GeoscientistThe Fellowship magazine of The Geological Society of London | www.geolsoc.org.uk | Volume 23 No 9 | October 2013

NUMBERS GAME Explaining UK shale gas resource figures to the media SHALE GAS [SPECIAL] CHARNIA THREAT Secrecy is not the way to save the Bradgate Park exposure

MEET THE FRACKERS Iain Stewart and Hazel Gibson explore the US experience of the shale gas ‘bonanza’

CONTENTS GEOSCIENTIST

IN THIS ISSUE OCTOBER 2013

FEATURES

16 NUMBERS GAME Mike Stephenson (BGS) on what it’s like to be caught in a media feeding frenzy REGULARS

05 WELCOME Ted Nield is exasperated by bickering over energy sources when we are going to need all of it, and savings too 06 SOCIETY NEWS What your Society is doing at home and abroad, in London and the regions 09 SOAPBOX Joel Gill on how geoscience can help 10 COVER FEATURE: MEET THE FRACKERS alleviate global poverty Shale gas - fatal distraction or essential 21 LETTERS We welcome your thoughts bridge over a looming energy gap? 22 BOOK & ARTS One exhibition and three books reviewed by Douglas Palmer, Ted Nield, John Dewey and John Marshall 24 PEOPLE Geoscientists in the news and on the move 26 OBITUARY Two distinguished Fellows remembered 27 CALENDAR Society activities this month 29 CROSSWORD Win a special publication of your choice ONLINE SPECIALS

n CHARNIA Roger Mason, the ‘schoolboy’ who first saw the famous fossils in Bradgate Park, Leicester, on moves 16 22 to protect this priceless exposure

OCTOBER 2013 03

~ EDITOR’S COMMENT GEOSCIENTIST TENSIONS MAY ARISE BETWEEN LOCALS AND INCOMERS; SOCIAL COHESION CAN FALTER Front cover image~ FRACK THIS s this month’s feature articles Geoscientist is the E enquiries@centuryone demonstrate, whether in the UK or Fellowship magazine of publishing.ltd.uk the USA, the PR problems associated the Geological Society W www.centuryone of London publishing.ltd.uk with shale gas are not primarily geological. They are, though, The Geological Society, ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE comparable to every other Burlington House, Piccadilly, Jonathan Knight London W1J 0BG T 01727 739 193 energy-related PR problem. T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 E jonathan@centuryone EverybodyA wants energy, as much of it if possible, F +44 (0)20 7439 8975 publishing.ltd.uk E [email protected] and cheap. And nobody wants it to be generated - or (Not for Editorial) ART EDITOR its feedstocks extracted - by any method whatever, Heena Gudka Publishing House anywhere at all, and certainly not near where they The Geological Society DESIGN & PRODUCTION live - unless they become rich in the process, in which Publishing House, Unit 7, Sarah Astington Brassmill Enterprise Centre, case it’s fine, because they can move somewhere else. Brassmill Lane, Bath PRINTED BY Beyond this stretches a dreary and transparent BA1 3JN Century One Publishing Ltd. litany of ostensible objections masking real motives. T 01225 445046 F 01225 442836 Copyright Where a thousand bogus reasons bloom, bogus, The Geological Society of pseudoscientific reasoning thrives. Library London is a Registered Charity, T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 number 210161. The environmental movement opposes F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 ISSN (print) 0961-5628 underground disposal of radioactive waste, but does E [email protected] ISSN (online) 2045-1784 so for the political reason that, once solved, radwaste EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ceases to be a stick with which they can beat the Professor Peter Styles FGS The Geological Society of London nuclear industry. Opponents of shale gas are loud on accepts no responsibility for the EDITOR views expressed in any article in such issues as groundwater contamination, seismic Dr Ted Nield NUJ FGS this publication. All views hazard and threats to wildlife (all largely illusory, but E [email protected] expressed, except where explicitly stated otherwise, highly emotive); yet they really oppose it because represent those of the author, and EDITORIAL BOARD not The Geological Society of they fear that a new, cheap hydrocarbon source will Dr Sue Bowler FGS London. All rights reserved. No Mr Steve Branch FGS paragraph of this publication may slacken the urgency to develop fossil-free methods of Dr Robin Cocks FGS be reproduced, copied or generation (other than nuclear, of course). Prof. Tony Harris FGS transmitted save with written permission. Users registered with Wind and photovoltaic farms are opposed in the Dr Howard Falcon- Copyright Clearance Center: the Lang FGS Journal is registered with CCC, countryside on the grounds of perceived Dr Jonathan Turner FGS 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA unsightliness, but mainly by those for whom the Dr Jan Zalasiewicz FGS 01970, USA. 0961- 5628/02/$15.00. countryside is an amenity, not something from which Trustees of the Geological Every effort has been made to to try to wring a meagre living. Solar panels are more Society of London trace copyright holders of material in this publication. If any welcome in towns, where wealthy owners of already Mr D T Shilston (President); rights have been omitted, the Mrs N K Ala; Dr M G publishers offer their apologies. ugly houses have roofscapes to let, and relish the Armitage; Prof R A Butler; Prof N A Chapman; No responsibility is assumed by returns. Windfarms – although said to be harmful to Dr A L Coe; Mr J Coppard; the Publisher for any injury and/or fowls of the air – largely fall foul of their visual Mr D J Cragg (Vice damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, novelty. Those of us who remember the president); Mrs N J negligence or otherwise, or from Dottridge; Mr C S Eccles; any use or operation of any establishment of the National Grid, and the first Dr M Edmonds; Prof A J methods, products, instructions appearance of its hideous pylons, will remember an Fraser (Secretary, Science); or ideas contained in the material Mrs M P Henton (Secretary, herein. Although all advertising identical outcry then (though more muted, because Professional Matters); material is expected to conform to people in the 50s and 60s still believed in ‘progress’ Mr D A Jones (Vice ethical (medical) standards, inclusion in this publication does and imagined that this consisted of concreting the president); Dr A Law not constitute a guarantee or (Treasurer); Prof R J Lisle; endorsement of the quality or countryside, wearing Bri-nylon clothes and eating Prof A R Lord (Secretary, value of such product or of the Foreign & External Affairs); claims made by its manufacturer. space rations). Prof D A C Manning Fracking, like radwaste disposal, is geological but, Subscriptions: All (President designate); correspondence relating to non- as with geology and wine, the geology is big behind Dr B R Marker OBE; member subscriptions should be Dr G Nichols; Dr L Slater; addresses to the Journals the scenes, and invisible ‘front of house’. While we Dr J P Turner (Secretary, Subscription Department, may enjoy the sight of MPs being arrested, what they Publications); Mr M E Young Geological Society Publishing House, Unit 7 Brassmill Enterprise and everyone mostly fail to see is that the greatest Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath, BA1 Published on behalf of 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 445046. Fax: immediate threat facing us is – running out of energy. the Geological Society of 01225 442836. Email: The societal dangers of that will be much quicker to London by [email protected]. The Century One Publishing subscription price for Volume 23, arrive than global warming - and we need everything Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam 2013 (11 issues) to institutions we have got – wind, nuclear, biomass, solar, shale Road, St Albans, Herts, and non-members is £108 (UK) AL3 4DG or £124 / US$247 (Rest of World). gas, conventionals, the lot – to stop it. T 01727 893 894 © 2013 The Geological Society F 01727 893 895 of London DR TED NIELD EDITOR

OCTOBER 2013 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS SOCIETYNEWS Face up to GEOFACETS JOIN COUNCIL!

Sign up to a webinar programme to learn about Edmund Nickless writes: Would the Geofacets GSL Millennium edition, says you consider standing for election Emily Milroy. to Council? Are you willing to Fellows are being offered exclusive individual contribute to the work of the access to Geofacets, a superb web-based tool Society not only by becoming a designed to search for, and extract, maps and other member of Council and one of its geographically-referenced geoscientific figures standing committees but also by published online in the Lyell Collection from 2000 to serving on working groups and the present (Geoscientist 22.08 p 09). Geofacets undertaking particular tasks can be yours for an annual fee of only £35.00. between meetings? Why not sign up to one of the free ‘webinars’, Whatever your background and and learn more about this innovative research tool? expertise in the geosciences, To find the webinars, please visit the Membership membership of Council enables pages on our website and follow the links. you to influence the role of the Society in acting as a respected voice serving society and the geoscience profession. Editor sponsored Each of the 23 members of Council is a trustee of the Society. The trustees are the Council and are accountable to the Fellows and to other stakeholders The Society has recently responded to a request from and regulators, such as the Charity Commission. Their prime responsibility is to the European Association of Science Editors to sponsor oversee the affairs of the Society and to act prudently in the management of its members from less-well-off countries. We have been financial resources. matched with Cristina Vasiliu of GeoEcoMar in Romania. Council meets five times a year, usually on Wednesday. Four of those Cristina is Managing Editor of Revista Geo-Eco-Marina a meetings take place in the afternoon, beginning at 14.00 and finishing at 17.00. scientific journal published by the National Institute of Papers are circulated a week in advance. In addition, a two-day residential Marine Geology and Geoecology. meeting is held in late September, beginning on the afternoon of the first day and Geo-Eco-Marina is focused primarily on results finishing mid-afternoon of the following day. The purpose of this meeting is to of research performed along the Danube River – allow Council to discuss issues such as strategy, business planning and so on. Danube Delta - Black Sea and its coastal zone All Council members also serve on one of the standing committees – macro-geo-system. Science & External Relations (to which the Science Committee and External Romania’s Institute of Marine Geology and Relations Committee report), Publications & Information, Finance & Planning Geoecology is located in Bucharest; it also has an office and Professional. Standing committees usually meet in person quarterly, by the Black Sea, in Constanta. The Society is very though some have developed the practice of having three in-person and one pleased to be able to help Cristina stay in touch with virtual meeting. the science editing community. From time-to-time all standing committees may establish short-lived working groups which could impose a further call on the time of Council members; but in More about EASE at www.ease.org.uk. More about agreeing to stand for Council you should think of a time commitment of 8 to 10 GeoEcoMar at www.geoecomar.ro days annually (for ordinary members of Council). By being elected to Council and by serving on a standing committee you will be able to play an active role in the formulation and delivery of the Society's scientific and professional strategy, and help to facilitate the communication of new scientific findings, the engagement with and translation of knowledge and expert advice to society, policy makers and government, and the certification of good practice in the geoscience professions and in geoscience teaching. You have received, with this month’s Geoscientist, a nomination form for the election of new Council members. Details of the process may be found on the form as well as in the ‘Governance’ section of the website. The closing date for receipt of nominations is 3 January 2014 and nominations will NOT be valid unless they are fully completed, signed and accompanied by a statement from the nominees. Please return forms to: Prof Alan Lord, c/o Executive Secretary, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG

