SCIENTIST GEO VOLUME 24 NO 8 u SEPTEMBER 2014 u WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST The Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95

READ GEOLSOC BLOG!] [geolsoc.wordpress.com

Generating Geo-Data Wind farm footings spotlight hidden UK geology

BIG BANG THEORY RADWASTE DISPOSAL ACADEMIC ISSUE New dating correlates mass Towards a new approach to Why academics and the extinctions LIPs, climate change finding a repository site in the UK Society need each other The best digital mapping app in the world

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06 24

12 18

FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE... 18 Big bang New dating is drawing closer parallels between Large Igneous Provinces and modern climate change, says Howard Lee

REGULARS

05 Welcome Ted Nield reflects on how Anthropocene climate change is making Barrow’s dream come true 06 Society news What your Society is doing at home and abroad, in London and the regions 11 Soapbox David Manning mounts the box to urge more academics to join the Society ON THE COVER: 21 Letters We welcome your thoughts 12 Generating Geo-Data 22 Books and arts Four new books and websites reviewed by Wind farm footings are revealing a wealth Ted Nield, Andrew Robinson, John Cope and Jan Zalasiewicz of hidden treasures under the UK, say Peter 24 People Geoscientists in the news and on the move Jones and Vanessa Banks 26 Obituary Ewart Albert Vincent 1919-2012 27 Calendar Society activities this month ONLINE SPECIALS Stephen Mathers discusses new geological models from the BGS. Tony Brook follows up on an earlier article on Spencer Compton, 28 Obituary Edward Howel Francis 1924-2014 Marquess of Northampton, and his relationship with Gideon Mantell. 29 Crossword Win a special publication of your choice

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 03 Corporate Supporter: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Small to Subseismic Scale Reservoir Deformation 29-30 October 2014 The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Convenors: Mike Ashton Badley Ashton America

Russell Davies RDR

Steve Dee BP

Kachi Outcrop photographs courtesy of Thibault Cavailhes. Onyeagoro Shell Small to subseismic deformation features can negatively impact reservoir performance and/or be stimulated to enhance field recovery. In many cases such features are controlled by, or interact with, similarly scaled Ole Petter sedimentological features, complicating conventional views of intra-reservoir connectivity and flow unit Wennberg definition. Whilst the intra-reservoir distribution of these small-scale features has traditionally been ‘modelled’ Statoil in the subsurface by applying data from analogue outcrop studies, the recent advances in the acquisition and processing of both seismic and imaging techniques, such as helical CTscans, have provided greater resolution of the ‘subsurface’ than ever before.

This 2-day international conference will bring academic and industry geoscientists and engineers together, to examine: (i) how much extra geological detail modern seismic and imaging techniques are now able to Conference Sponsors: provide; (ii) how that expansion of detailed information is being approached and captured by interpreters - and tied back to real reservoir geology; (iii) what ‘new questions’ are now being asked of outcrop and well based studies in order to address the ‘unseen challenges’ of subseismic deformation; (iv) how this is influencing the level of detail that should be captured to define better subsurface flow characteristics within flow simulation models; and (v) how depletion and injection impact upon formation and reactivation of reservoir scale deformation features.

Confirmed Speakers: s(AAKON&OSSEN 5NIVERSITYOF"ERGEN s0AUL'ILLESPIE 3TATOIL s'RAHAM9IELDING "ADLEY'EOSCIENCE s$AVE3ANDERSON 5NIVERSITYOF3OUTHAMPTON

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

GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME Geoscientist is the ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE ~ Fellowship magazine of Jonathan Knight WIND FARMS BRING IN A NEW the Geological Society T 01727 739 193 of London E jonathan@centuryone HARVEST OF GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION publishing.uk Cover image: Matt Howcroft, University of Derby 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] Sarah Astington (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 BA1 3JN Charity, number 210161. T 01225 445046 ISSN (print) 0961-5628 FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: F 01225 442836 ISSN (online) 2045-1784

Library The Geological Society of London T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 accepts no responsibility for the F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 views expressed in any article in this Wages of sin? publication. All views expressed, E [email protected] except where explicitly stated otherwise, represent those of the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF author, and not The Geological Professor Peter Styles Society of London. All rights reserved. No paragraph of ir John Barrow, Secretary of northern sea route over Siberia might this publication may be reproduced, EDITOR copied or transmitted save with the Admiralty (1804-1845), be open for the minimum 60 days by Dr Ted Nield written permission. Users registered found himself embarrassed 2020 – representing ‘a huge saving in E [email protected] with Copyright Clearance Center: the Journal is registered with CCC, 27 by a Royal Navy that had time and emissions’ (money). Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970, EDITORIAL BOARD USA. 0961-5628/02/$15.00. Every nothing much to do after the The International Chamber of Dr Sue Bowler effort has been made to trace S Mr Steve Branch copyright holders of material in defeat of Napoleon. Hearing tell of an Shipping’s members were all excited Dr Robin Cocks this publication. If any rights have ice-free arctic (in 1817) from the by this, said Kiran Khosla. The IMO Prof. Tony Harris been omitted, the publishers offer Dr Howard Falcon-Lang their apologies. whaler William Scoresby was music to has committed shippers to cutting Dr Jonathan Turner No responsibility is assumed by the his ears. Alas, Scoresby had found the their carbon footprint in half by 2050, Dr Jan Zalasiewicz Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a waters north of Canada only briefly so this must surely be a good thing. Trustees of the matter of products liability, ice-free thanks to Tambora’s 1815 Questioned by Lord Moynihan about negligence or otherwise, or from any Geological Society use or operation of any methods, eruption. Normal service the current costs of icebreaker support, of London products, instructions or ideas Prof David Manning contained in the material herein. soon resumed, and all Barrow’s Stopford admitted with a smile that (President); Although all advertising material is expeditions failed. companies hoped ‘the weather is going Mrs Natalyn Ala (Secretary, expected to conform to ethical (medical) standards, inclusion in this News that military planners in the sort that one out for us’. Professional Matters); publication does not constitute a Dr Mike Armitage (Vice guarantee or endorsement of the Pentagon have been ordered not to Outraged? Well, no. Having just president); Dr Nigel quality or value of such product or of include climate change in any future finished Gaia Vince’s Adventures in the Cassidy; Prof Neil the claims made by its manufacturer. prognostications – evoking the image Anthropocene (see Jan Zalasiewicz’s Chapman; Dr Angela Coe; Subscriptions: All correspondence Mr Jim Coppard; relating to non-member of the US military’s futurologists review, p23) I am reluctant to throw up Mr David Cragg (Vice subscriptions should be addresses president); Mrs Jane to the Journals Subscription collectively sticking their fingers in my arms in horror at such ‘profiting Dottridge; Mr Chris Eccles; Department, Geological Society their ears and singling ‘la-la-la’ very from climate change’. Dr Marie Edmonds; Publishing House, Unit 7 Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, loudly – it is encouraging that the While opening up the Arctic might Professor Alastair Fraser Bath, BA1 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 (Secretary, Science); 445046. Fax: 01225 442836. House of Lords Arctic Committee was have dire consequences if we burn the Mr David Hopkins; Email: [email protected]. The Mr David Jones (Vice subscription price for Volume 24, not so hamstrung in its 29 July hydrocarbons buried there, or fail to 2014 (11 issues) to institutions and president); Dr Adam Law non-members is £125 (UK) or £143 quizzing of shipping experts in cut emissions before the permafrost (Treasurer); Prof Alan Lord / US$286 (Rest of World). Committee Room 1. releases its methane, the world we (Secretary Foreign & External Affairs); Dr Brian © 2014 The Geological Society Giving evidence, Dr Martin have is a world we have made - and of London Marker OBE; Dr Gary Stopford, (Clarksons Research are doomed henceforth to manage. Nichols; Prof David Geoscientist is printed on FSC mixed Norbury; Dr Colin North credit - Mixed source products are a Services), told the committee that There already is no true wilderness. (Secretary, Publications); blend of FSC 100%, Recycled and/or ports in northern Europe and Managing our planet wisely (instead Mr Keith Seymour; Dr Lucy Controlled fibre. Accredited by the Slater; Mr Michael Young Forestry Stewardship Council. America, for whom even Panama and of stupidly) includes taking advantage Suez are a major detour, would find where we can find it, and resisting Published on behalf of the the opening of arctic sea routes useful, fruitless kneejerk moral outrage at any Geological Society of London by for it would ‘balance up the transport and all commercial inevitabilities. Century One Publishing world’. Colin Manson, (Manson Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, Oceanographic Consultancy) AL3 4DG explained that while the route across ➤ Listen to the Committee’s hearing here: T 01727 893 894 www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.asp F 01727 893 895 the pole may have to wait (as may x?meetingId=15881 E enquiries@centuryone Barrow’s Northwest passage), the publishing.uk W www.centuryone DR TED NIELD, EDITOR - [email protected] @TedNield @geoscientistmag publishing.uk

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

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

Society Awards Image: Merkushev Vasiliy / Shutterstock.com

Fellows of the Society are invited to submit nominations for the Society’s Awards for 2015 to the Awards Committee. Full details of how to make nominations are on the website at www.geolsoc.org.uk/AwardNominations. Nominations must be received at the Society no later than 1 October 2014. Nominating for other societies’ awards In order to reward excellence and promote international recognition of Fellows of the Society, we encourage Fellows to nominate colleagues for awards of other societies, such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Geophysical Union, the European Geosciences Union and the LONDON LECTURE SERIES Geological Society of America. There may be special eligibility requirements for these awards; details can be found at: Groundwater - the Good, the Bad u www.aapg.org/business/honors_awards/ and the Ugly u www.agu.org/honorsprogram/ u www.egu.eu/awards-medals/proposal-and-selection-of-candidates/ Speaker: Natalyn Ala (Atkins Ltd., & GSL Council) u www.geosociety.org/awards/aboutAwards.htm Date: 10 September Programme u Afternoon talk: 1430 Tea & Coffee: 1500 Lecture Honorary Fellowships begins: 1600 Event ends. u Following a proposal from the External Relations Committee, Council Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: 1800 Lecture recommends the following candidates for election to Honorary Fellowship at a begins: 1900 Reception. future Ordinary General Meeting. Further Information ➤Prof Patrick De Deckker Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsllondon Patrick De Deckker, Belgian by birth and Australian by lectures14. Entry to each lecture is by ticket only. naturalisation, is one of Australia’s most distinguished Earth To obtain a ticket please contact the Society around scientists. Having graduated in Australia in 1971 he worked four weeks before the talk. Due to the popularity of this briefly in Europe before returning to carry out research. He lecture series, tickets are allocated in a monthly ballot has spent most of his career at the Australian National and cannot be guaranteed. University in Canberra, including time as Head of Department. Patrick recently took early retirement to focus on research. He ➤ Contact: Naomi Newbold, The Geological Society, was awarded a DSc by the University of Adelaide in 2002 but Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, T: +44 his contribution to Australian and international Earth science is more accurately (0)20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] reflected by his list of c.200 publications, in refereed journals and seven edited volumes, in the fields of limnology (especially of salt lakes), aeolian dust & deposits, and in palaeoceanography. Patrick holds the Verco Medal, Royal Center of the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas and Society of South Australia, 1992; Australian Society for Limnology Medal, 2005; Reno rising from Assistant to Associate to full Research Order of Australia Medal, 2007; Christoffel Plantin Medal, 2008; Mawson Medal Professor including Director of the Environmental Isotope of Australian Academy of Sciences, 2010. Laboratory. Latterly he was Executive Director of the WRC and Vice President for Academic Affairs. He spent a year ➤Dr John (Jack) Hess carrying out research at the SURRC, East Kilbride, UK and Jack Hess has been Executive Director of the Geological another secondment was to a Senatorial office in Society of America since 2001, a role from which he will retire Washington, DC as a Legislative Fellow to advise on shortly (see p.25). During Jack’s tenure, collaboration radioactive waste, renewable energy and other science and between our Societies has developed dramatically in terms of technology matters. His research career was carried on in co-sponsored meetings and marketing, and as a joint parallel with teaching and student supervision and steadily influence in international geopolitics. On retirement Jack is increasing administrative responsibilities. expected to assume the role of Chair of the GSA Foundation. This is an important function and will ensure his continuing ➤ Fellows may nominate candidates for Honorary Fellowship links to geosciences both in the United States and internationally, and the at any time. To find out how to do this, please go to Society can look forward to the continuation of a mutually beneficial relationship www.geolsoc.org.uk/ honoraryfellowship with GSA. Much of Jack’s scientific career was spent at the Water Resources

06 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST FELLOWSHIP ELECTION The following are put forward for election to fellowship at the OGM on 25 September 2014: ABOKHODAIR Abdulwahab; ADAMS Cameron; ADAMS Nicholas; ADU Florence; AFZAL Saima; ALAM Mohammad Ayaz; AL-FARRAJ Asma; ALI

