The Juan de Fuca Tectonic Plate Approaches its End

The Juan de Fuca Tectonic Plate Approaches its End (Sad)

In THIS ARTICLE researchers from the University of California, Berkley discuss the impending end of the Juan de Fuca  tectonic plate as it disappears under North America.

As the plate is subsumed parts are being torn off and separated. This may explain some of the areas seismic activity and its unusual volcanism.

Something New (and Old) from the Burgess Shale

Something New (and Old) from the Burgess Shale

A valued source has brought THIS ARTICLE to my attention. Cambroraster falcatus has recently been identified, described and named by researchers at the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Toronto.

BOTTOM FEEDER  With a spaceship-shaped carapace, rakelike claws and a round tooth-filled mouth, Cambroraster falcatus (shown in an artist’s rendition) hunted for food along the seafloor. LARS FIELDS © ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM

The beastie is about 30cm long which was pretty big for the Burgess Shale, and looks like a horseshoe crab. It does not look like any spaceship I have seen.

Boring Billion?

Was there a Boring Billion Years?

Apparently us geologists call the period from 1.800 to 800 million years ago the "Boring Billion". That is something which passed me by. But THIS ARTICLE argues that quite a lot was happening. But is then rather reticent about what i should be excited about. It mentions changes in oxygen levels but gives few details. Perhaps there is a paper on the way.

But there is a rather nice diagram.

Geologic clock: if Earth’s history is plotted over 12hrs, not much happened between about 7 and 10 o'clock. Woudloper / wiki, CC BY-SA

29th July to 4th August 2019

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

29th July to 4th August 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 29th

Tuesday 30th

Wednesday 31st

Thursday 1st

Friday 2nd

Saturday 3rd

Sunday 4th

22nd to 28th July 2019

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

22nd to 28th July 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 22nd

OUGS Severnside - Excursion

When

Jul 19 – 21, 2019

Where

Cardigan, Ceredigion (map)

Description

Geology of West Wales

Leader: Dave Green

Location: Cardigan, Ceredigion

Date: July 19th–21st, 2019

Type: Field Trip (Weekend)

Summary: Two days investigating the fascinating variety of geology in the area around Cardigan and Newport.

More info:

Full details of the trip will be provided later, but the weekend will concentrate on one or more of the following themes: Ordovician igneous geology (Prescelli "bluestones” and Fishguard Volcanic formation); Ordovician to Silurian sediments of the Welsh basin; Ice marginal, and sea level change features adjacent to the Irish Sea ice sheet.

On Friday evening Dave will provide a detailed description of the geology we will see on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact: Michelle Thomas  [michellef-t@hotmail.co.uk]

Booking

Form: Please contact the organiser of this event for booking information

Tuesday 23rd

Wednesday 24th

Thursday 25th

Friday 26th

Saturday 27th

Sunday 28th

Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show

When

Sun, July 28, 10am – 4pm

Where

Exeter Hall, Kidlington, OX5 1AB (map)

Debris Flow Video

Debris Flow Video

I came across this and it was too good to ignore. It seems too chaotic for Switzerland!

You can read more about it HERE.

Mendip Rocks! Programme

Mendip Rocks! Programme

Somerset Earth Science Centre have published their huge programme. I will be putting the individual events onto the Calendar. In the meantime here is the programme in it entirety. These events should be booked via www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk and if any charges due, these are paid at the venue.

They also have events for Earth Science Week, itemised separately.

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2019 Mendip Rocks! Programme – 10^th August to 20^th October

Key Family Events:

“It’s a Blast at Westbury Quarry” – Sat 10^th Aug – launch day 10-3.30pm. Stancombe Lane, Westbury Sub Mendip, near Wells.  (Mendip Society, AONB, SESC & Danielle Schreve, Peter Hardy Geo tour at 11am and 2pm, Botany walk at 2pm,  Mendip Cave Rescue & Butterfly Conservation)  Blast demolition of a small car, raffled before midday. Refreshments.

Fossil Funday & 10^th Anniversary Open day at SESC , Moons Hill Quarry, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU  Wed 21^st Aug- 10am-4.30pm.  Fossil id, crafts/arts, quarry visits. & Peter Hardy/Simon Carpenter.  To include Art Exhibition of Somerset artists inspired by Mendip and Somerset Geology.

Burrington Combe Family Fun – Wed 28th Aug 11am – 4pm. AONB/SESC & Peter Hardy fossils.

“Explore Ebbor Gorge” – Sun 20^th Oct 10am-4pm “(Earth Science Week) - SESC Rocks/fossil activities.  AONB stand & Mendip Society – Making the Mendips activities & festival finale event.

Festival Walks & talks:

Botany & Geology Walks –Liz McDonnell /P Hardy– Westbury Sub Mendip Quarry 10th August  11am & 2pm

Kilmersdon Coalfield Walk – Richard Frost – Wed 14th Aug 1-4pm Meet Radstock Museum, parking in town.

