SCIENTISTVOLUME 27 NO 10 ◆ NOVEMBER 2017 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST

GEOThe Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95

SINGAPORE] [Special Issue

Hidden Tiger Graham Leslie and Rhian Kendall uncover the geology beneath

ELIZABETH ALEXANDER TRUST & TRANSPARENCY COAL COMFORT? Mary Harris on her mother’s Mark Steeves on building Bryan Lovell and Ted Nield pioneering work public confidence on coal, CCS and Germany

GEOSCIENTIST CONTENTS

Geoscientist is the ADVERTISING SALES Fellowship magazine of the Jonny Knight Geological Society T 01727 739 193 of London E jonathan@ centuryonepublishing.uk The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, ART EDITOR London W1J 0BG Heena Gudka T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 F +44 (0)20 7439 8975 DESIGN & PRODUCTION E [email protected] Jonathan Coke (Not for Editorial - Please contact the Editor) PRINTED BY Century One Publishing House Publishing Ltd. The Geological Society Publishing House, Unit 7, Copyright Brassmill Enterprise Centre, The Geological Society of Brassmill Lane, Bath London is a Registered Charity, BA1 3JN number 210161. T 01225 445046 ISSN (print) 0961-5628 F 01225 442836 ISSN (online) 2045-1784 Library The Geological Society of London 16 24 T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 accepts no responsibility for the views expressed in any article in this E [email protected] publication. All views expressed, except where explicitly stated otherwise, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF represent those of the author, and not Professor The Geological Society of London. All All rights reserved. No paragraph of this EDITOR publication may be reproduced, copied Dr Ted Nield or transmitted save with written permission. Users registered with E [email protected] Copyright Clearance Center: the Journal is registered with CCC, 27 Congress EDITORIAL BOARD Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. 0961- Dr Sue Bowler 5628/02/$15.00. Every effort has been Mr Steve Branch made to trace copyright holders of Dr material in this publication. If any rights have been omitted, the publishers offer 10 25 Prof. Tony Harris their apologies. Dr Howard Falcon-Lang Mr Edmund Nickless No responsibility is assumed by the Mr David Shilston Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of Dr Jonathan Turner products liability, negligence or ON THE COVER: Dr Jan Zalasiewicz otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions 10 HIDDEN TIGER Trustees of the or ideas contained in the material Geological Society herein. Although all advertising What lies beneath the vibrant city state of London material is expected to conform to ethical (medical) standards, inclusion Mr Malcolm Brown (President) in this publication does not constitute of Singapore? Mr John Booth a guarantee or endorsement of the Mr Rick Brassington quality or value of such product or of Dr Jason Canning the claims made by its manufacturer. Miss Liv Carroll Subscriptions: All correspondence Ms Lesley Dunlop relating to non-member subscriptions Dr Marie Edmonds (Secretary, should be addresses to the Journals FEATURESFEATURES Science) Subscription Department, Geological Society Publishing House, Unit 7 16 ELIZABETH ALEXANDER Mr Graham Goffey (Treasurer) Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Dr Sarah Gordon (Secretary, Lane, Bath, BA1 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 Mary Harris writes about her mother’s pioneering scientific Foreign & External Affairs) 445046. Fax: 01225 442836. Email: work in Singapore Mrs Tricia Henton [email protected]. The subscription Ms Naomi Jordan price for Volume 27, 2017 (11 issues) to institutions and non-members will Dr Robert Larter be £139 (UK) or £159/$319 (Rest Dr Jennifer McKinley of World). Dr Colin North (Secretary, REGULARS Publications) © 2017 The Geological Society Dr Sheila Peacock of London 05 Welcome Ted Nield on coal, CCS - and Germany Prof Christine Peirce Geoscientist is printed on FSC® mixed Mr Nicholas Reynolds credit - Mixed source products are a 06 Society News What your Society is doing at home and Prof Nick Rogers (President blend of FSC 100%, Recycled and/or abroad, in London and the regions Controlled fibre. Certified by the Forest designate) Stewardship Council®. Dr Katherine Royse (Secretary, 09 Soapbox Bryan Lovell thinks CCS could be the Professional Matters) last roll for coal Mr Keith Seymour (Vice president, Regional Groups) Miss Jessica Smith 20 Books and arts Six new books reviewed by Catherine Kenny, Mr John Talbot (Vice president, David Edwards, Nine Morgan, Mark Griffin, Chartership) Gordon Woo and Rob Bowell Dr Alexander Whittaker Published on behalf of the 23 Calendar Society activities this month Geological Society of London by 24 People Geoscientists in the news and on the move Century One Publishing 26 Obituary John Baverstock Saunders 1928-2017 Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, AL3 4DG 27 Obituary Trevor David Ford 1925 – 2017 T 01727 893 894 F 01727 893 895 28 Obituary James Brooks 1938-2017 E enquiries@centuryone publishing.uk 29 Crossword Win a Special Publication of your choice W www.centuryone publishing.uk

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 03 Corporate Corporate Supporters: Call for Abstracts – Deadline: 23 Feb 2018 Supporters: Call for Abstracts – Deadline 15 December 2017 Eastern Mediterranean – Advances in Production An emerging major Geoscience as an enabler for petroleum province maximising economic recovery 29-30 May 2018 and ensuring a future for the UKCS Convenors: The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Caroline Gill 5-7 June 2018 Shell UK Limited

Matt Brettle Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Statoil Production UK

Jon Gluyas University of Durham

Cliff Lovelock Shell UK Limited

Image courtesy of Chevron Image courtesy of PGS Out of adversity comes opportunity. A significant change is required in the North Sea petroleum industry to John Underhill keep it profitable and growing, and geoscience has the opportunity to lead the way in delivering this change. Heriot Watt University Convenor: The objective of the conference is to enhance technical understanding of the status New plays, fields, technologies and alliances are required in order to increase recovery and reduce the cost of key plays in this geologically complex region of delivering hydrocarbons. In 2014 the Maximising Economic Recovery UK report suggested that 12-24bn Iain Brown barrels of oil equivalent remained to be produced from the North Sea. This conference aims to show how In recent years the Eastern Mediterranean region has witnessed growing interest from international energy Confirmed PGS Keynote Speaker: geoscience is helping to develop and recover as much of this remaining hydrocarbon as possible. It will companies. Substantial gas reserves have been found in Egypt’s Nile Delta Basin and in the Mediterranean showcase the range of solutions maximize economic recovery from the UKCS. coastal areas since 1995, and in more recent times Noble Energy has discovered a series of substantial gas Al Tucker Specific themed sessions may include: fields off the Israeli coast. Several countries have been announcing licensing rounds in recent years. Brent Asset Manager, • Near Field Exploration • Shallow gas (fuel source) and water (for injection) A key objective of the meeting is to seek a strong set of papers to highlight in greater depth recent discoveries Shell • New field developments • Novel drilling technology as an enabler for difficult such as those of the prolific Pliocene Nile Delta province and the more recent ENI Zohr supergiant carbonate • Short radius sidetracks geology discovery and the successful clastic plays in the Levant Basin. Results from Totals current drilling campaign in • Exploiting difficult fluids Cyprus Blk 11 will also drive interest in the region. • Infill drilling • Production from secondary reservoirs • Use of new technology or first application of The conference will review exploration activity, as well as challenges to a better understanding of the geology • The value of surveillance technology to the UKCS in the eastern Mediterranean, including seismic (and other data) acquisition and imaging. Key geological • Existing infrastructure - hosts for new opportunities, • Enhanced Oil and Gas recovery issues for understanding subsurface risk in the area will be addressed, including but not limited to making it last longer, novel maintenance, • Adding value from co-produced fluids • Geodynamic Evolution alternative uses (wind/CO2 disposal) • Decommissioning • Pre-salt plays including carbonate build-ups The focus of the meeting will be on Geoscience, Reservoir Engineering and Petrophysics with the recognition • Source rock distribution and maturity that successful integration across the subsurface and surface disciplines is at the heart of a successful shift in • The importance of regional seismic and refraction data future fate of the UKCS. • Sediment provenance studies Reservoir quality and reservoir characterisation • Call for Abstracts: • Potential of deeper plays and possibilities for oil. Event Sponsor: Please submit paper contribution to [email protected] and copied to [email protected] Call for Abstracts: by 15 December 2017. Please submit abstract contribution to [email protected] by 23 Feb 2018. For further information please contact: For further information please contact: Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. Tel: +44 (0)20 7434 9944 Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. T: 020 7434 9944

At the forefront of petroleum geoscience At the forefront of petroleum geoscience www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum

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04 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST ~ GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME

GERMANY’S SPENDING ON ENERGY R&D HAS STAGNATED FOR A DECADE AND, ACCORDING TO THE OECD, IS EXCEEDED IN THIS NIGGARDLY SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS ONLY BY – THE UK ~

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: Coal comfort?

wo reactions emerged from the editorial Coal is Dust (Geoscientist 27.5, June). One was that, elsewhere in the world, geologists are still helping to find and dig it (Letters, Geoscientist 27.8 September). The other was Tthat, if we can only get our act together on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), we might be able to go on using it (Soapbox, this issue). Meanwhile, the geopolitical climate has just become more heated. In the United States, the Trump administration has indicated its intention to support the domestic coal industry – a major plank in the President’s campaign, not only rolling back progressive environmental measures, but possibly putting the US on a collision course with the United Nations Minimata Convention on mercury pollution, at its first Conference of Parties (COP1) in Geneva this September. But - we have already grown used to the USA resiling from environmental agreements. We hear rather less about the failures of our European partner, energy R&D has Germany. stagnated for a decade But - Germany is terribly ‘green’, isn’t it? and - according to the OECD - is Well, no. Coal still provides 43% of its electricity. Coal is exceeded in its niggardliness only by cheap, because its huge environmental costs are never factored the UK (although Germany is investing in Carbon Capture in. And since Germany is committed to phasing out nuclear and Storage (CCS) research, as well it might, given its power power by 2022 – for arguably entirely spurious environmental mix). CCS works best for point-sources like power stations.

reasons in the face of the much greater threat posed by CO2 – it Meanwhile Germany is behind on other ‘green’ targets too, is likely to stay that way. including phasing in electric cars, and even insulating its Germany has pioneered wind turbines, and has many buildings. - mostly in the windy, industrial north. The power they Germany’s much-vaunted legislative package, introduced generate is often wasted because coal plants burn on, in 2010 to support conversion to a low-carbon economy regardless. Wind power works best when decentralised; (Energiewende) has stalled. As Federal elections approach (I am but old power grids rely on distribution from point-sources. writing in September) one must hope that the newly assembled Germany has inadequate grid capacity for getting the north’s Bundestag will have sufficient will to give Energiewende fresh green surplus to the south. Meanwhile German emissions are life. not falling, but rising. But even if it does, ‘coming off coal’ is not realistic in the short More surprising still, perhaps, Germany’s spending on term. CCS, however, could give Germany breathing space.