Photo: W Lloyd MacKenzie, www.flickr.com/photos/saffron_blaze/ Dilshad; ALLEN Conrad; ALLEN James; ALLEN Nathan; AMENTA Giovanni Paolo; AMGBARE Edwin Braye; ANDERSON Gemma; ANDREOU Andreas Costas; APPIAH Moses Kwame Ofori; ARCHER Jean Barbara; ARLOTT Leah; ARMITAGE Shaun; ARNOLD Annabelle; ATKINS Stephen David; AYLOTT Craig; BALL Edward; BARBAGLI Francesco; BARCLAY Stuart; BARKER Daniel Stuart Charles; BARNET James; BARRETT Sean Andrew; BATES Rory Nathaniel; BEHRENS Graham; BELL Martin; BETTENCOURT MACHADO Hugo; BIRD Anna; BIRNEY Stella; BORELLA Riccardo; BORRELL Anthony; BOVENIZER Hannah; BOWDEN Bryan; BRADLEY-WATSON Kirsten; BRIGGS Steven; BROOK Christopher Alexander John; BROWNHILL Laura; BUCK Heidi; BUGGENHAGEN John; CHAMBERS Andrew; CHUI Wai Hong; CHUNG Wai-Kin Johnny; CICCARELLI Francesco; CIPPITELLI Guiseppe; CLARK Alexander William James; CLARK Ian Richard; CLARKE Ian; CLARKE Karen; CLARKE Lee; CLARKE Stephen; CLARKE Stuart; COFFEY Peter Martin; COMFORT Guy; COMRIE-SMITH Nicholas James; COOKSON Elisabeth; COTTERILL James Edward; COUPERTHWAITE Fiona; COURTIER Kathleen Sarah; CRIGHTON Colin; CROSBY Anthony; CUNNINGHAM Andrew; DANIEL Ron; DAVIES Beth; DAVIS Joseph; DASSANAYAKE Dassanayake Mudalige Guththika; DAWKES Kirsty; DEELEY Sam; DEVITT Philip; DIAPER Lucy; DICKIN Michael Joseph; DICKSON Durdle Door, Dorset Graeme; DIKER Caner; DILLON Jamie; DOBBS Victoria Elizabeth; DONOVAN Kate; DOUGAN Paul Thomas; DUGGAN Richard; DUNCAN Ian; DUTTON Kirsten Emily; DYCK Brendan; EDWARDS Luke; ELLIS Stuart; ELSON Peter; Geosites project ESLER Olivia; FABUEL-PEREZ Ivan; FAIRBAIRN Ian; FAIRWOOD Duncan Steven; FALLON Emily; FARNELL Ross; FAROPPA James; FEELY Paul; and will be announced during Earth Science FINLAYSON Roderick; FITTON Joanne; Sarah Day (Earth Science Communicator) FRANCHI Marianne; FROST David; FROST Kerry; sends a big thank-you to everyone who Week 2014 (13-19 October). The full list of FUENTES Alexander Francisco; FUH Calistus Gentry; GAN Fengwei; GARVEY John Phillip; nominated a site for the ‘100 Great nominations can be found at GATH Marc Richard; GIBSON Jennifer; GILLIGAN Geosites’ project. www.geolsoc.org.uk/100geosites, where you Amy; GLANCY George; GOLDIE Stephanie; GOODE Thomas; GOODSHIP Alastair; GOSAI Between March and July this year we received can vote for your favourites. Sachin Luke; GRANT Geoffrey George; GREGORY over 500 nominations via Twitter, Facebook and Logan Shane; GRIFFITH Simon; GULFI Veronica; GUY Matthew; HAGGER Kathryn; HALIBURTON email, covering 360 different geosites in the UK Michael Ian; HANDS Neil Adamson; HANNATH and Ireland. ➤ Get in touch on twitter @geolsoc, using Jake; HARDWICK Alexander; HARRISON #100geosites, or email us on Katherine; HARRISSON Arthur; HATTER Stuart The final 100 will be decided based on public James; HAWKSWOOD Rose; HAWLEY Helen; HE [email protected] Tianchen; HEATH Justin Henry Stewart; HENRY votes and the deliberations of an expert panel, Felicity; HERBERT Christopher; HERRETT Tim; HOGGETT Murray; HOLLINGWORTH Anne; HOLM Gordon; HOME Robert; HOOLEY Claire; HOOPER Sophie; HOPE David; HORSEMAN Robert; HOUGH Victoria Helen; HOULLEBERGHS Accreditation Officer (First announcement) Eric; HOWARD David; HUNT Katherine; HURLEY Roger William; HYETT Richard; IKPERE Jonathan Achoja; ILOUGA Dieudonne Charles Isidore; The post of Accreditation Officer will become the Panel for decision. He/she will also be IRVING Callum; IWALEWA Tajudeen; JAMES Matthew; JAMIESON Byron Dayne; JEGEDE vacant with the retirement of the present required to interface with Universities to ensure Ayodele; JOHNSTONE Heather; JOHNSTONE incumbent, Dr Colin Scrutton, in 2015. that applications are presented in a way that Luke; JONES Jack; JONES Michael; JONES Thomas; JONES William; JONES Glyn; JUETT The Society, therefore, seeks applications for satisfies the requirements of the Society’s Timothy William; KAMAL Mohamed; KARVELAS Alexander; KELLY Jennifer Victoria; KENNY Jon; the post of Accreditation Officer from 1 May Accreditation scheme and also be able to explain KING Jess; KLOPPENBURG Armelle; KNEALE 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter. what changes might be required by the Panel to Christopher; KOMOLAFE Nzube; KOMORI Onyerhouwo Raymond; KOREVAAR Aernout; The post involves the processing of meet those criteria. Further details of the work KWOK Pui Tin; LAIDLAW Ross; LEADBEATER applications for the accreditation and involved can be obtained from Dr Scrutton Maureen; LEVER Helen; LEVIEN Joseph; LEWIS Keri; LEWIS Tara; LI Yang; LITTLE Simon David; reaccreditation of first degrees and taught MSc ([email protected]), who will LO Ming Yan; LOACH David; LOPPAS Andria; programmes in geosciences (www.geolsoc.org. be available for support during the LORD Oliver Thomas; LOWNSBROUGH Gemma; MACLEOD Ian Connor; MACNEIL Craig; uk/Education-and-Careers/Universities/ changeover period. MALCOLM Isabella; MALONI Elana Dawn Jessica; MARSHALL Joanna Katherine; MARZUKI Sarah; Degree-Accreditation), arranging meetings of The post would suit an academic geoscientist MATTS Katie Anne; MCDERMOTT Ken; the Accreditation Panel and maintaining the lists about to retire or considering switching to a part- MCKENDRICK Robert; MCKENNA Stacey; MCQUISTAN Dhugal; MEADOWS Holly Rachael; of accredited programmes for the Society’s time academic post. The applicant should be a MELLOR Kathryn; MELTON Antony; MEYER website. The postholder is also responsible for Fellow of the Society and either Chartered or Glenn; MICHELAKI Sofia; MIDDLETON Matthew; MIKOLAJEWSKI Przemek; MINSHELL Ben; MOL recruiting members to the Accreditation Panel. prepared to apply for Chartership if appointed. Lisa; MOORHEAD Nicola; MORGAN Emily; The ideal candidate will have experience of the The post is part-time and remuneration is based MORRISON Andrew; MULHOLLAND Philip; MURGATROYD Jennifer; NG Yue Hi; NGU Ateh planning and assessment of degree programmes on a daily rate. Banilia; NICOLE Samuel; NUGRAHA Abang Mansyursyah Surya; NUNN Lisa Deborah; NUZZO and have a good knowledge of the present Applicants should send a letter of application Marianne; NWOKIDU Chinyere Ngozi; OAK Ryan Higher Education system and the changes it is outlining their interest in the job and relevant Carl; ODELL John; O'DONNELL Martin; OLLIER Michael Neale; OLUFELO Olufolahan; ONEA undergoing (has recently undergone). The work experience, together with their curriculum vitae Alexandra; ORI Gian Gabriele; ORMOND Julia; requires considerable attention to detail in the by email to the Executive Secretary, Edmund OSMOND Jo; PACKMAN Adam; PARKES Graham; PARKINSON Dennis Neil; PARR Rhys; manipulation of course descriptions and make- Nickless ([email protected]) to PARVAZ Daniel; PATTINSON Ronald; PAULO up, so that this can be presented intelligibly to arrive no later than noon, 31 October 2014. Benvindo; PEARCE Monique; PEREIRA Ricardo; PERRIMENT Thomas; PESKETT Haf; ▼ GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS Image: Posiva Oy SOCIETYNEWS...

Implementing geological disposal

Bruce Yardley (Chief Geologist, Radioactive Waste Management Ltd) on the new White Paper on the geological disposal of radioactive waste. The UK government has taken the next step towards constructing a Olkiluoto, Finland – the repository entrance is in the foreground Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for High Level and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste, with the publication in July of a new White Paper: ‘Implementing Geological Disposal’, available at: is fundamental to a GDF safety case. In recognition of the importance www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ of communicating with the public and ensuring that the process is data/file/332890/GDF_White_Paper_FINAL.pdf open and transparent, the screening exercise will include a consultation Earlier policy developments were summarised in these pages on the “screening guidance”. RWM will assemble its own team, recently by Peter Styles (Geoscientist 24.3 April 2014) and led to a including outside experts, to develop guidance for screening, i.e. process laid out in a 2008 White Paper ‘Managing Radioactive Waste identify widely available parameters which appear to be useful for Safely’. This process was initiated by local councils volunteering to assessing the potential of a site for a GDF, such as mapping the host a GDF and proceeded by staged technical assessments. distribution of rocks with specific properties occurring at appropriate A number of failings in the process became apparent after it came to depths in the subsurface, or of non-potable groundwaters, structural end last year in Cumbria, and the new process is intended to address features etc. these. It is the result of an extensive public consultation, to which the It must be possible to evaluate these parameters over a significant Geological Society contributed. part of the country purely from desk studies. The RWM team plans to consult widely with the geological community and other interested Principles groups to gather input, including a meeting at Burlington House on The original principles remain. The safety case for a GDF must take September 30, and regional meetings. At the same time, DECC has into account the geological setting and the interactions of the GDF with asked the Geological Society to set up an independent review panel to the surrounding geosphere, and the local community must have peer review the quality and applicability of the work that RWM actively volunteered to host the site and retain the right to withdraw; proposes. but geological evaluation is now a priority from the outset. The Government’s emphasis on this is a result of the widespread demand Benefits for geological information to be available before communities are invited Only when this process is complete will the guidance be applied across to volunteer. England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Again, the process will be In particular, the White Paper sets out an initial action for Radioactive overseen by the independent review panel. The outcome, expected Waste Management Limited (RWM), now identified as the developer, to late in 2016, will include maps and accompanying narrative, showing carry out a National Geological Screening Exercise. This aims to make the distribution of features - some positive and some negative - that geological information available in an accessible form to communities may be of relevance. There will be no ‘magic bull’s-eye’, but there will so that they can address questions about their geological potential at be a sound basis for discussions with communities who might wish to an early stage. It also proposes that GDFs are brought within the take advantage of the undoubted economic and employment benefits definition of ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’ and requires that a GDF will bring, so that they can establish with greater certainty DECC to develop a generic National Policy Statement to support the whether their area is likely to be viable before expending needless time planning process. A third action is to develop guiding principles for and effort. working with communities - how decisions are made, how Even by the standards of major infrastructure projects, the timescale communities are represented, what would be an appropriate test of for constructing a GDF in the UK is long, and many issues still remain public support, and how community investment should be distributed. to be resolved. The challenge will be to ensure that we remain on track The National Geological Screening Exercise is a response to to finally and safely dispose of our radioactive waste. Here the evidence from the Society and others who have argued for a number of involvement of the geological community, which recognises the years that it is important to provide more information on geology at importance and viability of geological disposal more than any other depth before encouraging communities to volunteer, because geology group, will be of enormous value.

FUTURE MEETINGS GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CLUB The dates for meetings of Council and Ordinary General Meetings New diners are always welcome! until June 2015 will be as follows: u 2014: 24 September; 15 October. u 2015: 4 February u OGMs: 25 September 2014; 26 November 2014; 4 February (Burlington House - buffet); 4 March (Athenaeum); 8 April (Venue 2015; 8 April 2015 tbc); 6 May (Athenaeum) u Council: 25 & 26 September 2014 (residential); 26 November For further information contact Cally Oldershaw (Hon Sec) at 2014; 4 February 2015; 8 April 2015 [email protected] or T: 07796 942361.