06 OCTOBER 2013 SOCIETY NEWS GEOSCIENTIST

[lectures] Shell London Lecture Series Earth Science Week 2013 Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Earth Science Week will take place we hope as many people as possible on 7 – 13 October. With a theme of will join us! ‘Geology Outside’. Jo Mears reports. Walks can be self-guided, using The Society wants to encourage material made available on our website; greater appreciation of the geology on or you can participate in one of many our doorstep in the UK – whether you walks being organised by Regional live in the city or the countryside. Groups. However you choose join in, Regional and national events will run we would love to see pictures. Tweet throughout the week, culminating in a us @geolsoc using #greatgeowalk, or Great Geology Walk on Saturday 12 – email [email protected]. 'Point Lake' Outcrop in Gale Crater

For more information about Earth Science Week events and how to take part, visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/earthscienceweek13 The Mars Science Laboratory Mission: The Curiosity Rover's Exploration of Gale Crater Speaker: Prof. John Grotzinger (CalTech) Kerbs and your enthusiasm 9 October 2013 Sarah Day writes: as our Clues to a Da Vinci Code-style treasure n contribution to Earth Science Week hunt? We would like to know. Programme – Afternoon talk: 1430 Tea & Coffee: 2013, Geoscientist is setting out to So, as an Earth Science Week ‘fringe 1500 Lecture begins: 1600 Event ends. n unravel an urban conundrum – with event’, Geoscientist is calling on Programme – Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: your help! readers to help us build the largest 1800 Lecture begins: 1900 Reception. Across the country, Victorian kerbstone markings database the world pavements and kerbstones are dotted has yet seen. If you spot a mysterious FURTHER INFORMATION with mysterious markings. Whether marking, snap it, use our handy Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/ letters, symbols or shapes, no-one identification guide to tell us about the shelllondonlectures13. Entry to each lecture is by seems to know what these engravings rock it is carved in, and send us the ticket only. To obtain a ticket please contact us around mean. Following Peter Dolan’s June information! You can find our guide at four weeks before the talk. Due to the popularity of this 2013 article (Geoscientist 22.05), our www.geolsoc.org.uk/kerbsurvey. lecture series, tickets are allocated in a monthly ballot crack reporters have been searching for Email pictures to sarah.day@geol and cannot be guaranteed. an answer; but not even the Worshipful soc.org.uk, or tweet us Company of Paviors (est. 1479) has the @geoscientistmag using #kerbsurvey. Contact: Naomi Newbold, The Geological Society, answer. Quarry marks? Delivery The official data gathering week is 7 – Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, instructions? Pointers to local services? 13 October. T: +44 (0) 20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] n THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CLUB The Geological Society Club, successor to the body that gave birth to the Society in 1807, meets monthly (except over the field season!) at 18.30 for 19.00 in 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 Burlington House. New diners are always welcome, especially from among younger Fellows. Dinner costs £55 for a four-course meal, including coffee and port. (The Founders' Dinner, in November, has its own price structure.) There is a cash bar for the purchase of aperitifs and wine. FUTURE MEETINGS 2013: 16 October 2014: 5 February (Burlington House); 5 March (Ath); Dates for meetings of Council and Ordinary 14 May; 24 September; 15 October. General Meetings until April 2014 shall be as follows: Fellows wishing to dine or requesting further information about the Geological n 2013: 27 November Society Club, please email Cally Oldershaw (Hon Sec) at n 2014: 5 February; 9 April [email protected] or T: 07796 942361. DR

OCTOBER 2013 07 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

FROM THE LIBRARY The library is open to visitors Monday-Friday 0930-1730. For a list of new acquisitions click the appropriate link from SOCIETYNEWS... http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/info Enlightenment hits the Library n LITERATURE SEARCHING Not enough time or struggling to find the information Visitors to the Library often ask working in glass. By the mid 20th you need ? We can search a wide range of resources about our chandeliers, but until now Century the firm had established on your behalf and send you the results directly to your we have not been able to tell them itself as a leader in modernist inbox. To find out more about this service, please much, writes Caroline Lam. design, their master glassblowers email [email protected] Archive research has replaced collaborating with different artists to rumour and speculation, revealing that create the best in art glass – from n NEW ACQUISITIONS the lights were installed during a major tableware right through to large If you would like to receive by email or post a list of refurbishment of the apartments architectural sculptures. titles recently added to our library catalogue, between 1969 and 1974. This The polyhedral forms (produced by please contact [email protected] or call 020 makeover was precipitated by the hand blowing glass into moulds) were 7432 0999 removal of the Royal Society to Carlton designed by architect Carlo Scarpa House Terrace in 1967, when the (1906-1978) and exhibited in 1961 at n DOCUMENT DELIVERY remaining societies shifted around or Expo Italia in Milan. Scarpa produced Not based in London or simply too busy to come to acquired new rooms. We, for a range of designs using these the library ? We can send you by post or fax instance, gained the old Meeting faceted shapes for Venini, for whom photocopies of articles from our collection. To find out Room of the now defunct ‘Society he had previously been artistic director more about this service, please email of Chemists’. The room was split in (1932-1947). [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999 two and now forms the Lyell and The Society received a photograph Map Rooms. of a typical Scarpa chandelier with a n POSTAL LOANS The chandeliers were bought in diagram of two designs in September You do not need to live in London to borrow books, October 1971 - those in the Library for 1971, but they were still hesitant – the maps or journals from the library – we can post them £300 each and the smaller one in the cost exceeded the entire electrical to you ! For more information, contact Fellows Room for £200 (c. £15,000 in budget by £50! Three Officers visited [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999 today’s prices, in total). Both were to the (now vanished) Royal Bank of made by Venini. The Venini company Scotland branch, Regent Street, to n SPONSOR A FISH was established in 1921 in Murano, see one in situ and were even treated Thanks to everyone who has so far donated to our centre of glassmaking in Venice, as a to a mock-up of the larger model in appeal to conserve and digitise the three thousand partnership between the Venetian the Library before deciding to buy. watercolours from the fossil fish collection of Louis antiques dealer Giacomo Cappelin and So, love them or hate them, our Agassiz. More information about the appeal can be the Milanese lawyer Paolo Venini, chandeliers are now firmly established found at www.geolsoc.org.uk/sponsorafish whose family had a long history of as ‘mid-century classics’. n INTER-LIBRARY LOANS If the item you want is not in our collection, we may be able to obtain it from another library. To find out more about this service, please email [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999 n SPONSOR A BOOK Sponsor a book and support the conservation of important titles from the Geological Society’s collection. To find out more about this project: http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/sponsorabook

08 OCTOBER 2013 SOAPBOX GEOSCIENTIST

Fighting global poverty

BY JOEL GILL Geologists can play a significant role in the fight against global poverty, but need extra training, says Joel Gill*

SOAPBOX CALLING! The expert contribution of geologists is required to end the scandal of 780 million Soapbox is open to people living without access to clean water contributions from all Fellows. (significantly more without sanitation), to You can always write a letter to reduce the vulnerability of local the Editor, of course: but communities to multiple natural hazards, perhaps you feel you need and to improve transportation networks so more space? as to increase access to essential services NATIONAL MEETING like healthcare and education. A key first step would be raising awareness If you can write it entertainingly in of the skills required for working effectively 500 words, the Editor would like SOFT SKILLS in overseas development followed by the to hear from you. That geologists can and do contribute to provision of opportunities to develop these. international development is well Later in October, supported and hosted by Email your piece, and a self- established. Less understood, however, is the Geological Society, Geology for Global portrait, to ted.nield@geolsoc. an understanding of the ‘soft’ skills Development will be hosting their first org.uk. Copy can only be required to do this effectively. International National Conference – ‘Fighting Global accepted electronically. No development projects (and others) require a Poverty – Can Geologists Help?’ diagrams, tables or other host of skills other than ‘technical’ (www.gfgd.org/conferences). illustrations please. geological ones – indeed, the overall Aimed at students and recent graduates, success and impact of a project may depend the conference will present an overview of Pictures should be of print on them. Water projects in developing opportunities available to apply geology in quality – as a rule of thumb, countries, for example, regularly fail as a the fight against poverty. Participants will anything over a few hundred result of poor community engagement. hear from a range of specialists working in kilobytes should do. Factors such as cultural understanding, areas such as water and sanitation, disaster cross-disciplinary communication, risk reduction and engineering geology, Precedence will always be given diplomacy, community mobilisation and many from geoscience backgrounds. to more topical contributions.