DR TED NIELD NUJ FGS, EDITOR - [email protected] @TedNield @geoscientistmag

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

What your society is doing SOCIETYNEWS at home and abroad, in London and the regions Research Grants

Applications are invited for the The Research Grants committee 2018 round of the Society research meets once annually. Applications grants. must reach the Society no later Please complete the form which than 1 February 2018 and must can be downloaded from the Society be supported by two Fellows of the Awards and Research Grants page at Society who must each complete a www.geolsoc.org.uk/grants where you supporting statement form. Only LONDON LECTURE SERIES will also find information about all the complete applications on the grants. The average award has been appropriate form will be considered. Why Earth developed into the about £1000. Stephanie Jones crucible of life, and Venus into a hostile wasteland Open House 2017 Speaker: Dr Sami Mikhail (University of St Andrews) Date: 22 November

Programme Photo Credit: Ted Nield ◆ Afternoon talk: 1430pm Tea & Coffee: 1500 Lecture begins: 1600 Event ends ◆ Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: Volunteers from the staff who opened up Burlington House to the 1800 Lecture begins: 1900 Reception public on Saturday. L-R, Back: Michael McKimm, Marie Burke, Miriam Purdue, Flo Bullough, Sarah Day. L-R Front: Di Clements (Geologists’ Ass.) Amy Ball, Eileen Jamieson, Ted Nield. (Not Further Information pictured: Caroline Lam, Fabienne Michaud - photographer) Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsllondonlectures17. Entry to each lecture is by ticket only. To obtain a ticket please contact the Society around four weeks The Society threw open its doors were invited to join one of seven before the talk. Due to the popularity of this lecture to the general public on Saturday guided tours during the day, led by series, tickets are allocated in a monthly ballot and 16 September, writes Dawne Riddle Wendy Cawthorne, Sarah Day, Eileen cannot be guaranteed. Over 1100 people chose to visit Jamieson, Caroline Lam and Ted the Society this year for Open House. Nield. The Library also operated a In partnership with the Geologists’ ‘pop-up bookshop’ selling a variety of Contact: Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, Association, who also ran some urban souvenirs and books, taking over £500 T: +44 (0) 20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] geology tours of the area, visitors – a new record. The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

(London and Bath) will be

r For reasons lost in the mists of time the President of the Society is an ex officio from 1600 on Friday 22 0930 Decembe on Commissioner of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. and will reopen at Applications are now open for their various Awards, including Research Fellowships. Tuesday 2 January 2018 For further information please go to: W: https://www.royalcommission1851.org/awards/

06 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Photo Credit: Ted Nield

The Panel. L-R: Author Tom Bergin (Reuters), Clare Short, Mark Steeves, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart (chair, Royal Dutch Shell Group 1998-2001, chair of Anglo American plc 2002-09, non-executive director of Saudi Aramco since 2007, and Society President 2002-04), Peter van Veen (Transparency International) Trust & transparency

Mark Steeves* says oil & gas, and mining, have done much Right thing to improve their transparency, but trust comes slowly - and Peter van Veen asked – and answered - an obvious but pertinent more effort is needed question about beneficial ownership: “What does happen to the money, In April 2017 Geoscientist (27.3) reported on an event that after it reaches government? It often ends up in countries where there took place on 21 February entitled: Trust & Transparency in the are no beneficial ownership rules, where you can’t tell who owns assets. Oil & Gas and Mining Industries. It was organised by the City Ten percent of Westminster is owned by offshore vehicles from the of London Geosciences Forum, an initiative of the Society’s British Virgin Islands. Why do we allow this? What good reason can Corporate Affiliates Committee aimed at building understanding there be not to be transparent?” Quite. between the Society and the City of London - especially those A delegate from our hosts, Norton Rose Fulbright, suggested from bankers, insurers, lawyers, Nomads, accountants, brokers, who the floor that corporations couldn’t be blamed if resource-rich host depend upon the exploration activities of geologists for their governments are poorly served by their civil service. Clare Short, not business. interested in apportioning blame, asked rhetorically in reply: “Is it the The Rt. Hon. Clare Short, former Labour MP for Birmingham company’s duty to do a ‘good’ deal, or not?”. Tom Bergin pointedly Ladywood (1983-2010) and Secretary of State for the UK observed that companies don’t just ‘happen’ on situations, but conspire Department for International Development (DfID, 1997- in creating them; citing the way North Sea bare-boat charters “are clearly 2003) opened the meeting. As she explained, her interest in structured artificially”. (My early career was spent chartering supply- transparency, and her passion for international development boats, and I well remember how “imaginative” their ownership structures had led to her becoming chair of the Extractive Industries could be!) Transparency Initiative (EITI, 2012-16). We like to think we’ve done a lot to improve the way we do business, In an overview of EITI since full establishment in 2006, Ms but much remains to be done. Even when we want a ‘good’ - by Short said that the issue of illicit financial flows had quickly risen which I mean a ‘clean’ - deal, we often find ourselves facing competing to the top of the international agenda, where it remained. Of the and conflicting pressures. How ‘good’ is your agent, broker, adviser, $3.5 trillion annual gross revenue generated globally by extractive operating partner, or legal advice? Consider the advantages of ‘having industries, an estimated $1 trillion is lost by producing countries a good agent’ - and the almost total impracticality of not having one, through corruption, illegal resource exploitation and tax evasion. in some countries. A ‘big brand’ company may have options often unavailable to young entrepreneurs and small businesses; but the big Trump and powerful may not be agile, innovative or responsive - either to clients While acknowledging that progress had been made, she noted or civil society. one of President Donald Trump’s early “ominous” actions - to rescind the ‘Dodd-Frank’ provisions requiring extractive Mistrust companies to report, country by country, what they pay to Public mistrust in the extractive industries, which in the governments. She accused the American Petroleum Institute mid-2000s led to EITI being created, has not noticeably (API, and by extension, extractive industries at large, and therefore diminished. And despite a large number of registrations some in our audience) of having lobbied unrelentingly against for our event, the relatively low turnout might suggest those provisions. Some API members, she said, now “sit on the that industry professionals and City firms supporting EITI Board - and thus the ramifications could be considerable”. and serving the industry are either uninterested, think Ultimately, I think we learnt that our industry today (certainly at they know all there is to know and how to deal with the the high-end, and in the UK) is actually fairly transparent. Society regulations, or both. Not good. President Malcolm Brown (Executive VP Exploration at BG until With the passing of time, it has become clear that this event 2016) will have been pleased to hear Peter van Veen say that raised as many questions, as it provided answers. In the future, the BG came top among oil and gas companies in Transparency CLGF intends to hold more events that bear on what might most broadly International’s ‘Corporate Political Engagement Index’, which be termed ethics, and the expectations and behaviour of the professions assesses the public reporting of the top 40 companies in the operating in and around extractive industries, as well as of the public. FTSE 100. Moody-Stuart defended Shell’s historic actions, in Nigeria, for instance, reasonably and pretty convincingly; robustly *Clare Short’s full speech is available with the Online version of this article. Editor commending Shell’s commitment today to good governance * Mark Steeves is founder and director of Samphire & Associates Ltd. He is also a and to EITI. He agreed that Short was rightly critical of API, and Friend of the Geological Society and sits on both the Corporate Affiliates Committee deplored US extra-territoriality. and the City of London Geoscience Forum Steering Committee

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 07 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

Honorary Fellowship

Following a proposal from the External Relations Committee, initiative to have the Korean Dinosaur Coast Council recommends Professor Min Huh for election to nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Honorary Fellowship at a future Ordinary General Meeting. Site, in 2009, and it remains on the list to be Min Huh has been a hands-on, field-orientated palaeontologist considered for this status at a later date. In for more than 30 years and as a leader is energetic and prominent 2016, he led the successful Korean application in promoting the Korean geosciences internationally. He continues to host the 37th International Geological to publish significant, well-cited papers in his field and at the Congress in 2024 and is now co-chair of the implementation same time plays important roles in national geoscience outreach committee. The Society expects to take an active part in the and policy, as Director of the Dinosaur Research Centre and 2024 IGC and hopes to develop and strengthen links with relevant as President of the Geological Society of Korea. He led a major Korean national organisations in the intervening years.

Society Discussion Group FUTURE MEETINGS Programme: 2017 Dates for meetings of Council and Meetings of the Geological Society Discussion Group (formerly the Ordinary General Meetings until June Geological Society Club) are 18.30 for 1900, when dinner is served. 2017 will be as follows: Attendance is open to all members of the Society. For up to date information concerning topics for discussion and speakers, please go to W: http://bit.ly/2lkAvbd u OGMs: 2017: 22November, ◆ 6 December ​Athenaeum (London SW1Y 5ER) 2018: 7 February, 4 April

2018 u Council: 7 February (Gay Hussar) 24 April (Burlington Hse.) 2017: 22 November, 14 June (Athenaeum) 12 September (Gay Hussar) 2018: 7 February, 4 April 24 October (Bumpkins) 5 December (Athenaeum)

Latest news from the Publishing House Jenny Blythe has the latest from the Geological Society Publishing House New Book

A new anurognathid pterosaur with evidence of perching behaviour Geomechanics and Geology

Edited by J.P. Turner, D. Healy, R.R. Hillis and M. Welch

Geomechanics investigates the origin, magnitude and deformational consequences of stresses in the crust. In recent years awareness of geomechanical processes has been heightened by societal debates on fracking, A new anurognathid pterosaur, Versperopterylus lamadongensis gen. et sp. nov., is human-induced seismicity, natural geohazards erected based on a complete skeleton with a skull preserved. It is characterized by and safety issues with respect to petroleum two short distinct ridges pre-sent on the ventral surface of the cervical vertebrae; exploration drilling, carbon sequestration and coracoids slightly longer than scapula; humerus, wing phalanx 3 and tibia nearly radioactive waste disposal. This volume explores the same in length; grooves clearly present on the posteri-or surface of the wing the common ground linking geomechanics with phalanges 1–3; and the first toe reversed. It is the first anurognathid pterosaur from inter alia economic and petroleum geology, China with a definitively short tail, and the first pterosaur with a reversed first toe. structural geology, petrophysics, seismology, The reversed first toe of Versperopterylus indicates that it had arboreal habitats. The geotechnics, reservoir engineering and discovery of Versperopterylus lamadongensis from the Jiufotang Formation strongly production technology. expands the geological age range for anurognathid pterosaurs. † Find out more here † Read here https://doi.org/10.1144/SP455.16 www.geolsoc.org.uk/SP458

08 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST SOAPBOX

One last roll for coal?

