SCIENTISTu u GEO VOLUME 24 NO 3 APRIL 2014 WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST The Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95

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Iron from the sky Meteorite iron in Egyptian artefacts

FISH MERCHANT WOMEN GEOLOGISTS BUMS ON SEATS Sir , Tales of everyday sexism If universities think fieldwork king of the NHM fishes - an Online Special sells geology, they’re mistaken

GEOSCIENTIST CONTENTS

06 22

10 16

FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE... 16 King of the fishes Sir Arthur Smith Woodward should be remembered for more than being caught by the Piltdown Hoax, says Mike Smith

REGULARS

05 Welcome Ted Nield has a feeling that some eternal verities have become - unsellable 06 Society news What your Society is doing at home and abroad, in London and the regions 09 Soapbox Jonathan Paul says universities need to beef up their industrial links to attract students ON THE COVER: 21 Letters Geoscientist’s Editor in Chief sets the record straight 10 Iron from the sky 22 Books and arts Four new books reviewed by Catherine Meteoritics and Egyptology, two very different Kenny, Mark Griffin, John Milsom and Jason Harvey disciplines, recently collided in the laboratory, 25 People Geoscientists in the news and on the move write Diane Johnson and Joyce Tyldesley 26 Obituary Duncan George Murchison 1928-2013 27 Calendar Society activities this month ONLINE SPECIALS Tales of a woman geologist Susan Treagus recalls her experiences in the male-dominated groves of academe From the regions Daniel 28 Obituary David Barnard Thompson 1932-2013 Welch recounts a West Midlands Group field excursion to the Lickey Hills 29 Crossword Win a special publication of your choice

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 03 04 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST

GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME Geoscientist is the ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE ~ Fellowship magazine of Jonathan Knight WERE METEORITES SACRED? the Geological Society T 01727 739 193 of London E jonathan@centuryone (WOMEN MOURNING: DETAIL FROM THE TOMB OF publishing.ltd.uk The Geological Society, RAMOSE IN THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN NECROPOLIS Burlington House, Piccadilly, ART EDITOR London W1J 0BG Heena Gudka OF THE NOBLES, LUXOR, EGYPT) T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 Cover image: mountainpix / Shutterstock.com 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 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 E [email protected] this publication. All views expressed, except where explicitly FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF stated otherwise, represent those Professor of the author, and not The Geological Society of London. All rights reserved. No paragraph EDITOR of this publication may be Dr Ted Nield reproduced, copied or transmitted Selling skills E [email protected] save with written permission. Users registered with Copyright EDITORIAL BOARD Clearance Center: the Journal is Dr Sue Bowler registered with CCC, 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. e are all products of our (certainly in my case) never gave a Mr Steve Branch 0961-5628/02/$15.00. Every Dr effort has been made to trace times, which is why we go thought for what we would be doing Prof. Tony Harris copyright holders of material in out of date. On the other ‘afterwards’. Education was its own Dr Howard Falcon-Lang this publication. If any rights have Dr Jonathan Turner been omitted, the publishers offer hand, there are (we like to reward. And because we were our their apologies. Dr Jan Zalasiewicz think) certain eternal age, and had done our share of Latin, No responsibility is assumed by W Trustees of the the Publisher for any injury and/or verities too. Yet for all their eternity, we knew that the essence of Geological Society damage to persons or property as they also go in and out of fashion. ‘education’ was found in its verbal of London a matter of products liability, Mr D T Shilston negligence or otherwise, or from We have recently enjoyed a lively root educare, ‘to lead out’ (of darkness, (President); any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or debate about the importance of into light). Mrs N K Ala; Dr M G ideas contained in the material fieldwork and undergraduate This is no longer the general view, Armitage; Prof R A Butler; herein. Although all advertising Prof N A Chapman; material is expected to conform to mapping. And on balance, I think most either among universities or their Dr A L Coe; Mr J Coppard; ethical (medical) standards, readers would agree that the pro- students. Both have been suckered, by Mr D J Cragg (Vice inclusion in this publication does president); Mrs N J not constitute a guarantee or fieldwork camp easily won the day. successive governments, into the endorsement of the quality or Dottridge; Mr C S Eccles; value of such product or of the Fieldwork is part of what makes notion that universities are places of Dr M Edmonds; claims made by its manufacturer. Prof A J Fraser geology what it is, because ‘the field is higher vocational training, chiefly (Secretary, Science); Subscriptions: All the geologist’s laboratory’. We cannot providing grist to the industrial mill. Mrs M P Henton (Secretary, correspondence relating to non- Professional Matters); member subscriptions should be deny that ideas must be tested against This idea has now gained the status of addresses to the Journals Mr D A Jones (Vice Subscription Department, reality if we are to be considered a self-evident truth, and students - president); Dr A Law Geological Society Publishing ‘scientific’, and the field, in geology, is who used to want nothing more than (Treasurer); Prof R J House, Unit 7 Brassmill Enterprise Lisle; Prof A R Lord Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath, BA1 where we do it. Nevertheless, we must to stick it to the Man for as long as (Secretary, Foreign & 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 445046. Fax: beware falling into the trap of thinking circumstances allowed - now want a External Affairs); 01225 442836. Email: Prof D A C Manning [email protected]. The that this is necessarily how we must secure and well-paid non-manual job, subscription price for Volume 24, (President designate); 2014 (11 issues) to institutions sell ourselves. It might have worked and a pram in the hall. Dr B R Marker; and non-members is £125 (UK) or Dr G Nichols; Dr L £143 / US$286 (Rest of World). once, but not now - as PhD student If universities are serious about Slater; Dr J P Turner Jonathan Paul points out in Soapbox recruiting from a new generation of (Secretary, Publications); © 2014 The Geological Society Mr M E Young of London this month. pallid, indoorsy (but more worldly) When I was choosing geology, the youth, they have to change the way Published on behalf of the world was very different. We all loved they sell themselves. But to do this, Geological Society of London by the outdoors, we spent as much time as scientists - with their distressing Century One Publishing possible there, we already came tendency always to be always Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, equipped with boots and waterproofs. truthful and literal – may need to AL3 4DG And we were few. This meant we were learn subtler selling skills, and let the T 01727 893 894 F 01727 893 895 very much poorer, but on the other eternal verities take care of themselves E enquiries@centuryone hand did not have to repay loans, and for a bit. publishing.ltd.uk W www.centuryone DR TED NIELD, EDITOR - [email protected] @TedNield @geoscientistmag publishing.ltd.uk

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

What your society is doing SOCIETYNEWS at home and abroad, in London and the regions Society’s Wollaston and Lyell medals

Last month the Society announced the winners of its medals and funds for 2014... And they were: Maureen Raymo (); Image: Nightman1965 / Shutterstock.com Martin Brasier (Lyell Medal); Julian Pearce (); Peter Styles (); Jane Francis (Coke Medal); Christine Peirce (Coke Medal); John Maclennan (); Max Coleman (); Edward Rose (); Robert Chandler (R H Worth Prize); Craig Barrie (Wollaston Fund); Claire Corkhill (William Smith Fund); Paul Butler (Lyell Fund); Katherine Joy (Murchison Fund); Margaret Williams (Distinguished Service Medal); Michael Babechuk (President’s Award); Hannah Hughes (President’s Award); Oliver Shorttle (President’s Award). These Awards will be presented at President’s Day on 4 June 2014. On that LONDON LECTURE SERIES day (full details in the May issue) there will be research talks by the four senior medallists: Martin Brasier (University of Oxford) on The earliest signs of complex life on Earth; Julian Pearce (Cardiff University) on Geochemical Fracking Fingerprinting of Rocks and Minerals; Peter Styles (Keele University) on Speaker: Prof. Richard Davies A Journey with Maps; and Maureen Raymo (Lamont-Doherty Earth (University of Durham) Observatory, Columbia University) on Sea Level - Past and Future. Date: 16 April All Fellows are welcome to attend the events of President’s Day, though lunch with the award winners will incur a charge. Full details of charges and instructions as to how to register will be published in the May Issue, with which will be Programme distributed the Annual Review 2013. u Afternoon talk: 1430 Tea & Coffee: 1500 Lecture begins: 1600 Event ends. u Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: 1800 Lecture Publishing news begins: 1900 Reception.

The Society Publishing House will be exhibiting in Further Information Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsllondon Vienna, says Emily Milroy. lectures14. Entry to each lecture is by ticket only. If you are attending the EGU General Assembly To obtain a ticket please contact the Society around

2014 (27 April- 2 May) in Vienna, why not drop in at Image: Burben / Shutterstock.com four weeks before the talk. Due to the popularity of this Booth #59 and say hello to the Publishing House? lecture series, tickets are allocated in a monthly ballot We would be very happy to see you – and even and cannot be guaranteed. happier if you bought some books! However, if you are unable to meet us in person, you can benefit from massive discounts in our ➤ Contact: Naomi Newbold, The Geological Society, forthcoming online Bookshop Sale, which runs from Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, T: +44 1-8 of this month (April). Thirty of our publications (0)20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] will be priced at just £25 each (while stocks last!).