participation are all aspects that, if lacking, The conference will also explore, through a Any one contributor may not

can result in a project failing to have dynamic and interactive session, the skills appear more often than once per maximum effect. that young geologists will need to develop volume (once every 12 months). Consider the undertaking of a hazard in order to contribute more effectively to ~ assessment, for the purpose of a disaster- development throughout their careers. risk reduction programme. Such a project It is essential that young geoscientists are would require using a range of geological made aware of their professional and social THE EXPERT knowledge and skills but should also responsibility in developing such skills to CONTRIBUTION OF include the involvement of local complement a thorough understanding of communities and integration of local technical geoscience. Such factors can GEOLOGISTS IS knowledge. To do this effectively will need mean the difference between success and REQUIRED TO END as effective communication, social science failure in the long term. It is therefore in THE SCANDAL OF research techniques, and good cultural everyone’s interest to carefully consider understanding. In addition, you would their development, none more so than the 780 MILLION need to know how to disseminate such a individuals and communities that we seek PEOPLE LIVING hazard assessment once completed, to serve as a profession. WITHOUT ACCESS ensuring that all relevant stakeholders can access, understand and use it. *Joel Gill, a PhD student at King’s College London, is TO CLEAN WATER Given that these aspects of a project the Founder and National Director of Geology for (SIGNIFICANTLY are so important, how can we ensure Global Development (www.gfgd.org), a not-for-profit that geologists have the training they organisation established to enable geoscience MORE WITHOUT need to fulfil these professional and students and recent graduates to make a positive and SANITATION) moral responsibilities? effective contribution to international development Joel Gill ~

OCTOBER 2013 09 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

ver the course of April and Britain’s high streets. A technique that May 2011, the UK public had been used quietly but extensively in became aware of a new word: UK offshore oil and gas exploration had ‘fracking’. Its arrival was made landfall. For most people, its heralded by a flurry of small sudden appearance under their back earthquakes near Blackpool. yards was most unwelcome. OThis mild seismic fanfare (the largest No doubt there is something unsettling event being M 2.3) at Preece Hall was about the notion of human actions quickly attributed to gas drilling close by triggering earthquakes, even a seismic at Becconsall, where the operators were jerk no different to the many mining- testing the technique properly referred to related judders that lightly resonate as ‘hydraulic fracturing’. through Britain every year. Shaken and stirred, local protest groups– many PRESSURE featuring the same objectors who oppose Hydraulic fracturing pretty much ‘does wind farms – became organised and what it says on the tin’. Millions of concerns spread to other corners of the gallons of water – laced with sand and a country where gas drilling was being chemical cocktail that eases the injection proposed. A ground tremor that had the and aids the extraction of the gas – are shaking intensity equivalent to a pumped under very high pressure down classroom of kids jumping up and down vertical wells that a mile or more down was, within week, convulsing swing horizontal to fracture open shale communities nationwide. horizons tightly packed with gas, mainly methane. The cracking that liberates the FRACK NATION microscopic gas pockets is normally The uncharacteristic ground ructions in detectable only by sensitive down-hole rural Lancashire may have been the seismometers, but on rare occasions the catalyst for Britain’s anti-frack movement, surge of fluids under pressure induces but the momentum for the spreading seismic slip on pre-stressed faults. unrest came from fracking’s growing For those readers wondering ‘how rare?’ infamy on the other side of the Atlantic. a recent academic review1 concluded that In the USA, hydraulic fracturing had for a after hundreds of thousands of decade or so been a mainstay of hydraulic fracturing operations only unconventional gas recovery. However, three instances of ‘felt’ seismicity had in 2010 it began to gain notoriety courtesy been documented. One of those three of the award-winning independent film instances signaled the start of exploratory GasLand, which explored the troubling gas drilling at Becconsall. environmental legacy of America’s dash With the ‘Blackpool earthquakes’, for domestic gas. (Frack Nation, a fracking – until then more known as a documentary film countering made-up swear word that featured in the environmental criticisms of shale gas cult TV series Battlestar Galactica – became industry, was released this year.)

a topic of anxious conversations on In GasLand, dramatic footage of ▼

MEET THE FRACKERS Hazel Gibson and Iain Stewart explore the United States experience of shale gas extraction to study the way public perception has changed over three decades of ‘bonanza’* The high-tech paraphernalia of modern hydraulic fracturing mean that once the initial drilling is complete, an armoury of water pumps provide the high-pressure punch to frack shale horizons a couple of miles down GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

▼ contaminated water wells and flaming kitchen taps presented apparent evidence of the serious side-effects of the violent injection of fracking fluids. The following year, the mainstream movie The Promised Land would augment these environmental woes with Hollywood’s vision of the dramatic social and economic transformations that fracking brings to small town communities in rural America. Certainly, few in the USA would contest the extraordinary transformative capacity of shale gas. According to a 2011 report by the US Department of Energy2: “…production from shale formations has gone from a negligible amount just a few years ago to being almost 30% of total U.S. natural gas production”. This has brought lower prices, domestic jobs, and the prospect of enhanced national security due to the potential of substantial production growth. But the growth has also brought questions about whether both current and future production can be done in an environmentally sound fashion that meets the needs of public trust.” That ambiguity in what fracking offers – both economic opportunity and Hydraulic fracturing environmental threats – is what makes block column shale gas such a divisive societal issue. Communities caught up in the US natural gas-drilling phenomenon recognise both positive and negative. In three decades, convoys of 18 wheeler drilling rigs, water trucks and chemical containers have swept from the oily flats of Texas and Louisiana, through the coal lands of Pennsylvania and into the fossil fuel wilds of North Dakota, leaving in their wake a trail of small towns that have tales to tell about the good, bad and ugly sides of shale gas. When the In the Pittsburgh area, where fracking frackers come has taken hold in recent years, most to town, local environments residents (seven out of 10) see it as either can be a significant or moderate economic transformed opportunity for the region3. Although only one in four residents opposed the practice, more than half (55%) believed drilling in Pennsylvania’s gas-rich Marcellus Shale was either a significant or moderate ecological and public health threat. In those areas that have had a longer intimacy with the practice, a more nuanced appraisal emerges of precisely Tracking rising how and why communities are public interest in hydraulic transformed by fracking. fracturing in the UK (blue) WINNERS & LOSERS and US (red) as measured in The Barnett Shale region of Texas is the Google original heartland of US hydraulic searches for fracturing, and so is an area where the ‘fracking’ and ‘shale gas’ complex public reactions to it can be using Google explored in some detail4, 5. They reveal Trends

12 OCTOBER 2013 FEATURE GEOSCIENTIST

that whether natural gas drilling is seen as good or bad depends to a large extent on whom you ask. Ask those who work When the frack crews in the industry (or have friends or family leave, who do), or receive royalty cheques from scattered gas collection the gas sucked from deep beneath their tanks are the property, or who enjoy long-term enduring tell- residency, and their views are generally tale signs of ongoing gas supportive. Also an issue is the residency withdrawal of the gas industry itself. deep below In counties where natural gas drilling is fairly well established, residents exhibit somewhat more negative perceptions. Residents in those more ‘mature’ counties are more likely to believe that drilling and production wells are too close to homes and businesses, that the gas industry is Local economic too politically powerful and that it is investment in uncaring towards the natural services and environment. They are also the more infrastructure like new and pessimistic about whether gas improved development will result in residents’ schools and being better off in the long term. roads are often seen to be The message that comes across is that offset by there are winners and losers when the negatives such as the shale gas circus comes to town. increased The winners are the direct beneficiaries of heavy traffic economic rejuvenation through job that gas drilling brings creation, increased business activity or higher tax revenues. Direct fracking jobs go to specialist out-of-state workers; but local companies involved in construction, trucking, restaurants, bars, hotels and fuel sales all tend to benefit and a multiplier effect permeates into indirect businesses selling household goods and cars. With increased tax revenues may come improved medical and health services, local schools, and fire protection services. But what about the losers? A very different tale emerges from some fracked communities. Residents generally lament the increasing traffic, rising damage to roads, diminishing air and noise quality and rapid changes in land use. An influx of workers into quiet farming towns swells coffers but often stretches meagre social services and infrastructure - especially housing. House prices and rental rates soar, squeezing some local residents out of the market. Tensions may then arise between locals and incomers; social cohesion can falter, and a community’s sense of place and character can change irrevocably. For those people who are decoupled from the gas bonanza there can be reduction in quality of life, deterioration in mental Perceived and physical health, and rising concern problematic issues over social afflictions like crime and associated with drug abuse. natural gas Alongside potential social disruption development (after Theodori, and disintegration, there is the threat of