08 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST FELLOWSHIP ELECTION Continued from page 7: PETERS Isabel; PETERS Rowan; PETERSON John Richard; PETRONE Chiara Maria; PLAYTER Tiffany; POCOCK Nicola Margaret; POWER Jamie; POYNTZ Ian; PRYDE Sam; PUGH Glen; RAMASWAMY Siddhartha Kirk; REID Jennifer Lynne; REID Lindsay; REVITT Anthony; RICHARDSON Graham; RICHARDSON Nicholas James; RICHARDSON Stephen; RIGG James; ROBINSON Adam Hackett; ROBLA Vaughn; Contested geoscience ROELOFSE Frederick; ROPE Adam; ROUND Michael; RUST Timothy Michael; SAINSBURY Courtney; SALAMI Ayobami; SAMMARCO On 20 June the Society hosted a one-day Introductory talks on each topic were followed by Carmelo; SAROGLOU Charalampos; SEBRO Barry; SELLARS Nicola; SHANKS Sean; meeting on ‘Communicating Contested panel-led discussion sessions, addressing features SHARDLOW Christopher David; SHARROCK Geoscience’ writes Flo Bullough. unique to each sub-topic as well as broader cross- Jeremy Mason; SHAW Felicia; SHEPHARD Grace; SHINGLETON Samuel Albert; SIBERT Edward; The aim was to discuss the issues around cutting issues. These included the need to look at SILLAH Salim Karamohba; SKUCE Rebecca; communicating the geology underlying some of energy choices in the round, rather than presenting SLIGHTAM Clare; SMEATON Craig; SMOUT Richard; SOLER - PUJOL Roser; SOUTHWELL the key questions that communities across the people with decisions about particular energy James; SPALDING Emily; SPRATLEY Brian Clive; SPRINGALL Lucy Amanda; ST JOHN Thomas; UK will face as we address future resource sources in isolation – using DECC’s UK 2050 STARCHER Michael; STEFANOPOULOU needs. The meeting focused on three issues: energy calculator (http://2050-calculator-tool. Despoina; STEPHENS Natalie; STERNICKA Agnieszka; STOCKWELL Simon; STRATFORD Shale Gas, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) decc.gov.uk) for example, to show the implications Henry; STROUD Martyn Arthur; SULAIMAN and Radioactive Waste Disposal - all areas where and trade-offs associated with these choices. Sofiana; SWAMYNATHAN Bharani; TAM Jesse; TEZCAN Esra; THOMPSON Natalie; TORNAGHI effective communication of relevant geoscience The meeting also discussed the challenges of Maria; TOWELL Craig; TSOUMELEKAS to non-specialists is essential for the public to communicating about risk, uncertainty and long Apostolos; TSZ KI Cheng; TUFFIN Peter; TYSON Douglas; URBAN Mark; UTLEY Thomas; engage in informed debate and decision-making. timescales; the potential disconnect between VALDIVIANO HUERTAS Jhonatan Dany; VAN HERK Adriaan; VANDEGINSTE Veerle; VARDEN Delegates at the lively and well attended what scientists may wish to communicate and Chris; WAHLMAN Gregory; WALSH Ainslie; meeting included those working in government, what stakeholders want to know; and lessons WALTERS Jack Andrew Leslie; WARD Amy; WARD Matthew Thomas; WARDLE Paul; natural and social science academics, learned from past engagement. WATERFALL Elizabeth; WATERHOUSE Adam; representatives from industry, and specialists in WATTS Camilla; WEBB Samantha; WHEELIKER Sean Anthony; WIGNALL Brent; WILBUR David science communication and public engagement, ➤ For more information: www.geolsoc.org.uk/ Greaves; WILKINSON Deborah Marie; and geologist and TV presenter Professor Iain WILKINSON James; WILLIAMS Gareth David; Communicating-Contested-Geoscience WILLIAMS Robert Coleman; WILLIAMSON David; Stewart (University of Plymouth). WILTSHIRE Sam; WINSTANLEY James Michael; WOOD Paul; WOODCOCK Ruth Elizabeth; WRIGHT Jessica; WU Kam Kuen; WYLLIE Andrew; WYTON Joanne; YAO Xue; YATES Amy Karolynn; YEUNG Rory; YOUNG Charles; Himalaya - Sustainable Resource Development ZAREMBA Kaja; ZEPEDA LUNA Tania. The following Candidate Fellows Nic Bilham (Director of Policy and the environment, human health and wellbeing – graduating this year must upgrade Communications) on a conference organised exacerbated by rapid population growth and to Fellowship within 12 months jointly by the Society and the Unviersity of climate change. following graduation, if they wish to continue with membership. Jammu, Leh. Student programme Those who complete the Earth scientists from the Himalayan nations application process before the and around the world gathered on 24-26 June in A two-day student programme was attended by OGM on 25 September 2014 will Leh (Ladakh, India) to discuss with social over 100 children from nearby schools, focusing be elected at that meeting. scientists, development practitioners, policy- on topics which affect them directly – the origin The remainder will be put forward makers and community representatives how to and use of natural resources, climate change, the for election at future OGMs and develop the rich and varied resources of the geology of landslides and earthquakes, and the AGM as and when they Himalaya sustainably, so as to benefit local disaster risk reduction. Students were asked to submit applications: communities and nations to which they belong. design posters on the conference themes, the best ADAMS Robert; ADAMS James; ADEYEMI Susan Jesudara Omobola; AINSCOE Eleanor; Ladakh is developing rapidly, and both the of which were displayed at the main conference. ALLHUSEN Matthew John Oliver; AL-SULAITI Jammu and Kashmir state government and A shorter schools programme was delivered at two Nawal; AMAESHI Nneka; ANDERSON Rory; ANDREW Mary; ANRUDE Alexander; ARNOTT Indian national governments wish it to become further schools, at Nyoma and Puga, where many James Hamilton Walter; ATKINSO Douglas; students come from nomadic communities. ATKINSON Joshua; BACKHOUSE Tom; BALL an exemplar of sustainable development. Just James; BARAN Alicja; BARONE Grace; BARRY days before the conference, Narendra Modi said At the request of local policy-makers, we will Jonathan; BARUWA Olayinka; BASRAVI Graham; BATCHELOR Dominic David; BATTISTEL he was considering establishing a new ministry produce a briefing document on the policy and Giordano; BEAGLE JamGlen Stacey; BEASLEY of Himalayan affairs. planning implications of the conference, as well as Lewis; BESSANT Chanel Annabelle; BESTEL Ryan; BILLS James Alexander Jackson; Much of the discussion focused on the basic useful information for local communities BINGHAM Hannah; BISSELL Christopher Paul; challenges of balancing conflicting factors – the written in their own language. BITHELL Carmel; BLOM Vincent; BOLTON Samuel; BOOTH Matthew; BRADLEY Ginny- material needs of local people and those further Marie; BRADNUM William; BROCKLEHURST away (for example, the billion people who rely on Hannah Faye; BUCHANAN Robert; BUNKER ➤ To find out more: Edward; BURBIDGE Rosalind Ann; BUTTERICK Himalayan glaciers for their water); local, regional Martin; CALLCUTT Matthew; CAMPBELL www.geolsoc.org.uk/himalaya14 Roderick William; CARLEY Sonia Jeanette; and national economic growth, and impacts on CASTILLO Alexander; CLAUSON Matthew Jon; CLAYTON Jack Tyrone; CLEMENCE David Andrew; CLIFFORD Grace Hannah; CLIFFORD Grant Gordon Stewart Warren; COATES Thomas William; COEN Thomas William; COFFIN Nicola; COLLETT Emily Joanna; COMBLEY Nigel Stephen John; CONWAY Sean Ryan; CRADDOCK Lisa; CRAWFORD Alexandra; CREHAN Sahun; CROMPTON Hannah Victoria; DAVIES Peter Andrew; DAVIES Paul John; DAVISON Natalie; DAY Jason; DE AGUIAR Oliver Charles; DE LEEUW Lawrence Willem; DEANS Karen; DENIS Grace; DIAMOND Katherine Elizabeth; DOBRZANSKI Andrew Jan; DODD Matthew; DOODY George William; DOWNING Charlie Jack; DOWNING India; DUDLEY James David Francis; DUFEAL Ojahme; DUNN William; DUNNACHIE Alison Allan; ECOTT Jessica; ELLIOTT Claire; ELLIOTT Alexander; ▼ FELLOWSHIP ELECTION Continued from page 9: EMMS Lucinda; EVANS Jonathan; EVANS Nerys Ann; EYLES Christopher Thomas; FAIRMAN David; FITT Petr; FLANAGAN Sinead; FORD Helen Marie; FOX Andrew Christopher; FRANCIS Scot; FRANKS Matthew; FUNG Cho Yan; FURNISH George; GALLAGHER Rachael; GAYNOR Peter James; GERSTGRASSER Andreas; GIBSON Robert; GILLHAM Stephen; GLASS James Henry; GODWIN Hal; GOULD Francesca Nancy; GOWLAND Christopher; GRAABEK Kimberley; GRANTCHAROVA Mihaela Mihaylova; GREEN Joshua; GREGSON Laura; GRUCHY Janine; GUICE George; GUTHRIE Ronald; GUY Daniella; HAM James; HARDMAN Kristian Matthew Seabridge; HARRIS Katherine Isobel; HARVEY Valerie Ann; HARVEY Benjamin Edward; HATCH Callum Neil; HEDGER Abigail; HEMUS Matthew James; HENRY Delano Gerardo; HERRON Christopher Stephen; HILL Harriet; HINDL Ruth; HIRST James Samuel Alexander; HODGES Susan; HOLBOURN Matthew; HOLT Thomas Richard; HONOUR Victoria Claire; HOOPER Ian; HOSKING Louise; HOYLE Danielle; HUNT Sophia Xanthe; HUNT Thomas; HUNTER Karen; HURCOMBE Russell; JACKSON Candace Bronwyn; JENKINS Rosemary; JENNINGS Christopher; JENNISON Daniel; JESS Scott; JOHNSON Jennifer Louise; JOHNSON Shaun Robert; JOHNSON Sharif George; JOLLY Emma Louise; JONES Bethan Louise; JONES Leigh-Ann; JOSEPH Rebecca; JOSHI Darsha; JURY Alistair; KARHUNEN Otava; KAVANAGH Emmanuel; KEITH Katherine Sheila Rose; KENISON Alexandra Claire; KENT Emma; KOSKY Jack Michael; KTISTI Nicole; LAM Chloe Kwan; LAWNICKA Gabriela Katarzyna; LAWRENCE Amy; LAWRENCE Stephanie; LAYFIELD Jessica; LE CORNU Christopher; LEE Lok; LEWIS-BATES Anthony; LLEWELLYN Jayne; LOCKETT Thomas; Picture library launched LOWRIE Gemma-Louise; LYNES Rhian; LYTTON Wilfrid; MADDOX Brenda; MADELEY Anna Elizabeth; MAGUIRE James; MAHONEY Jonathan The Library has launched its own Picture Giles; MAN Benjamin; MARSH Deryck; MARTIN Library, write Caroline Lam and Paul Johnson. Bronwen; MARTIN-SHORT Robert; MCEACHERN Jonathan; MCGEOCH Kayleigh The Society Library’s new Picture Library, Dawn; MCKAY Rosie Elizabeth; MCKEEVER Josephine; MCLEOD William; MCMAHON William; showcases some of the drawings, prints, maps MCQUEEN Gavin; MICHAELS Gillian; MILLER and book illustrations to be found across its James Benjamin; MITCHELL Andrew Richard Chrstian; MOLLER Torsten Henrik; MOLLER unique historical collection. Alison Gillian; MOORE Chris Antony; MOORE Here are just a few of the jewels to be found Bryan Andrew; MOORE Jemma; MORGAN Rebecca Leigh; MORGAN Tom; MORTON on our new site, www.geolsoc.org.uk/Pic Michael; MORTON Codi; MOSLEY Kyle; tureLibrary. More images will be added NANDHRA Satvinder; NARAYAN Nadia; NAYLOR Thomas; NUJURALLY Ahad; O'BRIEN Shaun; regularly, so keep checking back to see what's O'BRIEN John; O'DONNELL Megan; O'GORMAN Luke; OGUNADE Adelola; new. All the images are available to purchase, OIKONOMIDOU Romina; OWEN Emily; including map prints. Hugh Miller (1802-1856). This image is of ‘Cunaig PACHECS David; PALLORDET Daniel Marcel [Quinag] in Assynt, Sutherlandshire’. Woodd Georges; PALMER Robert; PANTING Benjamin; PARKES Michael; PATEL Jay; PATES Stephen; u Main image above: ‘Cunaig in Assynt, notes that it shows 'Great conglomerate, quartz PATTERSON Rachael; PAWSON Georgia; PEARCE Donovan; PEARCE Stuart Daniel; Sutherlandshire’, by Charles Henry Lardner rocks in foreground, white as snow'. PEASGOOD Andrew; PERERA Ramesh; PERRY Woodd, 20 August 1847. [Image ref: 05-65] Joshua Michael; PESKIN Ahron Moshe; u PLIMMER Gareth; PLOWMAN Rachel Louise; Charles Henry Lardner Woodd (1823-1891) Above: ‘Geological Map of the Environs of POMBAL Jose Arsenio Felix; POMERY Jack; Lyme Regis’ published by F Dunster, 1826. POPE Andrew Richard; PORT Hannah Louise; was elected a Fellow on 20 May 1846 but PRITCHARD Joseph; PTASZYNSKA Paulina despite being a member until his death in 1893, [Image ref: 07-84]. Henry Thomas De la Beche Joanna; PUTTOCK Sophie; QUEENAN Craig; (1796-1855) was raised in Lyme Regis which, RAE Auriol; RAVAL Holly Anna; RAY Debra Jayne; never submitted a geological paper. He was a READER Caroline; READER David; REYNOLDS gifted artist and the Archives hold a series of thanks to Mary Anning, had become a popular Andrew Robert; RICHARDS Huw Alexander; RIKSON Koit; ROBERTS Ewan; ROBERTSON eight drawings of geological features around fossil-hunting destination. This four-penny map, Jennifer Louise Searing; RODRIGUEZ GIL Teresa; Cromarty and Assynt (Scotland) drawn in August easily folded for the pocket, was published in ROGIC Nikola; ROWELL Catherne Jane; RUSH Julian; RUTTER William Andrew John; RYAN 1847 when apparently following the footsteps of Lyme and sold to those scouring the local rocks. Graham; RYAN Meghan; SCANLAN Devan Margaret Lorraine; SCHUURMAN Jan; SEDGWICK-HOUSEGO Liam Francis Erik; SELBY Margaret Norah; SELLERS Carl; SHELTON Richard William; SIBY PODIPARA Gifty; SIEDLECKI Paul; SKINNER Toby; SMITH Smith county maps Chartership news Christopher James; SMITH Heather Grace; SMITH Chartership Officer Bill Gaskarth writes: Jacob; SMITH Alicia; SNOW Kelly Rebecca; SOLEY Imogen; SOMERVILLE David; SORRELL The Publishing House announces the Card Geotechnical Ltd is the latest company William; SORRELL Paul; SPENCE Matthew; availability of high-quality facsimiles to have their training scheme Accredited and SPERANZA Stefano; STEPHENS Tomas Gwyn; STOJANOVIC Denis; STOKES Thomas; SWIFT of William Smith County maps, writes that from Fugro Hong Kong will have been Russell; SYLVESTER Laura; TAYLOR David Mark; Emily Milroy. accredited by the time this issue is TAYLOR Lamorna; THOMAS Joshua; THORNBER Alexandra Rebecca; TOVEY Simon These may now be purchased directly from published. These schemes will join nine John; TRICK Rebecca Louise; TURNER Matthew; TURRINI Lia; TWEED Lucy; USHER Gareth; VALE our Online Bookshop. With a choice of 20 already accredited, (from Atkins, Arup, Charis; VARGAS Antionio Carlos; VAROTSIS Paul; counties, originally published between 1819 and Jacobs China, CH2MHill, CEDD GEO in VERNON Daniel Christopher; WALKINSHAW Alex; WANMER Sapphire Rose; WATKINS Hamish; 1824, each print is available individually on Hong Kong, Gammon Construction Hong WEBSTER Simon Harley; WENBORN Alice Rose; sheets of varying sizes approximately 53cm Kong, RPS Energy, URS and RSK). WESTERN Andrew; WHITEHEAD Elizabeth Mary Kerry; WHITTENBURY Charlotte Ann; WILDE by 62cm. Order online and a print can be An application has been received from Oliver; WILKIE Hannah; WILLIAMS Alex Robert; shipped worldwide. WSP Ltd, and will be assessed shortly. WILLIAMS Scott; WILLIAMS Alison; WILSON Jordan; WISEMAN Sam; WOOD Elliot; WOOD Julian Andrew; WOOD Harriet; WORKMAN Timothy Samuel; WORTHINGTON Daniel; ➤ Visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/bookshop ➤ Email [email protected] WRIGHT Bryn Alun; WRIGHT Jordan; XIA Changyou; YUSAF Adam.

