SCIENTISTVOLUME 29 No. 01 ◆ FEBRUARY 2019 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST
GEOThe Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95
Year of Carbon
DEEP ANCIENT EARTHQUAKES Kit Hardman reconstructs void evolution in a Highland shear zone
DEFINING EARTH SOUTHWEST GEOLOGY ERUPTIONS AT SEA Matthieu Galvez argues Nadine Gabriel on a region Paul Cragg on the maritime carbon is key that’s inspired through the ages influences of volcanism WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 1 In 2020, the Geological Society will explore the theme of life. For billions of years, the evolution of life and the evolution of the geosphere ADhave SPACE been closely linked. The Year of Life will showcase work exploring these links throughout the Earth’s history.
Get Involved We welcome proposals for meetings, events and other activities.To propose an event, or for more information, contact David Riach at [email protected]
©Nicholls2009 www.geolsoc.org.uk/Life20 WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 3 GEOSCIENTIST CONTENTS
Geoscientist is the W www.centuryone Fellowship magazine publishing.uk of the Geological Society of London ADVERTISING SALES Alex Killen The Geological Society, T 01727 739 182 Burlington House, Piccadilly, E [email protected] London W1J 0BG T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 ART EDITOR F +44 (0)20 7439 8975 Heena Gudka E [email protected] (Not for Editorial - Please PRINTED BY contact the Editor) Century One Publishing Ltd. Publishing House The Geological Society Copyright Publishing House, Unit 7, The Geological Society of Brassmill Enterprise Centre, London is a Registered Charity, In 2020, the Geological Brassmill Lane, Bath number 210161. BA1 3JN ISSN (print) 0961-5628 T 01225 445046 ISSN (online) 2045-1784 F 01225 442836 The Geological Society of London accepts no responsibility for the views 5 27 Society will explore the Library expressed in any article in this publication. T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 All views expressed, except where explicitly E [email protected] stated otherwise, represent those of the author, and not The Geological Society of EDITOR-IN-CHIEF London. All All rights reserved. No paragraph theme of life. Professor Andy Fleet of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF permission. Users registered with Copyright Clearance Center: the Journal is registered Mr David Shilston with CCC, 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA EDITOR 01970, USA. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders of material in this Dr Amy Whitchurch publication. If any rights have been omitted, For billions of years, the E [email protected] the publisher offer their apologies. EDITORIAL BOARD No responsibility is assumed by the Mrs Natalyn Ala Publisher for any injury and/or damage to Mr Steve Branch persons or property as a matter of products 10 16 evolution of life and the Dr Robin Cocks liability, negligence or otherwise, or from Dr Howard Falcon-Lang any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained Prof. Tony Harris in the material herein. All advertising Mr Edmund Nickless material is expected to conform to ethical evolution of the geosphere Dr Alan Roberts and trading standards, and reasonable ON THE COVER: Prof. Peter Styles care is taken to ensure that advertisers are Dr Colin Summerhayes reputable and reliable. However, inclusion 10 CRACKING CANISP Dr Jan Zalasiewicz in this publication or as an insert does not have been closely linked. constitute a guarantee or endorsement Kit Hardman unravels Trustees of the of the quality or value of such products Geological Society or services, or of the claims made by deep void evolution during of London its manufacturer. Geoscientist and the Prof Nick Rogers (President) Geological Society of London can give no assurance that an advertiser will fulfil its ancient earthquakes The Year of Life will showcase Mr Thomas Backhouse obligation under all circumstances. Mr Andrew Bloodworth Mr John Booth (Vice President) Subscriptions: All correspondence Dr Jason Canning relating to non-member subscriptions work exploring these links Ms Lesley Dunlop should be addresses to the Journals FEATURESFEATURES Subscription Department, Geological Mr Graham Goffey (Treasurer) Society Publishing House, Unit 7 Brassmill Dr Sarah Gordon (Secretary, Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath, BA1 16 FINDING EARTH Foreign & External Affairs) 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 445046. Email: sales@ Matthieu Galvez argues that carbon throughout the Earth’s history. Prof James Griffiths geolsoc.org.uk. Contact us by phone or Ms Naomi Jordan email for current rates. is key to defining our planet Prof Chris King Dr Robert Larter © 2019 The Geological Society Prof Bryne Ngwenya of London Dr Colin North (Secretary, Geoscientist is printed on FSC® mixed REGULARS Publications) credit - Mixed source products are a blend Dr Sheila Peacock of FSC 100%, Recycled and/or Controlled 05 WELCOME Amy Whitchurch considers carbon at depth Mr Nicholas Reynolds (Vice fibre. Certified by the Forest Stewardship Get Involved ® Council . President) 06 SOCIETY NEWS What your Society is doing at Prof Katherine Royse (Secretary, Professional Matters) home and abroad, in London and the regions SCIENTISTVOLUME 29 No. 01 ◆ FEBRUARY 2019 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST
GEOThe Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95 Mr Keith Seymour (Vice Year of We welcome proposals for meetings, Carbon President) 09 SOAPBOX Paul Cragg calls for awareness of the Miss Jessica Smith maritime influences of volcanism Dr Helen Smyth events and other activities.To propose Prof Robin Strachan 21 CALENDAR Activities this month Mr John Talbot (Vice President) DEEP ANCIENT EARTHQUAKES Kit Hardman reconstructs void Dr Alexander Whittaker evolution in a Highland shear zone (Secretary, Science) 22 BOOKS & ARTS Five new books reviewed by Geoff Warrington, an event, or for more information, DEFINING EARTH SOUTHWEST GEOLOGY ERUPTIONS AT SEA Matthieu Galvez argues Nadine Gabriel on a region Paul Cragg on the maritime carbon is key that’s inspired through the ages influences of volcanism WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 1 Catherine Kenny, Jeremy Joseph and John Potter
Published on behalf of Cover image: View of Achmelvich Bay, contact David Riach at the Geological Society Scotland, looking south (Credit: Kit Hardman). 27 MEETING REPORT Nadine Gabriel on the influential geology of of London by: southwest Britain Century One Publishing [email protected] Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam 28 PEOPLE John Hailstone’s convoluted path to love, GeoWeek Road, St Albans, Herts, 2019 and more AL3 4DG T 01727 893 894 30 OBITUARY Andrew Parker 1941-2017 E enquiries@centuryone publishing.uk ©Nicholls2009 www.geolsoc.org.uk/Life20 WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 3 THE JANET WATSON MEETING 2019 From core to atmosphere: The Geological Society Deep carbon Career and Industry
26-28 February 2019 The Geological Society, Burlington House Days 2019
Carbon is the element central to the evolution of life and maintenance of the Earth’s habitability. Though the presence of carbon at Earth’s surface is well known and vitally important, the majority of Earth’s Wednesday 20 March 2019 carbon is thought to reside in the Deep Earth. Constraining the magnitudes of the fluxes to and from the Earth’s interior, and how they Venue: Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, UK are controlled, is vital for understanding how the present-day Earth www.geolsoc.org.uk/careersday18london came to be and how it may develop in the future.
The Geological Society Career & Industry Day This three-day meeting will bring together early career geoscientists and senior members of the Deep Carbon research community. Presentations is an essential meeting place for geoscience and discussions will encompass the latest advances in our understanding students and the geoscience industry, and is of the behaviour of carbon at the extreme pressures and temperatures of the Earth’s deep interior, the exchange of carbon between the near- the most recognised geoscience careers focused surface and deep reservoirs, the abiotic development of organic forum in the country. compounds through deep time, and the extreme limits of life on Earth. Mentoring activities will take place throughout the meeting, where senior scientists will lead small group discussions about their research careers and experiences in academia. The day will include short career and industry presentations covering different areas of geology and academia, and there will Conference themes be an exhibition consisting of industry and professional bodies, and higher education institutions promoting MSc and PhD ● Deep Carbon origins, storage and transport programmes. There will also be a CV and careers workshop Further information ● Carbon in the deep biosphere running alongside the talks. For further information about the conference please contact: ● Deep Carbon through time Ruth Davey, Conference Office, ● The future of Deep Carbon research Registration The Geological Society, Burlington ● Deep Carbon synthesis House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG This event is free to attend but there are limited numbers T: 0207 434 9944 so pre-booking is recommended. Delegates will be required to E: [email protected] The final day of the conference is dedicated to workshops pre-register to receive a student manual, free packed lunch and Web: www.geolsoc.org.uk/jwatson19 addressing the future of Deep Carbon research and exploring free drink at the drinks reception. Follow this event on Twitter: #jwatson19 the application of new software driven tools for understanding carbon in the Earth. Contact Information Ruth Davey, Conference Office, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG Convenors: T: 0207 432 0981 Simon Matthews (University of Cambridge) E: [email protected] Lotta Purkamo (University of St Andrews) #GSLcareers18 Follow these events on Twitter: Background image: Assynt, © Timothy Gregory
4 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 5 ~ GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME
WHEN IT COMES TO EARTH’S DEEP CARBON CYCLE, THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ~
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: Carbon underworld
019 is the Society’s Year of Carbon. On page 7, of carbon in Earth. The discoveries resulting from this project Flo Bullough gives an overview of the activities are numerous, but some recent highlights include the ideas
the Society has planned and in a feature on that 26 to 30-million-year cycles in atmospheric CO2 page 16, Matthieu Galvez makes the case for concentrations and ocean anoxia may be linked to tectonic carbon as a key element that defines our planet, cycles and the ability of new seafloor to store and release
in large part due to its central role in the ethical carbon (Müller & Dutkiewicz, Sci. Adv. 2018); that CO2 2dilemmas faced by humankind. emissions from rifts during continental break up may have Indeed, Earth’s shallow carbon cycle—the transfer of carbon triggered some past greenhouse climates (Brune et al., Nat. between the near-subsurface, soils, biosphere, oceans and Geosci. 2017); that carpets of methane-munching microbes atmosphere—has come under intense scrutiny as we grapple beneath the seafloor take years to recover from disturbances— with issues surrounding human-induced carbon emissions, whether naturally via mud eruptions, or artificially via deforestation and land-use alteration, and climate change. trawling or deep-sea mining—potentially affecting methane We now know a tremendous amount about the relatively rapid emissions (Ruff et al., ISME 2018); and the idea that barely transfer of carbon between surface stores, which is expedited living ‘zombie’ bacteria, archaea and eukarya exist to depths and thrown out of balance by human activity. The deep carbon of 5 km, creating a subsurface ‘Galapagos’ that constitutes a cycle, however, is much less familiar. mass of carbon up to 385 times greater than that of all humans Earth’s core, mantle and lithosphere are vast carbon on the surface (https://deepcarbon.net/). reservoirs. Carbon is cycled between deep and shallow stores In 2019, the Deep Carbon Observatory team is synthesising very slowly, via metamorphism, volcanism and subduction, the results of this decade-long research programme and over many thousands of years. This natural geological cycle exploring ways to continue beyond 2020—there is still so has helped regulate Earth’s temperature in the long-term much learn. When it comes to understanding the whole carbon and kept our planet habitable. Thus, to accurately constrain cycle, we’re still only just scratching the surface. the impacts of human activity and our extreme acceleration In other news, 2019 also marks the centenary of female of carbon transfer, we need a better grasp of the deep Fellows at the Society. To celebrate, we’re running a carbon cycle. competition giving the chance for your designs to feature on In 2009, the Deep Carbon Observatory international the cover of Geoscientist (see page 7 for details). And due to collaboration was launched with the aim of better high demand, this month also sees the return of the understanding the quantities, movements, forms and origins crossword, created by ‘Bindweed’. We hope you enjoy it!