Blackmoor Lead Mining walk – Richard Frost Sun 18th Aug 2-4pm. Parking at Blackmoor Reserve Car Park.

Exploring Fairy Cave Quarry walk and Armchair caving talk at SESC Thurs 22^nd August 2pm - 5.30pm. Parking on Limekiln Lane, midway between Stoke St Michael and Oakhill, by edge of Fairy Cave Quarry.  Walk will be followed by a short slideshow at SESC by Peter Glanville and refreshments.

The Ancient Springs of Wells Geo Walk- Doug Robinson – Sat 24^th August – 10.30am-12.30pm.  Meet Tor Hill Lane, Wells ST554 458.  Parking in Wells or on B3139 in layby.

Burrington Combe – Deserts, Mountains & Seas Geology walk - Wed 28^th Aug, 2.30pm – Peter Hardy.  Meet in lower carpark, by toilets.

The History and Hydrogeology of the Mendip’s precious water resources – a Talk and tour by Mike Sumbler of Bristol Water.  Sat 7^th Sept, 2pm   Chew Stoke Pumping Station, BS40 8.

“The Buried Treasure of Fairyland” A film premiere presenting Fairy Cave Quarry  Fri 20^th Sept, 7-9pm at Priddy Village Hall 7-9pm

Banwell Bone Cave Tours – 14th & 28th Sept, 2pm- 5pm.  Eventbrite tickets only, pay on day at caves £15 refreshments provided.  Parking at The Caves, Bridewell Lane, Banwell.

Fossil Fun at Writhlington, Radstock– Sat 21^st Sept – SESC/Simon Carpenter –2-4pm. Parking on Waterloo Road,and town centre. Meet opposite Radstock Museum.

“What Lies Beneath” Walk to explore Priddy caves above ground with Peter Glanvill – Weds 25^th Sept, 2pm.  Walk approx. 3.5miles.  Meet village hall, parking on the Green.

Mendip Quarry Tours: booking essential/pay on day £5pp.  (Wear or bring boots, and no shorts please, safety wear provided).

·         Batts Combe, Cheddar – Tues 13^th Aug 10.00am & 2pm. Meet at Batts Combe Quarry reception.

·         Moons Hill – SESC Open Day – 21^st Aug. 10am-4pm (4 Tours).(inc Somerset Art Works “Marking Time” Exhibition & family fossil crafts and fossil identification by experts)

·         Torr Works, Frome – Thurs 12^th Sept 10am. Meet at SESC for minibus tour

·         Halecombe, Leigh on Mendip – Wed 2^nd Oct 10am & 2pm. Meet at SESC for minibus tour.

Mendip Rocks Art Exhibition: “Marking Time” at SESC 15-21st August, not Sunday 18th 10am-4pm. Somerset Earth Science Centre, Moons Hill Quarry, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU.

Mendip and Somerset geology inspired artworks to celebrate 10^th Anniversary of Somerset Earth Science Centre opening.  10% proceeds to Mendip Rocks.    Artworks from Melanie Deegan & Watchet Art group (7 artists), Jennie Thomas, David Parfitt, Christina White and other local artists. Art workshops with some artists on Weds 21^st August during SESC Anniversary open day.  Works include; watercolours, acrylics, print making, photography and 3D sculpture in the grounds at SESC.  Refreshments available for sale.

(Stakeholders only invited Fri afternoon private view on 16^th to celebrate SESC’s 10^th anniversary

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Earth Science Week Events 12-20 October  specialist Geo lectures & walks:

·         Beacon Hill: Geology, scenery & archaeology walk –Dr Doug Robinson

Sat 12^th Oct 10am-12.30pm.  Meet at SESC to car share 9.45am, or parking in gateway of Beacon Hill Woods. ST637461.

·         10^th Anniversary Geo Lecture Day at SESC – Prof Iain Stewart (Plymouth Uni), Dr Ania Losiak (Exeter Uni), Prof Tony Watts (Oxford Uni) & Prof Mike Benton, James Ronan (Bristol Uni) and others.

 Sat 12^th October - 12.45pm for 1pm-5pm Tickets to include tea and cake. £20pp (pay on the door).  Somerset Earth Science Centre, Moons Hill Quarry, Stoke St Michael, BA3 5JU.

·         Blackdown to Shute Shelve geo walk – Tony Watts (Oxford Uni)

Sun 13 Oct – 2.00-4.30pm, meet in lower car park of Burrington Combe, by Burrington Inn. BS40 7AT.

·         From Rock to Tap – How Cheddar gets its water – Walk and tour of Cheddar Treatment Works with Mike Sumbler (Bristol Water).