10 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST SOAPBOX

Why academics should join

David Manning, President, explains why, despite the numerical dominance of industrial geologists in membership, academic Earth scientists and the Geological Society still need one another

asked the Editor if I could write a and memoirs continue to be published, and Soapbox, and he explained that being that the more specialist journals are there as President did not mean I ceased to be part of the pantheon of high quality SOAPBOX a Fellow: so here goes. In fact, I’ve deliverables that we, our students, and our I been a Fellow since 1977 - a long time. graduates, use. We assume that there will CALLING! During the last 37 years the Society has always be a varied and lively programme changed almost beyond recognition. When I of scientific meetings, many organised joined the Fellowship numbered about 5000. by groups that come under the Soapbox is open to contributions It was more or less automatic that academics Society’s umbrella, but which enjoy from all Fellows. became Fellows – it was the ‘done thing’. considerable autonomy. I remember APIPG, and was a member of We celebrate the esteem that comes to If you can write it entertainingly in the Institution of Geologists that it spawned; academic colleagues of all ages when they 500 words, the Editor would like the professional matters that IG represented receive one of the Society’s awards or to hear from you. Email your became part of the Geological Society in research grants. We can be proud of the piece, and a self-portrait, to 1991. Since then, the Geological Society’s authority that underlies statements made on ted.nield@geolsoc. org.uk. Fellowship has greatly increased in number, our behalf by the Society in response to Copy can only be accepted to around 12,000 at present. It has become consultations from Government, and to meet electronically. No diagrams, tables preponderantly non-academic, with about the needs of other interested parties. or other illustrations please. 75% of our members working in industry. That authority draws on the knowledge and My own career has been academic, with 10 practical expertise of the academy and Pictures should be of print years running a spin-out company, and very industry speaking with a single voice. quality – please take photographs close engagement with industry that Frequently such submissions are made on the largest setting on your continues to this day. jointly with other kindred geoscience bodies. camera, with a plain background.

Taken for granted? Leadership Precedence will always be given

When talking to academics about the For the Society to deliver these benefits to the to more topical contributions. Geological Society, I’m often asked: ‘Why academic community, it needs one thing – Any one contributor may not

should I join?’. The key answer is that academic leadership, and active involvement appear more often than once per without academics actively playing their part in the Society’s life, at the right time, and in volume (once~ every 12 months). in the Fellowship there would be no the right place. That can take many forms – Geological Society. We in the academic service on specialist group or regional group world perhaps take it for granted that the committees, on key management Journal of the Geological Society is a top- committees, and on Council. None of these WE CAN BE quartile journal, that the Special Publications tasks can be undertaken by those who are PROUD OF THE not Fellows, and they can be very rewarding, AUTHORITY THAT especially in this impact-laden climate. UNDERLIES Active involvement in the The Geological Society offers academics a Society can be very rewarding vehicle to shape the future of geology as a STATEMENTS MADE science that supports very significant ON OUR BEHALF BY Image: Ammentorp Photography / Shutterstock.com industrial activity. It has always done this, THE SOCIETY... THAT and with your continued support, will continue to do so. AUTHORITY DRAWS ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND ➤ Not yet a member? You can apply for PRACTICAL EXPERTISE membership of the Geological Society online OF THE ACADEMY www.geolsoc.org.uk/join or print and complete an application form and return it to us AND INDUSTRY SPEAKING WITH A SINGLE VOICE * David Manning President of the Geological David Manning Society of London, is Professor of Soil Science at ~ Newcastle University

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 11 GENERATING NEW GEO-DATA

he construction of wind farms is As noted by Chris King (Geoscientist Peter Jones and on the rise. According to the UK 22.4, May 2012, p.23) temporary Wind Energy Database exposures arising from the excavation of Vanessa Banks* (UKWED)1, 4366 onshore wind footings for wind turbines may provide T turbines are currently operating valuable opportunities to assess and on the research at 584 sites in the UK, with a total record new data. This was certainly our onshore capacity of 7172 MW. In experience with the construction of potential of the addition, 722 turbines (79 onshore) are Derbyshire’s first commercial wind farm under construction, and a further 2305 at Carsington Pasture, three kilometres geology uncovered (814 onshore) where construction west of Wirksworth. The temporary approval has already been granted. exposures on this site revealed a range of by the construction The growing development of onshore interesting and potentially important wind farms is often controversial, geological features. of a wind farm particularly in relation to concerns over their environmental impact. This is a Carsington Wind Farm matter for the planning approval process; Carsington Pasture is a broad tract of but where approval is granted, limestone grassland on a moderately construction can have some significant undulating upland plateau at around Above: Wind farm at Carsington Pasture but unintentional geological benefits. 300m OD. It is bounded to the

12 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST ~ THE GROWING DEVELOPMENT OF ONSHORE WIND FARMS... CAN HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT BUT UNINTENTIONAL GEOLOGICAL BENEFITS ~

View from Harboro’ Rocks across construction site to Carsington Reservoir Image: Matt Howcroft, University of Derby

Site layout with numbered Generalised geological map turbine of the Carsington area locations (T1-4)

northwest by the prominent outcrop of least 4500 homes. six months. However, the work was Harboro’ Rocks rising to 379m OD, while A planning application for the wind subject to further delay due to unforeseen immediately to the south, the plateau farm was submitted in January 2007 by and problematical ground conditions. edge forms a steep slope towards Carsington Wind Energy Ltd., a The turbines eventually became Carsington village. Archaeological subsidiary of West Coast Energy Ltd. operational in March 2014. evidence indicates that the local Located on elevated ground just outside landscape has undergone a long history the southern boundary of the Peak of human activity extending back to District National Park and overlooking Geological context prehistoric times.2 the popular visitor attraction of The geology o f the site comprises Lower The wind farm was constructed on the Carsington Water, the project provoked Carboniferous limestones with a variable plateau surface and involved erecting opposition from the outset. cover of natural and anthropogenic four Repower MM82 turbines together Environmental concerns contributed to superficial deposits. Included in the with access tracks, and an ancillary a lengthy planning process, involving a latter category is widespread spoil substation. Each three-blade turbine has public inquiry followed by an appeal resulting from a long history of mining a hub height of 59m and a blade length of hearing in the High Court, delaying the activity, primarily for lead and zinc ores. 41m giving a total height of 100m. With a project by several years. Following Additional spoil was produced during combined output of 8.2MW, the wind planning approval, construction work at the more localised extraction of silica farm will generate sufficient electricity Carsington Pasture started in May 2012 sand and clay from dissolution pockets in

annually to power the equivalent of at and was expected to take approximately the limestone, for use mainly in the ▼

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 13 Inclined clay wayboard in dolomitised limestone at T4 with Harboro’ Rocks in the distance to the NW

▼ manufacture of refractory bricks. Most of the pits have been backfilled and relatively few sections remain. The natural superficial deposits include Quaternary head deposits, tills Far right: and localised accumulations of Vuggy dolomite fluvioglacial gravels. in T4 The limestones belong to the Bee Right: Down- Low Limestone Formation (Asbian) warp of clay and were deposited on the southern wayboard into sediment filled margin of the Derbyshire Carbonate fissure in T4 Platform adjacent to the subsiding Widmerpool Gulf. Interbedded with these rocks are layers of weathered volcanic ash (clay wayboards). The edge of the platform is characterised by a series of Waulsortian mud mounds (apron-reefs) composed mainly of fine-grained micrite. In the deeper water off-shelf province farther south, the sediments of the Widmerpool Formation comprise a thick sequence of mudstones and dark thinly-bedded turbiditic limestones. At Carsington Pasture, the Bee Low Limestone has been fractured, dolomitised, mineralised and subjected to deep karstification. The onset of Deep pocket compressional tectonics associated with deposits in Bees Nest Pit the Variscan orogeny resulted in multiple phases of fault/fracture controlled movement of mineralising fluids. The geological setting of the mineral deposits in this area has been described by Ford (2007)3 and conforms to a ‘Mississippi Valley’ type model. An extensive distribution of capped shafts and spoil heaps demonstate that the ground has been extensively worked for minerals, mainly cerussite and galena as sources of lead. A significant result of karstification Small U-shaped was the formation of dissolution pocket in T1 with deformed hollows and widened fissures that have sediments been infilled by a variety of unlithified GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

sediments. These scattered features are removed by wind or rain and clearly traditionally referred to as “pocket would be equally susceptible to deposits”. The sediments predominantly groundwater flow. comprise gravels, sands and clays, which Karst features recorded in the are often deformed by subsidence or temporary exposures were variable in collapse into the solution cavities. More morphology and scale. Particularly than sixty pockets are known from the notable was a subdued form of pinnacle southern part of the limestone outcrop of karst. This was usually associated the Peak District and the sediments are with the zones of dolomite sand and thought to be the remnants of a former tended to collapse upon exposure. continuous cover.4 They constitute the Other karst features indicative of Brassington Formation, which has been vadose-zone dissolution range from ascribed a Late Miocene age on the basis joint enlargement to more extensive of pollen.5 The type locality at Bees Nest doline forms up to tens of metres in Pit is located approximately 450m west diameter. The shallower dolines are of the wind farm site. Previous workers commonly “U” shaped, while the have suggested that the Brassington deeper features are more irregular Formation was deposited in a fluvial and their development appears to have environment close to sea level and this been influenced by both bedding view has implications for interpreting the and jointing. post-Neogene evolution of the area’s In all cases, the dissolutional cavities current upland landscape. were filled by sediment. Evidence for deeper (>15 m) karst features comes Temporary exposures from the observation that loose Foundation work for the turbines sediment was lost into joints following involved excavating roughly circular pits periods of rain. In addition, caverns up up to 16m in diameter and 3m deep. to 30m high and containing in-washed These temporary exposures were sediment have been reported from the subsequently deepened and widened to nearby Golconda mine at depths up to allow for more substantial foundations as 48m or more below ground level.3 the extent of intensively fractured rock, Many of the karst features were lined sediment filled fissures and deep pockets with a relatively low density, brownish- of unlithified sediment became apparent. grey to black deposit that is currently The difficult ground conditions also being subject to a suite of chemical necessitated additional site investigation analyses. Preliminary results indicate work, involving drilling, trial pitting, the material is wad (manganiferous trenching and geophysical surveys prior soil). This has been reported previously Above top:Collapsed dolomite blocks and to emplacement of the foundations. in the vicinity of Carsington Pasture and sand with wad-lined diamicton contact in T2 From a geoscience perspective, this in the past was worked for pigment. happy hiatus of several months (between A notable feature of the deposit at this Above lower: Vari-coloured clay in T1 the initial breaking of ground and the location is its continuity in lining many eventual construction phase) provided of the karst features and its highly valuable research opportunities. While sinuous form in both vertical and appropriate foundation solutions were horizontal sections. being considered, it was possible to undertake detailed logging and Sediments recording of the geology of the site. The range of sediments and structural Temporary sections in the dolomitised deformation exposed within the dolines ~ limestone showed that jointing is was particularly interesting. extensively developed, although The sediments included vari-coloured frequent variations in joint spacing and silty clays (red, brown, purple, green, FROM A GEOSCIENCE continuity were apparent. yellow) interbedded with reddish PERSPECTIVE, THIS HAPPY Unsurprisingly, the dominant joint-sets brown and yellowish brown sands and HIATUS OF SEVERAL were closely aligned with known mineral gravel. The clasts were commonly veins. Various closely spaced fractures rounded quartzites of small to large MONTHS (BETWEEN THE and curvilinear joints require further pebble and cobble grade. Locally, and INITIAL BREAKING OF interpretation but may be related to particularly in the shallower features, GROUND AND THE phases of hydrofracturing. Commonly, the gravels comprised fractured cherts. the rock forming the joint walls and Although the sediments display similar EVENTUAL CONSTRUCTION zones of closely spaced fractures had lithologies to those present at Bees Nest PHASE) PROVIDED been locally altered to dolomite sand, Pit, they represent a more varied suggesting the preferential leaching of a assemblage both stratigraphically and VALUABLE RESEARCH former calcite cement. Upon exposure, structurally. This probably reflects a OPPORTUNITIES this loose granular material was readily multi-phase history of emplacement. ▼ ~ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 15 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