Former President Bryan Lovell* says Carbon Capture and Storage is the last roll of the dice for fossil fuels

he June editorial (Geoscientist strengthened since 2010. One example: 27.5 – ‘Coal is Dust’) described a we have new evidence from the geological divisive threat to our Society at record of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal SOAPBOX the end of the last century. Ted Maximum (PETM) in Spitsbergen and T Nield illustrated a local story of China. That evidence suggests that the CALLING! the gulf between the British coal industry input of carbon that triggered the PETM and the environmentalists: ripples at the was an order of magnitude less rapid than edge of the pond. our own rate of release of carbon to the Soapbox is open to contributions During this century, as the atmosphere: disturbance of Earth systems at from all Fellows. You can always climate ‘sceptics’ have squared up to speed by us. write a letter to the Editor, of environmentalists, the Geological Society course: but perhaps you feel you has remained a unified body. The key to that Challenge need more space? unity is observational science. We rely on the We challenge those at both ends of the evidence from the rocks. public argument on climate change. The If you can write it entertainingly in We continue to argue with each other climate sceptics flounder when presented 500 words, the Editor would like about climate change, and much else, in with evidence from the geological record. to hear from you. Email your piece, the Lower Library and in Geoscientist. We Environmentalists with a general aversion and a self-portrait, to do so happily, because we know that in the to the fossil-fuel industry fret at geological [email protected]. end none of us can argue with the rocks support for carbon capture and storage Copy can only be accepted themselves. We will go out in the field, look (CCS). electronically. No diagrams, tables at the rocks again, and hope to see who was That geological contribution to or other illustrations please. right. development of commercial-scale CCS becomes ever more significant. Academic Pictures should be of print Policy and industry scientists work together quality – please take photographs In 2010 the Society published a statement of on successful field trials of storage in on the largest setting on your policy on human-induced climate change. conventional hydrocarbon-style traps. camera, with a plain background. The report was prepared by a group of Fellows renowned for their knowledge of Field trials Precedence will always be given

the record of past climates preserved in I declare an interest, as consultant to BHP, to more topical contributions. Any

rocks and ice. The only guidance provided in research sponsored by that company one contributor may not appear by Council was that these mighty scholars on storage in open systems. This project more often than once per volume should stick to those tangible records in is now underway at the Universities of (once every~ 12 months). assessing whether we really did have a Cambridge, Melbourne and Stanford. The problem requiring attention. We do. aim is to quantify capillary, solution and The geological case mineral trapping of carbon dioxide in a WE GEOLOGISTS for concern about range of reservoirs. Successful field trials human-induced of trapping by these mechanisms would HAVE BEEN SET THE climate transform the debate on CCS. CHALLENGE OF FINDING change has Until this research is complete, it is premature to consign any type of fossil ADEQUATE SAFE fuel to the scrapheap. We geologists have STORAGE FOR CARBON been set the challenge of finding adequate DIOXIDE. IF WE CAN’T safe storage for carbon dioxide. If we can’t do that, the fossil-fuel game is indeed up. DO THAT, THE FOSSIL- If we can, we can continue to use coal, FUEL GAME IS INDEED gas and oil. We have seldom had a more important job to do. UP

BRYAN~ LOVELL *Bryan Lovell is at the University of Cambridge

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 09 HIDDEN

Image: Yerko Espinoza/shutterstock.com

he Republic of Singapore is a Natural resources Graham Leslie* and hugely vigorous and dynamic The resulting demand on Singapore’s hub for global finance, constrained land and natural Rhian Kendall** commerce, and transport resources is high. A growing links, and is arguably one of population of over 5.6 million lives explore the geology T 2 the world’s most competitive countries. within an area of only 700km , The only island city-state on the planet, a population density of some beneath one of and frequently cited as the most 8264 people per km2 in an area ‘technology-ready’ nation, Singapore approximately the same size as the world’s fastest is the world’s third-largest oil refining Anglesey (Ynys Môn) in North Wales! growing cities - and trading centre, its second-busiest Although half of Singapore’s land container port, largest oil-rig producer area comprises spectacular nature Singapore and a major hub for ship-repair reserves, parks and gardens, services. natural outcrop is now extremely Looking to the future, Singapore rare at surface; and so, getting to today aspires to becoming a grips with Singapore’s geology is ‘smart’ nation – one that integrates always challenging. Despite these transportation, utilities and service challenges however, it is becoming infrastructure with information increasingly clear that the story of communications technology (ICT), Singapore’s geological evolution from Above: Singapore, Asian Tiger City - arguably one of the world’s most competitive places and in order to facilitate the sustainable Carboniferous times on, was diverse, certainly one of its most densely populated management of its societal assets. often complex, and rapidly changing

10 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST ~

UNDERSTANDING THAT GEOLOGICAL INHERITANCE, AND COMMUNICATING ITS MOST SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERISTICS TO SINGAPORE’S GEOLOGICAL COMMUNITY, IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUELLING AND SUSTAINING THE COUNTRY’S CONTINUED GROWTH ~ Photographs, top and bottom: The BGS has worked together with the BCA to revise the current stratigraphy of Singapore. These fieldwork pictures illustrate the mapping teams using foreshore outcrops, a vital source of information in this outcrop-poor terrain

– at least on a geological timescale. geological information that will c. 720km2 in 2015. Its surface area is Understanding that geological benefit both private and public projected to grow by another 100km2 inheritance, and communicating its sector efforts in underground by 2030. most significant characteristics to development has now been Singapore presently comprises Singapore’s geological community, is collated, and a subterranean land 63 separate islands; some of these vitally important to those responsible rights and valuation framework reclamation projects involve merging for fuelling and sustaining the is being developed. The British smaller islands to form larger, more country’s continued growth. Geological Survey (BGS) has been functional islands (as has been Taking a long-term view, the working with the Geological and done with in the Singapore Government has already Underground Projects Department south west). In still more ambitious invested heavily and strategically in of the Building and Construction plans, the subsurface is seen as an in the creation of land and space, Authority (BCA) since 2012 to attractive development space for, establishing an Economic Strategies deliver this modern geological among other things, basements, Committee (ESC) in 2009. The knowledge-base. This article tells energy production and infrastructure, Singapore Government is developing the story (so far!) of the fascinating waste disposal and treatment, an underground master-plan and geology emerging from beneath the groundwater abstraction and water ‘land bank’, with a view to ensuring Asian Tiger City. storage, transportation, industrial that underground and aboveground manufacturing, and logistics. spaces are better integrated with Reclamation surrounding developments and Since the 1960s, land reclamation Planning infrastructure. projects have increased Singapore’s Geological and geotechnical

All underground and other land area by almost 24% - to understanding of Singapore’s sub- ▼

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 11 Although highly built up, it is possible to find outcrops along the foreshores of Singapore’s many outlying islands

Singapore has taken advantage of ▼ surface is critical to planning, design the proximity and construction of a future-proof of its outlying city infrastructure. Very significant islands to, in parts of that infrastructure will some cases, join them comprise enormous underground together facilities, and land-scarce Singapore is already storing some of its military resources in this way. The giant cavern facilities beneath Jurong Island entered service for oil storage in September 2014. This cavern complex lies some 150m below ground, delivering a storage Photo: Hudson Shiraku capacity of 1.47 million m3 of liquid hydrocarbon - equivalent to some 580 BGS’ copy Olympic-sized swimming pools. This of Mary Alexander’s capacity will double when the second geological map phase of the work is completed. of Singapore In the last decade, the push to go underground has seen potential uses of cavern space as water reservoirs, power stations, port logistic systems, data centres, warehousing and storage all under consideration. The state-of-the-art underground MRT system for Singapore’s growing population continues to expand rapidly. Bedrock is now preserved only sporadically at the modern metropolitan surface. Most natural outcrop is confined to coastline and to disused quarries, many of which are now flooded or in varying stages Marina Bay of reclamation. Gardens, The present new study is only Singapore – all on land made possible because of a new and reclaimed comprehensive ground investigation from the busy programme commissioned for Singapore the BCA. This includes acquiring Strait drillcore from more than 100 boreholes. Each borehole is typically about 200m deep, extending from GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

