Saturday 30 March 2019

1st to 7th April 2019


NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

1st to 7th April 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 1st



TUESDAY 2nd



WEDNESDAY 3rd



Thursday 4th

Bath Geol Soc - Lecture
When
Thu, 4 April, 19:30 – 21:00
Where
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16 Queen Square, Bath (map)
Description
Dr. James Verdon (Bristol)

The shale gas boom: A history of “fracking" from the 19th to the 21st centuries. 

 Abstract 
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas has become an issue of significant public debate. In this talk I will chart the history of this often poorly-understood technology, from the original well-shooters of the 19th Century, through to modern-day shale gas developments. 

Friday 5th



Saturday 6th

SGMRG - Conference
When
Sat, 6 April, 09:30 – 16:00
Where
Saltford (map)
Description
South West Industrial Archaeology Conference - Saltford



Sunday 7th




North Dakotan evidence for Chicxulub impact

KP (or T) Impact Evidence in North Dakota


An informant has brought THIS to my attention.

The article describes what must have happened shortly after the impact event. 

Fossilised fish piled one atop the other as they were flung ashore.

When the asteroid impacted, billions of tons of molten rock was flung into the air. And some of it landed at Tanis, the site in North Dakota. Some is found in the gills of fish, some in amber - resin at the time.

The site shows signs of water inundation, possibly caused by a tsunami, more probably by a seiche - water displaced by a massive seismic shockwave.

I suspect we will be hearing more of this site in the future.

Two Field Courses with Nick Chidlaw

Two Field Courses with Nick Chidlaw

Sandhurst Hill north of Gloucester

Nick Chidlaw has sent me the following:- 



July 2019 – Severn Vale north of Gloucester and escarpment of the mid Cotswolds

Two 1-day field courses. These are independent of each other – enrolment can be on either, or both courses, according to interests / availability. 
Tutor: Dr Nick Chidlaw
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July 2019
10.00 am – 5.00 pm each day
ICE AGE & HOT DESERT: TWO GEOLOGICAL WALKS NEAR GLOUCESTER Saturday 20th July
The Severn Valley immediately north of Gloucester comprises a rural landscape of farmland and scattered villages, punctuated by abrupt, flat-topped hills, and extensive tracts of valley floor over which the tidal rivers flows south. The geological history of the area is fascinating and contrasting. The oldest strata, c. 200 million year old, were laid down in hot deserts which gave way to shallow tropical seas; they can be seen in a cliff along the river. The hill tops preserve glacial deposits, and on the valley sides below is found a legacy of past valley floors now remaining as a series of ‘terraces’, as the river progressively incised its course. These hill top and terrace deposits were laid down during the Ice Age of recent geological time. Towards the end of the last glaciation, the river here was flowing in a ravine below its present level. With the ending of the Ice Age some 10,000 year ago, and the associated rise in sea level, the river has built up its broad clayey plain, frequently prone to hazardous winter floods. This course comprises a morning walk (c. 4 miles) and an afternoon walk (c. 3 miles), both gently-paced with frequent stops to discuss the geology and landforms.
A GEOLOGICAL WALK IN ESCARPMENT COUNTRY, MID COTSWOLDS: Jurassic strata and landforms near and far Sunday 21st July 
The steep escarpment of Jurassic rocks in the mid Cotswolds looks north-west across the broad low-lying Severn Vale, to the Welsh Borderland hills and beyond. This mainly rural, highly attractive landscape overlies a geological legacy of repeated tectonic plate collision and extension, uplift and erosion, going back to Precambrian times. On this course you can learn to recognise these landforms, know of their underlying geology and understand how both came into being. Walking c. 4 miles between Doverow Hill near Stonehouse across the valley of the River Frome to Selsley Common, we examine exposures of Early and Middle Jurassic strata in old quarries and pits, and lane cuttings. These rocks, many of which are highly fossiliferous, were laid down in warm tropical seas overlying an active rift complex. In the Ice Age of recent geological times, the River Severn and its tributaries progressively incised their courses, and landslides occurred on the escarpment as it came into being; these landslides continued to take place, notably at the end of the last cold climatic episode c. 10,000 year ago, with some local movement continuing today.    
Attached photograph is of Sandhurst Hill  near Gloucester: this flat-topped hill (88m OD) has a veneer of glacial till and associated outwash deposits, laid down by a glacier during the Anglian Glaciation (480,000 – 420,000 years ago). Sandhurst Hill is a remnant of what was the valley floor of the Severn Vale at that time, since deepened by erosion to its present level.  
No prior knowledge of geology, or the areas to be studied, is assumed. Attendees arrange their own travel, and if they do not live locally, arrange their own meals and accommodation – tutor can advise.
Meeting locations provided to those enrolled.
Volunteer drivers will be needed to facilitate the planned walking on both courses – please indicate if you would be willing to be a volunteer driver when enrolling
Tuition fee £27.00 per person per course.
If you/ anyone else you know would like to attend either or both these courses, please forward cheque payable to me to:
Dr N Chidlaw
8, Silver Street,
Dursley,
Glos.
GL11 4ND
Bank trans can be arranged if you do not use cheques – let me know.
Please provide me with your postal address – I will then be able to send you your course handout(s) in good time before the courses run, should they become viable.
Deadline for minimum number (10) of enrolments for both courses is Saturday 18th May. Maximum number of enrolments is 30. If the minimum of enrolments for either or both courses is reached by this deadline, arrangements will continue; if not, the course / courses will be cancelled and fees received will be returned soon afterwards to those who have sent them in. Once viable, enrolments on the course can continue up to 1 week before they are due to run (Saturday 13th July)   
Any queries, contact tutor nickchidlaw@gmail.com  