2009) environmental and public health costs. ▼

OCTOBER 2013 13 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE

▼ Media reports and the Internet abound amid English shires or on Welsh coastal with apparent cases of water plains where fracking is actually being contamination; though many remain proposed – there emerges a different legally contested or have ended up in public rhetoric. Even as the modest settled compensation claims that seismic shudder went through Blackpool, essentially prevent details from emerging planning applications for exploratory Breakdown of later. Independent academic studies are drilling with hydraulic fracturing were percentage of themes by hampered by a lack of pre-fracking being considered by other local councils. location of baseline data on health and water quality, Following the 2010 planning approval planning and by the complexities of groundwater at Becconsall, submissions for shale-gas applications behaviour. The limited scientific studies fracking were made for Llandow (Vale of that have been published appear – or can Glamorgan) and, in association with coal- be made to appear - to give succour to bed methane extraction, for both camps. Woodnesborough (Kent), Falkirk (central Scotland) and Keynsham (Avon); METHANE applications envisaging fracking to Isotopic analyses of water chemistry in enhance permeability and connectivity the Marcellus shale gas plays published for geothermal projects were also by researchers at Duke University suggest proposed for United Downs and the Eden that methane-infused waters may indeed Project in Cornwall. Letters written in have come to surface from the deep response to these various planning Marcellus shale layer two miles applications by members of the public underground6, 7. They found measurable indicate a deep concern about the Public reaction amounts of methane in 85% of water legacy that residents will be left with to fracking in the US varies widely samples and noted that levels were when gas is extracted from deep beneath according to substantially higher in wells located close their homes. who benefits to a natural gas well. The big question is - The predominant reason for how is the gas getting to the surface? homegrown local objection (~80% Interviewed for a recent BBC Horizon overall) – and the only one common to all documentary, head of the research team applications – was classed as Rob Jackson thinks the most likely way ‘environmental’. In many letters this was that the gas is getting out is by leakage expressed as a concern about how the from the wells. “By drilling it straight local area would be perceived while into the ground, by not sealing it properly work was taking place, and about the with cement, or by using steel tubing need to be sensitive of the existing where the joints are sealed…it’s actually landscape (in one case even to the extent leaking out the well itself” he says. Far of requesting that the drilling rig be less likely is the sort of direct connection painted an appropriate colour). that most people fear – along natural and Protection of specific wildlife and induced fractures in the rock from the ecological sectors was highlighted, which fracked rock, thousands of feet below. in the Keynsham objections included Crucially, in none of the thousands of concerns for tree protection orders and a water samples analysed did Jackson’s bat hibernatorium. research team find any chemical trace of The next most common objection was fracking fluid. ‘noise’, most specifically the vibrations of the drilling rig itself, which was feared to UK FRACKING be too disruptive amid the perceived With a close eye on the US experience, the rural idyll of many of the proposed sites. Even once the scientific and engineering consensus in Also prominent in people’s concerns was drilling derricks have gone and the UK broadly contends that ‘traffic’ – either increased flow generally truck convoys environmental and health effects of in the area or specific disruption from have moved on, many onshore natural gas extraction are a construction and operation of the site. communities technical issue relating to shoddy well A fourth theme was that of ‘groundwater complain that construction at the surface, not with contamination’, an issue raised more than fracked wells lead to 8, 9 hydraulic fracturing deep underground . any other in the Keynsham application contamination On the wider political front, however, the for coal-bed methane extraction (83%), of their air and shale gas debate currently pits arguments yet of little or no concern at the two water, claims which of national energy security and economic geothermal projects. A fifth issue was geologists like vitality10 against those of our long-term that of ‘future development’, framed Rob Jackson of 11 12 Duke University climate control targets , . Indications mostly as a concern about the strive to are that the British public at large now ramifications of increased local industrial investigate increasingly sees shale gas as a discussion activity if drilling proved successful. through field sampling and 13 about energy and climate change . This worry was voiced more frequently in laboratory But at the sharp end of the UK debate – the more recently-submitted testing

14 OCTOBER 2013 FEATURE GEOSCIENTIST

applications, perhaps because public boring for and getting, petroleum. awareness was growing of the potential Lovely images though that idea may economic ‘bonanza’ of unconventional conjure up, the implication is that private gas extraction. landowners in the UK stand to gain relatively little profit from leasing surface A GEOLOGICAL ISSUE? and subsurface access to the By and large, the concerns raised by UK hydrocarbons below. residents to the possibility of hydraulic The bulk of any shale gas bonanza is fracturing in their backyard are similar to currently earmarked for the Crown. those that have gained wider recognition The deep subsurface may be where the in the US. However, there are some geological focus is, but for the concerned homegrown concerns which are less public their attention is much closer to resonant with the American experience. home. On both sides of the Atlantic, the Anxiety over seismicity and ground primary reasons why people distrust instability are rarely mentioned in fracking are not geological. Rather, they fracked communities in the US. Over relate to legal, economic, political, social, here they feature in many local objections, environmental and cultural factors. though they rank low (11th and 12th in In that sense, fracking is not really a importance). Intriguingly, the fear of geological issue at all. And yet, of course ‘earthquakes’ or ‘tremors’ was raised it is. For the key question that will make once in the case of Becconsall a year or break Britain’s whole ‘dash for gas’ before the 2011 ‘seismic storm’ but was vision is how much of the stuff is actually more prominent in written objections down there? afterwards, notably at Keynsham To answer that question, see our second (29%) and Woodnesborough (37%). feature on p. 16 Editor n Concerns over ground instability included issues like degradation of the * This feature article arises from the BBC Horizon well structure over time and collapse of documentary Fracking: the new energy rush relict mining or borehole workings, as presented by Iain Stewart and last broadcast on well as vague or unfocused worries 20 June 2013 about the unpredictable nature of the geological subsurface. Despite some apprehension about the REFERENCES deep subsurface aspects of shale gas extraction, most local reluctance over 1 Davies, R, Foulger, G, Bindley, A & Styles, P fracking shares the same environmental 2013. Induced Seismicity and Hydraulic concerns as that in the USA. These are Fracturing for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons. Marine and Petroleum Geology. preoccupations about the surface legacy 2 Shale Gas Subcommittee, US Secretary of of gas drilling and the possible blight that Energy Advisory Board, 2011: The SEAB Shale its development will bring to rural Gas Production Subcommittee Ninety-Day communities. The environmental Report – August 11, 2011. Available at: concerns raised by vexed residents in the www.shalegas.energy.gov/resources/081111_ UK may be legitimate reflections on the 90_day_report.pdf. US experience, but the broader 3 The Pittsburgh Regional Quality of Life Survey. environmental stewardship context is University of Pittsburgh, University Centre for Social and Urban Research. Available at: very different. In the USA environmental www.ucsur.pitt.edu/files/frp/qol/Pittsburgh%20 regulations were especially lax, since Regional%20QOL%20Survey%20Full%20Rep fracking companies were specifically ort.pdf exempted from the Clean Water Act. 4 Theodori, 2009. Paradoxical perception of In the UK, a far more stringent set of problems associated with unconventional environmental protocols are already natural gas development. Southern Rural Sociology, 24, 97-117. in place14. 5 Theodori, G.L. 2012. Public perception of the natural gas industry: data from the Barnett PROPRIETARY Shale. Energy Sources, part B., 7, 275-281. Of course important issues do pertain to 6 Stephen G Osborn, S G, Vengosh, A, the subsurface. One of them is who owns Warner, N R & Robert B Jackson, 2011. the oil and gas down there. In the USA, Methane contamination of drinking water homeowners can enjoy proprietary rights accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic to hydrocarbon reserves beneath their fracturing. PNAS, 108, 8172-8176. www. pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1100682108 property. In the UK, landowners may have dominion ‘from the centre of the FURTHER REFERENCES Earth to the heavens above’ (in Scots law, All further references cited in the feature ‘a coelo ad centrum’); but it is Her Majesty may be inspected in the online version who has the exclusive right of searching,

OCTOBER 2013 15 NUMBERS GAME Mike Stephenson* gives an insider’s view of the media frenzy surrounding the release of British shale gas figures

ust a few weeks ago Administration, EIA) put the been exchanging endless Above: Mam Tor there was a frenzy of near Castleton. The figures lower. Some large oil and different versions of a PowerPoint activity leading up to lower part of the gas companies had basically presentation with DECC to steep face is Edale the release of long- shale, equivalent to written Britain off as a shale gas ensure that we could get the awaited resource the Bowland shale player. Environmentalists and message just right. estimates for shale gas in Lancashire industrialists alike complained: The difficulty was with the size Jin the north of England. The event how could the figures vary so of the ‘resource’ figure, which is of placed geology right in the centre much? Confusion reigned. What course very large, more than 1300 of the debate about what shale gas we needed were reliable numbers. trillion cubic feet (tcf). The main might mean for Britain. Suddenly thrust of the presentation was geology really mattered to the MESSAGE thus, in management parlance, to ordinary man in the street. The So the June 2013 BGS-DECC ‘manage expectations’. We did not question in many minds was: is announcement was eagerly want headlines like ‘shale gas there enough of this gas to make a awaited. Until a week before the bonanza’ and ‘shale gas will pull difference to Britain? Or are we release only a few geologists in Britain out of recession’. We wanted making a big fuss about nothing? DECC and BGS had seen the measured reporting with a careful Previous gas company resource figures. As overall manager of the explanation of the difference or ‘gas-in-place’ estimates had project I was asked by DECC to between ‘resource’ and ‘reserve’. been on the large side, but other give out the figures as part of a Part of the process of releasing the institutions (for example the short presentation explaining the figures had to include educating American Energy Information method. Behind the scenes I’d the media, together with a clear as

16 OCTOBER 2013 Image: stephen / Shutterstock.com

possible presentation of the facts. you the shales were deposited in a prospective shale. So the presentation that we complex of rifting basins lying In the report (which you can prepared contained lots of ways of across central Britain during the download at www.gov.uk/ explaining the difference between Visean and Namurian. Some government/publications/bowlan resource and reserve and lots shales were deposited ‘syn-rift’, d-shale-gas-study) we called this of words of caution. (You can others ‘post-rift’. the ‘Bowland-Hodder unit’. It is judge for yourself whether the The key to making the estimate up to 5000m thick in basin message got out!) was to calculate a figure for the depocentres (e.g. the Bowland, volume of shale in the chosen area Blacon, Gainsborough, METHOD (between Scarborough and Widmerpool, Edale and Cleveland But back to geology – how was the Nottingham in the east, and basins) and contains quite high estimate made? Anyone who has between Lancaster and Wrexham total organic carbon (TOC) levels wandered the moors of the in the west). To get this we built a (1-3%, though this can reach 8%). Pennines will know that there’s a 3D static model using 64 key wells We know that these shales are lot of shale about. It’s one of the and 15,000 miles of seismic, as well capable of generating gas because most common sedimentary as years of data from shale there are conventional oil and gas rocks and up in Bowland or outcrops. The surprise for all fields in and around most of the Kinderscout, if you are not the geologists – and perhaps a basins and offshore. standing on sandstone, you are primary reason for the size of The upper post-rift part of the probably on shale. But as any the figure - is the thickness of the Bowland-Hodder unit is laterally