▼ A brown, overconsolidated, matrix- complex than might have been predicted Manchester. An aim of the PhD research dominated diamicton was revealed in from initial evidence. is to determine whether the several locations. It is likely to be reconstruction of (Carboniferous- equivalent to the till deposits mapped by Research potential Permian) palaeofluid flow paths in an the British Geological Survey (BGS) in Ongoing studies will help to elucidate intensely dolomitised carbonate platform pockets to the east of Carsington Pasture; the following aspects: margin can provide insight into the but in some cases it may represent the u Dolomitisation and fluid flow extent of hydrocarbon migration from product of debris flows. processes on the carbonate clay-rich successions in adjacent hanging Extensive sediment fill was noted in platform edge wall basins. some joints. This ranged from slightly u Karst hydrogeological evolution This will be achieved by investigating clayey dolomite sand to sandy clay and u Provenance and age of the sediments the interdependency between fracturing, creamy white clay wayboard that had in the pocket deposits dissolution and fluid flow (resulting in been squeezed into the joints in locality u Mode of sediment emplacement and dolomitisation, silicification, T4. The range of structures revealed a subsequent history hydrocarbon emplacement and lead-zinc complex interplay between the u Denudation chronology of the mineralisation) at the platform edge. dissolution and the sediment fill, with southern Peak District, including rates It will involve field and core-based sediment structures providing further of uplift. sedimentological and structural analyses, evidence of the extent of deformation. The site investigation at Carsington petrological studies, isotope analyses, Some of the joint fills may have been Pasture produced a large quantity of fluid inclusion studies and some fluid- introduced by pressurised meltwaters borehole core that was scheduled for flow modelling. The starting hypothesis during Quaternary glaciation. disposal at the end of the construction is that the source of the fluids was As the excavations were extended, contract. Negotiations via the site initially deep seawater and basinal brines serial sections revealed the geology in manager resulted in the developer carrying hydrocarbons and Mississippi 3D. At times this was particularly agreeing to the bulk of the core being Valley type mineralising fluids derived intriguing. For example, what appeared donated to BGS. Some 250 boxes of from the subsiding Widmerpool Gulf.6 at first sight to be inclusions of wad in core have since been indexed and are dolomite sand sometimes proved to be now housed in the BGS Core Store at Conclusions an irregular subvertical wall of an the National Geoscience Data The study has generated a wealth of adjacent wad-lined pocket as the Centre, Keyworth. geological information that will dolomite sand was cut back. Similarly, One project that will immediately contribute to understanding the the detailed geometry of the sediment- benefit from this new resource is a CASE geological evolution of the carbonate filled pockets was typically much more studentship based at the University of platform edge. Moreover, detailed

Soft sediment deformation adjacent Layered sediment fill to wad- to fractured dolomite in T1 lined buried doline in T2 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

laboratory analysis of the borehole temporary exposures requires the cores and other samples obtained from cooperation and goodwill of the client, REFERENCES the site is continuing and promises to the geotechnical consultants, the yield further useful geodata for some construction contractor and other 1 http://www.renewableuk.com/en/renewable- energy/wind-energy/uk-wind-energy- time to come. operatives as well as compliance with the database/index.cfm (Accessed 4 May 2014). Our experience at Carsington relevant health and safety procedures. Pasture supports the view expressed Equally, it requires that the researcher 2 Willies, L. 1995. Roads, agricultural features and elsewhere in this magazine by Chris engage in flexible working practices mines on Carsington Pasture. Bulletin of the Peak King that the current expansion in around the site operations. Our work at District Mines Historical Society 12, 19-23. wind farm projects presents a valuable Carsington Pasture certainly benefited opportunity to acquire new data. A key from such relationships. Additionally, we 3 Ford, T.D. and Jones, J.A. 2007. The geological point made by King is that the believe that on-site discussions with setting of the mineral deposits at Brassington geoscience community would benefit members of the project team were and Carsington, Derbyshire. Mining History 16(5), from a more integrated approach in mutually beneficial. u 1-23. such circumstances to facilitate the retrieval of potentially useful non- 4 Walsh, P.T., Boulter, M.C., Ijtaba, M. and * Peter Jones is Emeritus Fellow in the School of Urbani, D.M. 1972. The preservation of the geotechnical information. Science, University of Derby. Vanessa Banks is Neogene Brassington Formation of the southern This also underlines views expressed Team Leader for Shallow Geohazards and Risks Pennines and its bearing on the evolution of by John Powell et al., (Geoscientist 21.11, at the British Geological Survey Upland Britain. J. Geol. Soc. London 128, December 2011, p.7) of the value of 519-559. capturing and archiving scientifically important information revealed by ➤ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 Pound, M.J., Riding, J. B., Donders, T.H. and temporary exposures before it is lost The authors are grateful to Carsington Daskova, J. 2012. The palynostratigraphy of the to science. Some geologists would like Wind Energy Ltd and West Coast Energy Brassington Formation (Upper Miocene) of the to formalise such a process. For Ltd (GDF Suez) for permission to southern Pennines, Central England. Palynology 36, 26-37. example, David Nowell (Geoscientist investigate the temporary exposures at 24.4, May 2014, p.15) suggested that Carsington Pasture. We also wish to thank Roger Durrant (Raymond Brown 6 Hollis, C. and Walkden, G. 2002. Reconstructing legislation is needed to facilitate access Construction Ltd) for facilitating access to fluid expulsion and migration north of the Variscan to temporary sections to ensure that the site, Dr Jim Riding for reviewing this orogen, Northern England. Journal of Sedimentary relevant information is added to a article and Matt Howcroft for the post- Research, 72, 5, 700-710. national database. construction images of the wind farm. At present, the investigation of

Soft sediment deformation Turbine T2 behind outcrop of quartz sand in T2 of dolomitic limestone BIG BANG THEORY Image: © Linda Elkins-Tanton, Institution DTM, Carnegie Image: © Linda Elkins-Tanton, Institution DTM, Carnegie

New dating is drawing closer parallels between Large Igneous Province events and modern climate change, says Howard Lee*

nusually copious eruptions brings the timescale of the Permian known as Large Igneous Extinction event’s carbon emissions Provinces (LIPs) have long shorter by two orders of magnitude, into been associated with mass the ballpark of human emission rates for U extinctions, ocean anoxic the first time. events and environmental stress in the How does this relate to today’s global geological record. These include the warming? Most readers of Geoscientist Permian1 Triassic,2 PETM,3 Toarcian,4 will be familiar with the fact that climate

Cretaceous Ocean Anoxic Events, and and CO2 have changed hand-in-hand the Columbia River Basalt event,5 through geological time. Mostly these among others. changes happened slowly enough that The most lethal of these was the the long-term feedbacks of Earth’s Permian Mass Extinction 251.9 million climate system (deep oceans, ice years ago, otherwise known as “The sheets, rock weathering, sedimentation) Great Dying,” which was the closest this had time to process them. This was planet has come to extinguishing all true during the orbitally-induced complex life on Earth.6,1 For years the glacial-interglacial cycles in the cause of the Permian Mass Extinction Pleistocene ice ages. has been linked to the Siberian Traps In warmer interglacials, more intense

eruptions through the mechanisms of northern hemisphere insolation led to From Svensen et al, EPSL 2009 © Elsevier

volcanic CO2 and a cocktail of noxious ice-sheet melting and warmer oceans gases, combined with burning coal that reached equilibrium with slightly 7 deposits and sill-baked methane higher CO2 concentrations in the emissions,8 all of which produced a atmosphere by adjusting their carbonate combination of toxic effects, ocean levels. In glacial times, with slightly less acidification and, most importantly, intense northern insolation, the cooler

global warming. It led to a world where oceans dissolved more CO2, and equatorial and tropical regions were carbonate levels adjusted accordingly. lethally hot on land and in the oceans.9 The changes occurred over gentle The cascading extinctions in ecosystems timescales of tens of thousands to across the planet unfolded over tens of hundreds of thousands of years – slow thousands of years, and it took10 million enough for feedbacks to keep pace.11 Above top: Earliest flood basalts of the Siberian Traps at years for the planet to recover.9,1 Krasni Kamini (“Red Rocks”) near Talnakh, Sibera. The lavas here contain lumps of bitumen and burnt trees Until recently, the scale of the Belches Above middle: Formation of Tunguska Basin pipes and the Permian Extinction was seen as just too Rapid carbon belches, such as in the venting of carbon gases and halocarbons to the massive, its duration far too long, and Permian and today, occur within the atmosphere, from sill intrusion into organic-rich sediments

dating too imprecise for a sensible timeframe of fast climate feedbacks Left: Large sill in the Siberian Traps

comparison to be made with today’s (surface ocean, water vapour, clouds, climate change. No longer. dust, biosphere, lapse rate, etc.), but take place more rapidly than the vast deep ~ New dating ocean reservoir and rock weathering can In “High-precision timeline for Earth’s buffer. The carbon overwhelms the most severe extinction,” published in surface ocean and biosphere reservoirs THE SCALE OF THE PNAS on February10, 1 authors Seth so it has nowhere to go but the PERMIAN EXTINCTION Burgess, Samuel Bowring, and atmosphere, where it builds up rapidly, Shu-zhong Shen employed new dating creating strong global warming via the WAS SEEN AS JUST TOO techniques on Permian-Triassic rocks in greenhouse effect and feedbacks. MASSIVE, ITS DURATION FAR China, bringing unprecedented Surface ocean waters turn near-acidic TOO LONG, AND DATING TOO precision to our understanding of the as they become increasingly saturated 11,12 event. They have dramatically in CO2. Oceans warm, so sea levels IMPRECISE FOR A SENSIBLE shortened the timeframe for the initial rise. Those symptoms should sound COMPARISON TO BE MADE carbon emissions that triggered the mass eerily familiar. WITH TODAY’S CLIMATE extinction from roughly 150,000 years 10 The Burgess et al. paper is the latest in to between 2,100 and 18,800 years.1 a series that has shortened the time- CHANGE. NO LONGER This new timeframe is crucial because it frames of LIP events and strengthened ▼ ~ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 19 Image: © Linda Elkins-Tanton, Institution DTM, Carnegie

Above: The Siberian Traps

Left (top): How oceans responded to slow changes in insolation and CO2 feedback in the Pleistocene Left: How oceans respond to rapid carbon emissions by LIPs and humans Images: © H.Lee based Based mainly on Zeebe, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2012, with additional input from A. Ridgwell

▼ the association between LIPs and release, warming, rising sea levels, ocean ever stronger and clearer. By shortening extinction events. Blackburn et al. in their acidification and anoxia. the timeframes, the rates of LIP CO2 and 2013 paper in Science, declared causality Moreover, Rothman et al. use a time methane emissions are looking more between Central Atlantic Magmatic window for the horizontal gene transfer comparable to today’s emission rates, Province (CAMP) eruptions and the end- that enabled the runaway even if LIP emission volumes look far Triassic extinctions, suggesting the pulse methanogenesis that is 82 million years larger.10, 3, 2, 1, 18, 6, 19 It is this fast rate of carbon emissions occurred “near wide. Even if we overlook the often that is crucial for catastrophic climate instantaneously”, and the main elastic nature of molecular clocks, and change because of the ability to extinction event occurred in as little as that their clock is not calibrated to fossils, overwhelm fast feedbacks, versus the 3000 years.2 that’s a time window extending from the normal benignly-slow adjustments to This idea was strengthened by Dal lower Permian to the lowest Jurassic. carbon-cycle and insolation changes. Corso et al., just this year in the J. Geol. For the mutation to have happened Some have pointed out that since we Soc. who link the Carbon Isotope exactly coincident with the Siberian Traps began our modern climate change in an Excursion (from the carbon emission eruptions is surely improbably lucky. “icehouse” era with ice sheets to melt slug) to the initial eruptive phase of the The authors explain the coincidence by and low starting CO2 levels, we might CAMP.13 The PETM has been linked to citing nickel fertilization by the Siberian not reach a Permian-like hothouse.19 North Atlantic Magmatic Province Traps eruptions – but that would place In addition, since the Permian, eruptions and sill emplacement, with the mutation (even more luckily) as calcareous algae have changed the way vent chimneys strikingly similar to those having occurred between the Emeishan deep oceans process carbonate, identified for the Siberian Trap and Siberian LIPs, or else we should have providing more of a buffer.20 But that eruptions.3, 8 One recent paper had the Guadeloupian Mass Extinction. buffer only comes into play if the deep controversially suggested that the On the other hand, Burgess stated oceans come into play, which most PETM carbon slug was emitted in as (at the 2013 AGU fall meeting) that estimates consider will not happen for a little as 13 years, citing a possible “intrusive and extrusive magmatism few more centuries.11 cometary impact cause - though that is began within analytical uncertainty of the All in all, the parallels between the strongly disputed.4,15 onset of mass extinction, permitting a many LIP-linked mass extinctions causal connection with age precision at in the geological record and today’s Microbes the ~ 0.06 Ma level.”17 At the point of climate change offer no comfort about In March, an alternative hypothesis for writing, new published dates on the the legacy we are leaving for our the Permian Mass Extinction was volcanics are anticipated from the MIT children and grandchildren. Rather they proposed by Rothman et al.16 – a team, which should clarify the issue. stand as signposts for an increasingly runaway microbe swarm generating Regardless of initial cause, the Permian scary future. u massive methane emissions. It is good remains an extreme example of a science to test existing theories by CO2/methane greenhouse-gas * Howard Lee is a freelance writer based in throwing alternatives at them to see if generated hothouse. NJ, USA. Website ylape.com they stick. But the microbe idea seems a Parallels poor fit to what we know because it is a ➤ REFERENCES one-off explanation, whereas LIPs have a The point of all this is that the parallels References for this article may be found criminal record – they are a serial killer between LIP-induced climate crises and online www.geolsoc.org.uk/geoscientist with a consistent “MO”: greenhouse gas modern climate change are becoming