the ground surface to some 70m by volcanogenic deposits that issued below the engineered floors of any from the still-active arc; 240 million anticipated cavern storage space year-old tuffs are interlayered with designs - totalling approximately Carnian/Norian fossil assemblages, 13, 400m of new drillcore. Some all pointing to a mid- to late Triassic 100km of new seismic reflection and history. refraction data have been acquired in Now folded, thrust and cleaved, a number of designated development these Jurong strata record deformation areas; all these new data are having and low-grade metamorphism that a very significant impact on current resulted when the fore-arc sequence understanding of Singapore geology. became accreted onto Mesozoic None of the geological record Indochina-East Malaya during collision that emerges from beneath the and suturing with Sibumasu across the modern Singapore cityscape is Bentong-Raub line. straightforward. Embedding robust During the earlier stages of geoscience knowledge in sub-surface that collision, and possibly as the planning will help ensure that the subducting oceanic slab detached, the future decision-making process will be older inner fore-arc succession was well informed and so improve urban buried beneath a 20 – 30Ma younger resilience. fluvial succession laden with volcanic, plutonic and metamorphic detritus. Singapore rocks Gradually, that fluvial succession Singapore lies at the southern end became more tidally dominated of Peninsular Malaysia, in a region again, as relative sea-levels rose in the dominated by the geological history of earliest Jurassic. Terminal collision two continental fragments (Indochina- of Sibumasu and SE Indochina- East East Malaya and Sibumasu) that Malaya (‘docking’) marked the end of separated from the supercontinent deformation, focused in the Bentong- of Gondwana during the Palaeozoic. Raub suture zone. NE-vergent fold These fragments are now joined and thrust-belt deformation developed together, along with rocks assigned to on the eastern side of the suture zone, the Sukhothai Arc terrain, along the affecting upper Triassic to earliest trace of the Bentong-Raub Suture Zone Jurassic strata. (see map p15). Deformation ended by about Above: Marina Bay Gardens, Singapore – all on land Singapore’s oldest rocks are thought 195Ma and that terminal collision was reclaimed from the busy Singapore Strait to be the siliciclastic sedimentary rocks followed by a long period of deeply Upper Middle: Half of Singapore’s land area today com- prises spectacular nature reserves, parks and gardens of the Sajahat Formation, which crop penetrative weathering and erosion Lower Middle: Deformed volcanic clast in tuffaceous out on the island of in for c. 50 million years during the later conglomerate in drillcore, cm scale Below: The giant cavern facilities beneath Jurong Island north-eastern Singapore. Although Jurassic. No mid- to upper Jurassic entered service for oil storage in September 2014 the Formation’s age is not proven strata are preserved. conclusively, these rocks have been Variably cemented Quaternary sands ~ thermally metamorphosed by the and gravels cover much of eastern intrusion of granitic and associated . These are thought to mafic intrusive rocks of Permian have been deposited by braided river NONE OF THE to mid-Triassic age. The Central systems, flowing broadly southwards Singapore Granite and Gombak Norite into the Straits of Singapore. They are GEOLOGICAL RECORD plutons are a conspicuous feature on known as ‘Old Alluvium’ in both Johor THAT EMERGES FROM the geological map. and Singapore (attributed to the Bedok BENEATH THE MODERN In western and south-western Formation within the new proposed Singapore the Mid- to Upper Triassic lithostratigraphical framework). SINGAPORE CITYSCAPE IS (to earliest Jurassic?) volcano- The youngest part of the succession STRAIGHTFORWARD sedimentary Jurong Formation comprises unconsolidated marine to (which has been assigned Group terrestrial sediments of late Pleistocene ~ status in the BGS’s new proposed to Holocene age, which are assigned to lithostratigraphical framework) was the Kallang Formation (also elevated originally deposited in an active to Group status in the BGS proposed fore-arc basin as a shallow marine lithostrat framework). to terrestrial succession, broadly contemporaneous with the younger Pioneer elements of the plutonic rocks. The It is important though to acknowledge sedimentary succession is punctuated that our work did not start from

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 13 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

▼ nothing. One of the first geological Research Section of the Radio maps for the whole island of Singapore Development Laboratory. After they was created by Dr Elizabeth Alexander were reunited, the couple returned and published in 1950. Frances to Singapore in 1947. Alexander Elizabeth Somerville Alexander (1908- became a geological consultant and in 1958) was a pioneering scientist (see 1949 was appointed Geologist to the this month’s second feature, p17). She Government in Singapore. was awarded a PhD from Cambridge Her main task was to make a University in 1934 with a thesis on survey of the islands resources of the main outcrop of the Aymestry granite and other useful stone - one Limestone (Silurian, Upper Ludlow conclusion of which being that the Shales Group). island’s granite resources should After her marriage the couple last for 500 years. Alexander died in moved to Singapore in 1936, where 1958, a few months short of her 50th they had a family of three children. birthday. Her contribution to geology Alexander worked for the Royal and radio astronomy is extraordinary, Navy on radio direction-finding, considering her short life, detailed during which time she held the rank knowledge of two disciplines, and the of Captain. She is, arguably, most traumatic circumstances in which she well-known as the first female radio made it. astronomer, discovering in 1945 the Our present work on Singapore’s ‘Norfolk Island Effect’ - the connection subsurface geology rests on the Photo: Juha Sompinmaeki/shutterstock.com between an increase in radio noise pioneering work carried out by associated with the sun (solar radio Alexander, often in the most difficult emissions). of circumstances. It is with a certain In 1942, with the threat of Japanese pride that by building on what invasion looming, Alexander fled with she achieved, we are able to draw her children to safety in New Zealand. attention to this sadly neglected Believing her husband to be dead figure, whose daughter is currently (he was actually a prisoner of war at engaged in writing her biography. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, FRS was a British ), she remained there, and was The Asian Tiger City owes her a very statesman, Lieutenant-Governor of British Java u and Governor-General of Bencoolen, best known appointed head of the Operations great debt indeed. for his founding of Modern Singapore

Photo: Kroisenbrunner. Wikimedia Commons.

Panorama of Keppel Container Terminal, Singapore

Geological and geotechnical understanding Dr Elizabeth Alexander 1908-1958 Above: Marina Bay Gardens, by night of the Singapore sub-surface is critical (courtesy: Mary Harris) to planning, design and construction of a Below: Some of the c. 13km of new core laid out for future-proof city infrastructure examination GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

REFERENCES

GILLESPIE, M. R. G., GOODENOUGH, K. M., KEARSEY, T., LESLIE, A. G., & PRICE, S. J. (2014). A Stratigraphical Guide for Singapore. (CR/13/046). Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.

GOODENOUGH, K. M., LESLIE, A. G., KEARSEY, T., PRICE, S. J., WOODS, M. A., GILLESPIE, M. R. and BOON, D. 2014. An Overview of the Geology of Singapore. Commissioned Report CR/13/037. Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.

HALL, R. 2009. The Eurasian SE Asian margin as a modern example of an accretionary orogen. 351-372 in Earth Accretionary Systems in Space and Time. CAWOOD, P. A. and KRONER, A. (editors). Geological Society Special Publication 318 (London: Geological Society of London).

METCALFE, I. 2011. Palaeozoic-Mesozoic history of SE Asia. 7-35 in The SE Asian Gateway: History and Tectonics of the Australia-Asia Collision. HALL, R., COTTAM, M. A. and WILSON, M. E. J. (editors). Geological Society of London Special Publication 355 (London: Geological Society of London).

*BGS Scotland, The Lyell Centre, Edinburgh EH14 4AP: E: [email protected]. **BGS Wales, , Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, Wales. Published with the permission of the Executive Director, British Geological Survey

Painting by Rhian Kendall of an outcrop on Pulau Sekudu.

Top left: Singapore lies at the southern end of Peninsular Malaysia, in a region dominated by the geological history of two continental fragments (Indochina-East Malaya and Sibumasu) that separated from the supercontinent of Gondwana during the Palaeozoic. These fragments are now joined together, along with rocks assigned to the Sukhothai Arc terrain, along the trace of the Bentong-Raub Suture Zone. Permian to mid-Triassic granitic and mafic intrusive rocks from that arc dominate central Singapore. In western and south-western Singapore a mid- to uppermost Triassic (to earliest Jurassic?) volcano-sedimentary succession was originally deposited in an active fore-arc basin as a shallow marine to terrestrial succession, broadly contemporaneous with the younger elements of the plutonic rocks of Singapore. After Metcalfe (2011) and Hall (2009) ELIZABETH ALEXANDER SCIENTIFIC PIONEER *Mary Harris recounts her mother’s role in investigating the geology of Singapore

uch of the current geological still freelance as a geologist, but by 1938 had work in Singapore has begun war work at the Singapore Naval developed from the work Base, where she was employed in Radio of Dr Elizabeth Alexander: Direction Finding (RDF). At that time the particularly from that Admiralty was setting up a network of M 1 published in her Granite Report of 1950 long-range, high-frequency, radio direction with its enfolded map. She had come to finding stations, with Singapore as their Singapore in 1936 with her husband, New control centre. Singapore had particularly Zealander Norman Alexander, Professor close links with New Zealand, whose Navy of Physics at Raffles College, but began was still a squadron of the Royal Navy and research on the island’s geology under her which, as a country, was well advanced in own initiative almost as soon as she arrived. wireless technology.

Malay States Invasion In the colonial era, Singapore was included The Japanese Army invaded Malaya in with Malaya in a complicated organisation December 1941 and advanced rapidly down of Federated and Unfederated Malay the peninsula. Elizabeth was ordered to States and Straits Settlements, and the only take her three children to safety with her comprehensive publications on the geology husband’s family in New Zealand, and to of the region were those of John Brooke return to the Naval Base with specialist Scrivenor, appointed first Director of the equipment then being manufactured in new Geology Survey Department of the Sydney. But she was overtaken by events. Federated Malay States in 1927. He had Singapore fell, and she found herself worked in Malaya since 1903 with a small stranded with no income and no news of and fluctuating staff, from headquarters in her husband and needing to find work so Kuala Lumpur; but by the time Elizabeth that she could rear her children. arrived, the Department’s headquarters Through contacts with colleagues from was in Batu Gajah, near Ipoh - accessible Cambridge University days who were from Singapore by road and air - where by then working in radar (not yet called it remained until after the end of colonial that, but disguised under the name of times. ‘RDF’) and her Singapore Naval Base link Scrivenor’s publications had been with the New Zealand part of the RDF accessible to Elizabeth in Cambridge network, she was invited to set up and run University Library, (where her 1935 PhD the Operational Research Section of New in geology is archived) in the Raffles Zealand’s Radio Development Lab, the Above: Elizabeth Alexander at Kampong Eunos Earth Museum and Library in Singapore, and secret radar research department of New Quarry. Survey Museum London 1950 Left: Elizabeth Alexander, pioneering scientist through the Geological Survey, headed Zealand’s Department of Scientific and of Singapore by Eric Willbourn following Scrivenor’s Industrial Research. retirement in 1931. Elizabeth developed During her four years there, she was a particular interest in erosion under the responsible not only for the operational warm and humid climate of Singapore, effectiveness of New Zealand’s own radars finding that under certain circumstances, (thrown into prominence in the South iron, aluminium and silica were mobile and Pacific theatre, following Pearl Harbour), were involved in the formation of new rock but also for two major pieces of research, at unexpectedly high speed. which faded from history until the very recent publication of New Zealand’s Mangrove swamp WWII Radar Narrative. One became the By 1940, she had buried some rock samples beginning of the science of radio astronomy in mangrove swamp, to compare some in Australia and the other the Canterbury years later with controls in the lab which Project.