Carboniferous geologist will tell unit that we chose to define as continuous, with organic-rich, ▼

OCTOBER 2013 17 Far left: The Far Lower Bowland Shales at the River Hodder, Collyholme Wood Left: Kinder Scout – highest point in Derbyshire and highest gritstone peak in District the Peak National Park Far left: Area Far and key data for the BGS-DECC shale gas resource estimate Left: Thickness of the Bowland- Hodder unit Map of the prospective areas for shale gas in exploration northern England

Image: tricky (rick harrison) via Flickr.com

Image: BGS photo P005733 ▼ condensed zones that can be infrastructure plans. Fallon to NERC - can doubt the value of Below: Schematic mapped, even over platform highs. of the upper and introduced shale gas, saying that ‘public good’ geological research. There is a lower, underlying, syn- lower parts of today was “the day that Britain gets Having said all this, there are the Bowland- rift unit, expanding to thousands of Hodder unit serious about shale gas”. some things we can never get right. feet thick in fault-bounded basins, Then I gave the presentation. Some In the newspaper reports I read where the shale is interbedded of the numbers had already been after the event, nearly all confused with mass flow clastic sediments leaked before the meeting, but I still ‘resource’ and ‘reserve’! Some and re-deposited carbonates. think that journalists were surprised compared the UK’s shale gas with Once we had the volume in at their size. I spent most of the six North Sea conventional gas cubic metres of the two or seven TV interviews that were reserves, and one reporter components of the Bowland- held after (in the street outside the compared Lancashire shale with Hodder unit, we had to multiply DECC building) explaining why the Pars fields in Qatar and Iran, by an estimate for the amount of these big figures had to be taken saying that northern England gas that a typical cubic metre might in context. might be the next Middle East! contain. This and a ‘Monte Carlo’ Apart from the excitement of the It just goes to show that you can simulation gave us an in-place gas day, two things emerged: the lead reporters to data, but only resource for the upper Bowland- importance of geology and the editors and proprietors can tell Hodder unit of 164 to 447 tcf and a importance of independent them what to write. n range of 658 to 1834 tcf for the institutions to provide trusted lower thicker unit. The map shows numbers. Whether you believe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the prospective parts of the lower Michael Fallon or not about the The DECC report is: Andrews, I J 2013 and upper Bowland-Hodder prospects for shale gas in Britain, The Carboniferous Bowland Shale unit superimposed. having figures that have been gas study: geology and resource rigorously calculated and estimation. British Geological Survey for PRESENTATION transparently presented helps to Department of Energy and Climate And so to the presentation of the ‘steady the pulse’ of the nation Change, London, UK. numbers. On the morning of 27 of and provide a base from which to The BGS team included: Ian Andrews, June a BGS team gathered in make policy or investment Sue Stoker, Mike Sankey, Chris Vane, Whitehall at a press conference into decisions. The work underlines Kevin Smith, Mike McCormac, Vicky which around 100 journalists were how relevant a geological survey is Moss-Hayes, Nigel Smith, Ceri Vincent packed. The top table included me to a nation’s business. and Nick Riley. Toni Harvey led the (as presenter of the figures), Ed BGS is probably the only DECC team. Davey (Secretary of State for institution in the country that could Energy and Climate Change) and have provided this service - with its *Prof. Mike H Stephenson is Director of Michael Fallon (Business and data holdings, breadth of expertise, Science and Technology, NERC British Energy Minister). and most of all its independence Geological Survey. Mike Stephenson’s new Davey opened the proceedings and even-handedness. No one – book ‘Returning Carbon To Nature: Coal, with a brief introduction to the from the Secretary of State, to Carbon Capture and Storage’ is published Government’s Energy journalists, to industry, to the public, by Elsevier 2013, ISBN: 9780124076716.

OCTOBER 2013 19 The Geological Society Careers Day 2013

The Geological Society’s Careers Day is the Wednesday 20 November 2013 essential meeting place for geoscience students and the geoscience industry. University undergraduates and postgraduates British Geological Survey, Nottingham will have the chance to find out about the latest career options, and talk to industry leaders about how they may gain entry into the sector. There will also be University representatives available to discuss MSc and PhD programmes.

The day will run from 10am – 4pm and will include presentations on careers, a CV writing and interview techniques workshop, and an exhibition fair. The day will end with a beer reception.

Registration This event is free to attend and covers all delegate material, lunch and a beer at the reception, but you must register for the event and the workshops must be pre-booked.

Contact Information

Naomi Newbold Tel: 0207 432 0981 Email: [email protected] Web: www.geolsoc.org.uk/careersday13 Twitter: #GSLcareers13 Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as LETTERS GEOSCIENTIST 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 END OF MAPPING? NOT LIKELY

Sir, We write, with considerable professional Image: David Shield via Flickr.com sadness, in response to the ‘Soapbox’ piece by Mark Brodie (Masters of mapping? Geoscientist 23.08 p11). Mr. Brodie asks whether “the time has come to map out a new future for the undergraduate geologist’s skill-set”. Our answer is yes, given that skill-sets always need to evolve, but emphatically not in the way he suggests. Mr Brodie appears to be labouring under a misconception of what the science of geology is actually about. The basic ‘skill- set’ that the science requires is an ability to understand, to visualise, the fabric of the surface and subsurface of our planet in a way that most accurately reflects its glorious complexity in four dimensions. It doesn’t matter whether we ultimately view that complexity portrayed on a map, in an electric log, or on seismic, potential field or remotely sensed data; the only way to reduce the uncertainty surrounding our interpretation is to be able to calibrate it to reality. And that reality is the Earth itself. That’s what fieldwork and Mr. Brodie’s much-derided “mapping” is about. A crevasse splay is not a log response or a seismic signature, it is a body of sediment with internal architecture and external Can anyone really be a geologist relationships with the surrounding geology. if they have not tried to map the We would suggest that arriving at an Ben Arnaboll Thrust? adequate petrophysical or seismic interpretation and developing an relationships and unpredictability. We speak as an industry and an appreciation of its uncertainty would be Certainly, few geologists “start or even academic geologist, both of 40+ years' extremely difficult for someone who had not end their career mapping”, but this is experience (although we have chosen grappled with one in reality and attempted entirely irrelevant. Never to have had to go to discard our tweeds). Neither of us would to map it. The best and most efficient way through the intellectual exercise of consider hiring a geologist who had studied in which to be equipped with a ‘skill-set’ interpreting real geology in four dimensions drilling engineering and investment finance that allows us to determine whether a fault is to remove the skill-set needed to interpret instead of mapping because we would have pattern is geometrically feasible or not is to an electric log - or indeed, conduct any no faith in their ability to interpret anything. have mapped examples, in all their complex geological evaluation. Michael Welland and Andrew Hynes

CLIMATE CHANGE STATEMENTS DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME

Sir, With reference to Adler deWind's piece suggest that there was, and is, a great deal that we are spinners of ‘denialist 'Question Time' (Geoscientist 22.07 pp. 16- of underlying dissent by many fellows and misinformation’ - at the same time as 19), the Geological Society of London’s physicists who doubt the validity of carbon extolling the dubious merits of climate (GSL) official stance on dioxide atmospheric sensitivity, or in the modelling. We are in fact sceptical (unpaid) anthropogenic global relatively recent (theoretical) discovery scientists for the most part, not ‘denyers’, warming (AGW) has and cause of (inevitable) climatic who learn that stasis in global warming contributed to variations - how can such since 1996 (MET Office, 2013) offers no

negative and imperceptible shifts in CO2 evidential explanation by climate scientists technologically sensitivity be responsible for, or (the orthodoxy). Mr deWind’s piece reports flawed energy empirically linked to, AGW? Like a number of contentious issues, but notably policies from most sceptics (as I shall persist in the (questionable) precision of GM models successive UK describing us) we strongly object to predict climate outcomes is passed over governments. to our colleagues, and Adler without a murmur. I venture to deWind in his article, who imply John G Gahan