Thursday 28 March 2019

Saturday 23 March 2019

25th to 31st March 2019


NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

25th to 31st March 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 25TH



Tuesday 26th



wednesday 27th

Somerset Earth Science - Lecture
When
Wed, 27 March, 19:00 – 21:00
Where
Henton Church (Parking in the road) (map)
Description
Surviving the last Ice Age:
a Mendip perspective
Professor Shreve, of Royal Holloway University of London, will present the latest evidence from a new cave sequence in Ebbor Gorge which is shedding new light on how different species responded to abrupt climate change.
Introduced by Terry Gifford

Wednesday 27th March 
7 for 7.30pm
Henton Church
(Parking in the road)
Wine and soft drinks
Tickets £5
jennycrossley@mbzonline.net

Proceeds to Christ Church, Henton re-ordering fund.
---------------------------------------

Bristol Nats - Lecture
When
Wed, 27 March, 19:30 – 21:00
Where
room G8, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1RJ (map)
Description

COPPER PORPHYRY DEPOSITS & NEW DISCOVERIES REGARDING THEM, WITH REFERENCE ESPECIALLY TO RESEARCH INTO THE GEOSCIENCE OF THE CHILEAN DEPOSITS.

Dr Brian Tattitch (of USA, Washington) and Ed Bunker (Bristol University)

7.30 p.m. Wednesday 27 March 2019

The talk will start with a fairly brief, but sufficient for those who do not know, introduction to the subject of Copper Porphyry Deposits, which are the biggest sources of mined copper in the world. This will be followed followed by some new, most engaging research discoveries from top research realms in their field of research.

Dr Brian Tattitch and Ed Bunker have both been working with Prof Jon Blundy in the last couple of years, Prof Blundy being recent past head of Earth Sciences School, Bristol University and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

The evening is planned to take a two part form with a break in the middle of the evening during which fragments from deposits will be able to be seen & handled (Do bring your own hand lens!) & a few helpful texts and papers as helpful background & engaging reading, will be there to be dipped into."