Cave of Swallows in Aquismon Mexico
DR AMY WHITCHURCH, EDITOR - [email protected] @geoscientistmag
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What your society is doing at home and abroad, in SOCIETYNEWS London and the regions
Elections to Council 2019-2020
The October issue of Geoscientist invited Fellows to nominate new members of Council and the President-designate. A preliminary ballot will be conducted, the results of which will determine the list for the formal vote at this year’s Annual General Meeting to be held on 6 June. Electoral Reform Services (ERS) will administer this year’s Council ballot. PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES ERS is the UK’s leading independent ballot services provider, and has extensive experience of overseeing ballots for a wide range of organisations. Those Fellows for whom we have an email address will receive an email from Geological disposal of ERS on or soon after 11 February with instructions on how to vote online. If you radioactive waste in the UK have not heard by 22 February, please check your spam emails before contacting the Society. Fellows for whom we do Speaker: Jonathan Turner, Radioactive Waste not have an email address will be sent a postal Management ballot pack. Location: Burlington House, London Date: 13 February The closing date for voting, online or Programme postal, is 31 March 2019. ◆ A fternoon talk: 14:30 Tea & Coffee; 15:00 Lecture begins; 16:00 Event ends ◆ E vening talk: 17:30 Tea & Coffee; 18:00 Lecture begins; 19:00 Reception
Further Information Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsllondonlectures18. Entry by ticket only (contact the Society about four Chartership news weeks before the talk).
An update on chartership from Bill Gaskarth. Contact: Patricia Petrovic, The Geological Society, Burlington Mentoring workshops House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG T: +44 (0) 20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] We hope to run a mentoring workshop in late March (week of the 25th). At present, the plan is to hold the workshop at Burlington House. However, depending on interest, a workshop could be arranged outside London, either in addition to or in place of the London one. To be viable we need a minimum Council & OGMs 2019 of 12 attendees. OGMS: 6 February, 3 April Please contact the Chartership Officer [email protected]( ) for COUNCIL: 6 February, 3 April further information. We will then assess viability and decide on the venue(s). If sufficient interest has not been registered by February 22nd the workshop will not go ahead. Programme: 2018 Accreditation Meetings of the Geological Society Discussion Group Discussions with representatives of Companies with Accredited Training (formerly the Geological Society Club) are 18.30 for 19.00, Schemes has resulted in the production of an Annual Training Record when dinner is served. Attendance is open to all members document—designed for trainees to keep a record of their professional of the Society. For up to date information concerning topics development (plans and achievements). It will be a useful document to submit for discussion and speakers, please go to with a Chartership Application, as evidence of development planning, as W: bit.ly/2AhEZrf well as for future employers. This document is available for use by any early career geoscientist, and is not restricted to trainees in companies that have ◆ Wednesday 6 February – The Kings Head Accredited Schemes. An electronic copy may be obtained from the Chartership Officer For information and reservations, contact Sarah Woodcock ([email protected]). E: [email protected]
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Year of Carbon
Flo Bullough reports on the Society’s themed year for 2019. Elements. All public lectures will be listed on our website: https://www. Welcome to 2019 and the Geological Society’s Year of Carbon. After geolsoc.org.uk/gsllondonlectures19 a successful programme of events and activities in last year’s Year of Along with our events and meeting programme, we will also be Resources, we are kicking off early in 2019 and have a number of developing a number of education, outreach and policy activities carbon-themed events, publications, and outreach and education throughout the year, as well as some themed collections and thematic activities planned for the year. sets from our Publishing House to highlight the Year of Carbon. In terms of meeting and conference highlights, the Year of Carbon got We will also be producing a number of education, outreach and policy started with the Bryan Lovell Meeting held on the 21-23 January, which materials focussing on areas such as the geological components of the focussed on the role of geological science in the decarbonisation of carbon cycle. There will be a Year of Carbon themed rock set available power production, heat, transport and industry. On the 26-28 February for schools and groups to borrow, and we will be working on policy we will host the Janet Watson meeting, with a focus on Deep Carbon, materials around decarbonisation and the links to geological science. and later on in the year we have the 2019 Lyell Meeting on Carbon: If you want to propose an event or get involved with any of our Year Geochemical and palaeobiological perspectives. of Carbon activities, head to our Year of Carbon webpage: Following on from previous themed years, we will host a number www.geolsoc.org.uk/yearofcarbon of public lectures on the theme of carbon, covering everything from diamonds and volcanoes to palaeoceanography and biogeochemistry. As with last year, we hope to take some lectures on the road and hold them in locations outside London. Additionally, we will collaborate with the Royal Society of Chemistry on one carbon-themed lecture to chime with the 150th anniversary of the Periodic Table of Chemical Geoscientist Magazine Cover Competition!
Sarah Day and Will Foreman provide the details. Entry is free and open to all. You can submit as many entries as 2019 will be the 100th anniversary of female Fellows of the you like—all entries must reach us by midnight on Sunday 17th Geological Society, and to mark the centenary, we’re opening up the March. cover of our May edition to your design ideas!
The first eight women to become Fellows of the Geological Society SCIENTVOLUME 29 No. 03 ◆ APRIL 2019 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEISOSCIENTISTT SCIENTVOLUME 29 No. 03 ◆ APRIL 2019 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEISOSCIENTISTT GEThe Fellowship Magazine of theO Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95 GEThe Fellowship Magazine of theO Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95
100th 100th were elected on 21 May 1919, following a long campaign for women to anniversary anniversary be admitted. They included pioneering graptolite researcher Gertrude Elles, eminent palaeontologist and politician Dame Maria Ogilvie and stratigrapher and palaeontologist Ethel Skeat. Since their election, thousands of women have joined the Society, making vital contributions to our history, strategy and to the science. WOMEN OF THE WOMEN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Odisquis volorempore perferit et Odisquis volorempore perferit et In the May issue of Geoscientist, we’re marking the centenary of quiate voloruntio consequo millia quiate voloruntio consequo millia female members with a special issue. We’d love the cover to feature an
DEFINING EARTH SOUTHWEST GEOLOGY ERUPTIONS AT SEA DEFINING EARTH SOUTHWEST GEOLOGY ERUPTIONS AT SEA image celebrating women in geoscience, whether past or present, Matthieu Galvez argues Nadine Gabriel on a region Paul Cragg on the maritime Matthieu Galvez argues Nadine Gabriel on a region Paul Cragg on the maritime carbon is key that’s inspired through the ages influences of volcanism carbon is key that’s inspired through the ages influences of volcanism WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 1 WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 1 designed by you. It’s up to you how you interpret the theme. You could send us a How to enter drawing of your favourite female geoscientist, a photograph of yourself Email your submissions to [email protected] or your colleagues in the lab or in the field, an artwork that you feel represents the importance of diversity in the geosciences—anything Or you can post entries to: you like! Geoscientist Cover Competition Your entry can take any format—a photograph, painting, drawing Burlington House or other artwork—and you can send us a digital scan or post us the Piccadilly physical copy. Entries must be in portrait dimensions and, if sent London digitally, of print quality. You can read the full terms and conditions, W1J 0BG and further information, on our website at www.geolsoc.org.uk/ covercompetition. Good luck!