OCTOBER 2013 21 GEOSCIENTIST BOOKS & ARTS

knows that human evolution, being too close to home for comfort, is a subject unlike that of any other species, and he tackles the resulting problems triumphantly in this book. I discovered quite how different human evolution research is first hand, having written a news story for the Society’s website about ‘The Hobbit’, the dwarf human skeleton discovered on the island of Flores, and subsequently named Homo floresiensis. (Or, ‘Man from Flores’. It is one of the joys of this ‘Editor’s view’ of science that in addition to science, we also discover that Exhibition - Fossils: the lift. With close scrutiny you can see some the authors of this paper originally of the problems presented by fossils. wanted to call their discovery ‘Homo evolution of an idea Not only are they ‘denatured’ with loss of florianus’, which actually means ‘Man Next time you are in London visiting soft tissues and colour but they are with flowery anus’.) Burlington House, take a detour down to palpably stony. And, some are broken I had written the story based solely on 7 Carlton House Terrace, home of that and distorted from their original form a paper published in the rival US journal ‘other’ famous scientific society – the and have crystalline internal structures. Science, alleging that the specimen ‘Royal’. They are hosting a little gem of Given the lack of understanding of the described was in fact not a new type of an exhibition, which has been sadly geological processes that transform human at all, but a deformity (as Gee somewhat neglected since it opened in organic remains into lithified fossils, it is reveals, unsettling additions to the July but can be seen until 8 November. not surprising that the issue was not at human bestiary are often explained The good thing is that you will almost all clear. And, considering all the away in this fashion: H. neanderthalensis, certainly have the place to yourself with recent huffing and puffing about for example.) an unimpeded view of the exhibits, ‘Martian microbes’ in meteorites and the The next thing I knew, Henry was on which do need close scrutiny. present question of what are or what are the blower asking me why I had not The exhibition is a great idea and not the earliest known microbial fossils, come to Nature for ‘counter comment’. nicely executed, with fossils from the we should not be sniffy about our It was a good question, for human University of Cambridge’s historic forbears’ confusion! evolution is an area of science where Sedgwick Museum, along with books and strength of feeling so overpowers archival material from the Royal Society Reviewed by Douglas Palmer available evidence as to generate heat Library. As we all know, the 17th and light in suboptimal proportions. Century idea of a fossil differs FOSSILS: THE EVOLUTION OF AN IDEA Journalists need to treat the subject as significantly from our modern Royal Society, London, 7, Carlton House Terrace. they would politics. Monday 1 July to Friday 8 November 2013. Free, understanding. Over 300 years ago, a Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 17.00. No prior booking The most difficult idea to purge from ‘fossil’ was literally something ‘dug up’ necessary. http://royalsociety.org/events/2013/ our minds when dealing with our own and was derived from the Latin ‘fossilis’. fossils-exhibition/ evolution is that of ‘progress’. Steve Consequently, the concept included Gould did his best to boost the idea that objects of both organic and inorganic evolution is not linear but bushy, and origin. And, there was a long-running that living species represent the debate over whether fossils were in fact surviving twig-ends of that complex, stones formed within the ground, as anastomosing structure. Henry has indeed most natural mineral crystals are, already done his bit in this fight, dealing or the remains of once living organisms, lucidly and entertainingly with the which had died and subsequently been cladistics revolution in his earlier book buried in the ground. Deep Time. This new work takes up the The exhibition displays works by the cudgels, which he grasps by the correct likes of Martin Lister (1639-1702) and end, and does not beat about the bush in Edward Lhuyd (1660-1709), who argued demolishing those who still see evolution against the organic nature of fossils and ‘culminating’ in our blessed selves. also Nicolas Steno (1638-1686) and Robert The Accidental Species If you only read one book on Hooke (1635-1703), who employed the evolution this year, make it this one. new evidence-based ‘scientific methods’ Henry Gee is (among other things, You will be dethroned. But you won’t of the 17th Century to demonstrate their including a science fiction writer, an be disappointed. organic nature. expert on J R R Tolkien and a mean It is great to see these wonderful books keyboard player) a vertebrate Reviewed by Ted Nield and illustrations, which stand alone as palaeontologist. He has worked at THE ACCIDENTAL SPECIES high points in the history of scientific Nature for over two decades as staff HENRY GEE. Published by: University of Chicago Press, illustration. The Sedgwick fossils are a editor dealing with papers on evolution October 2013. 240pp ISBN 978-0-226-28488-0 (cloth). real plus and give the whole exhibition a and palaeontology. Better than most, he List Price: £18.00

22 OCTOBER 2013 BOOKS & ARTS GEOSCIENTIST

geologists from undergraduate to senior contribution, by Lang et al.). professor in academe, and professional The volume starts with an excellent Earth scientists in industry. All will learn overview by Huuse et al. of the causes and a great deal about many aspects of life, temporal distribution of glaciations along especially about devotion and with the distribution of glaciogenic commitment to a life in real geology. deposits and reservoirs. There follows a case study by Pedersen to introduce Reviewed by John Dewey glacitectionics and then an article by Pedersen on the potential of glaciogenic COLLIDING CONTINENTS plays on the Norwegian shelf. A series of MIKE SEARLE. Published by: Oxford University Press, articles captures the latest work on 2013. 438pp. ISBN 978-0-19-965 300-3. Pleistocene tunnel valleys. These provide Colliding Continents List Price £25.00 http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/ product/9780199653003.do#.UhM5hP5wbcs a wealth of information, largely from This book is about the geological shallow seismic, on geometries, evolution of the Himalayas, written by dimensions and architecture and one of the finest field geologists of his document a significant variability in generation. A mountain man with tunnel valley fill indicating the difficulty of extensive field experience in Oman, Syria, developing predictive models. There then and Myanmar, Mike Searle is the master follows a series of studies on more ancient of the Himalayan mountain range who, analogues: glaciomarine, glaciolacustrine, with his students, has made geological palaeovalleys and tunnel valleys, maps of vast tracts of the Himalayas and glaciogenic turbidites and outwash sands. found out how they work. The volume ends with a contribution on This is a compelling and energetic the source rock potential of book that is difficult to put down. It Neoproterozoic de-glacial sediments. describes the geology of the Himalayas in The volume is well produced, glitches the context of many modern ideas and are few and far between: I could mention concepts such as middle crustal extrusion Glaciogenic Reservoirs on page five the reference to Cryogenian and extensional detachments. Successive and Hydrocarbon Systems deposits in Fig 5a which turn out to be chapters build an understanding of Pleistocene, for example; but there is Himalayan geology interwoven with the Glaciogenic reservoirs are mean beasts: nothing that impedes understanding and I lives of his companions and the people of I well remember arriving in the Middle would thoroughly recommend its the remote areas in which he worked. East to work on a field dominated by purchase to anyone working these Complex geology is explained simply, glaciogenic sediments that had proved fascinating reservoirs as a new source of elegantly, and accurately, and beautifully beyond the predictive skills of many a analogue material. illustrated by maps, sections, block geologist before me. Here is not the place diagrams, and spectacular photographs to discuss my own efforts but I would Reviewed by John Marshall of some majestic and vertiginous terrain. have welcomed access to this 401 page There is much supporting material volume, which stems from the eponymous GLACIOGENIC RESERVOIRS AND including time-scale and events, basic Geological Society conference of December HYDROCARBON SYSTEMS HUUSE, M REDFERN, J LE HERON, D P DIXON R J concepts and definitions in hard-rock 2009. It contains 19 contributions, MOSCARIELLO, A & CRAIG, J (eds) 2012. Geological geology, a glossary of terms, a local dominated by analogue studies from the Society, London, Special Publications, 368. glossary, and a thorough (yet not North Sea and adjacent mainland and List price: £120.00; Fellow's price: £60.00; Other societies price: £72.00 www/geolsoc.org.uk/bookshop overwhelming) reference list. from North Africa. The volume stands out Reading a book like this makes one as a landmark contribution to the realise how shallow and limiting is the understanding of the relatively poorly- pseudo-geology done by those who sit in documented subglacial tunnel valleys REVIEWS: COPIES AVAILABLE front of their computers composing (addressed in 10 of the contributions), Please contact [email protected] if drivel. As Francis Pettijohn remarked, significant as potential aquifers, shallow you would like to supply a review. For a full list ‘the truth resides in the rocks’ and that gas hazards and producers of seismic go to www.geolsoc.org.uk/reviews ‘there is nothing as sobering as an artefacts and which have been opened n NEW! Sheet Silicates - Clay Minerals: outcrop’. This work is a useful lesson to up by academic access to commercial Rock-Forming Minerals v. 3C (2nd Edn) those who are not prepared to sweat and seismic surveys. Deer, Howie & Zussman: by M J Wilson. get tired and dirty and try to find out the Subsurface reservoir studies are only Geological Society of London. 724 pp hbk message of the rocks. presented in a couple of papers which n NEW! Geological Development of This book is a powerful combination of makes the volume of most value as a Anatolia & the Easternmost Mediterranean basic geology at the cutting edge, and the source of analogues and less so for Region by Robertson, Parlak & Unlugenc sociology of geology in a foreign addressing some of the challenges (Eds) Geological Society of London SP 372 mountain region. It is a work of great presented by reservoir equivalents – one 649pp hbk charm, sensitivity, scientific accuracy, thinks of correlation and the contribution n NEW! The Self-Potential Method - literacy, and imagination. of palynology, the rapid lateral variation of theory and applications in environmental I hope that it will stimulate the young sediment bodies, the unusual textural geosciences by Adnre Revil and Abderrahim to work at the field and rock-based core characteristics of glaciogenic deposits Jardani. 2013 Cambridge University Press of the Earth sciences. It should be read by (wireline log response is addressed in one 369pp hbk

OCTOBER 2013 23 GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE

Geoscientists in the news and on the move in the UK, PEOPLE Europe and worldwide CAROUSEL IN MEMORIAM WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/OBITUARIES All fellows of the Society are entitled to entires in this column. Please email [email protected], quoting your THE SOCIETY NOTES WITH SADNESS THE PASSING OF: Fellowship number. Bestow, Trevor * Middleton, John * Blackburn, James Kirk * Miller, James * n BERNARD WOOD Bowler, Christopher Michael Lance * Million, Ronald * Chapman, W T * Moffatt, William Stewart * Bernard Wood, University of Oxford, has been Holroyd, J D * Robson, Geoffrey Robert * awarded the Harry H Hess Medal of the Geological Hudson, Neal F C * Vincent, E A (‘David’)* Society of America. Established in 1984 the Hess Jacqué, Maurice * Williams, Colin L * Medal is awarded for outstanding achievements in Jones, Brian Lloyd * Ziegler, Peter research on the constitution and evolution of the Earth and other planets. In the interests of recording its Fellows' work for posterity, the Society publishes obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. The most recent additions to the list are shown in bold. Fellows for whom no obituarist has yet been commissioned are marked with an asterisk (*). The symbol § indicates that biographical material has been lodged Geology in literature with the Society.