Library Book and Print Sale Burlington House and is open to all. Visit Burlington House next month for an Visit us in May! Writes Michael McKimm We will also be selling original opportunity to become the proud owner of During the month of May the Library will lithographic prints by the Scottish geologist one of these original prints! be holding its latest sale of second-hand or John MacCulloch, dating from out-of-scope books, journals and maps. 1819 – 1826. These beautiful black and Late night shopping Featuring hundreds of items covering white drawings depict picturesque scenes The Library and book sale will remain open geology, palaeontology, archaeology of forests and cliffs as well as Scottish until 7pm on the following days during May: and related subjects, the sale will take landmarks such as Dunkeld Friday 2; Thursday 8; Thursday 15; place upstairs in the main Library at Bridge, Perthshire. Wednesday 21.

➤ The library is open to visitors Monday-Friday 0930-1730. For enquiries email the library [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999

06 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF

Future meetings The dates for meetings of Council and Ordinary General Meetings until June 2015 will be as follows: ➤ 2014: 2 April, 18 June, 25 September, 26 November;

Image: Matthew Dixon / Shutterstock.com 2015: 4 February, 8 April.

Geological Society Club The Geological Society Club, successor to the body that gave birth to the Society in 1807, meets monthly (except over the The Pier Head Building in red terracotta provides a period contrast to the Senedd field season!) at 18.30 for 19.00 in building (left front) and the Wales Millennium Centre (right, behind Senedd building) the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, or at another venue, to be confirmed nearer the date. Once a year there is also a buffet dinner at Geology for Society -policy update Burlington House. New diners are always welcome, especially from As geologists we naturally look to the past but among younger Fellows. Dinner importantly the event also focused on current costs £55 for a four-course meal, and future issues for the geoscience community, including coffee and port. including urban growth and regeneration, (The Founders' Dinner, in building a low carbon future, and how we adapt November, has its own price (L to R): Dr Peter Brabham (Cardiff University), Paul Maliphant (Mott MacDonald), Dr David Schofield to a changing climate. structure.) There is a cash bar for (British Geological Survey) and David Shilston We were pleased that the event was endorsed the purchase of aperitifs and wine. by Edwina Hart, Welsh Minister for Economy, 2014: 2 April; 14 May; 24 ‘Geology and the Welsh Economy’, a new Science and Technology and David Rees, Welsh September; 15 October. report from the Society, was launched at an Assembly Member & Chair of the Cross Party ➤ Fellows wishing to dine or event in Cardiff, writes Gareth Farr*. Group for Science and Technology in Wales. requesting further information The Southern Wales Regional Group recently Nic Bilham writes: The Southern Wales about the Geological Society hosted an event in Cardiff to celebrate the launch Regional Group’s event was the first to be hosted Club, please email Cally of ‘Geology for Society’. by the Geological Society on the National Oldershaw (Hon Sec) at The event also formed part of the 50th Assembly for Wales’s estate. So it was a fitting [email protected] birthday celebrations of the Geological Society’s occasion on which to launch ‘Geology for m or T: 07796 942361. DR Engineering Specialist Group, and included the Society’, a major new report on the benefits our Southern Wales heat of the National Schools science brings to society - from protecting Geology Challenge 2014. human health and the environment to delivering Literature searching Over 100 guests from government, resources and facilitating economic growth. The Not enough time or struggling to universities, regulators, consultancies and local document is aimed at policy and decision- find the information you need ? schools packed out the Grade 1 listed Pierhead makers as well as the wider public, and we hope We can search a wide range of building in Cardiff Bay, part of the National it will also be a valuable resource for Fellows who resources on your behalf and Assembly for Wales’s estate. This building, built want to explain why their science matters. send you the results directly to in 1897 is a fine example of how geology has The report can be downloaded at your inbox. To find out more shaped modern Wales. Built with wealth www.geolsoc.org.uk/geology-for-society, about this service, please email generated from the South Wales coalfield it is where you can also find a wide range of online [email protected] constructed from ‘Ruabon terracotta’ sourced in resources on all the topics it covers, including north east Wales. Such was the demand of this energy, water, minerals, engineering, geohazards fine Welsh terracotta that over 2000 people were and environmental change. New acquisitions involved in the operation and the town of Ruabon If you would like to receive by was often referred to as ‘Terracottapolis’. *Gareth Farr Events Secretary Southern Wales email or post a list of titles recently Its striking redness marks it out, even among the Regional Group. Nic Bilham is Director of Policy & added to our library catalogue, spectacular new buildings that now surround it. Communications at the Geological Society please call 020 7432 0999.

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 07 08 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST SOAPBOX

Adapt or die!

Jonathan Paul* thinks universities are out of touch with young people and losing the plot over student recruitment if they think young people today get at all excited about the open air life

s an enthusiastic undergraduate at conveyor belt to a job? the There had to come a point when, asked (Imperial College London) about one’s attraction to geoscience, those SOAPBOX I became closely involved with old stories about rock and fossil collections A outreach programmes aimed at metamorphosed into egregious interview- CALLING! recruiting young people to geology. speak (‘skillsets’, ‘deliverables’). Perhaps the Now, after having pursued a career in greatest problem I faced at the end of my first academia (while many of my friends chose degree was the massive bifurcation looming Soapbox is open to contributions industry) I feel the need to vent a little spleen ahead: to academia or industry? There were from all Fellows. You can always about university recruitment and the no other options, and their mutual write a letter to the Editor, of problems of choosing a career path after a exclusivity was implicit. course: but perhaps you feel you geoscience degree. Academia need more space? Fieldwork bait Academia affords a priceless measure of If you can write it entertainingly in First - recruiting. The old aphorisms I used independence, to work in areas of personal 500 words, the Editor would like to trot out to sixth formers (‘a conglomerate interest. But it is a treadmill of its own. to hear from you. Email your of all the other sciences’; ‘our undergraduates Even a small break from the cut-and-thrust piece, and a self-portrait, to spend the most time in the field’ etc.) no of research could disrupt the stultifying ted.nield@geolsoc. org.uk. longer pass muster. Many students progression from PhD to Post-Doc to Copy can only be accepted nowadays do not find the prospect of Lecturer. Henry Kissinger once famously electronically. No diagrams, tables fieldwork attractive, equating it with manual noted that academic politics is so vicious or other illustrations please. labour and preferring to stay home. The folly because so little is at stake. But still, many of using fieldwork as bait becomes clearer academics would never dream of Pictures should be of print when we consider the ubiquity of computers recommending industry to their students. quality – please take photographs in most professional geoscience jobs. And what are the prospects for young on the largest setting on your Finding a well-paid, comfortable industry geoscientists who do enter industry? camera, with a plain background. job (clean, indoors, no heavy lifting) is fast Again, in their own way, industry careers can becoming the deciding factor in university also be remarkably inflexible. Initial, often Precedence will always be given choice. Departments are nowadays rated faintly embarrassing, ‘assessment centres’ - to more topical contributions. more highly for their industry links than they becoming the norm these days - usually lead Any one contributor may not are for the brilliance of their academics. to some form of graduate scheme; and appear more often than once per From a recruitment point of view, the battle is swearing fealty to the almighty company for volume (once~ every 12 months). lost if all you can think of as an inducement the duration. Industry’s need for is fieldwork. geoscientists (especially geophysicists) stands So what else can we do to attract students at an all-time high, yet it is important to to geoscience when education in itself is no remember that the job market goes in sync FROM A longer valued, except as a three or four-year with cycles in commodity prices, and that a RECRUITMENT POINT collapse in Brent Crude prices might well put OF VIEW, THE BATTLE you on the dole. Nevertheless, forging new links between IS LOST IF ALL YOU industry and academic geoscience CAN THINK OF AS AN departments must be the key to recruitment success. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, unusual INDUCEMENT IS

Image: Creativa / Shutterstock.com among the Romantics for his profound FIELDWORK. SO appreciation of geology, wrote: “Mr Lyell's WHAT ELSE CAN WE system of geology is just half the truth, and no more”. I am concerned that fewer DO TO ATTRACT geoscientists are being made for the dual STUDENTS TO ‘truths’ of academia and industry. GEOSCIENCE... Jonathan Paul Where now? Somewhere *Jonathan Paul PhD student, Bullard Labs, warm and dry, please ~ University of Cambridge

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 09 IRON FROM THE SKY

ven though they had access to if so, where did it originate? Or, as the Meteoritics and abundant supplies of iron in earliest archaeologists suggested, was both Egypt and the Sinai this meteoric iron: iron that had fallen Egyptology, two very peninsula, ancient Egyptian from the sky, home of the gods? E metalworkers did not develop If it was meteoric in origin, did the different disciplines, iron production technologies before idea that it was the gift of the gods 600 BC. This appears to have been a influence the perception and use of the recently collided in deliberate choice; textual sources metal? As one of us (DJ) is fascinated indicate that they were aware of iron by meteorites, the other (JT) fascinated the laboratory, write from early in Egyptian history, when by early Egypt, and both of us are iron ores were ground up to create fascinated by ancient riddles, we Diane Johnson and pigments used in art and cosmetics. could not resist the temptation to Although there are no signs of early investigate further. Joyce Tyldesley* iron manufacture, archaeology has shown that elite Egyptians were, very Excavation occasionally, buried with iron grave- Five thousand three hundred years ago, goods long before that date. This raises in the pre-literate time before Egypt a number of intriguing questions. became a single state ruled by a Did the ancients actually work iron far pharaoh, a man was buried in a sandy earlier than has ever been recognised? grave in the Gerzeh cemetery (70km Was iron the occasional, accidental, by- south of modern Cairo). We know very Above: West bank of the River Nile at Luxor, Egypt, famed for pharaonic tombs and product of copper smelting? Did iron little about this anonymous man, but we mortuary temples from the Middle Kingdom regularly enter Egypt through trade and can deduce that he was an important