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FROM THE LIBRARY
u Online Library catalogue u Postal loans Search the online catalogue of books, journals and maps held You do not need to live in London to borrow books, maps or in the Geological Society Library. Fellows and Corporate Affiliate journals from the Library—we can post them to you! For more members can now login to the Library Catalogue to renew information, contact [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999 loans, view loan history, request items and create Favourite lists. ww.geolsoc.org.uk/librarycatalogue u Inter-library loans If the item you want is not in our collection, we may be able u E-Journals and e-books to obtain it from another library. To find out more about this Fellows of the Society can access over 100+ e-journals and service, please email [email protected] or e-books using Athens authentication. There is no charge to Fellows call 020 7432 0999 for this service. Visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/virtuallibrary to register. u Visit the Library u Literature searching Fellows and Candidate Fellows can visit the Library at Not enough time or struggling to find the information you need? Burlington House between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to We can search a wide range of resources on your behalf and send Friday. You’ll find comfortable and quiet study space, scanning you the results directly to your inbox. To find out more about this and copying facilities, free Wi-Fi and all of the latest books and service, please email [email protected] journals. The Library’s professional, dedicated staff are on hand to answer any enquiries. u Document delivery Not based in London or simply too busy to come to the u Library newsletter Library? We can send you by email or post copies of articles Subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter to keep up-to-date from our collection. To find out more about this service, please with important Library news, electronic journal updates, online email [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999 exhibitions, events and more—please email [email protected] to be added to our circulation list
Latest news from the Publishing House
Tsunami hazard related to a fl ank collapse of Anak Krakatau Timing and evolution of Middle Triassic magmatism in Volcano, Sunda Strait, Indonesia the Southern Alps (northern Italy) By T. Giachetti, R. Paris, K. Kelfoun and B. Ontowirjo By Julian-Christopher Storck, Peter Brack, Jörn-Frederik Wotzlaw and Peter Ulmer umerical modelling of a rapid, partial destabilization of Anak iddle Triassic magmatism in the Southern Krakatau Volcano (Indonesia) was performed in order to N Alps (northern Italy) consists of widespread investigate the tsunami triggered by this event. Anak Krakatau, M volcanoclastic deposits, basaltic lava fl ows and intrusive which is largely built on the steep NE wall of the 1883 Krakatau complexes. Despite their importance in understanding eruption caldera, is active on its SW side (towards the 1883 the geodynamic evolution of the westernmost Tethys, caldera), which makes the edifi ce quite unstable. A hypothetical the timing of magmatic activity and the links between 0.280 km3 fl ank collapse directed southwestwards would trigger an the different igneous initial wave 43 m in height that would reach the islands of Sertung, products remain poorly Panjang and Rakata in less than 1 min, with amplitudes from 15 to understood. We present 30 m ... read more a comprehensive high- precision zircon U–Pb geochronology dataset for the major intrusive complexes and several volcanic ash layers and integrate this with a high-resolution stratigraphic framework of Middle Triassic volcano- sedimentary successions.
Find and read more online Read full abstract and paper in the Lyell Collection http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/ http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/361/1/79 early/2018/12/04/jgs2018-123
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Eruptions and ships
Paul Cragg calls for increased awareness of the maritime influences of volcanism
ver the years, many hours and Surtseyan eruptions. Would gas or rising and thousands of dollars have been floating pumice seriously affect a ship’s SOAPBOX devoted to determining volcanic stability? What influence would a nearby hazards to aircraft; as far as I can violent eruption have on the structure of a find, comparatively little time or modern vessel? Are pumice rafts likely to be CALLING! Oresources have been spent assessing the thick enough to inhibit the passage of a effects a volcanic eruption might have on a vessel? Could gas-emission rates be ship or the maritime industry. I can find no sufficiently high as to lead a ship to sink? Soapbox is open to contributions documented airplane crash or loss of life in an Additional hazards or risks might include from all Fellows. You can always aircraft directly caused by volcanic activity, seismically induced shifts on shore or the write a letter to the Editor, of but there have been hundreds of lives and seabed. Tsunami waves can capsize ships and course, but perhaps you feel you tens of ships lost at sea through eruptions, wash them ashore. Dense lahars can break need more space? such as that of Mount Pelée in Martinique, the ships clear of their moorings and the density Caribbean, in 1902. change in the water may lead to capsize. If you can write it entertainingly in Economically the airline industry has seen 500 words, the Editor would like some losses due to volcanic eruptions, Risk assessment to hear from you. Email your piece, particularly during the Eyjafjallajökull In the past few decades, shipping traffic has and a self-portrait, to volcano crisis in 2010. Shipping has many accelerated dramatically due to the demand [email protected]. documented losses, both physical and for global trade and, during volcanic Copy can only be accepted economical, over the last few thousand years. eruptions, relief to affected communities may electronically. No diagrams, tables These include loss of life, ships and their involve boats. It is essential to quantify the or other illustrations please. cargoes, port closures and infrastructure effect of volcanic eruptions on ships, to both damage. assist the Captain in making meaningful risk Pictures should be of print assessments and to aid crisis management, quality – please take photographs Seafarer leading to more effective organisation and on the largest setting on your As a professional seafarer the dearth of utilisation of resources. camera, with a plain background. information on how my crew and ship might be affected should we encounter an erupting Precedence will always be given to volcano worried me, so I decided to do more topical contributions. my own research. What hazards are we Any one contributor may not talking about? appear more often than once per Subaerial eruptions are often associated volume (once every 12 months). with tephra fallout and pyroclastic density currents. This reduces visibility and, given the extremely erosive properties of tephra, may damage equipment. Ships would have to rely IT IS on radar and GPS for collision avoidance and ESSENTIAL TO position fixing—how would this equipment be affected? Tephra fall on the ship’s structure QUANTIFY THE and cargo will affect the vessel stability, but EFFECT OF VOLCANIC would this be catastrophic? Tephra may be ERUPTIONS ON entrained into the main engines, but to what consequence? Will pyroclastic density SHIPS currents capsize a ship if they hit it? Submarine eruptions may take on a number PAUL CRAGG of different surface expressions, from gas Captain Paul Cragg, BSc (Hons)(Open); e-mail: [email protected] emissions to floating tephra or violent
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Image: Yerko Espinoza/shutterstock.com
he Lewisian Complex—a suite of a range of depths throughout the upper Kit Hardman Precambrian metamorphic rocks crust. The Canisp shear zone (CSZ), which unravels void outcropping in the NW is part of the Lewisian Complex, highlands and has long-held the represents rocks that were deformed at formation and T interest of many in the geological depths above and below the brittle-ductile community. So much so that you could be transition zone. So, I ventured to the collapse during forgiven for thinking there is little more to Scottish Highlands to investigate the CSZ, learn from this region of the North West which is exposed in Achmelvich Bay and seismogenic slip Highlands. But the truth is, as our Clachtoll. These rocks represent the oldest understanding of sub-surface processes and deepest of all my study areas. in the Canisp shear develops and our analytical tools and Specifically, I wanted to assess how fault methods improve, we continue to uncover voids develop, fill and collapse in zone, North West a wealth of knowledge hidden in those crystalline basement that deformed at Scotland well-weathered outcrops. depth. Rocks in the CSZ have undergone a The processes that occur during long and often intense deformation earthquake slip at different depths are still history that includes a phase of coeval poorly known. So, in the hope of gaining seismogenic-fluid circulation, frictional new insights, I am investigating a variety melting, hydrothermal mineralisation and of different rock outcrops to assess how complex brecciation. Using detailed fracture-hosted cavities, or fault voids, mapping, microstructural characterisation, develop and evolve during deformation at kinematic analyses and fracture-attribute
10 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 11 Annotated aerial photo of the north side of Achmelvich Bay. Taken with a DJI Mavic pro UAV. Annotations show the trace of the largest of the mapped fracture corridors in the Laxfordian brittle shear zone
analyses, I wanted to develop a better fracture attribute and topological data, Lewisian Complex in the North West understanding of the processes controlling and give an excellent view of the Highlands has been debated in one form fault-void evolution. contemporaneous interlinked systems of or another for over 100 years. There is no I worked together with Bob faults, fractures and fills of the CSZ. consensus on the absolute timings of the Holdsworth, Eddie Dempsey, Ken various deformational and metamorphic McCaffrey and Tom Utley to use the latest GEOLOGICAL HISTORY episodes recorded in these ancient rocks photogrammetry techniques to develop Wikipedia summarises the Lewisian (Butler, Geol. Soc. London SP 2010), but terrain and perspective-corrected fracture Complex as “…a suite of Precambrian here I present my interpretation of the and outcrop maps from aerial imagery. We metamorphic rocks that outcrop in the geological and structural history of collected these data using a newly- northwestern part of Scotland, forming Achmelvich, based on my field acquired unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) part of the Hebridean Terrane and the observations and the published literature. quad-copter. Despite the predictable North Atlantic Craton. These rocks are of The earliest discernible geological problems flying a brand-new drone for the Archaean and Paleoproterozoic age, events in the CSZ of the Lewisian first time on the Sutherland coast in ranging from 3.0–1.7 Ga and form the Complex are shallowly-dipping foliations, September, the resulting imagery and basement on which the Torridonian and small intrafolial folds and streaky textures, models are exceptional. The Moine Supergroup sediments were or schlieren, around ultramafic pods or photogrammetric techniques enable us to deposited”. Whilst undoubtedly an boudins. These are best seen on the develop ultra-high-resolution maps and over-simplification, this is an excellent northern limb of the Lochinver monocline 3D virtual outcrop models, which, when starting point to summarise 3 billion years (see illustration Annotated aerial photo of combined with detailed field observations of Earth history in a few hundred words. the north side of Achmelvich Bay’) in the and field maps, allow easy collection of The Precambrian geology of the beautiful water-washed exposures either