she had set up in her own home. She was Elizabeth could proceed with neither ▼

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 17 Kampong Eunos Earth Quarry, showing wind and water erosion. Survey Museum London 1950

▼ of them herself because her contract of rocks. Then, her husband was head- she disappeared from both sciences until, with the New Zealand government ended hunted to Ibadan, Nigeria where University with the publication of the New Zealand with the end of the war. Her husband College Ibadan (then an internal college of Radar Narrative and renewed geological re-appeared from internment in Singapore London University) would need its physics research in Singapore, people began and eventually, she herself was back in department upgraded in time to undertake asking who this remarkable scientist was. Singapore in 1947. It is relevant to note ionosphere research for the International My forthcoming biography3 intends to try however, that her work as Head of Ops Geophysical Year of 1957/8. to explain. Research in New Zealand, in which she Elizabeth was unhappy to leave her Elizabeth Alexander would have been was employed as Senior Physicist, was own Singapore geology research for a particularly pleased to see the lasting as significant to the development of second time, but her husband, affected like effects of her Singapore work both in radio science as her work in the science all internees by his experience, needed her Singapore and in England. The second she loved best was to become in the help and she put him first. At University edition of The Geology of Singapore development of the geology of Singapore. College Ibadan, she took a junior post in by Lee Kim Wee and Zhou Yingxin, the Agriculture Department under the was published in 2009 by Singapore’s Recovery rule that wives of expatriate staff could Defence Science and Technology Agency In Singapore in 1947 the priority was not undertake employment if a qualified in collaboration with the Building and recovery from occupation. Continuation Nigerian was available, and attempted Construction Authority of Nanyang of her own research was made impossible to start some weathering research again. Technological University, and made because her house, which included her lab, Meanwhile Michael Tweedie of Raffles available online through researchgate.net had been looted to complete emptiness Museum, a naturalist with great experience by author Professor Zhou in 2016. by the British Army of Reoccupation. of and fondness for mangrove swamps, Her work is cited, discussed and Instead, she worked to help re-establish found one of Elizabeth’s baskets of rocks developed throughout the book as new Raffles College, in various consultancies and had it sent to the Rothamsted Research generations of Singapore geologists concerned with Singapore’s neglected or Station, just outside London, where she work collaboratively with government damaged infrastructures, and in acting could examine the rocks during annual departments which need to use it. At the as Temporary Registrar for the new leaves from Nigeria. same time, the British Geological Survey University of Malaya while preparing is working collaboratively in Singapore specimens and slides for teaching in a Stroke in building its three-dimensional model geology department there as soon as it Her paper2 was read at the Geological of the island. At a time when so much of opened. Society, shortly before she died and Singapore’s land has been bulldozed and In 1949 she was commissioned by published posthumously. During an built on, Elizabeth’s 1950 report, map and the Singapore government to survey unsuccessful argument with the College photographs are the only record of earlier, the Island for sources of granite for Principal at Ibadan for the development more accessible geology. reconstruction and to publish the Granite of a geology department which she had At the same time, her posthumously Report named above. Her attempt to already set up at her own expense, she published paper on tropical weathering in restart her own weathering research was suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died SE Asia has significance for recent work further obstructed because, during some a week later. She was not quite 50 years on the Hertfordshire Puddingstone. Lovell road building, the occupiers had sliced the old, but in her short life, hampered by war and Tubb (2006) suggest that cementation top off a hill which bore a triangulation and its lasting effects, she had changed of this famously hard rock took place “… point, crucial in locating her buried basket thinking in two separate sciences. Then beneath a 55Ma land surface that enjoyed

18 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Elizabeth Alexander in the field. Survey Museum, London 1950

Above: Norfolk Island Below: Singapore Naval Base Singapore today is highly developed and yet also richly supplied with natural reserves - a very different place from the one encountered by Elizabeth Alexander

Statue and plaque a climate closer to that of present-day commemorating Penang (in Malaysia) rather than that of Sir Stamford Raffles Puckeridge.” 4 u

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am grateful to Professor Yingxin Zhou and Marcus Dobbs for personal communications about the significance of Elizabeth’s legacy in their current work.

* Mary Harris is writing the biography of Elizabeth Alexander. E: [email protected]

FURTHER READING 1. Alexander FES. 1950. Report on the availability of granite on Singapore and the surrounding islands. Singapore: Government Publications Bureau. 2. Alexander FES. 1959. Observations on tropical weathering: a study of the movement of iron, aluminum and silicon in weathering rocks at Singapore. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. 115:123–144. 3. Harris, Mary (forthcoming). Rocks, Radio and Radar: the extraordinary scientific, social and military history of Elizabeth Alexander, to be published by Imperial College Press. 4. Lovell, Bryan and Tubbs Jane (2006) Ancient Quarrying of Rare in situ Palaeogene Hertfordshire Puddingstone. Mercian Geologist 16 (3) pp185 - 189.

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 19 FOR A FULL LIST OF TITLES AVAILABLE, GO TO [WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/REVIEWS] BOOKS & ARTS

Gold Rush – how I exploration geologist, it’s also thoroughly On the plus side it is beautifully digestible for non-geologists and a produced and includes many wonderful found, lost & made a handily sized and nicely bound book reproductions of some of the documents fortune complete with an interesting set of colour and early photographs which featured photo illustrations. If you like to read in the exhibit. These range from clear about genuine adventure and survival, reproductions of manuscript diary pages It was a pleasure to then this is for you. AND it has rocks in and letters from people who viewed meet geologist and it. What more could one ask? eruptions first hand, to early 20th Century former parachute photographs and paintings of volcanoes regiment solider Jim Reviewed by: Catherine Kenny and volcanic phenomena, and even old Richards when he film posters designed to fire the public delivered a lecture GOLD RUSH - HOW I FOUND, LOST AND imagination. The text descriptions that to the North West MADE A FORTUNE accompany the illustrations seem to expand Regional Group of the by JIM RICHARDS, 2016. Published on the original exhibition captions and are Geological Society on by: September Publishing 363pp ISBN: 9781910463369 informative and fascinating. this, an autobiography of his career in List Price: £10.99 But the book also attempts to serve as gold mining and an epic geological tale W: www.septemberpublishing.org an introduction to volcanology for the of rocks, survival and endurance at the general reader, and this, I feel, is its weak most inhospitable ends of the Earth. point. Admittedly, it’s not easy to explain This is a no-holds-barred account of the complexities of volcanoes to non- life at the sharp end of the exploration specialist readers. However, in contrast industry and, much like the man himself, Volcanoes: Encounters to the generally stylish and informative it comes across as genuine and honest. through the Ages writing about the historical context, the The people are real, and the situations science writing often seems clumsy and Jim vividly describes are as raw and real occasionally unintentionally patronising – as they can get. Even if you an impression not helped by the excessive Jim tackles the thorny issue of didn’t think use of explanatory phrases in parentheses. providing accounts of events in which you had any My advice: skip the Introduction, skim real people do not always display interest in through the other ‘science textbook’ themselves in the best light with tact either volcanoes sections and focus instead the historical and diplomacy, and isn’t afraid to share or historical sections and wonderful illustrations. his own mistakes. As a former gold geological You’ll be in for a fascinating, enjoyable and miner myself, it rang true on so many documents and informative read and a feast for the eyes. levels and brought back many happy references, a visit (and somewhat dusty) memories of rock to the Volcanoes exhibition which was Reviewed by Nina Morgan logging. There is plenty of geological held at the Weston Library in Oxford description in here, and so much to be from February to May 2017 will surely VOLCANOES: learnt from Jim’s long field experience. have changed your mind. ENCOUNTERS THROUGH THE AGES Along with thoroughly entertaining The exhibition, based on original BY DAVID M PYLE. Bodleian Library, Oxford, and informative anecdotes of gold, documents, books and volcano-related 2017, 223 pp. ISBN 978 1 85124 459 1 diamonds, oil, iron and more gold, there’s ephemera dating from ancient to modern List price: £20/US$35.00 a whole lot of guns, greed, sex, terrorism, times from the extensive collections corruption, disease and politics thrown held by the Bodleian Library was in to boot. A representative of seemingly nothing short of spectacular and totally every corner of the animal kingdom absorbing (see the review of the exhibit has a go at him at one time or another, by Andrew Robinson in ‘2017 Book A History of the Solar providing nightmarish encounters with Reviews’, GeoscientistOnline). Along System rats, vampire bats, mosquitos, leeches, with the chance to view rarely displayed snakes, and perhaps the deadliest animal original material, the exhibition was of all: the investment banker. notable for the quality of the captioning, This an unusual book, Jim’s geological knowledge and his which explained just the right amount of packed with information, belief in his dream pull him through: the geological basics to put the historical and a difficult one to he never gives up, and it is his tenacity material on display into context. With review. Rather than of spirit and enthusiasm for geology such a wealth of material on show, it took discuss the evolutionary that bring forth a tale of triumph in the me several visits to take it all in. history of the solar system face of adversity, the true possibilities Volcanoes: Encounters through the Ages is (as I expected), Vita-Finzi of human achievement in the worst of the book of the exhibition. It was clearly chooses to talk about the circumstances and with the smallest of designed as a souvenir – albeit a fairly history of some ideas that resources, for those who dare to walk the expensive one – to serve as a useful have come about and developed through path. There’s many genuine laugh-out- reminder of what the exhibit contained. the study of our planetary neighbours. Each loud moments too. The encounter with However, unlike the exhibition itself, idea is assigned a chapter followed by a list Mitch The Canadian’s handover notes which I found totally absorbing, the book of references. had all of us rolling in the aisles. is a bit of a curate’s egg – that is, very To explain what the author’s approach is An absolute must-read for any aspiring good in parts. all about, we must go back to 1584, when

20 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Would you like to receive a free book and write a review? Available titles are listed online, of which a small selection is shown below. Contact the editor for further information [email protected]