10 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST ~ AS THE EARLIEST ARCHAEOLOGISTS SUGGESTED, WAS THIS METEORIC IRON: IRON THAT HAD FALLEN FROM THE SKY, HOME OF THE GODS? ~

Gerzel bead, pictured on an etched slice of an iron meteorite, showing characteristic Widmanstätten patterning Image: Pius Lee / Shutterstock.com Image: WitR / Shutterstock.com Image: WitR

Great Sphinx with pyramids of Menkhaure and Khafre Detail from the north wall of Tutankhamen’s (right), Plateau burial chamber, Thebes, Egypt of Giza, Cairo

member of his community because his that the beads were rich in nickel. As all oxidised state of the Gerzeh iron beads, body was surrounded by valuable meteorite iron is nickel-rich, this was and their limited early analysis (which grave-goods - an ivory pot, a stone considered conclusive evidence of a was neither well-published nor palette to grind his cosmetics and a meteoritic origin for the metal. conducted to modern standards) this copper harpoon - and adorned with bead It seemed that the ancients had simply possibility had to be considered. jewellery made from precious raw found the iron and worked it as they So we decided to start our investigation materials including gold, carnelian and would have worked copper, without any by re-examining one of the iron beads iron. So rare were his tubular iron real understanding of its nature. currently held in the collections of The beads that only one other grave in Wainwright, believing that the deliberate Manchester Museum. the extensive cemetery included inclusion of iron beads in high-status Non-destructive methods of analysis anything similar. burials indicated that meteorites had were employed; electron microscopy to In 1911 the man and his beads were religious importance, went on to examine surface structures and exhumed when archaeologist Gerald develop numerous theories involving chemistry and micro x-ray Computer Wainwright excavated the Gerzeh meteorite worship in ancient Egypt. Tomography (CT) to reveal internal cemetery. This unexpected find of iron structures. We found that the bead itself artefacts in a well-dated context Analysis has the microstructure and chemistry of predating the official start of the In the 1980s, doubt was cast on the an iron meteorite, so its origin therefore Egyptian Iron Age by over 2500 years meteoritic origin of the Gerzeh beads seems clear. We also found indications caused archaeologists to question their when archaeo-metallurgists suggested of the manufacture method; bending understanding of ancient Egyptian that early nickel-rich iron could have points were clearly seen in virtual X-ray metalworking technologies. The been produced from terrestrial CT slices through the bead, indicating question was, however, quickly resources, using naturally nickel-rich that the meteorite was beaten into a thin

answered when early analysis indicated iron ores or additives. Given the highly sheet and subsequently bent into a tube ▼

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 11 Gerzel bead images showing optical and virtual X-ray data

▼ shape. This allowed it to be strung on a flax fibre thread, traces of which are still preserved within the bead. The full meaning of the inclusion of meteorite iron beads in this particular grave remains to be fully understood. As the burial predates writing, we have no textual references to help us. The iron could have come from a small local meteorite fall, or it could have arrived at the site through trade. The cemetery did yield several materials from non-local sources, including lapis lazuli and obsidian, which could have The ‘Eye of Horus’, from been imported from as far away as grave goods of Ethiopia and Afghanistan. Tutankhamen Image: Nestor Noci / Shutterstock.com Comparisons Egyptologists have speculated for many years on the use of meteorite iron by the ancient Egyptians. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach an accurate assessment of the amount of iron in circulation before 700 BC. The ancient Egyptians built their houses and palaces from mud bricks, and situated them close to water sources. Over time, the vast majority of their settlements, together with any iron they might once have held, have simply dissolved into the landscape. Graves and tombs, cut into the hot, dry desert sands and cliffs, were intended to be more permanent and so offer a more reliable source of evidence, although even here there may be problems. Polychromed Many of Egypt’s cemeteries were columns with carvings of investigated over a century ago, before the pharaoh modern standards of excavation were and his wife developed, when it was not uncommon surrounded by hieroglyphs, for smaller and seemingly insignificant in Medinet finds to be ignored in the quest for more Habu temple, valuable grave goods. It also seems dedicated to Ramesses III. likely that cultural expectation would Luxor, Egypt play a part in the recovery of iron from GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

pre- Iron Age archaeological sites: if found wrapped within Tutankhamen’s excavators “knew” that iron could not mummy bandages. As the body was the be present, any find of iron would most important element within the probably be classified as intrusive (later tomb, this placing indicates the high dating) and simply thrown away. ritual and financial value attached to Despite these problems, more than 20 iron by those who wrapped the king for early iron artefacts have been found in death. A miniature model head-rest (the securely dated contexts. These came hard ancient Egyptian equivalent of a from two tombs on the west bank of the pillow) was discovered lying directly Nile at ancient Thebes (modern Luxor). behind Tutankhamen’s head, inside his The majority of these finds have been gold death mask. The head-rest had analysed as ‘nickel-rich’. been roughly constructed by welding More than 1000 years after these together pieces of iron, probably at too beads were committed to the Gerzeh low a temperature. grave, a part-iron amulet was placed in Wrapped on the right side of the the tomb of Queen Ashait (Deir el-Bahri, abdomen was an iron ‘Eye of Horus’

Thebes). Her amulet takes the form amulet attached to a golden bracelet. Above: Head rest from the tomb of Tutankhamen. known as a pesesh-kef; it is modelled on The “eye of Horus” was a popular See text for explanation the figure of a person from the chest to funerary amulet, symbolising protection, Below: Tutankhamen’s model chisels. the top of the head, in a similar style to royal power and good health. See text for explanation a death mask, but with a small blade Also wrapped with the mummy was a ~ mounted downwards from its base. large and extremely well-made dagger Initially it was thought that her with a rock-crystal pommel, gold sheath amulet had been made entirely from and iron blade which, as the excavators THIS UNEXPECTED silver, but analysis subsequently noted, was still extremely sharp when showed that blade was made of nickel- discovered lying along the king’s right FIND OF IRON ARTEFACTS IN A rich iron, although its exact composition thigh. A second dagger recovered from WELL-DATED CONTEXT has yet to be published. Pesesh-kef the mummy was entirely of gold. PREDATING THE OFFICIAL blades were traditionally associated Apart from the dagger blade, all of with childbirth (when they were used to Tutankhamen’s iron goods are crudely START OF THE EGYPTIAN IRON cut the umbilical cord of newborn made. Those which have been analysed AGE BY OVER 2500 YEARS babies) and with the re-birth after death. have nickel-rich iron chemistry. They were used in ceremonies designed This suggests that they were of local, CAUSED ARCHAEOLOGISTS to animate the inert including the Egyptian, manufacture with the TO QUESTION THEIR ‘Opening of the Mouth’ - a ritual meteoric iron being hammered into UNDERSTANDING OF ANCIENT performed at the entrance to the shape by craftsmen unaccustomed tomb, which would transform the to working with such hard, EGYPTIAN METALWORKING mummy into a latent being with the high-temperature metals. In contrast, TECHNOLOGIES potential for life. recent analysis of the well-made When King Tutankhamen died in dagger blade recorded three weight ~ approximately 1327 BC, he and his percent nickel content, which suggests grave goods were buried in a tomb in a smelted origin. Only further

the Valley of the Kings. Unlike testing can confirm this. ▼ Ashait’s, Tutankhamen’s tomb was preserved more or less intact, although archaeology indicates that there had been two robberies soon after his funeral. Several iron artefacts were found among Tutankhamen’s surviving grave goods. These included a set of 16 model chisels with iron blades set in wooden handles, stored in a room opening off the burial chamber. As the chisel blades are all less than 1mm thick, they would have been too fragile to use as practical tools. It is, however, possible that they were used in Tutankhamen’s own Opening of the Mouth ceremony. Three iron artefacts were

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 13 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

▼ Writings linguists, who Textual evidence indicates that limited frequently confused copper and amounts of iron were imported into iron in their translations. The word bia Egypt from neighbouring territories was eventually recognised as “iron”, from, and during the reigns immediately but it may actually refer to a range of would have created a sufficiently preceding Tutankhamen’s. One such hard, dense, metals including iron. The strong association between iron and the text is a letter written by Tushratta, king word was used in many texts, including sky for the new word to become of Mitanni (a land covering the modern the funerary Pyramid Texts carved on synonymous with all forms of iron. regions of eastern Turkey, northern the internal walls of some royal In 2008 a large impact crater formed by Syria and western Iraq), to Amenhotep pyramids. These, some of Egypt’s an iron meteorite was found in III, king of Egypt. Amenhotep was earliest preserved religious writings, southern Egypt. Although its exact age almost certainly the grandfather and date from approximately 2375 BC but is unknown, local archaeology suggests revered role-model of Tutankhamen. are likely to have been composed much that it formed within the last The letter details the dowry of earlier. They connect iron with aspects 5000 years, making it a possible Tushratta’s daughter, who was to be of the sky, with ritual artefacts and with candidate event. sent to Egypt to marry Amenhotep. the bones of the dead king who is Intriguingly, it mentions a dagger blade described as living for ever as an Rituals of habalkinu: a word derived from the undying star in the sky. Most of the early examples of iron in ancient Hittite language which may be In approximately 1295 BC a new Egypt are obviously symbolic or ritual translated as “steel”. It is therefore a hieroglyphic word appeared. Bia-n-pet artefacts; the one exception, distinct possibility that Tushratta’s literally translates as “iron from the Tutankhamen’s dagger, may have been dagger, initially sent to Amenhotep, was sky”. The new word was applied to all either a ritual or a practical tool, or inherited by his grandson metallic iron from this time onwards. both. All the examples were recovered Tutankhamen, used for ritual and An obvious explanation for the sudden from graves, and therefore are likely to maybe practical purposes throughout emergence of the new word would be a have some ritual connection with the his reign, and buried alongside him as a major event, such as a large impact or funeral and/or rebirth of the deceased. valued symbol of kingship and kinship. shower of meteorites, witnessed by the This ritual link is also found in early The earliest ancient Egyptian ancient Egyptian population. This funerary texts, where the association (hieroglyphic) word for iron was the would have left little uncertainty as to with the Opening of the Mouth subject of great debate by early where exactly the mysterious iron came ceremony is particularly clear.

