniques helps the scientific community to detect such activity, which ultimately undermines scientific integrity. This interactive talk will introduce forensic geology and then demonstrate with a series of case studies the application of this discipline to the history of, and investigation into, fakes and frauds. These will include geological crimes committed for purely financial gain (oil/gas, water, gems/precious metals) and academic fakes, especially fossils. Fakes and frauds that use analyses familiar to geologists will be considered (XRD, FTIR, SEM, radiocarbon) in archaeology, antiques, paintings and manuscripts. We will end with the weird and wonderful – geological frauds and fakes that were the result of nonscientific belief, academic rivalry and probably pure madness, but the audience

Wednesday

Geol Soc Field Trip

WhenWednesday, 10 May 2017

WhereClifton Suspension Bridge Visitors Centre (map)

DescriptionWestern: Hard Hat tour of the Clifton Suspension Bridge Abutments Please Book Summer Fieldtrip - FULL Contact westernregionalgroup@gmail.com for more information

Thursday

Friday

19:00

 Cheltenham MGS Lecture - Microfossils

WhenFri, 12 May, 19:00 – 21:00

WhereShurdington at The Century Hall (map)

DescriptionDr Alice Kennedy, Head of Geology, Gloucestershire Geology Trust Introduction to microfossils, their importance studying extreme environmental change

Saturday

SWGA Field Trip - Sully and the Bendricks

WhenSaturday, 13 May 2017

WhereMeet at 10:30 at the Bendricks, on the roadside opposite the entrance to the Vale Recycling Centre on the Atlantic Trading Estate, Barry, CF63 3RF (ST 134 673) (map)

DescriptionLeader: Professor Maurice Tucker Meet at 10:30 at the Bendricks, on the roadside opposite the entrance to the Vale Recycling Centre on the Atlantic Trading Estate, Barry, CF63 3RF (ST 134 673) The Triassic sediments (Mercia Mudstone/Keuper Marl) of coastal Glamorgan were deposited in a large lake or inland sea and by rivers draining from hills of Carboniferous rocks to the North. The climate was hot and arid and evaporates, gypsum and halite, were periodically precipitated in and around the lake. Lacustrine Limestones and dolomites with stromatolites and palaeosoils are present and within these and thin bedded, sheet-flood sandstones. Dinosaur footprints can be observed. There are also travertine-spring deposits. The excursion will begin at Bendricks Rock – Hayes Point where we will see dinosaur footprints, evaporate dissolution collapse structures and palaeosoils. Total walking distance about 1Km. We will then drive to The Captains Wife car park at Swanbridge and in the afternoon visit the Carboniferous – Triassic unconformity on Sully Island, where replaced evaporates and a variety of other lacustrine facies occur. Total walking distance here about 2Km.

Sunday