Giordano Bruno first suggested our development on a geoscientific professionals within the planets revolved around the sun. Now, specific site requires radioactive waste management sector. we know there is a multitude of planets the integrated and orbiting similar stars to ours in our systematic analysis Reviewed by Mark Griffin galaxy. That’s a pretty good, and relevant, of the characteristics idea! of the waste to In another chapter, the author explores be ‘emplaced’, RADIOACTIVE WASTE CONFINEMENT: CLAYS IN NATURAL AND ENGINEERED BARRIERS the idea that the solar system is still the enclosing by NORRIS. S, BRUNO J, VAN GEET M, & VERHOEF changing. External ingressions must have engineered E (editors). Geological Society of London Special had an influence. Vita-Finzi discusses a barriers and the site’s host rock and Publication No 443. 2017. Geological Society of its geological setting. Three main host London. ISBN 978-1-78620-273-4. Hbk. 376pp. variety of potential influencers and our ISSN 0305-8719. present ability to measure their effect. rock types are usually considered for List Price: £100.00, Fellows’ Price: £50.00. This is a challenging read. Long geological disposal: crystalline rocks, W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/SP443 sentences are common. They are replete evaporites (salt) and clays. with subsidiary clauses, which make This GSL Special Publication parts of the text difficult to absorb. I often concentrates on the importance of found I had to read a sentence several clays and other argillaceous materials times to fully understand the gist. And, in the development of geological sometimes a word had obviously been disposal systems. Characteristically, Dictionary of dropped, which made me feel uneasy clays display properties which can about my comprehension overall. Such be exploited both as host rock and Mathematical blemishes are irritating and detract from material for engineered barriers (as Geosciences the underlying value. buffer, backfill or sealing material). Despite these problems with editing, Properties include low permeability, the book is cleverly conceived and diffusive transport, retention capacity, Browsing a a useful addition to any scientists buffering effects, self-sealing capacity, dictionary is one bookshelf. It should provide a challenging stability, vertical homogeneity and way of picking up read to students and graduates alike. lateral continuity, which make clays a foreign language, Many seasoned scientists may enjoy significant barriers to radionuclide if there is no ready taking a stab at it too. and chemical contaminant migration access to a native In many ways, I understand and towards the surface environment. speaker. To the admire this brave attempt to conjure Based upon the 6th International extent that the names up a fresh and more interesting way to Clay Conference hosted by the of mathematical examine our local system. I hope there are Belgium National Radioactive Waste methods are generally as foreign to better books to come. Management Agency (ONDAF/ geologists as the names of rocks are NIRAS) in 2015, the volume contains to mathematicians, this substantial Reviewed by David Edwards 25 papers grouped into six interrelated dictionary of mathematical geosciences and multi-disciplinary topic areas: should be welcomed as a weighty large-scale geological characterisation, addition to geological libraries. A HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM by CLAUDIO VITA-FINZI. 2016 Springer. general strategy for clay-based systems, In the modern digital era, where 100pp, sbk ISBN: 978-3-319-33848-4 geomechanics, mass transfer, bentonite Google can provide instantaneous ISBN ebook: 978-3-319-33850-7. evolution and gas transfer. These topic answers for any dictionary query, W: http://www.springer.com/gb/ book/9783319338484 areas demonstrate the diversity of the need for a dictionary in paper or current geological repository research. electronic format may be questioned. Clay characterisation studies relevant to However, as with language dictionaries, the confinement of radionuclides range the act of looking up something can from the fundamental process level, serendipitously lead to an extra gain of to the overall understanding of the knowledge. Nobody who browses this performance and safety at geological dictionary can fail to learn something Radioactive Waste and repository scales. Emphasis is interesting, even if tangential to their Confinement: Clays in placed on the modelling of processes original query. operating at the mineralogical level Any dictionary of mathematical Natural and Engineered within the argillaceous barriers. geosciences of finite size carries the Barriers The contributions are well-written personal imprint of the compiler. and edited, complemented with Richard Howarth received his PhD at appropriate figures, photographs and the and specialized The current scientific consensus for the data-tables. A minor presentational in the statistical interpretation of safest long-term management of higher- criticism is that several data graphs are geological and geochemical data activity radioactive wastes is through difficult to discriminate, reproduced as well as the history of the use of geological disposal in engineered as grey-scale images in the print quantitative methods in geology and facilities constructed at an appropriate copy - unfortunately distracting early geophysics. He worked for Shell crustal depth, within stable geological from the details described. Overall, International where he undertook formations (the geological disposal a recommended read and valuable computer programming and statistical facility or ‘repository’). Repository reference work for practising analysis for a research project ▼

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His like-minded enthusiasts. Starting Continental Shelf - Quaternary personal interest in the history of the with an assessment of the physio- paleoenvironments, by Nicolas Flamming et al., development of quantitative methods chemical environment of the lakes, (eds) 2017 Wiley Blackwell 534pp hbk is evident throughout, with abundant their formation, hydrology and ◆ NEW! The Protection & Conservation of Water references to geoscientists who have geochemistry, the book then moves to Resources by Hadrian F Cook (2nd Edn) Wiley made substantial contributions. their associated fauna and microfauna. Blackwell 437pp, hbk ◆ NEW! Proterozoic Orogens of India - a critical Some readers may be disappointed that The final chapters cover issues of window to Gondwana by TRK Chetty. 2017 Elsevier conservation and environmental their own particular field of geoscientific 405pp, sbk enquiry is not as well represented as assessment, the challenges in managing ◆ Sedimentology of Paralic Reservoirs - recent those with which Howarth is most the lakes, and potential future advances by Hampson, G J et al., (eds) Geol Soc familiar from his own career. Hopefully, scenarios. Despite the comprehensive Publishing House 2017 SP #444 (hbk) this disappointment will be compensated nature of the chapters, the volume ends ◆ The Message - a novel by Jan Vana. Falcondale by the reward of finding new nuggets with a ‘shopping list’ of issues that still press 199 pp sbk of information and insight that may need resolution in our understanding ◆ Monogenetic Volcanism by Nemeth K et al. (eds), prove very useful. Some readers may of these unique environments. 2017 Geol. Soc. pub. Hse., SP #446 382pp hbk be delighted to find some topics treated The book would seem, at first glance, ◆ Earth System Evolution and Early Life - a celebration of the work of Martin Brasier by in considerable detail, bordering that to be aimed at a highly specialized Brasier A T et al (eds) 2017 Geol. Soc Pub. Hse. audience; but if you take a step back of a basic mathematical dictionary. SP#448 432pp hbk Being expensively priced, this volume from the title, you realise on reading it ◆ Subterranean Norwich – the grain of the city, by is unlikely to be found outside libraries that the volume is a blueprint for how Matthew Williams. Lasse Press 160pp sbk (though an e-book is available); but there one should assess an ecosystem - from ◆ Principles of Radiometric Dating by it should be often browsed. understanding its geological formation Kunchithipadam Gopalan Cambridge UP 2017 207pp and characteristics, to the micro and hbk Reviewed by Gordon Woo macro fauna (and looking to the ◆ Geochemistry and Geophysics of Active Volcanic future to assess potential conflicts and Lakes by Ohba et al. GSL Publishing SP#437 295pp, knowledge gaps). hbk DICTIONARY OF MATHEMATICAL GEOSCIENCES I would therefore recommend this ◆ Salt Tectonics - principles & practice by Jackson WITH HISTORICAL NOTES PA and Huden MR. Cambridge University Press 2017 by RICHARD J HOWARTH 2017 Springer International book to any geoscientist. It allows 498pp, hbk Publishing ISBN 978-3-319-57314-4 (hbk). 893 the reader to see how our science List Price: £222.50 e-Book: £178.00 ◆ Chesapeake perspectives - decoding the deep W: www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319573144 interplays with other natural sciences, sediments: Ecological History of Chesapeake Bay and the close interconnection between by Grace Brush. 2017 Maryland Sea Grant 63pp sbk geosphere and biosphere. The book is ◆ Tectonics of the Deccan Large Igneous Province extremely well edited and the chapters by Mukherjee et al. (Eds), 2017. Geol Soc Spec Pub well written: a lasting testimony to #445 363pp, hbk the considerable effort the editor ◆ Land Surface remote Sensing, by Baghdadi N and and authors have applied. Strongly Zribi M (eds). Elsevier 2017 342pp hbk Soda Lakes of East recommended for anyone who thinks ◆ Integrated Environmental modelling to Solve Real World Problems. Geol Soc Spec pub #408, 2017 about our natural world. Africa by Riddick et al (eds) ◆ Reviewed by Rob Bowell Petroleum Geoscience of the West Africa Margin. Geol Soc Spec. pub. #438, 2017 by Sabato Ceraldi There are many reasons for writing and et al (eds) publishing a book, but I suspect the best SODA LAKES OF EAST AFRICA ◆ Waves, Particles and Storms in Geospace by and most satisfying is ‘fun’. Having now by MICHAEL SCHAGERL (ed) 2017. Balasis et al. 2016 Oxford University Press 448pp read this latest multi-author publication I Springer International Publishing hbk firmly believe the 30 different authors had ISBN 978-3-319-28620-4 (hbk) 408pp, ◆ Lake Pavin - history, geology, biogeochemistry this as their primary motivation. List price: £100.50. eBook £80.00. and sedimentology of a deep meromictic maar W: http://www.springer.com/gb/ This book is probably not the last book/9783319286204 lake, by Sime-Ngando et al., (Eds) 2016 Springer. word on the subject of soda lakes, but 421pp, hbk

22 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST CALENDAR Can’t find your meeting? Visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/listings [Full, Accurate, Up-To-Date]

ENDORSED TRAINING/CPD

COURSE DATE VENUE AND DETAILS

Decoding Eurocode 7: Ground 2 November Accessed online over 5 90-minute sessions on 2, 6, 9 13 & 20 Investigation & Testing: Session 1 November. Fees apply. See Website for details and booking. Geocentrix Ltd Venue: Higham Hall College, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria. Led by Dr Annette McGrath. Fees apply. See website for details and booking.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE MEETINGS FOR WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE SPACE. DIARY OF MEETINGS 2016/2017 ALWAYS CHECK WITH WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/LISTINGS

COURSE DATE VENUE AND DETAILS

Geology for Global Development: 1-2 September Venue: Burlington House. Topic: ‘Cities: Opportunities and Challenges 5th Annual Conference for Sustainable Development’. W: www.gfgd.org/conferences Geological Society, GfGD Meeting 2017: The Future 4-6 September Venue: Burlington House. Fees & discounts apply – see Website for of Contaminated Land Risk Assessment; details and registration. Contact: Naomi Newbold stakeholder perspectives E: [email protected] Geological Society Contaminated Land SG