10 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 11 side of Achmelvich beach. These dykes 2.4 billion years ago. Thus, the features of the Inverian fabric are the granulite metamorphic textures are orogeny occurred somewhere in the development of tight minor folds and products of the Badcallian orogeny, 100-million-year window between 2.5 a regional NW-SE trending foliation. formed about 2.5 billion years ago and 2.4 billion years ago (Park, The Inverian orogeny is also (Park, Scottish J. Geol. 1970), at great Scottish J. Geol. 1970). The Inverian responsible for the Lochinver depths under extremely high here is expressed by the development monocline and regional amphibolite temperatures and pressures. of a strong sub-vertical foliation and facies metamorphism (Attfield,Geol. The next major event was the steeply-plunging mineral lineation Soc. London SP 1987). This is a Inverian orogeny, which is post-dated forming the 1.5 to 2-km-wide ductile lower-temperature and pressure by the emplacement of the many CSZ immediately north of the metamorphism compared to the NW-SE trending Scourie metadolerite Lochinver monocline. Characteristic Badcallian event, suggesting a progressive regional uplift toward the Plan view of the brittle-ductile transition at about 15 Lewisian Gneiss. Well-developed km depth. schlieren Scourie dykes are spectacularly textures were exposed in the southern and northern formed during the Badcallian headlands of Achmelvich Bay. These orogeny. Lens cap dykes cross-cut the Badcallian for scale gneissic foliation fabric, but are reactivated along the margins in brittle-ductile centimetre-scale shear zones related to the next orogenic phase, the Laxfordian. The 1.4 to 1.7-billion-year-old Laxfordian event has at least two distinct phases of deformation that track events across the brittle-ductile transition and into the earthquake realm. An earlier greenschist- amphibolite facies ductile fabric Annotated map forms the centre of the CSZ, where it of Achmelvich intensifies the pre-existing Inverian Bay. Map shows the collected fabric in a zone 0.5 km wide. This is structural data, associated with a shallowly plunging field photographs mineral lineation, swarms of tight to and mapped boundaries isoclinal sheath folds and associated dextral shear criteria. A ‘late- Laxfordian’ event involving widespread brittle reactivation of the shear zone foliation sees a reversal to sinistral shearing. In the CSZ, a series of interlinked high-intensity fracture corridors were formed. 2 main fracture sets are recognized: sinistral foliation-parallel faults and dextral- extensional foliation-perpendicular faults. These coeval fractures are locally associated with significant Fault breccias volumes of frictional melt— and cataclasites. pseudotachylite—which is injected (right page) into neighbouring dilational voids A-D, collection of epidote and that follow the foliation- quartz mineralised perpendicular fault set, often fault breccias intermixed with well-developed fault and cataclasites from foliation breccias in zones up to 1 m wide and perpendicular several metres long. The fractures are faults, formed easily picked-out as they are stained a during the late-Laxfordian deep red colour by the percolation of tectonic episode iron-rich fluids. This Laxfordian
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transition from ductile-to-brittle deformation shows a continued shallowing/uplift history as the rocks cross the brittle-ductile transition at around 15 km. The final phase of deformation comprises a series of tensile/dilational faults and fractures that opened close to the surface and were invaded by Stoer Group unlithified sediment. The best locality to observe this is in a small bay between A’Chlach Thuill and Rubha Leumair headlands. These fractures record the final arrival of the presently exposed Lewisian complex at the surface about 1.2 billion years ago, the age of the Stoer Group, where the gneiss has lain ever since (except for a few shallow burials and exhumation events during the last billion years). FIELD DAYS Like many undergraduate experiences of the NW Highlands, my field excursion was met with biblical winds and sideways rain, which started and ended on my first and last days in the field. Intermittent breaks in wind and rain allowed for brief Clachnessie and along the Loch Assynt dextral-extensional foliation- flights of the UAV to collect photos for the fault. These outcrops featured very similar perpendicular faults are thought to have detailed digital maps, but most work epidote/quartz breccias, kinematics, and formed simultaneously during repeated, continued regardless of weather, deformational styles. I’m still investigating and likely seismogenic, shear events alternating between notebooks to allow the hypothesised “Late-Laxfordian” event under a regional ENE-WSW compressive time for the other to fully dry. During the and, over the next few years, these stress. Despite being coeval, detailed heaviest downpour, fieldwork was observations will be compared and observations show that the fault-sets are “briefly” suspended to seek shelter and contrasted to observations and data remarkably different. The foliation- prevent the loss of collected work. This collected from equivalent studies of parallel faults show significant offsets of method of stop-start fieldwork was almost fracture networks with fault-void fills several metres, with locally large volumes successful, apart from the third day, when formed across a broad range of of generated frictional melt and the I watched the central half of my palaeodepths; ranging from the near development of small drag folds in the meticulously drawn, detailed field map surface (Brixham SW England, Rona wall rocks. The foliation-perpendicular rip from my mapping board and Ridge West of Shetland UKCS, Calabria, faults show less slip, but have a much gracefully fly away across the North Italy), to other deep crustal settings larger damage zone and complex shapes. Minch, evidently heading back to the (Adamello massif in Italy) as part of my Conceivably this makes sense: if I were to home of the Lewisian Gneiss on the Isle of larger PhD research goals. shear a block of wood it would be far Lewis. The fieldwork was mostly solitary easier to fault it “with the grain” as except for a sea-otter, which followed me VOIDS, FILLS AND FLUIDS opposed to “against the grain”, and the at a distance between coastal outcrops, My core aim is to assess the influence of resultant damage to the wood would be and would observe with apparent interest reactivation of the ductile CSZ fabrics on different in either case. In addition, the my attempts at recording structural faulting and fault void development. smaller foliation-perpendicular faults measurements at some of the less- I want to test a hypothesis that the fault commonly connect the foliation-parallel accessible outcrops. voids and fills formed due to the rapid faults like the rungs on a wonky ladder. Given some of the meteorological- opening and partial collapse of large As they grow, the ladder fill collapses into challenges, a return trip to the NW dilatant voids during ancient earthquakes. a dilatant cavity to form a heavily Highlands took place in the spring of What mechanisms could open and fill iron-stained, clast-supported breccia. The 2018, where I verified and tidied-up some fault voids at large depths and great chaotic assemblage of wall-rock clasts of the field observations and collected pressure, and what are the impacts for shows no uniform rotation direction and further data. I was also able to tie in some short- and long-term fluid flow through no evidence of attrition. This implies that “Late-Laxfordian” field observations the crystalline basement-rock? the cavities opened enough to allow wall made in Achmelvich, with outcrops in The sinistral foliation-parallel and rock collapse, with free rotation and
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displacement of the clasts, before the gaps between them. During opening, the observations I made at the CSZ cannot cavity partially collapsed, trapping the cavity would be under a negative settle the debate, but they can tell us that breccia clasts in place and propping open hydrostatic pressure and would draw in at this specific location we have coseismic the fault cavity. any fluid, bits of wall rock or frictional percolation of iron-rich fluids through a We initially thought that such a melt. When a cavity collapsed, larger clasts deep-seated fault network in a crystalline sequence of events might be caused by would be held in place, propping open the basement rock, driven by the energetic high fluid pressure widening the fracture cavity, but anything mobile, such as fluid formation and collapse of fracture cavities aperture, before fluid pressure dropped or any suspensions, would be driven out, at significant depth (about 10 km or more). and the cavity closed. But we have since circulating fluid (and perhaps melt) The fracture cavities here act as fluid discarded this idea. Instead, our work throughout the adjacent fracture network. pathways not just in the short term, but in shows that the opening and closing of The movement of these blocks is driven, the long term, providing a conduit for fracture cavities was controlled by we suggest, by seismic activity, and what fluid to circulate through the deep seismogenic movement along the larger we observe is a greater proportion of basement over long geological timescales. foliation-parallel faults that host friction frictional melt along the foliation-parallel This is counterintuitive because it is often melts with complex flow-lineation faults that surround these tensile fractures, thought that any faults or fractures in the patterns. It appears that as movement compared to those that are not associated deep crust will immediately close-up, along the foliation-parallel faults occurred, with foliation-normal ladder fractures. offering only transient short-lived fluid blocks of the adjacent wall rocks moved in One possible reason for this is that during flux. Yet, in Achmelvich, although the the same direction, but at different times/ a seismic event, frictional melt is generated seismic activity is transient, we see speeds, causing them to move apart from along the weak foliation-parallel faults, evidence that fracture cavities never and collide with one another, rapidly which lubricates the faults and facilitates completely close-up, instead being held opening and closing the foliation-normal the block shunting process. open by the infilling breccia material. fracture cavities forming blocks. This The idea of seismically-driven fluids is This allows for the distribution of fluids model is conceptually similar to shunting not new. But, whilst we see many across a large volume of rock deep in the carriages of a train, with each of the examples of fluids being expelled at the Earth’s crust. carriages represented by adjacent fault surface during earthquakes, the idea of The mineralogy we observe in thin blocks, bound by the different types of seismic “pumping” at depth remains section is surprisingly diverse, with fractures. Thus, if one carriage were contentious (Sibson et al., J. Geol. Soc. complex secondary mineral interactions. shunted, it would move away from one London 1975; Muir-Wood & King, J. These secondary minerals include: adjacent carriage, and collide with the next Geophys. Res. 1993; Matthäi, J. prehnite, chlorite, epidote, clinozoisite, down the line, closing and opening the Geochemical Explor. 2003). The pyrite, quartz and chalcedony. In addition
