December 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Mercia Rocks OUGS West Midlands Branch Newsletter Issue No 4 (2017) December 2017 Edinburgh’s Volcano – Mike Hermolle. Branch Officers Contents Branch Organiser – Sandra Morgan Branch Organiser’s report p 2 Branch Treasurer - Susan Jackson Branch AGM notice p 3 Newsletter Editor – Mike Hermolle Field Trip programme p 4 Branch Committee Field trip reports p 7 David Green, Geo-etymology p 14 Alan Richardson Other Societies p 16 Membership renewal form p 17 If you would like to join the committee please do get in touch [email protected] [email protected] 1 Branch Organiser’s Report Dear all, Two branch events have taken place since our last newsletter. First a field trip in October to the South Malverns led by John Payne who again provided participants with an excellent and informative day. Then one of Alan Richardson's popular petrology workshops, a Mineralogy laboratory, also in October There is one more Branch event in 2017: a Sedimentary Petrology Laboratory Workshop on 9 December, led by Alan Richardson. The Branch committee is now working on the programme for 2018 and we already have a few events confirmed including the Branch AGM and two labs. The first Branch event of 2018 will be the Branch AGM on Saturday 20 January (see the Agenda in this newsletter). This will again take place at the Lapworth Museum. It will include a free lunch, and afterwards there will be a talk by Marco Maffiolo entitled “50 years of plate tectonics”. Marco is a lecturer at Birmingham University and he will discuss how we got to the formulation of the plate tectonics hypothesis 50 years ago, challenges in tectonics. The Lapworth museum is open to the public from 12.00 to 17.00 on Saturdays, so you will also be able to look around the museum after the talk if you wish. To help us plan the catering, do let me know if you plan to attend. The main purpose of the Branch AGM is to consider the Branch's activities and finances, and to elect committee members for 2018. It would be great to have some new members on the committee. If you would like to discuss what this involves, just contact me. Membership renewals for 2018 are due on 1 January. The Society encourages members to set up a standing order so that it is not forgotten. The current membership rates are on the renewal form. Those who didn’t change the amount on their standing order last year are reminded to do so before the next payment! As mentioned in the latest Society Newsletter some changes that are taking place in Data Protection Legislation in 2018. Therefore we all need to complete the renewal form, ticking the 3 relevant boxes on page 1, signing and dating it on page 2, and post or email it back to the Membership Secretary at the address on the form. All joint and family members also need to sign the form. You need to complete a form this year even if you pay by standing order or electronic transfer. There is a copy of the form in this newsletter, or you can find one on the website at http://ougs.org/files/ouc/general/Membership_Renewal_2018.pdf Finally, a reminder that if there are any changes to your contact details (name, address, email, phone) do please inform the Membership Secretary by emailing [email protected] Best wishes, Best wishes Sandra [email protected] [email protected] 2 You are invited to the OUGS WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING On SATURDAY 20th January 2018 at 11.30 am Lapworth Museum Education Room Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Aston Webb Building Agenda 1 Apologies 2 Minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 January 2017 3 Matters Arising 4 Officers' Reports 5 Election of Officers * 6 Appointment of Committee 7 Meeting close followed by discussion of any items raised by those present PLEASE NOTE *Nominations are sought for all posts. After the meeting a free buffet lunch will be provided in the Education Room After lunch there will be a talk by Marco Maffiolo entitled “50 years of plate tectonics” For further information about the Lapworth Museum, see the Museum website at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/index.aspx To help with the catering for lunch, please let us know if you will be attending the meeting. Contact Sandra Morgan: [email protected] [email protected] 3 Forthcoming Field Trips and Events Each person attending a field meeting does so on the understanding that he/she attends at his/her own risk. The OUGS has Public Liability Insurance Cover for field and indoor meetings, but Personal Accident Cover and Personal Liability Cover remain the responsibility and personal choice of the participant. There may be an element of appropriate cover included in house insurance or in travel insurance: although OUGS activities are not particularly dangerous, members are advised to check whether exclusions