Modern copy of Tutankhamen's Felucca sails on the River Nile, funerary mask Aswan, nr. ‘Elephant Island’, Egypt GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

It may be that iron was allowed an The original benben stone was lost in *Diane Johnson works with meteorites in the important role in this ceremony because antiquity, but contemporary illustrations Planetary and Space Sciences group at the meteoritic iron was associated with indicate that it was a pyramid or Open University, UK. She also studies meteors and thunderbolts; powerful cone-shaped rock, which has led to Egyptology with the University of Manchester. natural phenomena whose own suggestions that it may have been [email protected] inherent power might increase the a meteorite. potency of the ritual. A specific For most of Egypt’s long history, iron Joyce Tyldesley is Senior Lecturer at the association of iron blades with the adze, was a rare and exotic material sourced University of Manchester, where she teaches a bladed tool used as a ritual from meteorites. As iron fell to Earth, it Egyptology online. Her research interests implement, suggests a link to the stars is likely to have been regarded as a ‘gift include the development of Egyptian mythology. themselves, while the constellation Ursa of the gods’, which would have given it [email protected] Major (aka ‘The Plough’ or ‘Big Dipper’) a powerful ritual magic. However, the forms the shape of the adze, the stars in technology, chronology and etymology Ursa Major were considered to be of iron and the iron smelting process in ‘imperishable’ stars, the name used by ancient Egypt are poorly understood, FURTHER READING the ancient Egyptians for stars not seen creating many challenges when to set or rise because of their proximity attempting to understand the source 1 Johnson, D., Tyldesley, J., Lowe, T., Withers, to the northern celestial pole. Dead and and functions of iron artefacts. P.J., Grady, M.M. (2013) Analysis of a prehistoric reborn kings were identified with these Because of the possible variation in Egyptian iron bead with implications for the use special stars. smelting materials, we cannot easily and perception of meteorite iron in ancient Meteorites may have played a more know which nickel-rich artefact has Egypt. Vol.48, 6, 997-1006, Meteoritics and direct role in state religion. The ‘Benben been formed from meteorite iron and Planetary Science. Stone’ was the focus of worship in the which has been smelted. Ultimately, 2 Ogden, J. (2000), Metals, in I. Shaw and P. temple of the sun god Re at Heliopolis. this can only be determined by further Nicholson (eds) Ancient Egyptian Materials and The word benben is derived from the detailed structural and chemical Technology, Cambridge University Press, verb weben which means ‘to shine’. It analysis of individual objects. We hope Cambridge: 148-176. may therefore be associated with the that with further investigations we will 3 Tyldesley, J. (2010), Myths and Legends of first ray of sunlight, or with the mound be able to clarify the use and importance Ancient Egypt, Viking Penguin, London. of creation that emerged from the of iron – both meteoric and terrestrial - waters of chaos at the beginning of time. in ancient Egypt. u Image: Jose Ignacio Soto / Shutterstock.com Image: Frank11 / Shutterstock.com Above opposite page: Tutankhamen’s iron dagger. See text for explanation

Entrance to the temple at Luxor, Egypt, by night KING OF THE FISHES Mike Smith* tells the tale of Arthur Smith Woodward - born 150 years ago this May - and the magnificent fossil fish collection he curated

he name Arthur Smith Arthur joined the Geology Image: AdStock RF / Shutterstock.com Woodward is most commonly Department on Thursday 24 August linked with the East Sussex 1882. His first day did not go well. village of Piltdown. Sadly, his Keeper of Geology, Henry Woodward T unwitting involvement in that FRS FGS (no relation) rather resented hoax somewhat overshadows his the young man from Macclesfield. achievements in vertebrate Firstly he had tried to appoint George C palaeontology - in particular, of fossil Crick FGS (1856-1917), who was fishes. Arthur was just 18 when he working as a volunteer in his started work at the Natural History department but was told the position Museum (NHM) in London, and soon must be filled by examination. Arthur settled down to a scientific career of hard came first of the fourteen candidates work and dedication. sitting the Higher Civil Service Examination but Crick, nearly eight Precocious years Arthur’s senior, only managed Arthur had been a precocious student, fourth place. already publishing a scientific paper Henry did not like having another before joining the Museum. He soon ‘Woodward’ in his department. While impressed all with his work ethic and initially suggesting Arthur adopt some intellect. He was fortunate in one other name, he decided Arthur should important respect – the Museum’s always use his full name, ‘Smith extensive collection of fossil fish, Woodward’ (Smith was his mother’s particularly the recently-acquired maiden name), to “avoid confusion”. Egerton and Enniskillen collections. The Thus Arthur became known study of these and others was to lead to a professionally as ‘Smith Woodward’. Above top: Waterhouse’s temple to nature - the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London comprehensive catalogue that, over 120 It was also made clear that he was on a Above lower: The advert in the Field to which years later, remains an important year’s probation. Arthur responded reference. He described and figured Left: Arthur Smith Woodward brilliant and precocious, his approximately 300 new species of fossil Lonely career achievements are today sadly eclipsed by one fish. Today some of these same Many years later in her memoirs1 Lady unfortunate event - his innocent involvement in the specimens are being re-examined using Woodward records that his first year Piltdown hoax modern methods that are revealing detail in London was a very lonely one. of which Smith Woodward could hardly Too young to join the Geological Society, have dreamt. he relied on invitations to meetings; Shortly after his parents vetoed a but he had secured the job he most recommendation (from Professor desired, and spent all his time working

William Boyd Dawkins) that Arthur and studying. apply for a vacancy at the Geological In August 1882 the new Museum

Survey of New South Wales (aged 17) building at South Kensington had been Arthur’s father drew his attention to an open for just 16 months and much of the advert in the Field (March 25, 1882) for a exhibition space remained to be filled. ~ post at the British Museum. Smith Woodward’s first tasks involved To apply for the position of Assistant, displaying and labelling the fossil Second Class, the applicant had to have vertebrates in the new galleries. ARTHUR HAD BEEN the permission of one of the three But the main thrust of his future Principal Trustees of the British Museum work and research was soon set. In 1882 A PRECOCIOUS STUDENT, – the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord and 1883 the Museum acquired the ALREADY PUBLISHING A Chancellor, or the Speaker of the House fossil fish collections of Sir Philip SCIENTIFIC PAPER BEFORE of Commons! With letters of Malpas de Grey Egerton (1806-82) and introduction from local dignitaries in William Willoughby Cole, 3rd Earl of JOINING THE MUSEUM. Macclesfield and Leek he was able to Enniskillen (1807-1886). These two HE SOON IMPRESSED ALL obtain the support of Sir Philip Cunliffe- collections were undoubtedly the most WITH HIS WORK ETHIC Owen (Director of the South Kensington important and comprehensive set of Museum) and eventually gain the fossil fish ever assembled, many of them AND INTELLECT support of the Archbishop of Canterbury. figured by Agassiz in his monumental ▼ ~ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 17 ▼ work Recherches sur les Poissons Fossile be published by the Museum. Professor of Geography at University (Geoscientist 23.01 February 2013) and Realising what a huge task this would College, London at the time, becoming containing many type specimens. In the be, Smith Woodward chose to abandon Professor of Geology and Mineralogy summer of 1883 Smith Woodward his formal studies (for the second time) two years later. Maud accompanied her attended the Swiney Lectures on fossil and devote himself to the research husband on many of his trips abroad fishes given by Ramsey Heatley necessary to write the Catalogue of the and was quite happy to get her hands Traquair FRS, FGS (1840-1912) learning Fossil Fishes in the British Museum dirty, helping with excavations and many new ideas on fish systematics. (Natural History) – the ‘Catalogue’. fossil preparation. It was a life-long and In his spare time Smith Woodward This was to be a carefully researched happy marriage. They had a son, Cyril, was studying for the London University series of books (published in four parts and a daughter, Margaret. Tragically BSc and continuing his researches on in 1889, 1891, 1895 and 1901) that Cyril died while in the Borneo public fossil fish. Between 1884 and 1886 he included numerous detailed service at the age of 24. wrote a series of eight articles for descriptions of important specimens Smith Woodward had succeeded Hardwicke’s Science-Gossip on Fossil including many new to science. It FRS FGS (1819-1903) Sharks and Rays that included 76 included extensive references to all as Assistant Keeper of Geology in 1892. figures. He also published his first known fossil fish species, something he On completion of the last part of the ichthyological scientific papers, also on was only able to do by visiting all the ‘Catalogue’ in 1901 and the retirement of sharks, in the Geological Magazine (edited important museums in the UK, Europe Henry Woodward he became Keeper, a by Henry Woodward. Smith Woodward and the USA (largely self-funded). position he undoubtedly deserved was to be a prolific contributor). given his scientific achievements and It must have been clear to all that Marriage dedication. It must also have been very Smith Woodward was exceptionally Smith Woodward married Maud satisfying, having given up formal talented. In 1886 Henry Woodward Leonora Ida Seeley, eldest daughter of studies twice, to be awarded (in 1900) suggested that he consider writing “an Harry Govier Seeley FRS FGS (1839- an honorary LLD from Glasgow exhaustive catalogue” of fossil fishes, to 1909) in June 1894. Seeley was University. Elevation to Keeper by no