An occasional series devoted I suppose you know they’re all If you would like to contribute an obituary, please email [email protected] to be commissioned. You can read the to unexpected outcrops of diseased? …and too far gone guidance for authors at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save geospeak in the literary canon. for treatment. In a year or two yourself unnecessary work, please do not write anything until you ‘After breakfast we all flocked they’ll be dead – you might as have received a commissioning letter. to the north passage, where well throw the whole lot away.’ Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is forthcoming have their there were hundreds of stones in Uncle Matthew was delighted.’ names and dates recorded in a Roll of Honour at glass-fronted cupboards… The Pursuit of Love, by www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. Valuable, unique, they were a Nancy Mitford (1945). Spotted family legend. … We children by Ted Nield. Contributions revered them. Davey looked at welcome. Email them carefully, taking some over [email protected] Image: Inc / Shutterstock.com to the window and peering into them. Finally, he heaved a great sigh and said: ‘What a beautiful collection.

24 OCTOBER 2013 PEOPLE GEOSCIENTIST

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. DISTANT THUNDER Anning for gold Geologist and science writer Nina Morgan reveals how Lyme Regis is once again on the tourist trail

These days few would deny the his magazine, All the Year Round, important contributions made by Charles Dickens noted that: the fossil collector Mary Anning “In her own neighbourhood, (1799-1847). With little formal Miss Anning was far from being a scientific education, but a keen prophetess. Those who had eye, she combed the beaches derided her when she began her around Lyme Regis collecting researches, now turned and fossils to sell to tourists. Her laughed at her as an uneducated extraordinary persistence paid assuming person, who had off in many ways. After her made one good chance hit. father’s death in 1810, her fossil Dr Buckland and Professor Owen finds became her family’s main and others knew her worth, and source of income. But it was valued her accordingly; but she her discovery of ever more met with little sympathy in her complete ichthyosaur fossils, own town, and the highest and then, in December 1823, tribute which that magniloquent the first complete plesiosaur guide-book, The Beauties of fossil, that put her name firmly Lyme Regis, can offer her, is to on the map as far as geologists assure us that “her death was, in and collectors were concerned. a pecuniary point, a great loss to She went on to make many the place, as her presence other important discoveries, attracted a large number of including the first British distinguished visitors.” Quick pterodactyl, and gained the returns are the thing at Lyme. respect of many geologists, We need not wonder that Miss including Henry de la Beche Anning was chiefly valued as a (1796-1855) and William bait for tourists, when we find Buckland (1784-1856). that the museum is now entirely broken up, and the specimens RECORDER returned to those who had lent Mary Anning of Lyme Regis. Lady Harriet Silvester, widow of them. No one had public spirit From the Society’s portrait collection the former Recorder of the City enough to take charge of a non- of London, after meeting Mary paying concern, when the early Anning in 1824, wrote: geological furore had calmed ACKNOWLEDGEMENT If the past is the key to your “…the extraordinary thing in down, and people came to bathe Sources for this vignette present interests, why not join this young woman is that she and not to chop rocks. You may include: Torrens, H S, ‘Mary the History of Geology Group has made herself so thoroughly now visit the old abode of Anning (1799 – 1847) of Lyme: (HOGG). For more information acquainted with the science saurians without being able to “the greatest fossilist the world and to read the latest HOGG that the moment she finds any see a single tolerable specimen.” ever knew”, British Journal for Newsletter visit the HOGG bones she knows to what tribe the History of Science, vol 28, website at: www.historyof they belong …” WORLD HERITAGE 1995, pp. 257-84; the article geologygroup.co.uk, where But even so, Mary is said to Fortunately the tide has turned, about Mary Anning by Hugh you’ll also find abstracts for the have believed that her name was as far as fossils are concerned. Torrens in the Oxford Dictionary talks and posters presented at better known abroad than at Lyme Regis is now part of the of National Biography; the the Conference on Geological home. And her scientific skills Jurassic Coast World Heritage booklet Mary Anning of Lyme Collectors and Collecting, April were little appreciated by the site; fossils and geology take Regis by Crispin Tickell 2011 available free to download locals. It seems that in Lyme, pride of place in the restored published in 1996); the article as a pdf file. Mary was most appreciated for Lyme Regis Museum; and Mary Mary Anning, the Fossil Finder, her ability to attract rich visitors. Anning’s reputation is once again by Charles Dickens in All the * Nina Morgan is a geologist and In the February 11 1865 issue of pulling in the tourists. Year Round, February 11, 1865. science writer based near Oxford

OCTOBER 2013 25 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY‘

ALEC FRANCIS TRENDALL 1928 - 2013 Respected geologist and cheese maker extraordinaire who mapped South Georgia Island

lec Trendall was knew of a young geologist to In 1954 Alec joined the geochronology, and was an born in Enfield, join a six-man expedition to Geological Survey of Uganda, Adjunct Professor in the Middlesex, UK, on South Georgia. working mostly in the Applied Physics 8 December 1928, Karamoja District, a sparsely Department at Curtin A youngest of four SOUTH GEORGIA inhabited savannah about University, continuing his children. Alec’s father Carse led three South Georgia 1000m above sea-level, part of collaboration with John De moved to Ishapore, Calcutta, Surveys (1951-52, 1953-54 and the Mozambique Belt, with Laeter. This culminated in in the post-World War I 1955-56) documented in Cenozoic volcanic mountains the multi-authored SHRIMP depression. The Himalaya Alec’s book ‘Putting South rising to 3000m. zircon ages constraining the stimulated a lifelong Georgia on the map’ (2011). Subsequently, he moved to the depositional chronology of empathy with mountains, Alec went on the first two. Geological Survey of Western the Hamersley Group, wild and remote On the first, Alec fell down a Australia (GSWA), relocating Western Australia published environments, rocks hole in the snow - actually a to Perth in May 1962. in the Australian Journal of and geology. bergschrund – dislocating his The banded iron- Earth Sciences in 2004. He Returning to the UK in left knee and being sent back formations (BIFs) of the crystallised his ideas on the 1937 he attended Luton to England. His work was Hamersley Group became a origin of the continents in a Grammar School and in 1946 published in two Falkland consuming interest. Alec 1996 paper A tale of two won a scholarship to Imperial Island Dependencies Survey received world-wide cratons: speculations on the College, graduating BSc (FIDS) Scientific Reports, The recognition for this work and origin of continents published (Hons) ARCS in 1949. Robert geology of South Georgia I participated in a Dahlem in the Royal Society of Shackleton supervised his and II. The British Antarctic Conference in Berlin. The Western Australia’s De Honours and in 1949 invited Survey subsequently proceedings (1983), Patterns Laeter Symposium volume. him to join him in Liverpool published a detailed map of Change in Earth Evolution, Alec always maintained to work for his PhD on (1987), by 11 geologists over were published under joint an interest in languages, ‘The origin of albite gneisses’. eight years. The memoir was editorship with H D Holland. including Mandarin and In early 1951, Duncan dedicated ‘to Alec Trendall, He contributed to and jointly Russian. An accomplished Carse wrote asking if Shack who showed us all the way’. edited (with R C Morris) Iron keyboard player, he carried Formation: Facts and a clavichord into the Problems for Elsevier. field in Uganda and subsequently built a spinet, SPINET a harpischord and a Alec was appointed Deputy fortepiano from kit sets. Director of the GSWA in 1970 In 1995 Alec and Kath (Director, 1980), stepping moved to Springhaven near down in 1986 to concentrate Denmark on the south coast on research. He was awarded of Australia, where they ran a DSc for his work on BIFs a small herd of goats. He (University of London), the added cheesemaking to his Clarke Medal of the Royal many interests and Society of New South Wales perfected a local version of (1977) and the Gibb Maitland the traditional ash-coated Medal by the Western pyramid. A man of many Australian Division of the talents - we shall not see his Geological Society of like again. Australia (1987). Trendall Crag, South Georgia, is named By Tony Cockbain with for him. Kathleen and Jasper Trendall After retirement in 1990 he and John Blockley. continued his geological A longer version of this obituary work, particularly in may be read online. Editor

26 OCTOBER 2013 CALENDAR GEOSCIENTIST Can’t find your meeting? VISIT www.geolsoc.org.uk/listings] [full, accurate, up-to-date

ENDORSED TRAINING/CPD

Course Date Venue and details

Terrain Analysis & Digital 21 - 25 Venue & organiser: University of Sussex. The CPD course includes 5-days tuition, course booklet Mapping October and learning resources, and assessment (optional) for 15 credits towards an MSc. See website.

Eurocode 7 – A time of change 15 October Venue: Hurlingham Studios, 17 Ranelagh Gardens, Putney. Organised by: First Steps Ltd. Cost: £265 + VAT per person. GSL Fellows 10% discount. Convener: Christine Butenuth E: [email protected]

Understanding and Managing 16 October Venue & organiser: RSK/University of Liverpool. Course leader: George Tuckwell CGeol CSci, the Risks of Unforeseen Director. Time: 1400-1600. Free. Limited availability. See website. Ground Conditions

Commonly used (and useful) 16 October Venue & organiser: RSK/University of Liverpool. Course leader: George Tuckwell CGeol CSci, Geophysical Techniques Director. Time: 0930. Free. Limited availability. See website.

Borehole Users Conference 17 October Venue: Birmingham Metropole at the NEC. Organised by: Envireau Water. Fees apply. See 2013 website for details and registration.