Major fractures. A, Orthorectified aerial image of CSZ outcrop [58°10’33.3”N 5°18’17.1”W], Psuedotachylite. In thin section, cross section (complete with major fractures traced and manual structural measurements. B, Structural with “wing-crack injections”), and plane view (showing flow measurements isolated, with an equal area rose plot of fracture angles (equal area, lineation patterns of injected melt); fingers for scale n=1293), and ITX fracture connectivity plot (calculated using Dave Healey’s FracPaQ module for MATLAB) 14 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 15 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
to veins, these secondary minerals compressive stress regime, with a major ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS frequently form both matrix and clast ENE-WSW compression and minor My thanks to the Geological Society for their support material in fault breccias, cataclasites and SSE-NNW extension. The ratio of via the Annie Greenly Fund. Thanks, too, to my gouge (often with injection textures). The principle stress differences was consistent supervisory team, Bob Holdsworth, Eddie Dempsey, sections also show locally significant across all Late-Laxfordian structures at Ken McCaffrey and Tom Utley. volumes of pseudotachylite, with lateral around 0.30. The fracture topology and injections. Many are bubbly—consistent attribute analyses show that these fault FURTHER READING with rapid changes in pressure, perhaps networks are well-connected and ◆ Park, R.G. (1970) Observations on Lewisian associated with the seismic cycle and the orientated, with distinct fault sets Chronology. Scottish J. Geol. 6, 379-399. proposed ‘block shunting’ process. The separated by length. ◆ Butler , R.W.H. (2010) The Geological Structure lack of universal cross-cutting of the North-West Highlands of Scotland relationships between the different THE UPSHOT – revisited: Peach et al. 100 years on. In secondary minerals and/or the From this work, we can draw some Continental Tectonics and Mountain Building: The Legacy of Peach and Horne. Law, R.D., et al. psuedotachylite demonstrates the iterant, significant conclusions that have real- (eds.) Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ. 335, 7-27. cyclical and broadly synchronous nature world applications. We describe a ◆ Attfield, P. (1987) The structural history of the of these mineralisation episodes. mechanism by which cm-scale cavities Canisp Shear Zone. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Evidently during the Late-Laxfordian have been generated and held open in an Publ. 27, 165-173. deformation there is a whole host of otherwise impermeable crystalline rock at ◆ Sibson, R.H., et al. (1975) Seismic pumping--a different fluid chemistries, local stress extreme depths in the upper crust. hydrothermal fluid transport mechanism.J. conditions and brecciated material Elsewhere similar cavities may be filled Geol. Soc. London 131, 653–659 migrating through these faults and with economic minerals or hydrocarbons ◆ Muir -Wood, R. & King, G.C.P. (1993) fractures. that lie unconsidered as an exploration Hydrological signatures of earthquake strain. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 98, 22,035–22,068 Statistical work was carried out in two opportunity due to their high formation ◆ Matthäi, S.K. (2003) Fluid flow and (reactive) fronts: analysis of the structural slip-data depths. Going forward, a better transport in fractured and faulted rock. J. to generate a palaeostress field for the understanding of the internal-architecture Geochemical Explor. 7879, 179–182. Late-Laxfordian-aged deformation, and of fault and fracture cavities throughout ◆ Healy , D. et al. (2017) FracPaQ: A MATLABTM topological and fracture attribute analysis the upper-crust can guide us to better toolbox for the quantification of fracture of the ortho-rectified drone images of key utilise these resources. ◆ patterns. doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2016.12.003 outcrops. The palaeostress inversion was ◆ WinT ensor: http://damiendelvaux.be/Tensor/ conducted using WinTensor (by Kit Hardman is a PhD student at Durham University; WinTensor/win-tensor.html
D. Delvaux) and yielded a strike-slip e-mail: [email protected]
Conceptual sketch of the “train-carriage” model. A, Demonstrates opening and partial collapse of fault voids in N-S tensile fractures. Voids rapidly open and dilate, leading to fluid, melt and fault rock infill followed by collapse and partial void closure. Wall rock clasts and fills act as props leading to the development of potentially long-lived fluid migration pathways. B, C, Also shown are field
photographs of tensile fractures filled with erratically rotated breccia clasts (phone and lens cap for scale) ▼
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The carbon cycle. Bora Bora, a landscape that was inexistent a few hundred of million years ago. Old rocks, such as volcanoes (black reliefs), are weathered by acidic water. This alteration has been favoured by plants with roots since about 400 million years ago. When the water reaches the ocean, carbonate forms (white colour in the lagoon), locking CO2 into rocks—a process promoted by life. Planktic calcifiers have emerged only recently, over the Phanerozoic. As a result, today both the inlet and outlet of the geological carbon cycle are influenced by life. We, as a society, play an active and so far unbalanced role in this fragile planetary process
16 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 17 Matthieu Galvez argues that carbon is key to defining our planet. Not only does this element link the solid, fluid and biological components of Earth, it is also centre-stage in the ethical dilemmas faced by humankind
hen the physicist Erwin A changing planet Schrödinger wrote his One reason Earth is tricky to define is masterpiece “what is because it is a dynamic planet, subject to life?”(Schrödinger, 1944), he all kinds of transformations at all scales W made it his mission to solve (Anderson, Science 1984). This means that a long-standing paradox of humankind. almost everything around us—glaciers, We all have an intuition about what life is, atmospheric oxygen, soils and even the and yet it is utterly difficult to define. continents—has a beginning and an end. We face a similar issue with Earth today. The ice-cap of Antarctica, for example, grew only recently, about 40-30 million What is Earth? years ago. This event dried out shallow Ask any scientist “what is Earth?” and you seas in nearby continents, including parts may be in for a surprise. I asked astronomer of South America where Amazonia has Xavier Dumusque who said with a smile become the hotspot of biodiversity that “Earth is a sinusoidal signal in velocity with we know today. Even soils composed a period of a year, and an amplitude of 10 of organic matter and minerals did not cm/s”. Amar Vutha, an atomic physicist exist before algae and plants with roots calls it “an astronomical body whose conquered the terrestrial environment surface, amazingly, seems to contain almost 500-300 million years ago (Fischer, every atom from the periodic table”. For Science 2018). evolutionary plant biologist Patrick Shih, There are all kinds of changes on Earth. Earth has been a “home for the evolution of Some are subject to reversal, some are life for more than 3 billion years”. Ethicist permanent. Although reversible changes in Vanessa Rampton flips the perspective and fluxes of geological materials that control says it is a place where “human freedom climate, for example, are those we are most leads us to wonder at the laws of physics familiar with, Earth does irreversibly cool and biology while asking why?” and oxidize, slowly, and over long periods The geoscientist’s approach is to of time. Mars is now dead and red for characterize the planet in search of this reason. distinctive traits. They ask for example: why But not all changes on Earth are slow. are mineral resources so rare and unevenly Sometimes geological change can be distributed in continents? What controls surprisingly abrupt and disruptive. The the shape of mountains and of the seafloor, cataclysmic eruption of Campi Flegrei, and the periodic oscillations of climate Italy, and the cascade of environmental over decades to millions of years? Could perturbations it caused is thought to have the structure and rhythms of our planet be knocked out Neanderthal tribes from unique in the Solar System? To build the Eastern Europe and from large swaths of grand genealogy of our world, geoscientists Asia, about 40,000 years ago. seek traces of the past and the origins of everything we see: continents, the magnetic A living planet field, ice-caps, soils, and the minerals of Another reason Earth is difficult to the deep mantle and core. Geoscientists define is that, in some ways, it is alive give them a name, a date, and they sort the (Knoll, Geobiology 2003; Vignieri & dates into chronological order. The result is Fahrenkamp-Uppenbrink, Science 2017; anything but a clear-cut definition; on Lenton & Latour, Science 2018). Consider the contrary, we find Earth increasingly the abundance of liquid water (Campbell difficult to define. & Taylor, Geophys. Res. Lett. 1983), the
16 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 17 longevity of plate tectonics, or the atmospheric warming, and ocean A fragile planet abundance and diversity of organic acidification and deoxygenation (Gruber, The carbon cycle is the most important materials in contact with our atmosphere Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. 2011)—the visible link between the fluid Earth, the solid bathed in reactive O2 (Krissansen- record of an anthropogenic acceleration Earth, and biological life (Falkowski et
Totton et al., Astrobiology 2016). These in the geological flux of carbon (CO2). al., Science 2000; Hayes & Waldbauer, are some of Earth’s most distinctive The interaction between Earth and life Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. 2006). The traits, and yet they appear to be direct goes both ways. Weathered continents illustrious French chemist Lavoisier had or indirect products of life (Falkowski provide the essential nutrients for envisioned this reality in 1793 (Lavoisier, et al., Science 2008). Ozone and O2 organisms to grow; and geological Sur le Charbon 1793): “we can conceive started to accumulate in the atmosphere change acts as a selective agent that of the immense quantity of carbon about 2.4 to 2.3 billion years ago (Luo shapes the structure (Kashtan et al., sequestered in the womb of the Earth. et al., Sci. Adv. 2016), shortly after the ISME 2017), elemental composition […] We will not follow here the change in evolution of oxygenic bacteria (Fischer (Quigg et al., Nature 2003; Coleman, form that carbon takes by passing from et al., Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2016) PNAS 2010) and evolution of ecosystems minerals, to plants and to animals. We that produce dioxygen as a waste. As a to the finest molecular levels (Wagner would throw ourselves into chemical result water got locked on our planet, et al., Nat. Rev. Genetics, 2007; Bjedov et discussions that are beyond the scope of instead of slowly escaping to space al., Science 2003). A long-term decline in this article.”