18 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Clockwise from far left: A page from Smith Woodward’s Swiney Lectures notebook

Mesodon daviesi from the Purbeck Beds at Swanage, Dorset

The four part Catalogue of Fossil Fishes in the British Museum (Natural History)

Geology Department Staff circa 1883. Back row (L-R) Arthur Smith Woodward, William Davies, R Bullen Newton. Front row (L-R) Robert Etheridge, Henry Woodward

Holocentrum melitense - a typical display of a fossil fish

means marked the end of his scientific career - far from it. From 1901 until his retirement (1924) he published 64 papers or articles on fossil fish plus two monographs (The Fossil Fishes of the English Chalk and The Fossil Fishes of the English Wealden and Purbeck Formations) for the Palaeontographical Society. In the same period he also published 45 papers on other vertebrates and 20 on anthropology. During his time at the Museum Mesodon Smith Woodward described and biserialis named approximately 300 new (Stonesfield Slate) acquired species. The type specimen of with the Mesodon daviesi, a pycnodontid fish, purchase of the was purchased by the Museum in Egerton Collection. 1869 and was named after the The teeth are colleague who recognised it as small, round or belonging to genus Mesodon. elongate, and used for The specimen’s counterpart was crushing food re-united with the type when the such as crustaceans Museum purchased the Beckles and molluscs

Collection in 1891. ▼

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 19 Clockwise from top left: Enchodus pulchellus Woodward, holotype (NHM P1703) left- hand side of head and opercular area

CT Scan image of Sardinioides illustrans

Sardinioides illustrans (right lateral view). This particular specimen is from the English Chalk and was acquired with the Enniskillen Collection

Maud Leonora Ida Seeley, later Lady Woodward. The couple married in June 1894

Lebanon acid on fossil fish preserved in chalk. Several other collections of fossil fish Today the Museum uses one of the most ➤ FURTHER INFO To find out more about this great British obtained by the Museum rank in effective (and non-destructive) scientist why not come to the one-day importance with the Egerton and investigative methods – X-ray computed symposium being held at the NHM in Enniskillen collections, one being the tomography or CT scanning. The London on Wednesday 21 May, to Lewis collection (acquired 1875-95). Of collection contains numerous chalk celebrate his 150th birthday? Entrance is the 11,500 or so registered specimens fossil fish preserved in full or partial 3D. free to all but registration is required as mentioned in the ‘Catalogue’, the top four CT scanning is currently being used to numbers are limited. Go to collections in number are: Enniskillen (c. investigate fossils such as Sardinioides www.nhm.ac.uk and type ‘Woodward 2250), Egerton (c. 1884), Mantell (454) and illustrans. With careful processing a 150’ in the search box for further details, Lewis (416). However, compared to the wealth of detail can be revealed, leading or find it in Events on the Society general nature of the Egerton and to improved characterisation of species. website. The organisers gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Enniskillen collections, the Lewis Peter Forey wrote in 20042: “The Geological Society. collection is composed entirely of Upper fossil fish collection at the Natural Cretaceous fossil fish from Lebanon. History Museum is, without a doubt, ➤ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS They were collected by the Rev. Professor the finest such collection in the world (I Special thanks to Hermione Beckett of E R Lewis of the Syrian Protestant make this claim with evidence and the Oxford University (CT scan). All other College, Beirut. Apart from the fact that without shame)”. It is used almost daily images © Natural History Museum 30 of the specimens mentioned in the by visiting scientists from around the ‘Catalogue’, are type specimens, the Lewis globe. Arthur Smith Woodward collection contains some of the most certainly did much to make it what it is beautifully preserved fossil fish, such as today, and he should certainly be REFERENCES Aipichthys velifer. remembered for that. u Fossil preparation techniques have 1 Lady Smith Woodward’s Memoirs, The Natural come a long way since Smith History Museum Library Archive Woodward’s time, such as the acid *Dr Mike Smith is a consultant structural 2 Forey, P, The Spawning of the Fossil Fish Collection, preparation method pioneered at the engineer employed principally in the offshore oil Set in Stone, The NHM Palaeontology Dept. Museum by Harry Toombs (1909-87) in and gas industry. He also works as a volunteer Newsletter, Autumn 2004. Vol. 2, No. 3 the 1930s and 40s, who used weak acetic at the NHM on the fossil fish collection

20 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as 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

Radwaste – rather more heat than light?

Radwaste factual corrections The Editor has made it clear that the recent exchange of views over confidence". Although the identification of possible sites for disposal of radioactive waste CoRWM was therefore in the UK is now closed. It is, I think, well understood that the views not charged with a expressed in Soapbox articles, as with any other article in the specifically geological magazine unless where explicitly stated otherwise, are those of the task, the Geological authors alone, and are not endorsed by the Society. However, Society nonetheless some Fellows have expressed concern that simple factual errors made strong may sometimes appear uncorrected in Geoscientist as a result of representation the editorial freedom extended to authors of Soapbox articles, concerning the and that this may be a source of confusion for Fellows and others omission of any trying to get to grips with the topic. geological expertise In view of this, I would like to take this opportunity as on CoRWM at Editor-in-Chief to make the following factual corrections to that time. information presented in the article ‘Fallout over Radioactive Waste’, The Society which appeared in the December 2013/January 2014 issue organised a meeting (Geoscientist 23.11). in January 2006 on The article stated that: “Reports in 1999 by the Royal Society and ‘Geosciences and the Long Term Management of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Radioactive Wastes’, which brought together global experts in recommended a national site search, led by geological criteria. Radwaste Disposal to describe their approach to disposal, which However the 2001 Defra white paper Managing Radioactive Waste was universally for a deep geological repository, albeit within a Safely ignored this advice, proposing 'voluntarism'. CoRWM, the range of geological scenarios. This meeting was influential in committee set up to develop deep geological disposal for UK helping CoRWM with its deliberations. In July 2006, CoRWM intermediate and high-level radwaste, which reported in 2006, recommended geological disposal as the preferred technical contained not a single Earth scientist." solution for higher level wastes, together with a principle of In fact the 2001 Defra White Paper was the launch of a process voluntarism and equal partnership between any potential host to decide how government policy on long-term waste management community and the implementing body throughout the site should be developed, following the failure of the previous policy selection process. These recommendations were adopted as approach based on geological disposal, and it was written partly in Government policy. response to the 1999 reports. It did not propose geological After further public consultation on a framework for site selection, disposal, by "voluntarism" or any other means, but it did lead the 2008 White Paper did indeed set out a process based on to the establishment of the Committee on Radioactive Waste voluntarism, combined with staged technical assessments. Management (CoRWM). A number of deficiencies in the 2008 process became apparent as CoRWM was also not set up to develop deep geological a result of engagement with communities in West Cumbria, which disposal. On the contrary; given concern over lack of public had expressed an interest in hosting a geological repository. DECC confidence in the previous policy approach, its remit was to entered into a new round of consultation on the siting process in consider afresh all the possible options for long-term waste 2013, to which the Society has contributed, but geological disposal management and to "make recommendations for the long-term and the principle of community voluntarism as the basis of policy management of the UK's higher activity wastes that would both are not in question. A new White Paper is expected later this year. protect the public and the environment, and inspire public PROF. PETER STYLES