Thursday 28th



Friday 29th



Saturday 30th



Sunday 31st




Lochaber Geopark

Lochaber Geopark

The following email has come my way. It is well worth reading. All Geoparks deserve our support!!!

Their Geotours look particularly interesting. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the huge variety of tours available.

I am going on a geotour to the North West Highlands Geopark shortly. I have not been involved in the organisation but I am told that the support by the Geopark has been excellent. I assume that Lochaber will be similarly good.


To Whom It May Concern:

Lochaber Geopark is a geological charity in the West Highlands of Scotland, founded in 2004. We have received funding from the Scottish Government and Highland Council on a generally declining scale up to the present. Recently they have made it clear that to survive we must become self-financing. We have developed retail sales in our visitor centres and are developing an ambitious programme of field excursions – ‘Geotours’ – for which we will charge. They can be tailored for the level of geological knowledge of the participants, and all will be led by local graduate geologists. We would like to request your help in promoting our Geotours, by making your members aware of our programme by visiting https://lochabergeopark.org.uk/product-category/geotours/
We also have an expanding membership scheme for individuals and families which can be reached at https://lochabergeopark.org.uk/product/membership/
For more general information email: info@lochabergeopark.org.uk
Background information about our outstanding geology and scenery, our visitor centres and our outdoor interpretation is given below or can be found on our website: www.lochabergeopark.org.uk
We would very much appreciate your help in promoting our enterprise.
Please continue to read this e-mail for more information on the Geopark and the Geotours we have on offer.

Yours sincerely,

Isla Mackay
Geotours and membership organizer and tour guide (B.Sc Geology, Edinburgh University)


Friday 22 March 2019

New Cambrian explosion site

A New Cambrian Explosion Site in China


The Guardian reports HERE that a site with beautifully preserved fossils dated at 518 million years BP has been found in Hubei province in Central China. This is 10 million years older than the Burgess Shale site in Canada. And pictures suggest it is easier to get to than the mountain-girt Canadian site.


 Palaeontologists digging on the banks of the Danshui river, Hubei province, China. Photograph: Dong King Fu / Science / AAAS. Note the bridge in the background.


So far 4,351 fossils have been found, 101 species found, of which 53 are new to science. Unfortunately the links in the Guardians article lead to the journal Science, which is not open to non-subscribers, but no doubt we will be hearing more from this newly discovered site.

A fossilised kinorhynch, otherwise known as a mud dragon. Photograph: Supplied

Monday 18 March 2019

Mount St Helens 2004 - 2008, time lapse

Mount St Helens 2004 - 2008, Time Lapse 

Watch the lava domes of Mount Saint Helens grow and collapse.



Saturday 16 March 2019

18th to 24th March 2019


NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

18th to 24th March 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 18TH

Course - The Geology of Eruptions, Earthquakes and Tsunamis
When
Mon, 18 March, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)
Description
The Geology of Eruptions, Earthquakes and Tsunamis  
Three of the most devastating natural disaster-forming events are geological, all related to plate tectonics, and are very difficult, if not impossible, to accurately forecast.  What are the causes of these events and their various manifestations? Why are some more dangerous than others? How can we prevent or mitigate these effects? Examples of some of these phenomena will be used to illustrate these points Monday 7th for 10 weeks (not 18h Feb) until 18th March. Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, 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 19th

SMFS Evening Meeting
When
Tue, 19 March, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
The Friends' Meeting House, 1A, Ordnance Rd, Southampton. SO15 2AZ (map)
Description
“European Jurassic to Early Cretaceous non-marine molluscs and palaeoenvironments”,
presentation by Dr Martin Munt, Curator & General Manager, Dinosaur Isle.