Introduction to Micromine 16-17 October Venue: Burlington House. Organised by: Micromine. Cost: £110. 0930-1730. See website. Course E: [email protected]

Geochemistry and Basin 21-25 October Venue: Kingsley Hotel, Bloomsbury Way, London. Fees apply – see website for details and Modelling 2, 3 or 5 day courses registration. E: [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 OCTOBER 2013

Meeting Date Venue and details

The Mars Science Laboratory Mission 9 October Venue: Burlington House. A Shell London Lecture. See advertisement, p. 7 GSL/ Shell UK

ProGEO 2013 11 October Venue: Lakeside, Roadford Lake Country Park, Devon. For details see website. South West Regional E: [email protected]

Remediation of Contaminated Landfill Soils 15 October Venue: Lapworth Museum of Geology. Time: 18.00 for 18.30. Speaker: Keiron West Midlands Regional Finney - Director, Exea Associates Ltd. E: [email protected]

Reflections on the residual strength of clay 16 October Venue: Reynolds Lecture Theatre, Manchester University. Speaker: Eddie soils. North West Regional/ICE North West Bromhead. Time: Not available at time of writing: see website. E: [email protected]

Double Event - Curry Night and Speakers 17 October Venue: Sir Robert McAlpine, Hemel Hempstead. Time: 18.00 for 18.30. Home Counties North Regional Speakers: Bill Gaskarth, George Tuckwell. E: [email protected]

Ask the Mountains Their Story: an evening of 18 October Venue: Burlington House. Time: 19.00-20.00, followed by drinks reception. Doors science and literature open 18.30. Free. See website for registration. GSL/Arts Council for England

The Geo Gathering 2013 19-20 Venue: The Menlo Park Hotel, Headford Road, Galway. Lecture, Social Event, Field IAEG/IGI/IMQS/GSI/GSNI October Trip. See website for information and contacts.

Exploration, Resource and Mining Geology 21-22 Venue: National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Fees apply – for details and registration Conference 2013. GSL/AusIMM October see website. Contact: Georgina Worrall E: [email protected]

Fighting Global Poverty - Can Geologists 23 October Venue: Burlington House. See Soapbox, p. 9. Time: 10.00 – 18.00. Fees apply – Help? Geology for Global Development (GfGD) see website for downloads, details, registration. E: Joel Gill on [email protected]

OCTOBER 2013 27 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY‘

GERALD JOSEPH HOME MCCALL 1920-2013 Geological all-rounder with a varied international career who dedicated himself to explaining geology to geologists

oe McCall was DONEGAL government institutions and Makram, Southern Iran, born in London On returning to Imperial Joe researching the caldera of managing (just) to complete and educated at took up geology, enjoying the Menengai. In 1953 he the primary mapping of an St Edward’s tutelage of Read, Illing, mapped a dozen carbonatite area the size of England as J School, Oxford, Wood, and Pitcher. By the complexes around Gwasi on the Revolution gathered going up to Imperial end of year three of the four the shores of Lake Victoria, pace. Writing-up took College to read Chemistry year course, Read asked Joe to conclusively disproving the three years. Joe continued in 1938. He was in Part do a PhD. Research in Robert notion that the then to work as a consultant, Two when the War Shackleton’s Donegal Project mysterious carbonatite rocks with Camflo gold mine intervened; though by that followed, centring on the were any kind of (Quebec), and with GAPS time he had already taken a Creeslough area, where Joe metamorphosed limestone. (Putney) where he worked geology subsidiary (with H described the Horn Head He also mapped the on a wide range of H Read) and vowed to Slide, comparing it to the Neoproterozoic rocks geoenvironmental projects. return to study geology if Ballachulish Slide recognised bordering the Gregory Rift. he survived. Joe sailed to by Sir Edward Bailey. Joe Work in Kenya continued GEOSCIENTIST Madagascar in 1942 where finished in just under two after marriage in 1956, but Retirement in 1991 he was responsible for years, his work receiving with a family to support he heralded the beginning of organising transport praise from both Arthur became Senior Lecturer at the another, 20-year career during the successful Holmes and Doris Reynolds. University of Western dedicated largely to campaign to oust the Vichy After graduating Joe (who Australia, Perth, teaching Geoscientist, the successor French. Sent thereafter to had learned Swahili in Africa) petrology and structural magazine to the Institution East Africa, he explored the entered the Colonial geology and curating the of Geologists’ British

Great Rift Valley, which Geological Survey, spending meteorite collection in his Geologist. Joe remained an

further encouraged his two years siting water spare time. He also mapped Editorial Adviser until his geological ambitions. boreholes for farmers and Kenya’s Silali Volcano and death – covering a total of Ambrym~ (Vanuatu). 225 issues. Joe was also active locally with the Gloucester JOE RECEIVED Geology Trust, was THE SOCIETY’S COKE Consultant Editor on Elsevier’s Encyclopedia of MEDAL (1994), THE Geology (2005), published 17 DISTINGUISHED books, and hundreds of SERVICE AWARD research papers. He received the Society’s Coke (2011) AS WELL AS Medal (1994), the THE DISTINGUISHED Distinguished Service SERVICE AWARD OF Award (2011) as well as the Distinguished Service THE INTERNATIONAL Award of the International UNION OF GEOLOGICAL Union of Geological SCIENCES (1997) Sciences (1997). He was buried in South Cerney, the ~ Gloucestershire village that Joe left academe in 1970 to had become his home, become a consultant on leaving wife Rosemary mining projects until 1976, and children Bridget, Fiona, when he returned to the UK – and Chris. and was assigned to a reconnaissance project in the By Ted Nield

28 OCTOBER 2013 CROSSWORD GEOSCIENTIST

CROSSWORD NO. 173 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL PUBLICATION

The winner of the August Crossword puzzle prize draw was Katy Victoria Hebditch of Ashford.

All correct solutions will be placed in the draw, and the winner’s name printed in the December/January 2013/14 issue. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date - 04 November.

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]

Name ...... ACROSS DOWN Membership number ......

1 Two fossil species having the same features 1 Sword handle (4) Address for correspondence ...... by convergent evolution (10) 2 Diseases of cattle and sheep (7) ...... 6 Energy unit commonly used among dieters (4) 3 Mean sea level in Newlyn, 1915- 9 Obsolete unit of electrical charge named for 1921 (8,5) ...... an early Fellow of the Society (7) 4 Colourless odourless ...... 10 Stomach area (7) atmospheric gas, much found in publicity (6) ...... 12 Defining measure of a system (10) 5 Broad high table lands (8) 13 Any arse-end charlie or second dicky would ...... have got the green from this mob (1,1,1) 7 In the chamber: deposits in ...... an ammonite, or fluid in a 15 If in the 13a, probably an AEC with his Nautilus (7) goolies shot off (6) Postcode ...... 8 Members of the Dipnoi (10) 16 Metamorphic haloes surrounding intrusions (8) 11 Weighty tomes presented for 18 Natural curves typical of a mature river on examination (13) a floodplain (8) 14 Stalked and sedentary SOLUTIONS AUGUST 20 C H (6) 2 6 echinoderms, including the 23 Granite outcrop typical of upland scenery (3) crinoids (10) ACROSS: 1 Plate 4 Hypertext 9 Ephemeral 10 Quito 24 Fibrous limestone deposit from mineral 17 System named by von Alberti spring (10) in 1834 for the three-fold rock 11 Discontinuity 14 Sage 15 Abnormally units Bunter, Muschelkalk 18 Anemometer 19 Echo 21 Algebraically 26 Semantic syllepses, wherever a single word and Keuper (8) 24 Rhino 25 Duodecimo 27 Dungeness governs two parts of a sentence (7) 28 Dykes/Dikes 19 Stuck on the bottom (7) 27 Scots pouch (5) 21 Mersey home of the Grand 28 Right hand man. Or woman (4) DOWN: National (7) 1 Pseudospar 2 Ash 3 Exmoor 4 Heritable 29 Communities of living organisms, considered 22 Tremors, Greekly (6) 5 Pylon 6 Requiems 7 Epicyclical 8 Trot as a totality, including their nonliving physical environment (10) 25 Proct, Latinly (4) 12 Segregation 13 Synonymous 16 Operators 17 Mongoose 20 Screed 22 Bodge 23 Arid 26 Ilk

OCTOBER 2013 29 RECRUITMENT

30 OCTOBER 2013

Founders’ Day

LECTURE & DINNER 2013

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY WAS INAUGURATED ON FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 1807 BY THIRTEEN GENTLEMEN OVER DINNER AT THE FREEMASONS’ TAVERN, COVENT GARDEN. TO CELEBRATE THE SOCIETY'S INAUGURATION, WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR ANNUAL FOUNDERS’ DAY LECTURE AND DINNER ON WEDNESDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2013.

Founders’ Day Lecture

James Parkinson and the Founding of the Geological Society Speaker: Dr Cherry Lewis, University of Bristol

At the age of 16, James Parkinson (1755-1824) was apprenticed to his father to learn the ‘art and mystery’ of being an apothecary. Living all his life in Hoxton, then a village on the outskirts of London, his pioneering work in medicine led to him identifying the Shaking Palsy as a distinct medical condition, which eventually became known as Parkinson’s disease. His favourite past time, however, was collecting fossils. This talk will review Parkinson’s remarkable life, including his involvement in a plot to kill King George III, how he put the study of fossils on the scientific map of Britain through his three volume work Organic Remains of a Former World, and how his expertise as the country’s only ‘fossilist’ led to him becoming Contact details: one of the 13 founders of the Geological Society. Naomi Newbold, The Geological Society, Founders’ Day Dinner Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG Venue: Le Meridien, Piccadilly . Dress: Black Tie . Ticket price: £80 T: 0207 432 0981 After dinner speaker: TBC E: [email protected] Timings: W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/founders13 17.30 Tea & coffee served, Burlington House 18.00 Lecture by Dr Cherry Lewis 19.00 Drinks reception at Le Meridien 19.45 Presentation of The Neftex Earth Model Award 20.00 Dinner served 21.30 After dinner speaker 24.00 Carriages