(Catling et al., Science 2001) as it did on atmospheric CO2 may have promoted Unlike Lavoisier (Galvez & Venus (Chassefière,Icarus 1997; Driscoll the evolution of new, highly efficient Gaillardet, Comptes Rendus Geosci. & Bercovici, Icarus 2013). And because carbon fixation pathway (Osborne & Sack, 2012), today we know that the water is essential to sustaining active Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. 2012; Strömberg, Earth ecosystem is fragile, subjected tectonics (Campbell & Taylor, Geophys. Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2011); these to all kinds of sudden and slow Res. Lett. 1983), our Planet’s peculiar pathways drive grassland ecosystems in transformations. Earth has not evolved dynamics, too, may be remotely linked the steppes of Eurasia today. Over millions in order to support carbon-based life. to the longevity of photosynthetic life. of years, environmental changes may even At a fundamental level, all processes on In the Anthropocene we, as a society, have shaped the way molecules interact Earth—abiotic and biological—merely have become a geological force (Locher within living cells (Wagner et al., Nat. Rev. dissipate, transform and redistribute & Fressoz, Critical Inquiry 2012). The Genetics, 2007), as well as the macroscopic energy, just as any planet does, and impacts of industrial activities and structure of the Atlantic and Pacific ocean’s life is only one of those energetic financial fluxes today include rapid ecosystems (Kashtan et al., ISME 2017). pathways, though a peculiar one. That
Embers of society. Humankind has pondered the meaning of everything we see around us, and built all sorts of narratives about it, since its very origins. Anthropologist Polly Wiessner studies the stories told by the Ju/’hoansi Bushmen (Wiessner, PNAS 2014). Storytelling related to our successes and failures, as well as to the meaning of the environment that surrounds us, may have started at night, around the campfire
Image credit: Polly Wiessner
18 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 19 we are still here to ponder over the grand genealogy organism does, but almost everywhere: in the works and our carbon-based existence itself is something one of art and intellect, in the lives of strangers at the other could call a miracle. We hang on in fragile form in a side of the globe, and in the health of present and future surprisingly transient world. ecosystems. As a result, our capacity to knit all kinds of physical, intellectual and emotional relations with Ethics in the Anthropocene? our world is beyond measure. In other words, we as a Left Image: In 2012, Earth has become more than a planet; it is species are able to choose. And this changes everything. Earth as a a symbol, too: the spacecraft Voyager 1 reached For the first time in geological history, we can elect symbol. In 1977, the Voyager 1 interstellar space with a fragmentary record to restrain from using a power that we have and 2 space of our world in the form of a golden and act for no other reason than it is probes were launched to disk. the right thing to do. There should study the outer Three years later, the United be nothing else so compelling to Solar System. Nations adopted 17 Sustainable action than this. Voyager 1 left the Solar System Development Goals— Therefore, if two centuries in 2012, reaching including targets relating after the Industrial interstellar space. Each to poverty, education and Revolution hundreds of probe carries the environment. These millions are still starving a gold-plated goals illustrate the gap while the oceans warm, audio-visual disc containing between the world that we turn sour and the air information genuinely hope for and becomes unbreathable about Earth, in case they are the reality that we have (Gruber, Phil. Trans. Royal discovered by consciously built. Soc. 2011), I think that it intelligent life in Can we learn from Earth is because we have not yet other planetary systems. as much as we have learned dared to be more than bacteria Etchings on the about it to build a more on this planet. We have been cover provide instructions on sustainable future on our planet? too reliant on our technological how to play the Just like bacteria, we have amassed capabilities to explore and somewhat record. (Credit: NASA/JPL technological power, thoroughly determine the future ahead of us. [Public domain], harvested energy and released waste, such In the context of geological time, therefore, via Wikimedia Commons) as CO2, in the environment (Rickaby, Chem 2017). I believe that the fundamental revolution of the Therefore, the novelty of our actions in the world is not Anthropocene can only be ethical. Will we be capable in our technology, even in the era artificial intelligence of restraint? The very nature of human intelligence is or genome engineering; it can only be in our relation at stake. ◆ with them. The novelty of our time, in my view, is in our capacity Matthieu Emmanuel Galvez is a Branco Weiss Fellow in the Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland to see value not only in rare resources, as any living
Home: On Christmas eve December 1968, while looking across the Moon’s horizon, the crew of Apollo 8 captured the image ‘Earthrise’ (Credit: NASA). A more distant view of Earth, taken by Voyager 1 as it was leaving our Solar System, was captured in 1990, where Earth appears only as a ‘pale blue dot’. Astronomer and author Carl Sagan remarked “There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” (Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994).
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ENDORSED TRAINING/CPD Dinosaurs MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS The ‘Geology of’ Series Training. ‘Lapworth’s Logs’ is a series of e-courses involving practical of the British Isles exercises of increasing complexity. Contact: Michael de Freitas or Lapworth’s Logs n/a Andrew Thompson (First Steps Ltd) E: [email protected] (mention This book is truly unique, These regional geology titles Lapworth’s Logs as the subject) providing the first appeal to a broad audience, Evening Meeting, Lecture, Contributes to CPD (Check scheme require- ments) Venue: Liverpool John Moores University Organiser: Catherine NWRG BGS UK Geoenergy Observatories 5 Feb comprehensive account of the from amateurs and professionals Kenny E: [email protected] dinosaurs of the entire British visiting a region on their W: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/NWRG-BGS-UK-Geoenergy-Observatories Isles. It will be of interest holidays, to researchers and Endorsed CPD Course Venue: Higham Hall College, Cumbria to a broad audience, from Geology of Scotland 6-8 Feb Organiser: Annette McGrath E: [email protected] engineers needing an overview W: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Higham-Hall-Geology-of-Scotland_Feb19 academics to those with a of an area they are planning to general interest in fossils. Endorsed CPD Course Venue: Green Park Hotel, Pitlochry work in. Organiser: Annette McGrath E: [email protected] Geology of Britain: An Overview 25 Feb-1 Mar W: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Higham-Hall-Geology-of-Britain-Course- GPH_Feb19 View more at: www.geolsoc.org.uk/MPDIN View more at: www.geolsoc.org.uk/GEOGIFTS PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE MEETINGS FOR WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE SPACE. EVENTS ALWAYS CHECK WITH WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/LISTINGS
MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS
4D Subsurface Modelling: Venue: Burlington House, London E: [email protected] Keep your notes safe Bedrock Geology of the 20-21 Feb Predicting the Future W: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GSL-4D-Subsurface-Modelling even in the rain United Kingdom and Ireland Janet Watson Meeting 2019: Venue: Burlington House, London E: [email protected] 26-28 Feb Rite in the Rain is a patented, A new modern printed bedrock geology From core to atmosphere: Deep carbon W: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/jwatson19 environmentally responsible, all- map produced in collaboration with weather writing paper that sheds the Earth Science Teachers’ Association, Pluto’s ‘‘desert’’: Methane ice dunes on a Venue: British Geological Survey Keyworth E: [email protected] 12 Feb water and enables you to write Geographical Association, Geological glacier on an airless world W: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/EMRG-Talk-Pluto-Feb-2019 anywhere, in any weather. Using Survey of Ireland and Geological a pencil, Rite in the Rain ensures Survey of Northern Ireland. Provides an that your notes survive the rigors overview of the geology of the UK and of the fi eld, regardless of the Ireland at a relatively coarse scale using conditions. current BGS and GSI data.