Members’ Display Table: Isle of Wight Minerals & Fossils

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

wednesday 20th

SGMRG - AGM and Lecture
When
Wed, 20 March, 19:30 – 21:00
Where
The Miners Institute, BS36 2QB Badminton Rd, Coalpit Heath, Bristol (map)
Description
AGM & Talk 2 - Underground Bristol by Hamish Orr-Ewing

Thursday 21st

Course - Advances in Understanding Earth’s Structure and Operation
When
Thu, 21 March, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
The Chantry, Thornbury. (map)
Description
Advances in Understanding Earth’s Structure and Operation. 
This 10 week course aims to introduce you to relatively new ideas, some accepted, some controversial, about the internal structure and tectonics of the Earth. Many ideas have changed radically since the inception of the Plate Tectonic hypothesis, and especially in the period from the 1990s, partly as a result of new technology, and the re-examination of parts of the theory that evidence did not support. Each week we will examine a different topic, such as subduction, mantle dynamics, mantle plumes.   Held at The Chantry, Thornbury.  First meeting 7.30 – 9.30, Thurs 10th January until March 21st (not Thurs 21st Feb). Cost £75

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

Friday 22nd



Saturday 23rd

SWGA - AGM and Lecture
When
Sat, 23 March, 10:30 – 12:00
Where
Lectures at Cardiff University are held in the Department of Earth Sciences in the ‘Main Building’. We meet in the Earth Sciences staff room on Floor 1 and lectures are held in Lecture Theatre 1.25. (map)
Description

(Cardiff): AGM and Archaeopteryx: the story of an iconic fossil: Cindy Howells (NMW)


Click here to see the building location on a map from Cardiff University. It is numbered 5 in the key.

All meetings commence at 11.00am except for the AGM which begins at 10.30am.
Refreshments are served from about 45 minutes before each meeting. We take the speaker
to lunch after the meeting and all members are very welcome to join us.
---------------------------------------

DGAG Excursion - Purbeck Stone
When
Sat, 23 March, 10:30 – 10:30
Where
Dorset (map)
Description
Visit to a Purbeck quarry and, in the afternoon, its locality. Details to be confirmed. 

Sunday 24th

Field Trip – Worbarrow Bay
When
Sun, 24 March, 10:00 – 15:00
Where
Worbarrow Bay, Dorset (map)
Description
Further details from the Field Trip Secretary.
Low tide at 13:50
---------------------------------------------

OUGS Severnside - Field Trip
When
Sun, 24 March, 10:30 – 11:00
Where
Start location: Car park at the Windmill Inn, Nore Road. Grid ref. ST 458 766. (map)
Description
The Coastal Geology of Portishead


Leader: Mark Howson FGS

Location: Portishead, North Somerset

Date: March 24th 2019 (Sunday)

Type: Field Trip (Day)

Summary: This is our annual Introductory Day and will be particularly suitable for those with little or no previous experience of geological field trips.

More info:
The trip will be led by Mark Howson FGS, and during the day we will investigate the geology along the seafront at Portishead. This is our annual Introductory Day and will be particularly suitable for those with little or no previous experience of geological field trips, although those with more experience will still find plenty of interesting geology in this area. Amongst other things we will see folding, unconformities and fossils. The overall route will cover a total distance of around 4 miles (6.5 kilometres).

Start time: 10:30 am

Start location: Car park at the Windmill Inn, Nore Road. Grid ref. ST 458 766.

Parking: While there is parking at the Windmill Inn, it can get congested.  Also for convenience at lunch time and your return walk, it is recommended to park on The Esplanade (ST 463 771), and then walk south up Beach Road West for 70 m.  Then turn right to cross the Picnic Grounds to the Windmill Inn car park.

Bring a packed lunch and enjoy the Lake Grounds, or eat at local cafés (Lakeside Café or Lido Café). There are public toilets in Lake Grounds, and toilets in local cafés.

We will be walking on beaches that are mainly pebbly, but in places rocky or muddy and uneven, so you must come with stout footwear and suitable clothing.  Be prepared for a small amount of clambering over or around rocks.

Please bring a hand lens if you have one. A hard hat is only necessary if you wish to approach the higher cliffs for a close-up view of the rock faces.