20 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as GEOSCIENTIST LETTERS promptly as possible in Geoscientist Online and a selection READERS’ printed each month. Please submit your letter (300 words or fewer, by email only please) to [email protected]. LETTERS Letters will be edited. For references cited in these letters, please see the full versions at www.geolsoc.org.uk/letters Those who think like Worlds apart Prof Allen should Sir, Philip Allen’s ideas set out in his reflect on their duties Soapbox piece (Geoscientist 24.6 July 2014 p 11) suggesting academic - both moral and geologists are superior beings living on a different planet and too professional - highfalutin’ to bother about towards the students professional qualifications seems to they teach be predicated on a novel serving science interpretation of ‘serving science RICK BRASSINGTON and profession’. Of course ‘Science’ actually means those branches of the natural sciences that relate to geology, and ‘Profession’ means those who engage in the pursuit of it - whether by research and teaching or its application to real-world More better practical problems. mentoring Sir Prof Allen may not feel a need to take the ‘geological version of the Hippocratic Oath’ although , As a registered Chartered as a Fellow he is already required by the Society’s Regulations to follow the Codes of Conduct Geologist and European Geologist prescribed by Council. But it is important to recognise that our professional qualification is far who first put hand to rock more than a simple adherence to these Codes. Increasingly, society requires those who provide professionally in 1979 - I have seen professional advice to be regulated by a system administered by the members of many ups and downs in the the profession. commodity industry. With the The Society first offered the professional title in January 1991 and has greatly developed the present economic situation, a process of validation since. Each candidate is required to demonstrate the attainment of situation that recurs regularly academic qualifications; the ability to apply geological principles to solve practical problems; to (dire for geologists of all levels of have gained a minimum period of experience and achieved a sufficient standard for chartership; experience) what can be done to to appreciate his/her responsibilities and duties to employers /clients, colleagues and also to assist the skills of the current crop of society at large; to undertake Continuous Professional Development and maintain a record; and young people and to get them into of course, to adhere to the Society’s Codes of Conduct. the marketplace? Not all academic geologists share Prof Allen’s views; indeed many played a leading role in The Society of Economic establishing ‘Chartered Geologist’, including eminent folk from Imperial College; and many Geologists ("SEG") has, on its actively support it. However, those who think like Prof Allen should reflect on their duties - both website, a ‘mentoring’ section, moral and professional - towards the students they teach, most of whom will be planning aiming to bring young geologists into careers outside academe. By becoming Chartered Geologists not only will they show leadership contact with industry experts. but will also be supporting the Society in its important work in regulating the geological I am listed on this, and probably profession for the benefit of society at large. once or twice a year receive an An important part of ‘serving science’ is accrediting undergraduate and postgraduate degree e-mail – to which I send out a stock courses. This process involves interaction between the Society and academics and has often answer. I am duly thanked, but I do resulted in course improvement. It seems to me that accreditation should include a requirement not know if I really help. I am also for those teaching accredited courses to be Chartered Geologists - or if their geological not sure this is the right way to credentials are not adequate, be Chartered Scientists or hold similar appropriate qualifications approach the problem. such as Chartered Engineer. The aim of the SEG system is not to help people get jobs but to RICK BRASSINGTON mentor them while they are in work - to develop a ‘more complete geologist’. This is especially true in the metals and minerals industry Coal - price not everything supply coal into their domestic markets, often at where geologists can move from Sir, I read your July 2014 editorial "The wages a prices and quality lower than the global commodity to commodity and one of cheap" with interest as someone who has seaborne coal. Most seaborne coal is produced mineralisation style to another. worked for over thirty five years in the global at modern, efficient and safe mines which Therefore the mentoring team is mining industry I share your obvious anger if not UK mines can't compete with for reasons there to help in this transition. your analysis. well understood. Remember, this might happen within Coal is cheap because we are producing Higher coal prices would not lead to a a company and its various projects. more than the world consumes. At the same renaissance in the British coal industry nor The mentoring system, though, does time the market for coal, while still growing in would it stop deaths in China or Turkey, as need direction. Asia, is under pressure in Europe and North recent history has shown when coal prices were What does the GSL do for young America due to alternatives such as shale gas double what they are now. Change has to come geologists looking for work or for and concerns about AGW. As a result the price from within problem countries themselves and seeking career guidance? My feeling of thermal coal has fallen around 45% since needless to say there has to be the political will is - not a lot, at present. Should 2011. This supply and demand at work. to do it. GSL having a ‘mentoring site’ as Deaths in Turkey, China, India and Russia part of the current website? have common themes. Most of these mines JOHN THEOBALD MARK DAVIS.

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 21 have no Internet access? CALL THE [Library Bookshop 0207 432 0999 for] BOOKS & ARTS advice and to purchase publications

Searching for Early St. Brynach's Church at chemicals leaked into the air, while coal Cwm Yr Eglwys, dust and fluorspar spilled into intertidal Welsh Churches Pembrokeshire waters at Navlakhi. Nine months later,

Image: Dr. Morley Read / Shutterstock.com partly as a result of the state John Potter, compiler government’s incompetence at of this monumental reconstruction, the chief minister survey of the resigned, and was succeeded by a ecclesiastical geology virtually unknown and unelected of ancient Welsh politician also from the Bharatiya Janata churches, is a Party named Narendra Modi, who has phenomenon – a now become India’s prime minister. veritable octogenarian The Political Biography of an Earthquake prodigy. Long-term is a revealing study of what has happened readers of this to the devastated area since 2001, based magazine will remember perhaps their on a decade of field research beginning in first exposure (so to speak) to the in this way, and his work has been able the 1990s by Edward Simpson of geological reading of ancient churches to explain much about the unique London’s School of Oriental and African when they read his 2005 feature features of church building in the Studies. It attempts to answer the ‘Ecclesiastical Geology – a return to Principality, such as the wide variety question that arises in the aftermath of Victorian field standards’ (Geoscientist of wall batters (castle-like thickening to any major natural disaster: to what extent 15.10 pp4-7). the base). has the post-disaster reconstruction By that time Potter had already visited I could point to more examples in changed and even benefited the area over 10,000 churches, extant and ruined, areas where I personally happen to struck by it? in the region of the Thames Valley, and know the churches well; and I suppose Under Modi’s chief ministership, had shown how the story of the ancient every Welshman with a local patch Kutch has experienced a dramatic and courses of the Thames and its tributaries (mine being Gower) could do likewise. much-reported spate of industrialisation, was written into them – a story sadly no But this is a stupendous achievement accompanied by extensive, if largely longer visible in working gravel pits. which, despite being a massive unreported, environmental degradation. But because ancient buildings used illustrated litany, also manages to be According to Simpson, the earthquake’s materials on or close to site, they now feisty, opinionated and readable. It is a destruction was one of the principal provide windows into the geology most valuable addition to the growing catalysts or ‘enablers’ of this rapid concealed beneath. literature of a subject still in its infancy. development. Potter has also been using his Earthquakes have struck the region geologist’s eyes to help archaeologists Reviewed by Ted Nield before. Unfortunately, the historical (whose lithological observations are record is almost non-existent, with the generally woeful) recognise Anglo Saxon SEARCHING FOR EARLY WELSH CHURCHES exception of a 1956 earthquake centred on work where no definitive diagnostic – A STUDY IN ECCLESIASTICAL GEOLOGY Anjar, and one in 1819 at the time of the architectural details survive: for example, JOHN F POTTER, Archaeopress 2013. 457pp sbk BAR British takeover of Kutch. This worked to British Series 578 ISBN 978 1 4073 1098 5 in the ‘patterned’ use of stone in quoins, List price: £64.00 www.hadrianbooks.co.uk the political advantage of the colonial where Saxon work is discernible as power, but also threw up a natural dam, alternating ‘long and short’ work. known as the Allah Bund, which diverted Potter has since conducted extensive the waters of the River Indus and caused surveys of almost all ‘Anglo Saxon’ the fertile lands of Kutch to fail. religious sites in England, and “As agricultural lands withered,” extended his researches to the ancient The Political Biography writes Simpson, “the population of Kutch churches of Ireland, Scotland, the turned to trade, commerce and Scottish islands and the Isle of Man. of an Earthquake international migration for its fortune”— Now, supported by a British Academy On India’s Republic thereby helping to generate a Gujarati Research Grant, he has completed this Day in January 2001, diaspora with a commercial reputation mighty compilation of stonework in the a M7.7 earthquake evident in today’s Britain. Many of them churches of Wales – hitherto deemed a struck the western donated handsomely to the pre-Romanesque desert. part of Gujarat. It reconstruction in 2001. But one cannot Faced with the less forthcoming killed an estimated help wondering what will happen to Palaeozoic limestones and greywackes of 14,000 people, mostly Kutch’s burgeoning industries next time Wales, and the lamentable practice of in the coastal region the Earth shakes. lime-washing and rendering encouraged of Kutch, next to the there by CADW, Potter found greater border with Pakistan. Reviewed by Andrew Robinson difficulty than he expected in It totally destroyed 178 villages, more substantiating his contrary belief. than 70% of 165 other villages and THE POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY OF AN Over 400 sites were examined, yielding damaged four major towns—Bhuj, EARTHQUAKE: AFTERMATH AND AMNESIA IN perhaps over 30 with ‘patterned’ style Bhachau, Anjar and Rapar—seriously GUJARAT, INDIA fabrics recognisable from his previous enough for emergency measures to be EDWARD SIMPSON, Published by Hurst Publishers 2014 ISBN 978-1-84904-287-1 302 pages work. This is, very largely, the first time imposed on them. In Bhuj, there was an List price: £22.00 www.hurstpublishers.com that Welsh churches have been surveyed oil leak; at Kandla port, highly toxic

22 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 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]