View more at: www.geolsoc.org.uk/AR540GS View more at: www.geolsoc.org.uk/BEDROCKUK
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Image credit: Glencoe © Brent Bouwsema WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 21 BOOKS & ARTS
The Permian Timescale begun in the Mid-Permian. Reviews of the reporter Bernie? Sneering Suit Jeremy? biostratigraphy of conodonts, radiolarians, Terrifyingly psychotic Chiri, the The eye is drawn to ammonoids, foraminifers, brachiopods and exploration manager? Union leader this long-awaited the micro- and macro-flora highlight the Herman The Helmet? Mine owner companion to The influence of palaeogeographical changes lucky Lomax? Who are they all? Why Triassic Timescale (SP and other events, and factors such as are they here? What are they all up to? 334) by the stunning provincialism. What’s going on? Why are they all so view of Middle A contribution on Late Pennsylvanian to obstructive? And why aren’t any of them Permian strata in the Early Triassic conchostracan biostratigraphy looking for Greg? Guadalupe Mountains, is particularly welcome because system As Harris weaves his tale, we are West Texas, featured on its cover. boundaries are too often the limits of treated to a vivid geology field trip into Contributions in these volumes follow the studies. This, as well as the contributions the underground mine. But the body same thematic order, with those on the on tetrapods and related ichnostratigraphy, count is on the rise and Ed, haunted by his chronostratigraphic scale, its radioisotopic link to corresponding ones in The Triassic past, beset by trilobites and unbalanced and magnetostratigraphic calibration, and Timescale (SP 334). by malaria, is wound into the knotted isotope stratigraphy preceding chapters on The book is well-produced and generally politics of the mine and its local illegal marine and non-marine palaeontology and well-illustrated; some figures benefit from miners, the galamsey. Can Ed get to the biostratigraphy. colour, but others are too small. With the bottom of it all before he ends up dead The editors provide a concise overview of specialist contributions and extensive in the bottom of the mine? Ed has a go the following chapters, with some critical bibliographies this is a recommended in Dead Man’s Gold, before a resolution comment. Advances in radioisotopic dating resource for Permian studies. is found in the sequel, Wolf Man, with and issues such as differences in the dating the arrival of two new characters: of the beginning of the Illawara Superchron Reviewed by: Geoff Warrington quiet, pipe-sucking geologist Billy and are highlighted; carbon isotopes are his ghastly acquaintance, the deeply included here because only strontium THE PERMIAN TIMESCALE unhinged wolf-man. Why are they edited by S G LUCAS AND S Z SHEN, 2018. Published by: is considered in the chapter on isotope The Geological Society of London SP450. 458pp (hbk) ISBN together? What’s going on? Why are there stratigraphy. The comprehensive review 978-1-78620-282-6. List Price: £120.00. Fellow’s trilobites everywhere? Why haven’t we of the Permian chronostratigraphic scale Price: £60.00. W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/SP450 yet resolved what’s happened to Greg? that follows is a must-read for those new to Maybe Alice, Greg’s mysterious wife and Permian studies. The System boundaries ex-girlfriend/haunting millstone of Ed’s, and bases of the five stages of the Middle The Lomax Gold Mine holds the key? The body count is on the and Upper Permian series had been defined rise again and Ed, returned to the UK and by Global Boundary Stratotype Sections Series: Dead Man’s hospitalised by a horrific explosion during and Points, and that for the Sakmarian was Gold & Wolf Man an encounter with the mine militia and ratified after the volume was published, the galamsey, needs to unlock the secret leaving only those for the two succeeding Accidentally intrepid of the trilobites before the past, and the Lower Permian stages to be determined. welsh geologist Wolf Man, catches up with him. The book The authors support the nine Permian Ed Evans travels surges towards a terrifying conclusion on stages, but consider none perfect and to an African gold the welsh hillsides as we finally discover that the definitions of their bases are not mine in search of where Greg has gone... Or do we…? immutable. Regional chronostratigraphic a missing frenemy, A gripping tale of political scales are reviewed critically and the Greg. Harris conjures manoeuvrings, greed, murder, revenge Western European scheme (Autunian, the complicated and intrigue, set against the vibrant Saxonian, Thuringian) is considered neither politics of the mine background of the world of exploration a suitable chronostratigraphic division of with a wealth of geology and mine engineering. And the System nor useful for correlation. life-like, colourful obsessive trilobite collection. I think we Advances in analytical techniques characters that, like can all relate to that one. and methodology continue to refine the the rich tapestry numerical calibration that underpins they represent, Reviewed by: Catherine Kenny the Permian Timescale. A corollary of slowly unravel as these developments is that previous the plot twists like a DEAD MAN’S GOLD by Mendus Harris, 2016. Published by: Team Author UK determinations may require reassessment rope trick. Ed (and the reader) needs his 299pp (pbk) ISBN:978-1539659006 or recalculation and, in some cases, re- wits about him: can we trust trilobite- List Price: £7.99. W: https://mendusharris.co.uk/ books/dead-mans-gold/ analysis. Equally important is the progress obsessed drilling manager Forge? in development of a geomagnetic polarity His assistant Weird Dave? Geologist timescale and its calibration to stage Bismarck? Probable Irish terrorist Allen? WOLF MAN by Mendus Harris, 2017. Published by: Team Author UK boundaries. Jam-and-Jerusalem Miriam, wife and 334pp (pbk) ISBN:978-1545446973 Rugose corals did not survive into the puppet master of the mine manager? List Price: £7.99. W: https://mendusharris.co.uk/ books/the-wolf-man-approaches/ Triassic, but their demise is shown to have Kojo, manager of geology? Interfering
22 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 23 Would you like to receive a free book and write GEOSCIENTISTa review? CALENDAR Available titles are listed online. Contact the editor for further information [email protected]
Subterranean Norwich: who wish to know and understand more A clear colour map with grid displays the about the city in its geological setting will whereabouts of that stone in each of these The Grain of the City find “Subterranean Norwich” well worth circumstances. reading. It provides a good, logical picture In addition to the indigenous rocks of In writing this book, of how what has happened was guided Sussex, stones used for buildings from Williams set out to by the geology, written by someone who elsewhere in the British Isles, as well as develop a rational, has been involved with the city for several those imported from France, Belgium and four-dimensional decades. The author’s point that “geology some more exotic rocks from elsewhere, are model of Norwich drives everything” is made very clear in and carefully illustrated and detailed. Nor were in a clear and simple through the book, and that is an excellent the bricks and tiles of Roman construction manner. He was thing. omitted. The 148 pages of this, very successful. The book reasonably priced, outstanding book, truly is extensively illustrated—there are 177 Reviewed by: Jeremy Joseph leave ‘no stone unturned’. figures, most in colour—and that helps Particularly useful is the provision of significantly in getting some of the author’s SUBTERRANEAN NORWICH: THE GRAIN OF THE CITY archaeological and geological glossaries by Matthew Williams, 2017. Published by: Lasse Press, points across. Norwich, UK. 160 pp. (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-9933069-6-9 where the historic uses of different rock Norwich has been an active centre with List Price: £19.99. types are discussed. So much knowledge a market since at least the tenth century W: http://lassepress.com/subterranean.html related to the early use of building stones and the site was occupied by the Anglo- relates to their occurrence in churches, so it Saxons some hundred of years before that. was a delight to find the churches listed in (The Romans chose to settle in Caistor St Building Stone Atlas an appendix. A minor shame, however, that Edmund—Venta Icenorum to them—which of Sussex the grid reference of each was not given. In is about 5 miles south.) The city stands close a book so clearly packed with a vast amount around the river in the Wensum Valley, An instant reaction of such brilliantly offered information its centre underlain by recent sediments, to this title could there must be a rare mistake; I will proffer including marsh deposits and gravels, and well be ‘Why should ‘ferricrete’, which uses a word for a rock more generally by chalk. The surrounding I buy this book when differing from that as it was originally hills, however, comprise crag generally I can utilise readily defined. But those minor petty comments overlain by glacial sands and gravels. The available Geological are not called for in a beautiful, useful book current topography of the area arises from a Survey maps?’ But of such quality. Buy it, admire it, make the combination of glacial effects and relatively view this masterful, most of it, and treasure it. more recent erosion and weathering under beautifully produced volume and you will the rather gentler, post-glacial climatic be absolutely delighted. This is no simple Reviewed by: John F. Potter conditions. All of this is covered in the book Atlas, it describes and pictures in wonderful in a way that can be taken in quite readily detail, over 50 rock types found in the BUILDING STONE ATLAS OF SUSSEX by Roger Cordiner and Anthony Brook, 2017. Published: by those with limited geological knowledge. buildings of Sussex. by Verite CM Ltd, Worthing, West Sussex. 147 pp. ISBN Perhaps the most important point and, Commencing with an extremely useful 978-1-910719-49-7. List Price: £34.99 W: https:// indeed, the purpose of the book, is that www.nhbs.com/building-stone-atlas-of-sussex- section of eleven pages introducing the book (Also available from Roger Cordiner, 9, The in order to treat the city’s (immediate) reader to the ancient heritage of early Rowans, Grand Avenue, Worthing BN11 5AT, £30 environment in four dimensions, the text Sussex building stones, there follows plus £5 p&p). and figures between them cover time useful supplementary information, packed and space in both cross-sections and with delightful figures in colour. With BOOKS FOR REVIEW picture series. Thus, mental images can be applicable illustrations, it advises on topics developed not only of the city’s existing such as ‘The Building Stone Landscape’, Please contact [email protected] if you underlying form and structure, but also, ‘Stone Quarrying in Sussex’, ‘Historic would like to supply a review. You will be invited to keep the review copy. See a full up-to-date list at on the basis of the structural changes Use of Building Stones’, and even to the www.geolsoc.org.uk/reviews made in different areas over time, how and past coastal and river navigation of about why it has ended up as it is. The structure 1000AD that assisted in the distribution of of the book’s content plays into this. The the stone types at that time. There follows ◆ NEW! Origins: How the Earth Made Us, by Lewis Dartnell, The Bodley Head London (Penguin Random first section—four chapters—deals with a comprehensive, well laid out, easy to use, House) 2018, 346 pp. hbk. local geology, including groundwater. double-page spread, describing each rock ◆ NEW! Development of Volcanic Gas Reservoirs: Subsequent sections cover activity over the type in stratigraphical order. Occasionally, The Theory, Key Technologies and Practice of last thousand years (including flooding), two double-page spreads are used where Hydrocarbon Development by Qiquan Ran, Dong Ren mythical and real tunnel systems, ground the importance of certain rocks, such as the & Yongjun Wang, Elsevier (Petroleum Industry Press, movement and management of the risks Hastings Sandstone, are involved. These Gulf Professional Publishing) 2019, 1066pp. pbk. arising from it, and, finally, landscape descriptions are accompanied by excellent ◆ NEW! Volatiles in the Martian Crust, interpretation, which ends with a brief colour photographs of the particular by Justin Filiberto & Susanne P. Schwenzer (eds) Elsevier 2018, 426 pp. pbk. chapter on psychogeology. building stone, both in its natural geological Infrequent and new visitors to Norwich environment and as used within buildings.