Contact: Norman Nimmo-Smith   [nrnsmith@hotmail.com]


Friday 15 March 2019

Want to be the author of a geology book?

Author Sought

I have received the following from Alison Brown, Commissioning Editor for the Crowood Press:-

Dear Mr Churchard,
 

Please allow me to introduce myself as the Commissioning Editor at The Crowood Press with responsibility for the geology list of books.  We publish the best-selling book ‘ The Geology of Britain – An Introduction’ by Peter Toghill.

We are looking to commission some new regional geology titles for the list and one of these is ‘Geology of the West Country’.

 
I note that you have a blog ‘Geology in the West Country’ and so I wondered if you might possibly be able to suggest some suitable people for me to approach to write this.

 
We are looking for 40,000-50,000 words and 150-250 illustrations/photographs. The target audience is people with an interest in geology, including undergraduates, but we would not target the book specifically at the academic market.

I am happy to work with any potential authors to develop the scope of the content.

I would be very grateful for any assistance you could provide.

Yours sincerely

Alison

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

A visit to their web site shows that they have published lots of books including geological ones.

If you are interested contact them directly mentioning this blog. And let me know how you got on!

Saturday 9 March 2019

11th to 17th March 2019


NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

11th to 17th March 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 11TH

Course - The Geology of Eruptions, Earthquakes and Tsunamis
When
Mon, 11 March, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)
Description
The Geology of Eruptions, Earthquakes and Tsunamis  
Three of the most devastating natural disaster-forming events are geological, all related to plate tectonics, and are very difficult, if not impossible, to accurately forecast.  What are the causes of these events and their various manifestations? Why are some more dangerous than others? How can we prevent or mitigate these effects? Examples of some of these phenomena will be used to illustrate these points Monday 7th for 10 weeks (not 18h Feb) until 18th March. Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, 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 12th

Cardiff University Lecture - When Sea levels Change...
When
Tue, 12 March, 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
Neanderthal landscapes of the Channel River Valley—title tbc
Rebecca Scott (British Museum)
-----------------------------------

WEGA Lecture - Brian Williams, Snowball Earth
When
Tue, 12 March, 19:30 – 21:00
Description
Professor Brian Williams (Cork University)
Snowball Earth

Wednesday 13th

DGAG Lecture - The Cretaceous–Paleogene unconformity in England
When
Wed, 13 March, 19:00 – 21:00
Where
Dorset County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ, United Kingdom (map)
Description
Uplift and erosion related to the Icelandic mantle plume. 
Talk by Professor Andy Gale. 
This is the third of a series of Earth Science-based lectures organised by DGAG in collaboration with other groups. 
As the Dorset County Museum is closed for refurbishment, ’til summer 2020,  the lectures will take place in Committee Room 1 at County Hall. They will follow the familiar pattern of being on the second Wednesday of the month starting at 7 pm. 
Parking is available behind County Hall and is free in the evening. 

thursday 14th

Course - Advances in Understanding Earth’s Structure and Operation
When
Thu, 14 March, 19:30 – 21:30
Where
The Chantry, Thornbury. (map)
Description
Advances in Understanding Earth’s Structure and Operation. 
This 10 week course aims to introduce you to relatively new ideas, some accepted, some controversial, about the internal structure and tectonics of the Earth. Many ideas have changed radically since the inception of the Plate Tectonic hypothesis, and especially in the period from the 1990s, partly as a result of new technology, and the re-examination of parts of the theory that evidence did not support. Each week we will examine a different topic, such as subduction, mantle dynamics, mantle plumes.   Held at The Chantry, Thornbury.  First meeting 7.30 – 9.30, Thurs 10th January until March 21st (not Thurs 21st Feb). Cost £75

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

friday 15th



saturday 16th

Visit to see the fossil collections of Wolfgang Grulke & Dr John Whicher.
When
Sat, 16 March, 10:00 – 16:00
Where
Dorset (map)
Description
Further details from the Chairman - Phil james

sunday 17th