Jurassic Coast that ooliths are composed of ‘layer upon with our species’ own additions to layer of calcium’. geography, in the form of farmlands, Fossil Finder Proof checking has been poor mines and the burgeoning cities. Within throughout so that there are frequent this, Vince has targeted people and places Chances are that the mis-spellings, not only of technical that range from the remarkable – the fossil you actually terms such as phragmocone, ichthyosaur retired engineer in the Himalayas, say, find is not one of and Wealden, but even of words who is trying to re-grow mountain those illustrated in the like ‘symmetry’. glaciers, or the man building a whole various fossil guides Richard Edmonds, Jurassic Coast island out of rubbish in the Caribbean – to available, such as the Earth Science Manager has said that he the commonplace of daily life in the slums excellent NHM would ‘welcome any input that helps us of Latin America. handbooks. It is enhance or improve the content’. How are people coping in a world of therefore useful to Regrettably a great deal is needed and growing populations, shrinking resources have a guide one is led to the conclusion that the site and changing climate? she asks. There is a which figures specimens from the has been released prematurely. keen focus on the practical, in this now localities you may well have visited. tightly-coupled and increasingly rapidly The material from collections of museums Reviewed by John C W Cope evolving human-Earth-environment across east Devon and Dorset are included system, as to what might be done to nudge in this compilation. JURASSIC COAST FOSSIL FINDER this new co-evolutionary system along a In addition to the fossils a wealth of Website, published by Jurassic Coast Museums more hopeful path. That is, for its human information can be accessed from the Partnership 2014 component at least. Vince acknowledges website, including safety in the field, www.jurassiccoast.org/fossilfinder that many of our kindred species – the collecting, conservation, and even a coral reef communities, for instance – will selection of accommodation available in probably not last the century. But people, the area. But it is on the fossils that this she shows, can be remarkably adaptable. guide must be judged; the colour The writing is vivid and pacy – nicely photographs are excellent, but beyond this Adventures in the attuned in style with the breathless pace of there are some serious reservations. global change. Like the best journalism, it ‘Search the database’ allows the user to Anthopocene gives a keen sense of people and places select a fossil group and then scroll Our world, we have (think the excellent ‘From Our Own through fossils of a particular age. Thus, always known, is Correspondent’ of the BBC). Highly entering ‘ammonites’ reveals ‘252 fossils changing. But now we recommended. found’. Unfortunately the caption under realise that the Earth is each photo merely says ‘ammonite’; it changing, and that is a Reviewed by Jan Zalasiewicz would have been far more useful to have little different. It is the generic name under each. Clicking on becoming clear that ADVENTURES IN THE ANTHROPOCENE: the photo may reveal a generic (with or humans have A JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE PLANET without) a specific name, stratigraphical collectively WE MADE information and a locality. These are often refashioned the surface GAIA VINCE, Published by: Chatto & Windus 2014. from ancient museum labels, so processes of this planet, to alter the course ISBN-13: 978-0701187347 448pp hbk. List price: £20.00. identification is sometimes lacking or of its geological history. One response to inaccurate and, totally un-necessarily, each this growing realisation is the suggestion bears an absolute age of the specimen. that we no longer live in the Holocene, but These are often wrong and it would have in a new, human-driven epoch, the BOOKS Available for review been far better to have a geological time- Anthropocene. It’s a term that now enjoys scale alongside the Heritage Coast wide currency. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to supply a review. You will be invited to keep the succession and a few appropriate What is the Anthropocene world really review copy. See a full up-to-date list at radiometric ages appended to that. like, though? Science editor and journalist www.geolsoc.org.uk/reviews Some of the ‘scientific names’ are just Gaia Vince set off to find out, travelling the nonsense, such as a leaf labelled as world to observe the human reality of u NEW! A Stratigraphical basis for the Angiosperm dicotyledon or a crinoid given living on a planet in transition. This book Anthropocene by Waters et al., 2014 Geological Society of London SP 395 321pp, hbk the ‘scientific name’ Echinodermata is an account of that journey. I approached u crinoidea. These should have been it with trepidation - a book of this sort NEW! Sediment Provenance Studies in Hydrocarbon Exploration & Production by Scott et checked before publication, as should might easily descend into a combination of al., 2014, Geological Society of London SP the palaeontological howlers. self-indulgent travelogue and dystopian 386420pp, hbk Thus ‘Ammonites moved by sucking forecast. I need not have worried. Gaia u NEW! Geophysics for the Mineral Exploration water through the mouth, pumping it Vince, with her background at Nature, Geoscientist by Dentith, M & Mudge S T 2014 over the gills, then squirting it out again’; New Scientist and the BBC, has done her Cambridge University Press 438pp, hbk ‘Bryozoans are colonial animals made up homework well (the scientific context is u NEW! Geodynamics (3rd Edn) by Turcotte D and of many jellyfish or anemone-like polyps’ well explained) and picked her way deftly Schubert, G 2014 Cambridge University Press or ‘Bivalves shells are held together by a through the terrain. 623pp sbk strong muscle, and hinged at the pointed The book is patterned on the Earth’s u NEW! Harness oil & Gas Big Data with Analytics end’. Such errors are further compounded main geographic regions: rivers, deserts, by Holdaway, K R. 2014 John Wiley364pp hbk by loose wording: such as in the statement forests, mountains, the oceans – together

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 23 PEOPLE NEWS CAROUSEL

All Fellows of the Society are entitled to entries in this Lord becomes Chartered column. Please email [email protected], quoting your Fellowship number. Alan Lord, External Affairs Secretary, has decided to become a CGeol in his 70s. Why? u Geoffrey Boulton Alan Lord writes: The Geological Geoffrey Boulton, Regius Professor Society I joined 50 years ago was a Emeritus of Geology at the University of learned society that included a Edinburgh, has been awarded a Royal number of Fellows working in Medal of the Royal Geographical Society industry, of whom Peter Kent was a Alan Lord for his contributions to glaciology. The distinguished example, but most medal was first awarded by George IV in were academics of one sort or academic qualifications are no longer 1832 and must be approved by the another. The world has moved on sufficient for a practising Earth reigning monarch. Previous recipients include Sir Roderick and following the merger with the scientist - even if retired! In Murchison, Alfred Russel Wallace, Fridtjof Nansen, R A Institution of Geologists the balance becoming Chartered I hope to Bagnold, Louis Leakey and Sir Nicholas Shackleton. of the Fellowship between academic encourage my former students and and industry has shifted steadily present and past colleagues to u Stuart K Monro towards the latter, in part reflecting themselves seek CGeol status. Stuart K Monro, Scientific Director of far greater career opportunities in Dynamic Earth Enterprises Ltd., has been applied geoscience these days. ➤ See Letters (P21) for more awarded a DSc by Heriot-Watt University Regulation of our professional on Chartership. Editor and Honorary Fellowship of the Royal activities has increased and Scottish Geographical Society. Among many other awards, Stuart received the And, because we all think of Stevns Klint as a person: title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to science, in the New Year u A new World Heritage Site Honours list, announced on 30 December 2006. Malcolm Hart (Chair: International Sub-Commission on Cretaceous Stratigraphy & Plymouth Unviersity) writes: The Stevns Peninsula (Sjælland u Catherine Mottram south of Copenhagen) was proposed by Édouard Desor in 1847 as the classic Catherine Mottram, recently graduated with ‘Danian’ location. Over the last 30–40 years the Cretaceous/Paleogene a PhD from the Open University, has boundary exposed in the 14km-long cliff has increased in importance as the received Fulbright Scholar Award to enable debate over the end-Cretaceous extinctions has gathered momentum since her to continue her research at The the identification of the iridium anomaly. University of California, Santa Barbara for In 2012 Tove Damholt (Østsjællands Museum) and Finn Surlyk (University of 12 months. Catherine will be investigating Copenhagen) prepared a nomination for UNESCO in an attempt to gain how deformation in mountain belts affects inscription on the World Heritage List of natural sites. At the 38th Session of the way geological time is recorded by radioisotopes in the World Heritage Committee (Doha, Qatar 15 – 25 June 2014) the bid was mineral grains. The results should lead to better successful and Stevns Klint is now fully recognised as of global significance. understanding about the way key Earth processes operate The International Sub-Commission on Cretaceous Stratigraphy congratulate in some of the most dynamic tectonic settings on Earth. Tove and Finn on their achievement.

24 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE NEWS

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

DISTANT THUNDER What's in a name?

alone, and escape from the the Borders country. And with As geologist and science attentions of an overbearing And in 1895, while on holiday in this, she may writer Nina Morgan mother. Possessed of an the Lake District, she overcame have had a discovers, the shorter the observer's eye and natural her reservations about the point. Fossil name, the more artistic talent, Potter was dangers of quarries and names like memorable the character attracted by many aspects of quarrymen and visited quarries Parapallaseakytodermo- natural history, including botany, above Troutbeck to collect and gammarus abyssalis or Photo: Alison Hunter 2011 In the 19th Century, the study of entomology, ornithology and illustrate fossil corals. These are Gammaracanthuskytodermogam natural history captured the mycology. She produced a now preserved as paintings. But marus lobricatobaicalensis could imaginations of many women, number of impressive a visit to a potentially unstable be enough to put anyone off. No partly to relieve the boredom watercolour illustrations of fungi quarry in Swanage a year later wonder when she began writing associated with the lives of the by the time she was 21. seems to have put her off, and her books for children she affluent, and partly because it Then, while enjoying a family she decided that it "was better plumped for simpler names for provided a welcome freedom, holiday at a rented house near not to expect or worry much her characters - like Peter! allowing women to get out into Coldstream in the Scottish about geology...". Acknowledgement the fresh air on their own. Borders in 1894, she developed Fear of injury may not have ➤ Although they were forbidden to The idea for this vignette came an interest in geology. She soon been the only reason Potter from the article titled: A present the fruits of their went on to acquire copies of decided to give up on geology. scientist's eye, by Linda Lear, research in person to the learned James Geikie's Outlines of Although she was interested in Nature, vol 508, 24 April 2014, societies, many women – for Geology and Andrew Ramsay's fossils mainly as collectable pp 454-455. Further example, Etheldred Benett (1776 The Physical Geology and objects, rather than subjects for information came from Beatrix – 1845) and Mary Anning (1799- Geography of Great Britain. a systematic study, she still Potter: The extraordinary life of 1847) – became known as wanted to identify and learn their a Victorian genius by Linda Lear experts in their own right. Sand pits names. And this was where she (ISBN 978-0-141-00310-8) and hit the proverbial rock wall. After the Wikipedia entry for Beatrix Although at Coldstream she Potter. David Martill of the spending a frustrating day in the Children’s books visited stone pits and examined University of Southampton, For Beatrix Potter (1866-1943), signs of past glacial activity, it Natural History Museum trying to Darren Naish of the University of best known today for her was fossils that became her identify and discover the Portsmith, and Philip Powell of charming children's books particular passion. She enjoyed scientific names for her fossil the Oxford University Museum featuring cuddly creatures, the fossil hunting on family holidays specimens she began to wonder of Natural History kindly study of natural history offered a at seaside towns in Dorset, "whether geology names the provided information about welcome opportunity to get out, Devon and Cornwall as well as in fossils, or the fossils geology". unusual fossil names.

IN MEMORIAM WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/OBITUARIES Hess to retire

THE SOCIETY NOTES WITH SADNESS THE PASSING OF: Jack Hess, Executive Director publishing Baker, John Macrae Christian Wellstood* Hull, John Hewitt* of the Geological Society of financial model.’ Crook, John P * Scott, Barry* America, will retire on 2 Hess was also January 2015. instrumental In the interests of recording its Fellows' work for posterity, the Society Jack Hess will then have been (with GSA publishes obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. The most recent additions in post for 13 years, and, Foundation 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 according to Geological Society President Geoff biographical material has been lodged with the Society. of America President Hap Feiss, who is McSween, ‘leaves the Society in also retiring) in making GSA and If you would like to contribute an obituary, please email ted.nield@geolsoc. much better shape than he GSAF a fully functioning team, org.uk to be commissioned. You can read the guidance for authors at found it’, having ‘helped right the McSween said in a statement www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save yourself unnecessary work, please do not write anything until you have received a commissioning letter. ship financially, opened a issued in July. ‘Jack is modest geoscience policy office in about his role ... but those who have Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is forthcoming have their names Washington, increased global been involved know just how critical and dates recorded in a Roll of Honour at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. engagement, enhanced his directorship has been to our education and outreach Society.’ activities, strengthened efforts to GSA Council has meanwhile improve the diversity of the begun the search for a new profession, launched two new Executive Director. GSA Vice journals, embraced GSA’s entry President Jon Price into social media, and started ([email protected]) is chairing the down the path to change the search committee. See P6.

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 25 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY ALBERT VINCENT 1919-2012

Distinguished mineralogist, geochemist and rofessor E A to recruit important new Vincent, known influential academic manager staff and to commence always as ‘David’, building a large new died on 24 extension to the department. P December 2012. His interest in science, and Isotopes particularly chemistry, may During his subsequent 22 have been first awakened by years as Professor at Oxford his aunt, a bacteriologist at he was able to do more – the Royal National Institute of notably, overseeing the move Dairying in Reading. From to the Faculty of Physical Reading School he went to Sciences; the arrival and the University of Reading, rapid expansion of where one of his teachers was geophysics; the incorporation L R Wager. Graduating in of Surveying and Geodesy 1940, Vincent was drafted into into the re-named wartime research on the Department of Earth analysis and testing of Sciences; the establishment of explosives in Scotland - where diploma and MSc courses; the he also met his future wife, continuation of age and Myrtle, a botanist. isotope research, and much After the War Vincent more. Somehow he also entered Durham University, found time to be President of where Wager had succeeded the Mineralogical Society and Arthur Holmes as Professor, organise a very successful and worked on the Tertiary Symposium of the IAVCEI. dyke rocks of East Greenland At the end of his tenure the for his PhD. Wager became Oxford Department may be Professor of Geology at and trace-elements. immiscible sulphide melts in said to have changed out of Oxford in 1950 and Vincent The sulphides and opaque magmatic processes. It is all recognition. joined that department one oxides in Skaergaard rocks fitting that the PdPt arsenide David Vincent was a year later as University provided ideal material for ‘vincentite’ is named for him. dedicated scientist and a Demonstrator with analysis using these In 1956 Vincent was elected cultured man. He had a deep responsibility for petrology, techniques. Vincent, having to the Readership in love and knowledge of teaching crystal structure and mastered reflected light ore Mineralogy at Oxford, classical music, a gift for setting up a new silicate microscopy after a period in becoming responsible for photography (be it with a analysis laboratory. P Ramdohr’s laboratory in administering the Sub- reflected light microscope or Heidelberg (where his fluent Department of Mineralogy in a Twin-lens Rolleiflex and Analytical German eased the way), the (then) Department of SLR Leica). He was a linguist, He continually modernised worked with Smales and a Geology and Mineralogy. at ease in French, Italian and the Oxford department’s succession of Oxford DPhil His administrative duties especially German - enabling analytical capabilities, adding and Part Two Chemistry increased relentlessly with him to translate A Rittman’s photometric and spectro- undergraduates in time; first, when he left classic Vulkane und ihr photometric methods to fundamentally revising and Oxford to become Professor Tatigkeit into, arguably, better precise gravimetric extending the list of rare of Geology (at Manchester, English. He was a gentle, determinations of whole rock element geochemical data. 1962) and still further on his courteous and kind character and mineral compositions. He This became a standard of return to the Chair in Oxford who never spared himself in also introduced neutron comparison for other igneous (1967). Although continuing fostering the well-being and activation techniques rock sequences and was a to work with his research careers of others. (developed by A A Smales’ significant contribution to our students, in the course of Analytical Chemistry Group understanding of the five happy years at ➤ By David Bell at AERE Harwell) for minor important role played by Manchester he had been able

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 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 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

Field Observation and Geomorphological 29 Sept – 3 Week-long field course in Dorset, Isle of Wight: training in field observation, geomorphological mapping and Mapping October dGPS surveying skills. University of Sussex: Prof Roger Moore. See website for details and registration.