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

Earth in 100 Image: Trazos sobre Papel / Shutterstock.com Groundbreaking Discoveries Recently, a friend sheepishly returned this book to me. “Sorry, seem to have had it for quite a while”, he Hot springs in Pamukkale, Turkey said as he handed it over. A piece of paper fell out there’s stuff worth saving out there. water and colloidal characteristics. which said “Dear It’s also a solidly constructed, In common with the 1st edition, the Mrs Kenny, Thank you for agreeing to fairly heavy book, good for use as a clay minerals are described in a chapter review this book…”. “What did you bludgeon to threaten a friend who has on each of the Kaolin, Smectite and Mica write?” asked my friend. The polite “borrowed” it for so long it probably Clay (Illite) groups and on Vermiculite. version of my reply was that the book counts as stolen. This edition additionally includes had not been in my hands long enough separate chapters on mixed-layer and for me to review it. Reviewed by Catherine Kenny inter-layered clay minerals, and the This is one of this book’s defining Palygorskite and Sepiolite clay minerals. characteristics. It’s nice-looking, easy to EARTH IN 100 GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERIES The chapter on mixed-layer clay minerals pick up; you can dip into it at random DOUGLAS PALMER, Published by Quercus Publishing examines the contentious issue of the and flick through its beautiful 2011 ISBN 978-0-85738-501-7 416 pages physical nature of the random and long- illustrations and it’s almost impossible List price: £15.00 www.quercusbooks.co.uk range ordered phases, with an extensive not to find something that grabs your review of the current XRD and electron attention. The stories about each chosen microprobe evidence for the various discovery are entertaining and before you structural interpretations for the mode of know it, the person who has picked it up origin for these clays. is settled in a chair with it, and then – Sheet Silicates - The focus of the second edition is ‘borrowing’ it. Clay Minerals: largely on the nature and occurrence of Despite a strong Earth the clay minerals in a mineralogical and science/geology slant there is no Rock-Forming Minerals geological context. However, the volume technical jargon and it has appealed to a reflects the fact that clay mineralogy is an wide range of people passing through my This long awaited 2nd interdisciplinary science, with lounge. It’s like a bound copy of an edition to Deer, considerable reference to the research annual subscription to National Howie and progress made in many other Geographic, but without all the adverts Zussman’s landmark complimentary science disciplines, for aspirational photography equipment. Rock-Forming Minerals including soil science, environmental By the very nature of the book the articles series, presents a science and engineering, colloid are generally short and occasionally significant revision chemistry and ceramic/material sciences. lacking in detail (for example the book and re-organisation of Primarily aimed at sedimentary contains the only article about the the volume on these geologists, mineralogists and soil Burgess Shale that I have ever read that important sheet scientists, researchers in related fields does not mention Hallucigenia), but silicate minerals. The edition reflects the will find this revision an essential conversely, it is the short ‘taster’ nature fundamental advances made in clay reference work. of the articles that make it so easy to dip mineral science during the period since The volume is exceptionally well in and out. the initial publication in 1961. written, with clear and appropriate This makes it ideal reading for (as Beginning with an introductory figures, diagrams and XRD, microprobe demonstrated) coffee tables, or for people overview to the clay minerals (describing and mineral-chemical data-tables. The like myself, as a working parent of two the clay mineral ‘concept’, their author is to be congratulated on an small children, whose reading time is structure/classification, excellent revision, which will remain as often constrained to the run-time of an identification/characterisation, origin, the foremost research reference work in episode of Peppa Pig, bathroom breaks occurrence, distribution and applications), the field for many years to come. and the 10 minutes between actually each group is described and presented in getting into bed and sleeping. It’s full of separate chapters in the established Reviewed by Mark Griffin celebratory wonder at the amazing planet format of the RFM series: structure, we call home, and in these often chemistry, optical and physical properties, SHEET SILICATES – CLAY MINERALS: ROCK- miserable times of double-dip recession distinguishing features and paragenesis. FORMING MINERALS V. 3C (SECOND EDITION) and climatic disruption, it is good to step This edition also places more emphasis on DEER, HOWIE AND ZUSSMAN back and take a look at our tiny problems special clay-like properties such as ion- M J WILSON, 2013. The Geological Society of London. ISBN 978-1-86239-359-2 hbk 724pp. from the vast perspective of our exchange, adsorption, their ability to form ISSN 2041-6296 List price: £120.00 geological past, but also to know that organic complexes, interactions with

22 | APRIL 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]

The Self-Potential Method illustrations to a supporting website. discussed and complemented by Where colour is needed, colour is discussion from other geoscience The self-potential (SP) supplied and several of the case studies disciplines with no apparent bias. method is the ugly would have been incomprehensible The discussion of the differences (and duckling of modern without it. similarities) between the thermal, applied geophysics. It is, perhaps, hard to share completely chemical, mechanical and rheological Initially developed for the optimism of the writer of the boundary layers is particularly well mineral exploration, foreword, when she claims that the book handled using this format which draws and recording some will “undoubtedly lead to more on a wide range of petrological, spectacular early acceptance of the self-potential method”. geochemical and geophysical evidence. successes, it inevitably Nevertheless, it should. The book is well illustrated throughout fell into disfavour and, beyond the introductory chapters, once it had been shown that many ore- Reviewed by John Milsom there is rarely a double page without an bodies that were easily detectable by other insightful figure. The format is easy to electrical means produced no SP response. THE SELF-POTENTIAL METHOD. THEORY AND dip into, with a good number of tables The equipment is cheap, but noise levels APPLICATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCES summarising key points from which the are often high and the precautions needed ANDRÉ REVIL & ABDERRAHIM JARDANI, Published by reader can quickly assemble important to obtain good-quality results are all too Cambridge University Press: 2013 ISBN 978-0-107- references for further investigation. 01927-0. 369 pp.UK List price: £75.00 often neglected. The difficulties are most www.cambridge.org/revilandjardani The references cited are plentiful and severe in environmental applications, appropriate, ranging from the to more where anomalies are seldom more than a contemporary articles which together few tens of millivolts and may well be lost provide opportunities for impressive in the noise. amounts of further reading. Bravely, Revil and Jardani have set out This book is probably most appropriate to counter the prevailing negative views, The Lithosphere: an for graduate students, researchers and and to do so by adopting an interdisciplinary professionals needing a one-stop volume uncompromisingly mathematical for all things lithospheric. There is no approach. The titles of the eight chapters approach mistaking what this volume is going to seem innocent enough (‘Fundamentals’, This is an impressive tell you – it is 773 pages of non-stop ‘Development of the Theory’, ‘Laboratory volume. From the lithosphere that is surprisingly difficult to Investigations’, ‘Forward and Inverse eye-catching cover put down, despite its weight. Modelling’, ‘Applications to Geohazards’, design to the ‘Applications to Water Resources’, integrated style of Reviewed by Jason Harvey ‘Applications to Hydrothermal Systems’ the book, it is a and, finally, ‘Seismo-Electric Coupling’) well crafted THE LITHOSPHERE AN but few pages pass without at least one compilation of our INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH equation, often of startling ferocity. current knowledge IRINA ARTEMIEVA, Published by Cambridge University Press, 2011. 773pp. ISBN 9780521843966 Fortunately, the prose style is generally of the lithosphere, List price: £90.00 www.cambridge.org lucid and even readers who are unable to its composition and structure. follow the mathematics have much to gain The interdisciplinary approach makes it from the text. Practical considerations are particularly attractive for those BOOKS Available for review not neglected, and the case histories geoscientists who have never really got to chosen are relevant and adequately grips with the other lithospheric Please contact [email protected] if you would documented. Their treatments in the book disciplines that might just be of use (as a like to supply a review. You will be invited to keep the are not always comprehensive, but the geochemist myself, the geophysical review copy. See a full up-to-date list at www.geolsoc.org.uk/reviews original papers can be used by anyone aspects of the book are very approachable wishing to take things further. and, for the non-specialist, the level of the u NEW! Responsible Leadership - lessons from In line with the book’s subtitle, the geochemistry content seems appropriate). the front line of sustainability and ethics, by Sir use of SP surveys in mineral exploration The individual chapters cover a wide Mark Moody-Stuart. 2014 Greenleaf Publishing is considered only very briefly, and the range of topics, including geophysical, 354pp (hbk) SP logs familiar in the oil industry (where geochemical and structural aspects of the u NEW! Essentials of Igneous & Metamorphic the effects observed are actually caused by lithosphere. Individual chapters Petrology by Ronald Frost & Carol Frost 2014 the presence of the borehole and the dedicated to specific subjects include, for Cambridge University Press 303pp (sbk) drilling fluid) are not discussed at all. example, the thermal state, the age, flexure u NEW! 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Where a particular geological Society for the Micropalaeontological practice (in at least one recent applied line of argument is pursued, the evidence Society 2014 360pp (hbk) geophysics text) of relegating colour is cited; its strengths and weaknesses are

WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | APRIL 2014 | 23 William Smith Meeting 2014 The Future of Sequence Stratigraphy: Evolution or Revolution?

22–23 September 2014 The Geological Society, Burlington House

This meeting is intended to bring together a diverse range of sedimentary geologists to foster a critical examination of the current state of the sequence stratigraphic model, and to highlight robust new methods, concepts and protocols that could evolve or maybe even potentially revolutionize stratigraphic understanding and prediction. Developments in this area seem likely to come from a combination of outcrop, geostatistical/stochastic approaches, physical experiments including large flume tank studies, and numerical approaches to the modelling of erosion-transport-depositional systems, all under the umbrella of the Landscape Into Rock concept. However, we will also encourage presentation of brand-new innovative methods, including cross-disciplinary methods that bring in ideas from other branches of science. The meeting will be organized into a series of themed sessions, with an emphasis on provocative but practical presentations. Presentations will be scheduled to ensure there is plenty of time to debate all the issues raised in the meeting. In a final session, the conveners will chair a discussion targeted at achieving a consensus view on how the subject should move forward. Convenors: Professor Peter Burgess (Royal Holloway University London) Conference Sessions: Professor Philip Allen (Imperial College London) • Does sequence stratigraphy provide testable predictions? Professor Paul Wright (PWGC ltd) • Are the assumptions in the sequence stratigraphic model still valid? • Varying Earth surface systems through time and the consequences for Call for Abstracts: sequence stratigraphic prediction There is a call for abstracts and oral and poster contributions are • Sediment routing and variable sediment supply: do these fundamentally change the model? invited. Abstracts should be sent in a Word document to [email protected] by 30 April. The abstract should • The consequences of non-uniqueness for interpretation and prediction be approximately 500 words and include a title and • What next for sequence stratigraphy? Evolution of revolution? acknowledgement of authors and their affiliations where possible. Confirmed Keynote Speakers: Ron Steel (University of Texas & University of Aberdeen) William Smith lecture Further information: Henry Posamentier (Chevron) Does sequence stratigraphy provide testable predictions? For further information about the conference please contact: Andrew Miall (University of Toronto) Are the sequence stratigraphic Naomi Newbold, Conference Office, The Geological Society, model assumptions still valid? Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG Mike Gurnis (Caltech) Is there a stable reference point for eustatic T: 0207 434 9944 E: [email protected] curve construction? W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/wsmith14 Tetsuji Muto (University of Nagasaki) The consequences of non-uniqueness for sequence stratigraphy Follow this event on Twitter #wsmith14 GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE NEWS