 Wed 16 Oct – 10.30am-12.30pm. Meet at Upper Pond in Cheddar Gorge.

·         Explore Ebbor Gorge Open Day – Sun 20 Oct – 10am-4pm. Fun event for families and for all to discover how the gorge was formed, guided walks by Prof Danielle Schreve – Gully Cave dig to learn about early mammals that lived in the last ice age & rare palaeontological finds.  Family activities provided by Mendip AONB, SESC, The Mendip Society, SW Heritage Trust and National Trust.   Refreshments.  Parking at the reserve near Wookey Hole, Wells. ST520 484.

ALL EVENTS TO BE BOOKED via Eventbrite link: www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk  details 01749 840156.

15th to 21st July 2019

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

15th to 21st July 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 15TH

Course - The Practical Study of Minerals

When

Mon, 15 July, 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 16th

Geol Soc Western - Lecture

When

Tue, 16 July, 18:00 – 19:30

Where

The Hub, 500 Park Ave, Aztec W, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4RZ, UK (map)

Description

Climate Change – A Geologist’s perspective  Steve Hencher The Hub, Aztec West

I am not sure of the time - it is not mentioned on their PDF! but it was 18:00 hrs in previous years Contact Mike.Addinall@soils.co.uk

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Dave Green - Geology and Landscape

When

Tue, 16 July, 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

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.

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

SMFS Evening Meeting

When

Tue, 16 July, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

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

Description

“A Green Man and fossil adventures in Brittany’ – presentation by Dr Bob Chandler, Natural History Museum & Wessex Cephalopod Club

Members’ Display Table: French fossils & minerals

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

Wednesday 17th

Thursday 18th

Thornbury Geology Group, 7.30pm, The Chantry, Thornbury

When

Thu, 18 July, 19:00 – 21:30

Description

Thornbury Geology Group, 7.30pm at The Chantry, Thornbury, and every 3rd Thursday in the month.  

Friday 19th

OUGS Severnside - Excursion

When

19 – 21 Jul 2019

Where

Cardigan, Ceredigion (map)

Description

Geology of West Wales

Leader: Dave Green

Location: Cardigan, Ceredigion

Date: July 19th–21st, 2019

Type: Field Trip (Weekend)

Summary: Two days investigating the fascinating variety of geology in the area around Cardigan and Newport.

More info:

Full details of the trip will be provided later, but the weekend will concentrate on one or more of the following themes: Ordovician igneous geology (Prescelli "bluestones” and Fishguard Volcanic formation); Ordovician to Silurian sediments of the Welsh basin; Ice marginal, and sea level change features adjacent to the Irish Sea ice sheet.

On Friday evening Dave will provide a detailed description of the geology we will see on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact: Michelle Thomas  [michellef-t@hotmail.co.uk]

Booking

Form: Please contact the organiser of this event for booking information

Saturday 20th

OUGS SEVERNSIDE - EXCURSION

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SWGA - Excursion

When

Sat, 20 July, 11:00 – 16:00

Where

Meet at 11.00am on the foreshore by Portishead Yacht & Sailing Club (ST 451766). (map)

Description

Portishead - Clevedon, North Somerset Leader: Mark Howson

Meet at 11.00am on the foreshore by Portishead Yacht & Sailing Club (ST 451766). Park at the northern end of Nichols Road (BS20 8DT) and Belton Road, which link up in a rough parking area and where there are short paths down to the coast path, which is part of ‘The Gordano Round’. The start point is about 150 yards or so to the east along this path. Bring a packed lunch.

This trip is planned as a counterpoint to the June 2017 excursion to the east Portishead and is a pleasant walk along west Portishead’s coast to look at some interesting but less well-known geological features. We will pass the small but engaging and historic Black Nore Lighthouse and then continue walking to the west, sometimes on the pebbly, rocky and occasionally muddy beach and sometimes on the path above the low cliffs. We may make it as far as Charlcombe Bay, but one

could return at any time along this path.

The geology is dominated by the Lower Devonian Old Red Sandstone (ORS), known as the Black Nore Sandstone, overlain by Triassic Dolomitic Conglomerate. In the fluvial sandstones near the Yacht Club we will see trace fossils (burrows) which maybe unique and that are believed to relate to the feeding and reproduction of the organisms. Geologists viewing photos have suggested that they may be erosional features, but the few that have seen them in the field have not Doubted that they are syn-depositional burrows.

More features to be seen in the ORS include possible plant fossils, sedimentary features, mud-flake conglomerates and some curious erosional features. We will also look at the variation, mineralization

and derived fossils in the Dolomitic Conglomerate, and discuss the depositional environments that prevailed. 

Our end point, if we get that far, is a secluded, rather attractive bay with an interesting

cave, where there are two intersecting unconformities.

Sunday 21st

OUGS SEVERNSIDE - EXCURSION