Cainozoic Clays of South East England 6 September Venue: Capita House, Wood Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex South East Regional RH19 1UU. Time: 1800 for 1830. Contact: Simon Holt E: [email protected]

Risk and Uncertainty in Exploration for Oil 7-8 September Venue: Derby University DE22 1GB. Speaker: Malcolm Brown and Gas (President) Time: 1830 for 1900. Contact Jessica DeFreitas East Midlands Regional E: [email protected]

18th Glossop Medal Lecture 13 September Venue: Royal Institution & Burlington House. Time: 1715 – 1800 Engineering Group (Reception @ BH) Charges apply for Reception. See website for details. Speaker: Jackie Skipper. Contact Georgina Worrall E: [email protected]

GSL Nottingham 13-19 September Venue: BGS, Keyworth. An essential meeting place for geoscience Careers & Industry Day 2017 students and the geoscience industry. Includes career and industry Geological Society presentations covering different areas of geology and academia. See Website for details and registration. Contact: Naomi Newbold E: [email protected]

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 23 PEOPLE NEWS

The Society and Publishing House were saddened to learn of the sudden and untimely death of Kurt Kyser, writes Angharad Hills. Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and pioneering geochemist, Professor Kyser died while teaching in Bermuda on 29 August. Professor Kyser worked at the Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering at Queen’s University, Kingston Ontario. He was Chief Editor of the journal Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, which the Society co-publishes with the Association of Applied Geochemistry. The Society would like to extend its sincere condolences to his colleagues, friends and family.

➤ An obituary has been published in the Canadian Globe and Mail: http:// v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/ Deaths.20170902.93392543/BDAS- tory/BDA/deaths. Another obituary may be read at: http://queensu.ca/ Kurt Kyser dies at 62 geol/remembering-dr-kurt-kyser-0. Editor

IN MEMORIAM WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/OBITUARIES

THE SOCIETY NOTES WITH SADNESS THE PASSING OF: Absolom, Sydney Stuart * Fischer, Alfred* Marshall, Mr John A * Armitage, John * Gardener, Roger * Matthews, Peter Elvor * Atkinson, Keith * Garrard, Paul * Palmer, Stephen J * Ayers-Morgan, Christopher * Geddes, James D*§ Pipes, Kenneth P * Butcher, Norman Edward * Helm, Derick * Rawcliffe, Eric * Chillingworth, Patrick Cecil Hamilton * Howell, Frank Travis * Robson, David * Collins, Michael Bernard Jenner-Clarke, Hugh Clifford David * Shingleton, Sam * Coombs, Douglas * Kelly, Desmond Michael * Smith, Alan Gilbert * Drysdall, Alan Roy * Laws, Michael James * Whitlow, Roy * Elueze, Anthony Azbuike * Leighton, James * Young, Paul Ivor *

In the interests of recording its Fellows’ work for posterity, the Society publishes obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. The most recent additions to the list are shown in bold. Fellows for whom no obituarist has yet been commissioned are marked with an asterisk (*). The symbol § indicates that biographical material has been lodged with the Society.

If you would like to contribute an obituary, please email [email protected] to be commissioned. You can read the guidance for authors at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save yourself unnecessary work, please do not write anything until you have received a commissioning letter.

Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is forthcoming have their names and dates recorded in a Roll of Honour at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries.

24 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE NEWS

Geoscientists in the news and on the move in the UK, Europe and worldwide

DISTANT THUNDER Permanent memorials

As geologist and science Local initiatives interested in gravestones as Circumstantial means of studying weathering writer Nina Morgan In contrast to the war cemeteries evidence in stone, and was appalled at discovers some of established by the (then) The date of the letter, combined the speed with which certain the most moving war Imperial, (now, Commonwealth) with personal connections, stone types degraded (see The War Graves Commission, where all suggest Geikie may have memories are set in stone Wasting of Time, Geoscientist the design of the memorials had something to do with the 25.9, October 2015) and headstones was strictly erection of the magnificent In a letter to the Editor, regulated (see War Graves Grade II listed war memorial The appearance of war headlined White Marble Design by Committee got it that graces the High Street memorials marked one of the Unsuitable, Geikie wrote: Right, Geoscientist, 24.10, in Haslemere. The gable- many changes to the British “Sir, As so many monuments November 2014), decisions topped cross that tops the landscape brought about by the are about to be erected all over about erecting local war memorial was designed by First World War. Bodies of the the country in memory of those memorials was left to local the country house architect, fallen were not repatriated, so who have fallen in the war, it committees. It was perhaps garden designer and author, many bereaved families were may be useful to give a word of this outpouring of local grief and (Henry Benjamin) Inigo Triggs denied even the small comfort advice as to the material that unregulated design initiatives [1876 – 1923]. Triggs was also of a nearby grave on which to should not be chosen in the that prompted the geologist the designer of Broad Dene, a focus their grief. Instead, local construction of them. [1835 – 1924] wonderful Arts and Crafts house groups formed committees “On no account should white director of the Geological Survey situated near Geikie’s own home to create war memorials to statuary marble be employed from 1882 – 1901 and then in Hill Road, Haslemere. commemorate their dead. in any structure in the open retired and living in Haslemere, Given his interests, Geikie There are thought to be around air. Even the purest air of the Surrey, to write to The Times on may well have influenced the 100,000 war memorials in country contains carbonic acid, 10 June 1919. choice of stone. But what is the Britain, around two-thirds of which, dissolved in falling rain, In the course of his fieldwork stone? From pictures, only two them from the First World War. acts on the stone as a solvent. in Scotland, Geikie became things are certain. Nearly 100 In our rainy climate only a few years after it was erected the years suffice to remove the Haslemere war memorial is still polish from the surface, which The Grade II listed war memorial, in excellent condition – and it is Haslemere gradually becomes rough and not made of marble! granular, so that one can wipe off the crumbling powder with the hand. In the air of large ➤ Acknowledgement towns other acids, produced I thank Julia Tanner, from the burning of coal are curator of the Haslemere added to the atmosphere and Educational Museum for increase the solvent action of making local enquiries about the origin of the the rain. Haslemere war memo- “Many years ago I studied rial on my behalf and this process of decay among passing on the help- graveyards in towns and in the ful responses. Other country and as a the result of sources include: a letter my observations I found that in from Archibald Geikie to town air a marble monument the Editor of The Times freely exposed to air, rain, wind, published on 10 June and frost will seldom last as 1919; the websites www. much as a hundred years ... Of learnaboutwarmemorials. org and www.warmemo- course, a cynic may say that in rialsonline.org.uk; and the the great majority of cases it will Wikipedia and Dictionary be no great matter if, at the end of National Biography of a hundred years or less, a entries for Inigo Triggs. marble monument has fallen into ruins ... But our war memorials are meant to outlive generations, * Nina Morgan is a geologist and it is surely desirable that care science writer based near Oxford. should be taken to construct Her latest book, The Geology of them of the most durable Oxford Gravestones, is available via materials that can be obtained.” www.gravestonegeology.uk

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 25 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY John Baverstock Saunders 1928-2017

Pioneer in the stratigraphic use of forams and aunders was born on local branch of the Institute of 3 November 1928. He major contributor to the geology of Trinidad Petroleum. attended the Tiffin He took a keen interest in School in Kingston- the Trinidad Field Naturalists’ S upon - Thames and Club and was a Field Warden, read geology at University and lectured to schools on their College London, graduating behalf. A keen ornithologist with honours in 1951. and a skilled pilot he was In the same year he took up able to contribute material for an appointment with Trinidad ffrench’s book Birds of Trinidad Leaseholds Limited as a field & Tobago and to photograph geologist. In 1952 he was the island’s mud volcanoes. transferred to the geological laboratory in Pointe-a-Pierre. Basel This proved an important Saunders retired in 1975, career move as it brought him and accepted a position as into contact with Hans Kugler, curator of the micropalaeo ’Father of Trinidad Geology’ collections in the Natural and who was instrumental in History Museum in Basel. This encouraging the use of planktic brought him, once again, in foraminifera for stratigraphic contact with his old mentor control. These studies were and colleague Hans Bolli, who spearheaded by Hans Bolli ~ was attached to the Federal and Walter Blow. Saunders School of Technology in was an enthusiastic addition Zurich. Here he co-curated to this team. These pioneering as the co-chief scientist on Leg the museum’s micropalaeo studies were among the HIS 15 of the Glomar Challenger reference collections. He earliest demonstration of the CONTRIBUTION WAS deep sea drilling project. led a government funded value of planktic foraminifera Other ‘extracurricular’ expedition to the Dominican for stratigraphic correlation ACKNOWLEDGED activities included producing Republic between 1978 and and later confirmed in other BY INCLUDING a stratigraphic lexicon for 1980. A major contribution parts of the world. In 1959 HIS NAME IN THE Trinidad and Tobago, he whilst in Basel, was to co- John was promoted to Senior GOVERNMENT’S co-coordinated the work of edit with Bolli and Perch- Stratigrapher. the Ministry of Energy who Nielson the two volume Saunders’ contribution to ROLL OF HONOUR were ultimately responsible book on Cretaceous- Tertiary the geology of Trinidad over AS A CARIBBEAN for publishing the revised planktonic foraminifera and almost 25 years, was finally ICON geological map of the island. also to co-author (with Bolli) acknowledged by including his He was an honorary member the chapters on Oligocene – name in the Government’s Roll of the Trinidad & Tobago Holocene planktonics. of Honour, which recognises remainder~ of his working Geological Society. In 1966 A lifelong bachelor, John those who have made an career with Texaco, retiring Saunders led excursions finally retired, leaving exceptional contribution to as Chief Stratigrapher in for the Canadian research Basel in 1994 and moving to Trinidadian life and called 1975. His responsibilities vessel ‘Hudson’ on their visit Wensleydale in Yorkshire to ‘CARIBBEAN ICONS’. John while initially confined to to Trinidad and Barbados. enjoy a well-earned retirement. was a worthy recipient. Trinidad later were extended He gave generously of John died 5 January 2017. to Texaco’s exploration his time to other things, Trinidad activities in Latin America. including lecturing to ➤ By Griff Cordey, with As a consequence of the During this period he began university engineers. He acknowledgement for material Suez Crisis, Texaco acquired a revision of the Kugler map, was technical secretary for from Sally Radford and James Trinidad Leaseholds in which was finally published the 4th Caribbean Geological Robson 1956 and John spent the in 1997.in 1975 he spent time Conference, and chaired the

HELP YOUR OBITUARIST The Society operates a scheme for Fellows to deposit biographical material. The object is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, dates and other information, and thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate and accurate commemoration. Please send your CV and a photograph to Ted Nield at the Society.