apply to activities in which they plan to participate in case they wish to arrange further cover. An annual travel insurance may be the best solution for any member who regularly attends field events: this again is a matter of personal choice. Programme 2017 Saturday 9 Dec Sedimentary Petrology Workshop , Leader Alan Richardson. Contact Alan Richardson [email protected] Programme 2018 Saturday 20 Jan AGM at Lapworth Museum, free lunch, speaker Marco Maffiolo. Contact Sandra Morgan [email protected] Saturday 10 Feb Igneous Petrology Workshop, Leader Alan Richardson. Contact Alan Richardson [email protected] Saturday 3 March Metamorphic Petrology Workshop, Leader Alan Richardson. Contact Alan Richardson [email protected] 20-22 April OUGS AGM and Social Weekend—Shap Wells Hotel. See website for details. 10-12 August OUGS Symposium “Music of the Earth” at Worcester. More information soon. [email protected] 4 10 February 2018 – Igneous Petrology Laboratory Workshop 1030 – 1600 Lickey Hills Visitor Centre, Warren Lane, Lickey, Birmingham B45 8ER The venue is signposted from the roundabout at Junction 4 (Lydiate Ash) of the M5. There is free parking close to the centre, and disabled parking adjacent to it. Aimed at current OU Earth Science students, but open to all, (including non-members), an introductory lecture will cover the essential elements of describing, identifying and interpreting igneous rocks. A representative range of specimens will be provided, along with support materials, which will then allow individuals to work at their own pace, with the support of the tutor. This is an opportunity to break out of the virtual environment and get to grips with real rocks. If you have a hand lens and grain size scale, bring them along: don’t worry if you don’t as there will be some available on the day. If you want to buy your own, see the recommendations below. On the day of the workshop students will receive a printed book covering the workshop content. This laboratory book includes instructions for the systematic identification of the rocks and their constituent minerals. Students will also be e-mailed a pdf copy of the book in advance but there is no need to print it. The session will take place in the school room adjacent to the visitor centre, where there is a café and toilets. The lab event will finish at 1600. This event is especially suitable for those new to the study of geology, and may be of particular interest to those with little previous practical experience. The cost of the workshop is £10, payable in advance. To receive payment instructions and book a place contact Alan Richardson, [email protected]. Hand lens: search on Amazon for a ‘Jeweller’s lupe’, with a magnification of around x10. I found one advertised for £4.85. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jewellers-Jewelry-Loupe-Magnifier- Magnifying/dp/B0014R6M1O/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1425996587&sr=1-1- spell&keywords=jewellers+lupe) …or, for £4.99, you can buy one with built in illumination: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Magnifying-Glasses/LEORX-Jewellers-Glass-Magnifier- Lights/B017X3U7W2/ref=pd_day0_201_21?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=NJ59GTE73MJ85 0BRHJWA Grain Size Scale: I recommend the ‘University of Leicester Grain Size Scale’, available on line for £1.30 http://shop.le.ac.uk/product-catalogue/courses-and-course-essentials/course- essentials/geology/equipment/grainsize-chart Alan Richardson [email protected] [email protected] 5 Sunday 3 March 2018 – Metamorphic Petrology Laboratory Workshop 1030 – 1600 Lickey Hills Visitor Centre, Warren Lane, Lickey, Birmingham B45 8ER The venue is signposted from the roundabout at Junction 4 (Lydiate Ash) of the M5. There is free parking close to the centre, and disabled parking adjacent to it. Aimed at current OU Earth Science students, but open to all, (including non-members) this laboratory workshop will be divided into three elements: following an introductory lecture, the first practical session will cover the essential elements of describing, identifying and interpreting metamorphic rocks. The second afternoon session will be devoted to a structured exercise using specimens, photographs, field sketches and maps to explore a case study from the Lake District. A representative range of specimens will be provided, along with support materials, which will allow individuals to work at their own pace, with the support of the tutor. For those whose studies are otherwise confined to the virtual environment, this will provide a refreshing opportunity to get their hands dirty with real rock. Students will find the afternoon exercise provides useful insights into field studies. If you have a hand lens and grain size scale, bring them along: don’t worry if you don’t as there will be some available on the day.