‘Lapworth’s Logs’ is a series of e-courses involving practical exercises of increasing complexity. Contact: Lapworth’s Logs n/a [email protected]. Lapworth’s Logs is produced by Michael de Freitas and Andrew Thompson.

DIARY OF MEETINGS SEPTEMBER 2014

MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS

23rd Annual Symposium of Palaeontological 1-6 September Venue: The King’s Manor, University of York. For Registration and Abstract Call – see website. Preparation & Conservation, Geological Curators Charges.

British Science Festival 6-11 September Venue: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston. For Convener contact and registration follow British Science Assoc. links on website.

Palaeo’ to the People! Fossils in the Service of 6-7 September Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Bennett Building, University of Leicester. For details and Man, Geologists’ Association registration see website. Contact: Sarah Stafford E: [email protected]

Field Trip to Barnet (Stanmore Gravel) 7 September Day field excursion. Venue: London Borough of Barnet. Leader: John Wong. Home Counties North Regional Contact: [email protected]

Groundwater - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly 10 September Venue: Burlington House. Speaker: Natalyn Ala. See p.6 for details. London Lecture

North West Highlands Geopark: Geotours 2014 10-17 September Venue: NW Highlands of Scotland. Cost: £230. See website for registration and details. Contact: Pete Harrison E: [email protected]

Workshop: Geo-Materials Sample Preparation for 11 September Venue: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, UK. See website for details and Microscopy. Geological Curators Gp/Royal registration. E: [email protected] Microscopical Soc.

Scarborough Fossil Festival 2014. Scarborough 12-14 September Venue: Rotunda Museum, Scarborough. Free. See website for links and details. Museums Trust, The Palaeontological Association Contact: [email protected]

Deep Earth Processes: windows on the working of 15-16 September Venue: Burlington House. See website for registration and details. Charges. Contact: Naomi a planet. Geological Society Newbold T: 020 7432 0981 F: 020 7494 0579 E: [email protected]

Antarctica Evening: Double Event 16 September Venue: Sir Robert McAlpine, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7TR. Time: 1800 for 1830. Home Counties North Regional Speaker: David Brook. See website for details and registration. E: [email protected]

The Geology of The Isle Of Man 19-22 September Venue: TBC. Field excursion. Leaders: Dave Quirk And Dave Burnett. See website for details Geologists’ Assoc. and registration. Contact: Sarah Stafford E: [email protected]

North West Highlands Geopark: Geotours 2014 19-22 September Venue: NW Highlands of Scotland. Cost: £140. See website for registration and details. Option 2. NW Highlands Geopark Contact: Pete Harrison E: [email protected]

The Future of Sequence Stratigraphy: Evolution or 22-23 September Venue: Geological Society, Burlington House. See website for details and registration. Revolution? William Smith Meeting ,GSL Charges. Contact: Naomi Newbold (coordinates above).

Feet on the Ground: Engineering Geology, Past, 24 September 2013 Glossop Lecture. Venue: Leeds University. See website for details and registration. Present and Future Speaker: Prof. Jim Griffiths. Contact: James Barr E: [email protected] Engineering Group/Yorkshire Regional

Arsenic in Airborne Dust. South West Regional 26 September Venue: Cornwall Council Chambers, Luxstowe House, Greenbank Road, Liskeard, Cornwall. Time: 0900-1230. Free, registration required. See website. E: [email protected]

Dorset Coast Weekend. Geologists’ Assoc. 27-28 September Venue: TBC. Leader: Prof. John C W Cope. Limited numbers. Contact: Sarah Stafford (TBC) E: [email protected]

Cavanacaw Gold Mine & Curraghinalt Gold 28 September Venue: Meet at the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh Time: 10.00. Limited numbers. Project.Northern Ireland Regional Contact: Sarah Coulter E: [email protected]

INCISE 2014: The 2nd International Symposium on 29 September – Venue: BGS Murchison House, Edinburgh. See website for details and links for registration. Submarine CanyonsBGS 1 October

ESGOS 2014: European Shale Gas & Oil Summit 29-30 September Venue: TBC, Central London. See website for details and links for registration. ESGOS Contact: Lauren English E: [email protected]

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 27 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY EDWARD HOWEL FRANCIS 1924-2014

Distinguished Survey geologist and President dward Howel Examiner for the BSc Francis, generally of the Geological Society of London degrees in the Universities known as ‘Howel’, of Edinburgh, Oxford, was born in Portsmouth, the Open

E Cwmavon, (West) University, St Andrews, Glamorgan, on 31 May 1924. Derby, Sheffield, Keele,

He attended Port Talbot Liverpool, Sultan Quaboos County School (1935-42), (Oman), Oxford Brookes and University College, and Hong~ Kong. Swansea (now Swansea University), whence his studies were deflected, from HOWEL MADE 1944-47, by army service. He was awarded his BSc IMPORTANT in 1949. CONTRIBUTIONS TO In 1952 he was appointed THE ORGANISATIONAL as a field geologist to the Edinburgh Office of the WORK OF THE British Geological Survey GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (BGS), serving in the North Lowland Unit, rising AND TO THE STANDING through the ranks from OF ‘GEOLOGIST’ AS A Senior Geologist to Senior PROFESSION Principal Scientific Officer (District Geologist) In 1962, ~ he was elected Fellow of the President Royal Society of Edinburgh He served as President of (FRSE). From 1971-1979 he the Geological Society of was Assistant Director London (1980-82) and from (Deputy Chief Scientific 1970-72, as Chair of its Officer) based in the BGS Volcanic Studies Group. He Leeds Office, responsible for was appointed President of directing BGS activities in Section C (Geology) of the Northern England and British Association for the in Wales. Advancement of Science Meeting held in Lancaster Medals London and, in 1983, both Apart from his in 1976. Subsequently (1969), in the Clough Medal of the substantial scientific activity, Howel enjoyed relaxing recognition of his original Edinburgh Geological he made important on the golf course, and at contributions, many of Society and the Sorby Medal contributions to the home, with Edwina his which are outlined below, he of the Yorkshire Geological organisational work of the partner of later years, was made DSc (Wales) and, Society. In 1989, the Geological Society and to allowing his gentle humour in 1989, was appointed an Geological Society of the standing of ‘geologist’ as free range, was excellent Honorary Fellow of this London awarded him the a profession. Notably, he company and a generous Society. Further recognition Major John Sacheverell was a member of the gourmet host. He is of distinguished A'Deane Coke Medal in Working Party on survived by Susan, contributions to his subject recognition of his major Professional Recognition daughter of his marriage to and to the geological contributions to British (1972-1976), and was Chair Cynthia, and by Susan’s community at large Palaeozoic volcanism and of the Working Party on the two children. included the award, in 1963, stratigraphy and "his wide- future of Geological Science of the Murchison Fund of ranging contributions to the in Higher Education (1992). ➤ By Tony Harris the Geological Society of geological community". He had served as External

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 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD NO.183 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL PUBLICATION!

The winner of the July Crossword puzzle prize draw was Caroline Soderman of Solihull, UK.

All correct solutions will be placed in the draw, and the winner’s name printed in the November 2014 issue. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date - 19 September.

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 ...... 1 The 'straight fracture' feldspar, Greekly 1 Hydrated amorphous silica ...... (10) which diffracts light (4) 6 Between sand and clay - the forgotten 2 Compact format newspaper Membership number ...... grade (4) (7) Address for correspondence ...... 9 All around (7) 3 Formation whose pore pressure exceeds that in the ...... 10 Famous Californian nudist and trembler hole (13) (7) ...... 4 Lying dormant, like heat (6) 12 Counterbalance (10) ...... 5 Adorned with sub-parallel 13 Evolutionary palaeontologist, sci fi linear markings (8) author, Tolkien authority and Nature ...... senior editor (3) 7 Whole number (7) ...... 15 Backswirling currents (6) 8 Sixty (10) 16 That which falls or has fallen to Earth (8) 11 Jellyfishes and their kind Postcode ...... (13) 18 Useful implements (8) 14 Brouilly, Fleurie, Julienas, for 20 Boilerman (6) example (10) SOLUTIONS JULY 23 Fantastical goblin-like creature (3) 17 Fleet of small ships (8) 24 Backwardly metamorphic (10) ACROSS: 19 To cement in place, like 1 Wolframite 6 Argo 9 Denuded 10 Rupture 26 South coast castle and town, long a barnacles, serpulids, oysters refuge of Anglo-catholicism (7) and other sea creatures (7) 12 Gadolinium 13 IFS 15 Gneiss 16 Prorogue 18 Roentgen 20 Skewed 23 Gut 24 Plesiosaur 27 Secondary sexual cranial excrescences 21 Blood-filtering mammalian 26 Thrusts 27 Blinded 28 Sack 29 Unfriendly (7) organs (7) 28 Place of work for an engineering 22 Frequently nickel-associated DOWN: geologist (4) transition metal, found native 1 Wadi 2 Lineage 3 Radioisotopes 4 Madrid in meteoric iron (6) 29 What John Ronald Reuel did when he 5 Tarsiers 7 Rausing 8 Overspends dreamt up Middle Earth (10) 25 Previously enjoyed (4) 11 Pembrokeshire 14 Aggregates 17 Peterson 19 Enteric 21 Wounded 22 Timber 25 Eddy

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 29 GEOSCIENTIST RECRUITMENT

Event Informaon

PETEX is the largest subsurface-focussed E&P conference and LLaarrggeesstt EEvveerr EExxhhiibbiioonn exhibion in the UK, aracng thousands of delegates from across the world and across a spectrum of industry sectors, from supermajors to consultancies. Exhibion space is already 90% sold out, featuring the ever popular Internaonal Pavilion. This year PETEX is celebrang 25 years of technical excellence. TTeecchhnniiccaall EExxcceelllleennccee We’re promising a comprehensive programme illustrang the latest global acvity in exploraon, field development, reservoir management and unconvenonal exploitaon, in addion to the the latest developments in the North Sea. There will also be a special interacve Session, called the PETEX Forum consisng of a panel of experts who will debate on the technical aspects of hydraulic fracturing in the UK. Following the success from last me, PETEX will again host the Petroleum Geoscience Research Collaboraon Showcase, which this year will be moving into a larger area. PETEX has a rich social programme with an event on every evening LLiivveellyy SSoocciiaall PPrrooggrraammmmee - all of which are included in your standard cket price. We are parcularly pleased to say that the Wednesday night Evening Excursion will be returing in 2014, bigger and beer than ever before! To register, or for more informaon: www.petex.info Keep up to date with us on.....

30 | SEPTEMBER 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Programme of Events el nvriyNorthStaffordshireGA Group William Smith lecture –byHugh Torrens William Smith MeetingII: 200 Years &Beyond: theFuture ofGeological For furtherinformation aboutanyof theevents, please visitwww.williamsmith2015.org Geologists’Association Keele University 19 November2015 ‘Visualising Landscapes &Geology, Past, Present &Future –commenceswith HandwritteninStone: thelife&legacyof William Smith–exhibition Geological Society 05 November2015 Oxford UniversityMuseumofNaturalHistory Oxford UniversityMuseumofNatural History October 2015–January 2016 NationalMuseum Wales William SmithLecture by Tom Sharpe William Smithevent &fieldtrip Geologists’ Association University ofBristol 07 October2015 BathGeologicalSociety Dorset NaturalHistoryMuseum TheMap That Changedthe World –lecture bySimon Winchester 30 September–3October2015 Geologists’Association Readingtherocks: theastonishingmapby William Smith–exhibition National Museum Wales NaturalHistoryMuseum Bathfieldtrip ‘William Smith: hismaps, rocks &fossils–exhibition’ 26 September2015–28February 2016 The GeologicalSociety Bathfieldtrip 03 July 2015 Natural HistoryMuseum William Smith’s EarliestCareers to1810–lecture byHugh Torrens mid June –midOctober2015 Natural HistoryMuseum Thestoryoftherocks: William ‘Strata’ Smith’s geologicalmap–exhibition Yorkshire26 June 2015 Museum tbc 13 June 2015 MappingtheEarth–Lyme RegisFossil Festival tbc Lyme RegisFossil Festival BathGeologicalSociety GeologicalSociety 06 June 2015 William SmithMeeting I: 200 Years ofSmith’s Map–GSLflagshipconference Bath RoyalLiteraryandScientificInstitution GeologicalSociety 04 June 2015 William Smithbirthdaycelebrations –plaqueunveiling&reception Yorkshire Museum 22 May2015 William Smithlecture OxfordGeology Group –byHugh Torrens Lyme RegisFossil Festival Yorkshire01-03 May2015 PhilosophicalSociety ‘William Smith, Father ofEnglishGeology: hismaps–lecture byJohn Henry’ Geological Society 23-25 April 2015 Geological Society EVENT/ORGANISER EastMidlandsGeologySociety 23 March 2015 University ofOxford 19 March 2015 Yorkshire Museum 03 March 2015 University ofNottingham DATE/VENUE 4Fbur 05William Smithlecture –byHugh Torrens 14 February 2015 Geological Society Mapping –GSLflagshipconference University ofBristol lecture byIainStewart’