26 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY Trevor David Ford 1925-2017

Distinguished Leicester academic, describer of revor Ford, one of the capacities throughout his career. giants of traditional Charnia, speleologist and expert on Derbyshire He was elected Honorary Editor British Geology and geology of the Cave Research Group Senior Lecturer in the in 1964 (later the British Cave T Department of Geology Research Association), and at Leicester University until also of the Peak District Mines he retired in 1987, died on 22 Historical Society in 1965. He February aged 91 held both posts until c. 1990 and was Chairman or President Essex of both organisations. He was Trevor was born 19 April 1925 at President of the East Midlands Westcliffe-on-Sea in Essex. At 22 Geological Society from 1982- he went to Sheffield University 1985. to study geology, following his He was Hon Editor of the BSc with a PhD on the Ingleton Transactions of the Leicester and Stainmore Coalfields before Literary & Philosophical coming to Leicester. Society from 1986 to 2000, and In 1952 he was appointed President of the Society in as an Assistant Lecturer at 1982. He was the series editor University College, Leicester to of the ‘Limestone and Caves join Mac Whitaker. Between of….’ books, of ‘The Science them they taught all branches of Speleology’, and general of Geology up to the standard editor of the Proceedings of the required by London University 7th International Congress of

External Honours Regulations. Speleology, 1977.

As the department grew and the University was granted Honours its Royal Charter, enabling ~ Trevor’s achievements were conferment of its own degrees, recognised by a number of his teaching was mainly in Trevor supervised 22 awards culminating in an OBE stratigraphy, palaeontology, TREVOR’S research students and in the 1997 Queen’s Birthday micropalaeontology, map examined a similar number Honours List, for ‘Services to interpretation, quaternary geology, ACHIEVEMENTS WERE of PhDs. He held visiting Geology and Cave Science’. In economic geology (mainly coal, oil RECOGNISED BY A Professorships in both US 1974 he was awarded a moiety of and water-supply), environmental NUMBER OF AWARDS and Australian Universities. the Lyell Fund by the Geological geology and the history of CULMINATING IN AN He published over 500 Society of London. In 2016 an geological science. papers, books, guides and honorary DSc was conferred OBE IN THE 1997 reviews. He was promoted upon him by the University Charnia QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY Senior Lecturer in 1980 and of Derby in recognition of his Trevor was well known HONOURS LIST retired from the University contributions to the geology and internationally for his in 1987, after 35 years’ landscape of Derbyshire. tremendous output on service. He was then given Trevor’s first wife Ann née( Derbyshire and elsewhere, geologist), and described~ by the title ‘University Fellow’ Thornhill) died in 1956. In 1958 but the aspect of his work that Trevor in 1958. It was one of and maintained links with he married Betty (née Thomas) enjoyed greatest international the first convincing organisms the Department, continuing who died in 2006. He is survived impact concerned his description to be described from rocks his work on local geology, by his two daughters, Alison of the Precambrian fossil that were incontestably mining history, and caving. Tagg and Janet Baxter and his Charnia. This frond-like Precambrian. Charnia and its granddaughter, Kirsty Baxter. organism was found by a relatives are now renowned Senate Leicester schoolboy, Roger Mason as members of the enigmatic He served the University ➤ By Aftab Khan and Janet Baxter (himself later a well-known Ediacaran biota. extensively in numerous

HELP YOUR OBITUARIST The Society operates a scheme for Fellows to deposit biographical material. The object is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, dates and other information, and thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate and accurate commemoration. Please send your CV and a photograph to Ted Nield at the Society.

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 27 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY James Brooks 1938-2017

Outstanding organic geochemist and lecturer, who ames Brooks, known Geochemistry Group in as Jim, was as proud founded the Society’s Petroleum Group 1979 which, in 1981 became of his Saltaire, the enormously successful Bradford, and Petroleum Group with Jim as J Yorkshire upbringing Founder and First Chairman. and schooling (Salt Grammar He initiated the Society’s School 1950–58) as anyone agreement with the AAPG could be; but he was actually to mutually sell each other’s born in Co. Durham. Football publications and played a and cricket, both playing leading role in the Petroleum and watching were life-long Geology of NW Europe passions. Barbican conferences and After a year working for resulting books. ICI in Billingham, in 1959 He was elected to Council he entered the Industrial in 1984, was a Vice President, Chemistry Honours course and then Secretary from of what became Bradford 1987–90. He received awards University in 1966. His interest for Distinguished Achievement in organic chemistry began from the AAPG (1993) and with an undergraduate BTech Service from the Society (1999) study of the chemistry of and a Bradford University DSc wool grease, followed by an (2001). MPhil on wool wax and then a PhD (Bradford, 1969) on the Faith chemistry of sporopollenin (on Jim’s Christian faith and which he became an authority) church-led community service which makes the highly was at his core, whether in resistant walls of pollen, spores ~ Yorkshire or Glasgow and and microorganisms and is the he became a near full-time commonest fossil even in the UK, Europe, North America, Secretary of the burgeoning Precambrian. THE SOCIETY India and USSR - being UK Queens Park Baptist Church, Exchange Scientist to USSR Glasgow, for a decade ending Chemical palynology REMEMBERS HIM (1971) and Royal Society in 2002–3 when he was the last He became a research chemist FOR FOUNDING Visiting Scientist to India in President of the Baptist Union in chemical palynology THE ‘PETROLEUM 1977. of Scotland. He was utterly with BP (1969–75), including From 1986 he gave short reliable, good company and exploration work on samples GEOCHEMISTRY courses literally all over the splendid teacher. from the North Slope, Alaska GROUP’, WHICH world because Jim was a He retired to Cumnock, and the North Sea. He became BECAME THE superb lecturer, giving an Ayrshire, and wrote a 725 FGS in 1974. He returned to PETROLEUM GROUP, annual organic geochemistry page 2013 autobiography The Bradford University as a Senior course to Glasgow University Full Spectrum which is in the Research Fellow (1975–77), OF WHICH HE WAS geologists (1978–98) but Society’s library. He leaves working on extant and FIRST CHAIR he also teaching Glasgow Jan, his wife of 43 years, geological organic materials Chemists and Strathclyde Naomi, Daniel, and four before joining the British ~ Applied Geologists. He was grandchildren. National Oil Corporation By then he had researched AAPG Distinguished Lecturer in Glasgow in 1977 as Head organic matter in meteorites to North America (1989–90). ➤ By Bernard Elgey Leake of Geochemistry, leaving as and the origin of life, Senior Scientist in 1986 to published over 50 papers Petroleum Group Editor’s Note – a longer version form Brooks Associates as a and six books, and lectured The Society remembers him of this obit can be read online. consultant. and consulted through the for founding the Petroleum

HELP YOUR OBITUARIST The Society operates a scheme for Fellows to deposit biographical material. The object is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, dates and other information, and thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate and accurate commemoration. Please send your CV and a photograph to Ted Nield at the Society.

28 | NOVEMBER 2017 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD NO.220 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL PUBLICATION!

The winner of the September Crossword puzzle prize draw was Conor O’Malley of Cambridge.

All correct solutions will be placed in the draw, and the winner’s name printed in the February 2017 issue. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date - December 8.

The competition is open to all Fellows, Candidate Fellows and Friends of the Geological Society who are not current Society employees, officers or trustees. This exclusion does not apply to officers of joint associations, specialist or regional groups.

Please return your completed crossword to Burlington House, marking your envelope “Crossword”. Do not enclose any other matter with your solution. Overseas Fellows are encouraged to scan the signed form and email it as a PDF to [email protected] ACROSS DOWN Name ...... 7 Type selected subsequently to the 1 Turn terrifyingly to rock (7) Membership number ...... description, to replace another (7) 2 A cartilaginous fish related to 8 GSL founder who invented the sharks, in the suborder Address for correspondence ...... cage, among other leccy things (7) Myliobatoidei (8) ...... 10 Adjustable monkey, pipe or torque (6) 3 In consequence; goes a bit 11 Hemlock-drinkibng corrupter of ballistic (6) ...... youth (8) 4 Jonquils named for Housman’s ...... 12 Triangle a long way from Grecian lad (8) ...... anywhere (4) 5 Basic eruptive (6) 13 Element of the D-block (10) 6 Arthur’s seat. Or possibly ...... 14 Water-loving chemical species (11) JFK’s. (7) Postcode ...... 19 Not your immediate forebear’s 9 Steeper slope of a cuesta (11) sister, but one who came before 15 Science of non-Newtonian at least (10) fluid flow (8) SOLUTIONS SEPTEMBER 22 Double-reeded wind instrument 16 Line of equal-drilled thickness of the orchestra (4) of a rock unit (8) Across: 23 Fish-like marine chordate of the 17 Drives to frenzied anger (7) 7 Vesicle 8 Methane 10 Uplift 11 Exposure 12 Miro 13 Spherulite order Amphioxiformes (8) 18 Hibernating rodents much eaten 14 Meteorologist 19 Landscaped 22 Agar 24 Dig up a Scottish enlightenment by fancy Romans (7) 23 Portland 24 Ablate 25 Peonage 26 Pinnate philosopher (6) 20 ‘Dawn of the recent’ (6) 25 ‘Difficult’ years (7) 21 Basal, asymptotic portion of Down: 26 Under the drift (7) cross-lamination (6) 1 Leipzig 2 Silicone 3 Slates 4 Leapfrog 5 Chisel 6 Ingrate 9 Cephalopods/a 15 Recharge 16 Scabland 17 Halogen 18 Cantata 20 Dating 21 Diapir

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 29 WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | NOVEMBER 2017 | 30 | NOVEMBER GEOSCIENTIST RECRUITMENT