Geoscientists in the news and on the PEOPLE NEWS move in the UK, Europe and worldwide CAROUSEL IN MEMORIAM WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/OBITUARIES All Fellows of the Society are entitled to entries in this column. Email [email protected], quoting your Fellowship number. THE SOCIETY NOTES WITH SADNESS THE PASSING OF: u Blackburn, James Kirk * Little, Betsy A * Tony Brown Bowler, Christopher Michael Lance * Middleton, John * Tony Brown, of the University of Southampton Chapman, W T * Miller, James * (Geography & Environment) and Director of its Dean, William T Million, Ronald * Palaeoenvironmental Research Laboratory (PLUS) was Holroyd, J D * Moffatt, William Stewart * inaugurated as President the Ussher Society Hudson, Neal F C * Robson, Geoffrey Robert * (Geosciences SW ) at its AGM in Weston-Super- Jacqué, Maurice * Spencer, Peter Murray * Mare in January. Professor Brown researches Quaternary geology of Jones, Brian Lloyd * Spurr, Arthur M M* SW England and Africa with a particular emphasis on river gravels Leckie, George Gallie * Williams, Colin L * and floodplain sediment, climate and human impact. He also undertakes both research and practice in forensic palynology, and In the interests of recording its Fellows' work for posterity, the Society enjoys many links with industry - particularly aggregates companies publishes obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. The most recent additions and archaeological consultancies. to the list are shown in bold. Fellows for whom no obituarist has yet been commissioned are marked with an asterisk (*). The symbol § indicates that biographical material has been lodged with the Society. u Richard Lisle Richard Lisle, Professor of Structural Geology at Cardiff If you would like to contribute an obituary, please email ted.nield@geolsoc. University, has been presented with a lifetime career org.uk to be commissioned. You can read the guidance for authors at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save yourself unnecessary work, award from the International Association for please do not write anything until you have received a commissioning letter. Mathematical Geosciences. The award was made at their 15th Annual Conference in Madrid, September Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is forthcoming have their names 2013. The award is given ‘for an outstanding career expanding and dates recorded in a Roll of Honour at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. structural geology frontiers’ DISTANT THUNDER The secret agent

Featherstonhaugh's working life. diplomatic life, and Even in Geologist and science He was elected a fellow of the he successfully this act writer Nina Morgan* Geological Society of London, campaigned to the Consul discovers how a geologist abandoned his work on become the British was the saved the skin of the agriculture and railways, and Consul in La Havre, geologist, for King of France concentrated on geology. France. He took up he passed off He returned to the United States the post in 1844, and the ex-King as The career of George William in 1828, and in 1834 - with the for a few years enjoyed a his uncle, William Featherstonhaugh (1780-1866, support of quiet and congenial career. Smith, the father of pron. ‘Fanshaw’) was nothing if (1792-1871) - won an English geology!" not colourful. Born in London, appointment as a government Revolution Luckily for all concerned, and after a failed career in geologist in the United States. Then, in 1848, the February biometric passports had not yet commerce, he emigrated to the Featherstonhaugh went on to Revolution hit France, forcing been invented, and none of the USA in 1807 where he worked survey and report on vast areas King Louis Philippe to follow his immigration officials realised that to promote the application of of America, covering states and predecessor, Charles X, into the father of English geology had scientific principles to territories ranging from Arkansas exile in England - and enabling died nine years earlier! agriculture. He also played a to parts of Wisconsin, Featherstonhaugh to draw on role in the establishment of the Minnesota, North Carolina and both his diplomatic and ➤ Acknowledgement first successful railway in the neighbouring states. Only the geological skills. As Roderick Sources for this vignette include United States, which ran withdrawal of funding seems to Murchison recalled: The Life of Sir Roderick between Schenectady and have prevented him from "In the French revolution of Murchison by ; Albany in New York. completing a geological map of 1848, when Louis Philippe fled the entry for George William Featherstonhaugh by Robert the United States. from Paris and was hid in a Stafford in the Oxford William Smith In 1839 his focus again cottage with Queen Amelie[sic] Dictionary of National When he returned to England in changed, and he drew on his on the south bank of the Seine Biography, and the Wikipedia 1826 to research railway mapping skills to survey opposite to Havre, it was entries for Louis Philippe and developments he met William disputed territory between the Featherstonhaugh, the British the 1848 revolution. Image: By Smith (1769-1839), who United States and Britain on the Consul at Havre, who managed Taber via Wikimedia Commons instructed him in the principles border between Maine and New to get the family of 'Mr. Smith' of geology. This meeting seems Brunswick. This apparently over by night, and popped them *Nina Morgan geologist and to have marked an epiphany in gave him a taste for the into a British steam-packet. writer based in Oxford

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

OBITUARY DUNCAN MURCHISON 1928-2013

Father of organic petrology, distinguished rofessor Duncan academic leader and society officer came to science. Above all, George Murchison he will be remembered as a FRSE died on 13 colourful fellow, always November 2013 jovial, of great character. P after a long and He was a keen distinguished career as photographer, philatelist, a researcher, academic and an entrepreneur. With leader, learned society officer Mick Jones he established a and entrepreneur. successful geological

Murchison, the father of consultancy at Newcastle, UK organic petrology, carrying out vitrinite graduated in Geology from reflectance measurements King’s College, Newcastle for oil and gas companies where he was President of the and drilling~ services. Students’ Union (1953-54). He then worked as a geologist with Royal Dutch Shell, DUNCAN completing his PhD with Stanley Westoll at Durham WAS FRIENDLY, University prior to joining the FULL OF LAUGHTER, Department of Geology in BUT SERIOUS Newcastle (January 1958). He was appointed Lecturer WHEN IT CAME (1960), promoted Senior TO SCIENCE Lecturer (1968), Reader in ~ Geochemistry (1971) and Duncan won the Society’s Professor of Geochemistry Distinguished Service (1976). He was Dean of the Award (2007) in recognition University’s Faculty of of his Herculean task as Science (1980-83) and served of vitrinite, was published in and Mick Jones made it the Treasurer, overseeing a as Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 1958. Together with Jones, UK centre for coal petrology complete revision of the 1986 until retirement in 1993, Goodarzi, Cook and many and organic geochemistry - Society's accounting when he was made Emeritus others he developed and introducing the first methods, bringing into Professor. He also served published an important body postgraduate courses in this accord with charity as Acting Vice-Chancellor of work on the optical area. The OGU became a accounting rules. In the (1991). properties of metal oxides, ore Postgraduate P–institute words of his citation: “All of minerals, natural and during the UGC Earth science this was achieved at the Treasurer carbonised coal macerals and reorganisations of the late expense of long hours of Duncan was a Fellow, Council the impact of igneous 1980s and became the ‘Fossil travel from Newcastle - member and Treasurer of the intrusions on coal rank and Fuels and Environmental including many letters to Geological Society of London sediment maturity. Duncan Geochemistry Postgraduate GNER about the state of and belonged to a number of carried out pivotal early work Institute’ (FFEGI), more their toilets - and was done international commissions. in vitrinite reflectance and commonly known as NRG. with a characteristic sense of He was President of the Royal with Westoll also published Many of the coal and organic good humour that made the Microscopical Society, was Coal and Coal Bearing Strata petrologists currently acceptance of unpalatable ICCP Treasurer for many (1968). Duncan was elected working in coal science and necessities that much easier”. years and its President (1979- Fellow of the Royal Society of fossil fuels today hail from 83). He was the 1987 Edinburgh in 1971. the Unit Duncan founded. ➤ Steve Larter, Fari Goodarzi Thiessen medallist and He founded the Organic and Judith Potter. You can lifelong honorary member Geochemistry Unit in Character read a longer version of this of TSOP. Newcastle in 1968, and Duncan was friendly, full of obituary online His first paper, Reflectance together with Archie Douglas laughter, but serious when it

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 | APRIL 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 Surface and Borehole Geophysics for 3 April Venue: Fugro House, Wallingford, Oxfordshire. A free one-day technical course on the theory and practical application of Ground Investigation surface geophysical survey techniques and wireline/borehole techniques including demonstration. Contact: Steve Poulter T: 01491 820423 E: [email protected]

Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) 4, 11 April Venue: Fugro House, Wallingford, Oxfordshire; De Vere Village Hotel Leeds North, Otley Road, Leeds. A free one-day technical course describing the principles of CPT in situ testing. Contact: Steve Poulter T: 01491 820423 E: [email protected]

Borehole Design Construction and 28 April - 02 Venue: School of Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University. 30% discount to Fellows. See website, or Operation May W: www.ncl.ac.uk/cegs.cpd/contact.php. Contact: [email protected]

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

DIARY OF MEETINGS APRIL 2014 MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS Zeolites – just boiling Stones? Geologists’ Assoc. 4 April Venue: Burlington House. Time: 1730 for 1800. Contact Sarah Stafford E: [email protected]

From Mantle to Mineralisation: The Diary of a 60 Ma 8 April Venue: Lapworth Museum of Geology. Speaker: Brian O'Driscoll, Keele University. Time: 1800 for 1830. Magma Chamber. West Midlands Regional Contact Daniel Welch E: [email protected]

Social Event – Skittles. Southern Wales regional 9 April Venue: Halfway, Cathedral Road, Cardiff. Time: 1730 for 1800. Contact E: [email protected]

Christchurch Earthquake - geotechnics of 9 April Venue: Burlington House. Speaker: Prof. Mike Davies. Time: Not available at time of writing. rehabilitation. Engineering Group Contact: Mike Casey T: +44 (0)113 242 8498 E: [email protected]

GA Field Meeting: The Chalk of the Hertfordshire and 12 April Field Excursion. Leader: Haydon Bailey. Contact Sarah Stafford E: [email protected]. Cambridgeshire Border. Geologists’ Assoc. W: www.geologistsassociation.org.uk/lectures.html

Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide: meeting the 14-15 April Venue: Burlington House. See website for details. Contact: Naomi Newbould global challenge. Geological Society; AAPG E: [email protected]

Symposium in Honour of David Roberts 14-15 April Venue: Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London. See website for details and links. Royal Holloway, University of London Call for abstracts deadline extended.

Railway Earthworks & Cutting Stability - Lessons 15 April Venue: Main Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff. Speaker: Mike Gallop, Network Rail. Contact from the Winter of 2012. Southern Wales Regional E: [email protected]

The Geology & Geotechnics of the Forth Crossing 15 April Venue: University of Portsmouth; Lecturers: Stephen West & Jenny Symons, Ramboll. Time: 1800. Solent Regional Contact: Wendy Fergusson E: [email protected]

Fracking (title TBC). Geological Society 16 April A London Lecture. Please see advert on p.6 Speaker: Richard Davies (University of Durham). Contact: Naomi Newbould E: [email protected]

Geological Factors in Major Landslides and Slope 18 April Venue: The Swan, Golborne Road, Winwick, Warrington. Speaker: Steve Hencher. Time not available at time Stability. North West regional of writing. Contact: Nik Reynolds E: [email protected]

AGM and Talk on Chalk Mines 22 April Venue: Sir Robert McAlpine, Eaton Court, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead HP2 7TR. Time: 1800 for 1830 Home Counties North Regional (AGM) 1900 (Talk: 'Chalk mines and solution features in Hertfordshire and the problems they cause’). Speaker: Dr Clive Edmonds. Contact: [email protected]

Rockwatch Fossil Collecting Field Trip 26 April Venue: Shorncote Quarry, Gloucs. Time: 1030 - 1600. For Rockwatch members only. Contact: Geraldine Marshall E: [email protected]

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

OBITUARY DAVID THOMPSON 1932-2013

Geoscience educator and founder member of the Worth Prize avid Barnard Association of Teachers of Geology Thompson, known David was given an to many as ‘DBT’, Honorary Award by the was born and International Geoscience D educated in Education Organisation at its Manchester before being Conference in Hilo, Hawaii among the very first intake in 1997 for his contributions of students at Keele to geoscience education University, which he left, in worldwide, while the 1954, with a first class profound influence that honours degree. David has had on geoscience

In 1967, David became a education in this country founder member of the was recognised by the

Association of Teachers of Geological Society in 2002 in Geology (ATG) – the awarding David the R H organisation which has Worth Prize.~ supported geology teaching and geology teachers ever since (becoming the Earth DAVID WAS Science Teachers’ Association (ESTA) in 1988). David not THE BEST PERSON IN only founded ATG/ESTA; he THE WORLD TO ‘was’ ATG/ESTA for many LEARN FROM ABOUT years, as a Council member for 37 years, for a very long Image: John Reynolds EARTH-SCIENCE stint as Editor of the journal EDUCATION … AND between 1979 and 1986, ABOUT THE ESSENCE and as President from 1986 until 1988. OF EDUCATION IN GENERAL ESTA In appreciation, David was ~ granted Honorary Life University, and promoted to learn from David about the David was a truly Membership of ESTA in 1990. Senior Lecturer in 1977. essence of Earth-science inspirational figure in This underplays the critical He taught his students how to education. We all came geoscience education, science role David had in guiding educate children to think, because David is one of the education and geology. ESTA and in marshalling the how to engage them in two founders of modern His work inspired troops for battle every time learning and how to aspire to Earth-science education. generations of teachers both that Earth science education become ‘the professional David was the best person in in this country and abroad – was under threat. He played teacher’ that David always the world to learn from about but even more importantly, high-profile roles in was. Many new teachers Earth-science education … these teachers have gone on influential committees, in learnt from him and and about the essence of to inspire generations of lobbying, and in examination prepared to pick up the baton education in general. young people to become assessment, maintaining and at a later date. David was a born educator involved in geology. developing the role of Earth David received several and was one of the few They in turn learned a science education in this long-term visitors from researchers whom I met whole variety of skills country for many years. abroad. One of them, Nir during my career, who could crucial to them in later life In 1972, after 15 years' Orion, wrote: “I met … many teach and educate by being a and often developed a hobby teaching in Manchester, young Earth-science role model and not by for life as well. David was appointed education researchers who lecturing.” Nir went on to lecturer in geology and came to Keele from all over transform school-level Earth ➤ By Chris King science education at Keele the world like pilgrims, to science education in Israel.

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

CROSSWORD NO.178 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL PUBLICATION!

The winner of the February Crossword puzzle prize draw was Anthony Lewis-Bates of Plymouth, UK.

All correct solutions will be placed in the draw, and the winner’s name printed in the June 2014 issue. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date - 22 April.

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 Underground rumbles (10) 1 En echelon faults that dip and ...... downthrow in the same 6 Graphically illustrate (4) direction (4) Membership number ...... 9 What a previously underground stream 2 Volcanic mid-Atlantic freezer (7) does (7) Address for correspondence ...... 3 Mixed rock, part metamorphic, 10 Remnant portions of nappes after erosion part igneous (13) ...... has removed their connections (7) 4 Phosphoprotein common in 12 Symbiotic but non-mutual relationship ...... cheese, hence the name (6) between organisms of different species ...... (10) 5 Showers of glass from the sky (8) 13 Volcanic product (3) ...... 7 What minerals do for the 15 Fly whose aquatic larva has tectonic original material, during ...... tendencies (6) fossilization (7) 16 River bends (8) Postcode ...... 8 Big gun author of Smith Map 18 New-born (8) book (10) 20 Angle between a linear structure, such as 11 They who study the system that a fold axis, and the horizontal (6) protects organisms from SOLUTIONS FEBRUARY 23 infection (13) Medical imaging scanner (1,1,1) ACROSS: 14 Thrifty, literally with money - 24 Communism, Fascism, Platonism, etc 1 Duck billed 6 Utah 9 Coulomb 10 Lambent figuratively, with truth (10) (10) 12 Appendages 13 Err 15 Retort 16 Reddened 17 Hugo's 'morne plaine' (8) 26 Erosional feature formed by stream, river, 18 Comedies 20 Andean 23 Ion 24 Blueprints turbidity current, etc (7) 19 Electron acceptor - in the west? 26 Pompeii 27 Orients 28 Dirt 29 Interstate (7) 27 Remove guilt (7) 21 Three stacks of Wight chalk (7) DOWN: 28 Time equivalent of upper (4) 1 Dace 2 Crumpet 3 Biodegradable 4 Libido 22 Higher than a neutral 7 (6) 29 They who hold that only the self certainly 5 Eclogues 7 Therein 8 Heterodyne exists (10) 25 Thunderer (4) 11 Misidentifies 14 Brachiopod 17 Delusion 19 Monomer 21 Estonia 22 Oppose 25 Isle

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

30 | APRIL 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Fermor Meeting 2014: Comparative Planetology

19-20 May 2014

The Geological Society, Burlington House

A great deal of new data on the terrestrial planets and moons has been produced recently from numerous planetary orbiters, together with rovers. This meeting is planned to bring together scientists who are studying aspects of planetary science on terrestrial planets in the inner solar system. Presentations will fall under three broad themes: Planetary crusts and interiors, planetary surfaces and surface processes (including volcanism, tectonic activity, sedimentation, and impact cratering), and planetary climates and atmospheres. Links between the three themes will be investigated, to develop ideas of exchange between the interior, exterior and atmosphere of planetary-scale bodies.

Topics for discussion: Further information: • Internal structures • Volcanism • Tectonics Naomi Newbold, Conference Office, • Sedimentation • Cratering • Analogues • Samples • Rovers • Remote sensing The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, Conveners: Speakers include: London W1J 0BG Professor Hilary Downes FGS Dr Ellen Stofan (NASA Chief T: 0207 434 9944 Venus-Earth-Mars- Professor Ian Crawford FRAS Scientist) E: [email protected] Titan: Comparing Surfaces, W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/fermor14 Dr Peter Grindrod FGS, FRAS Comparing Climates Follow this event on Twitter #fermor14 Dr David Catling (University of Registration fees: Washington, Seattle USA) GSL and RAS Fellows £100 Atmospheric evolution on Rocky Planets Non-Fellows £150 Retired £55 Dr Mary Bourke (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland) Students £50 Blows and flows on Martian dunes Professor Sanjeev Gupta (Imperial, London, UK) Recent explorations of the Curiosity rover Dr Nick Tosca (St Andrews, UK) Alien surfaces: interpreting the mineralogical record of early Earth and Mars Dr David W Mittlefehldt (JSC Houston) Dawn at Vesta