22 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 23 Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as promptly as possible in Geoscientist READERS’ Online and a selection printed each month. Please submit your letter (300 words or fewer, by email only please) to [email protected]. Letters will be edited. For references cited in these letters, LETTERS please see the full versions at www.geolsoc.org.uk/letters
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Dear Editor, The Meeting Report in Geoscientist, September 2018 to the extraction and processing of fresh copper, iron and so-on, we (The ethics of investment, Mark Steeves) throws up some thought- need to look at minimising consumption and maximising reuse and provoking points. One that struck me was the idea of geoscientists as recycling of metals in particular. responsible guardians of Earth’s riches. What an excellent mindset this A lot is being done, but how much still ends up in landfills would be. around the globe? This is a complex matter—consider the energy The second point emerges from the de facto consideration of used up in recycling activities for example, at least some of the sustainability of mineral extraction by Mike Harris. With finite which will come from non-renewable sources. Nevertheless, if resources on our planet, no mineral extraction can be sustainable geoscientists wish to become ‘responsible guardians’ I believe indefinitely. Playing to the ‘guardians’ concept we should not simply that they will need to take on board and promote this holistic, if pursue a responsible approach to mineral extraction. That would be non-traditional position. a somewhat blinkered strategy. It’s just as important to make the best use of what we have. Rather than focus only on smart approaches PHIL DAVIES
The complexities of mineral rights
Dear Editor, I think it is important to correct information given in coal and iron in the Forest of Dean, which have been enshrined in October’s Soapbox (Whose geology is it anyway? Peter Styles) various Acts of Parliament. Secondly, particularly in mining areas such as whereby it is suggested that we don’t own the land beneath our Cornwall, the mineral rights have sometimes been ‘divorced’ from land back gardens. ownership when land was sold, being retained by the previous owner or Unlike many parts of the world, in the UK the situation regarding sold separately. It can be exceedingly difficult to trace ownership today mineral rights is very complicated. On-shore (above high-water when the separation may have happened several centuries ago and mark) the mineral rights to hydrocarbons, coal and radioactive perhaps only applies to the rights to specific commodities. minerals (including a few stable elements that were important for Off-shore things are somewhat easier. Below high-water mark, apart nuclear weapons construction at the time of legislation) are vested from the rights to commodities vested in Government noted above, in UK Government under various pieces of legislation, with a few mineral rights are vested in the Crown. specific exceptions, and Mines Royal (gold and silver) are vested in Thus, the situation regarding ownership of mineral rights in the UK can the Crown (the Crown Estate). Arguably groundwater is also vested complicate any underground development. Over much of the country, in Government, in that abstraction of water above specified small especially in areas without a history of mining, as landowner you do own quantities requires a licence. the sub-surface and everything that it contains (except anything that the The rights for all other minerals (such as metals, dimension stone, Government has nationalised at some point in the past). Elsewhere, as aggregates, industrial minerals), in theory, reside with the land owner, landowner, you may own most, some or none of the sub-surface. but in reality, the situation is more complicated. Firstly, there are various ‘traditional’ rights, such as for lead in the Peak District, and RICHARD SHAW
Problems posed by derived fossils
Dear Editor, Derived or reworked fossils are those eroded out of an (PNAS 2002), referring to short-lived survivors of mass-extinctions. earlier formation and redeposited in younger strata. These fossils One commonly cited example is that of Palaeocene dinosaurs that, survived the process of derivation that destroyed the rock in which they according to Sullivan (GSA Abstracts with Programs 2003), are were originally enclosed. Derived fossils present palaeontologists and presently believed to be Cretaceous fossils reworked into the Cenozoic other geoscientists with numerous problems. Ojo Alamo Sandstone Formation of the Midwestern United States, Biostratigraphy is the method by which strata are dated via the rather than post-Mesozoic survivors. use of Zone Fossils—those that characterise a particular time period. Some species have narrow environmental tolerances so are used In order for a fossil to qualify, it must be relatively abundant, easy to in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, and derived fossils can screw recognise, geographically widespread, and have a limited stratigraphic environmental interpretations. An example of this comes from the range. If a Zone Fossil is reworked, its presence as a derived fossil Eocene Barton Beds of Southern England. Here contemporaneous would lead to an erroneous biostratigraphic age—it would make the and reworked dinoflagellates are present. Unless reworked fossils are stratum appear older than it is. identified and excluded, this will lead to incorrect assumptions about Derived fossils can also cause extinct species to appear as fossils the depositional setting or contradictory results. in strata deposited after their extinction point, a phenomenon termed “dead clade walking”. The term was first coined by David Jablouski JACK WILKIN
24 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 25 Glossop Evening 2018
Kevin Privett received the Glossop Medal and delivered the Glossop Lecture 2018 at the Royal Institution on November 14. The Glossop Award was given to Jonny Neville. Images below: Kevin Privett (right) and Jonny Neville (left) receiving their awards from Emma Slack (photographs by Gosia Mider)
CAROUSEL
All Fellows of the Society are entitled to entries in this column. Please email [email protected], quoting your Fellowship number.
◆ Susan Turner Dr Susan Turner, Honorary Research Fellow at the Queensland Museum, has been awarded the Tom Vallance Medal for 2018 by the Earth Sciences History Group of the Geological Society of Australia. Susan is recognised for her work documenting the careers of Australian women geologists.
24 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 25 Corporate Supporters: Registration Open Corporate Supporters: Call for Abstracts – Deadline: 29 March 2019 Celebrating the life of Chris Cornford (1948-2017) Capturing Geoscience Petroleum Systems Analysis in Geomodels ‘Science or Art?’ 26-27 June 2019 24-25 April 2019 Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Convenors: The Geological Society, Burlington House, London
Steve Lawrence Subsurface Resource Consulting Convenors: Dan Cornford Matt Jameson IGI Ltd Glencore Elin Rein Gwilym Lynn Shell Equinor Leigh Truelove David Gardiner Schlumberger IGI Ltd Ingrid Demaerschalk Over recent years the construction of 3D static and dynamic reservoir models has become Tullow increasingly complex. With the availability of extensive tools and technology it is important not to Abhen Pather Alun Griffiths forget the objective of the modelling process. RPS Energy Rockhopper As we develop our hydrocarbon fields it is essential that 3D Static Models be built with fit-for- Mark Groves Catherine Tonge purpose geological models, honouring the geological, geophysical and petrophysical data that Shell Gidney they are created from. David Hulme Energetical Equinor This two-day conference will explore how geoscience information should be used to best effect, Richard Bray Tom Marsh and how to identify when geoscience data may no longer add value. Sessions will include the Subsurface Resource Rock Flow Dynamics following themes: Consulting Approaches to tackling the scientific and practical questions in the fields of Petroleum Geochemistry and James Aguas • Data integration: seismic, well log, sedimentological, core dynamic data and beyond Petroleum Systems Analysis range from the entirely theoretical to the empirical. Chris Cornford embraced both Halliburton • Capturing conceptual geology in reservoir modelling for different settings and depositional John Argent in his working life. The integrated approach he espoused will form the basis of the technical programme for the environments Sound Energy Conference covering two themes: • Recent developments in the use of data including integration of models and (big) data; use of visualisation • Scale: geology vs model vs data Mark Osborne and data exploration or mining techniques. • Uncertainty: dealing with geological uncertainty in modelling and understanding its benefits and BP • Topical issues & controversies ranging from mass balance approaches, petroleum migration to specific Sponsored by: limitations modelling studies and practical applications. • Embracing new modelling technology and approaches. The Conference will be inspired by Chris’ ethos of innovation, encouragement of youth and challenging received wisdom. Call for Abstracts: Please submit talk or poster abstract to [email protected] by 29 March 2019.
For further information please contact: For further information please contact: Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. Tel: +44 (0)20 7434 9944 Web: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/PG-Geomodels Tel: +44 (0)20 7434 9944 or email: [email protected]
At the forefront of petroleum geoscience At the forefront of petroleum geoscience www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum
Senior Geologist
Based in Rugby UK wide role Corporate Supporters: Registration Open Competitive salary + car Permanent contract
The CEMEX UK Land Development and Permitting Department Hydrocarbons in comprises a multi-disciplinary team that is responsible for the development of new quarries and the management of the existing Space and Time property and mineral assets.
9-11 April 2019 Working within the UK Land Development and Permitting Department, CEMEX is seeking to recruit a Senior Geologist to assist with quarry Convenors: The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London prospecting, development planning and design, and to carry out the Owen Sutcliffe Halliburton The global endowment of hydrocarbons is statutory duties of a geotechnical specialist as per the Quarries markedly uneven both spatially and temporally. Regulations 1999. Based out of CEMEX’s head office in Rugby the role Frans van Buchem In the 1990s, several key papers recognised that Halliburton distinct stratigraphic and paleogeographic trends will involve travel to sites across the whole UK.
Mark Houchen exist and that this knowledge was an important Shell guide to successful exploration. So, what has The role requires strong IT skills and competency in a 3D modelling changed in 30 years? Bruce Levell package (particularly, LSS™) would be a significant advantage. The Oxford University The industry has moved into new frontiers and basins, drilled deeper, found new plays and position involves working within multi-disciplinary teams across the UK Hannah Steaggles gone through a revolution that has brought BP unconventional resources to the fore. It is on a variety of projects. Good team-working, communication and therefore timely to consider how our knowledge Mike Simmons leadership skills are, therefore, essential. Halliburton of the distribution of hydrocarbons in time and space has changed. What new insights have we gained? Can this new understanding be Applicants must be a chartered engineer or geologist with qualifications used to be better at predicting new hydrocarbon discoveries? in geology, engineering geology or similar. The ideal candidate will hold Keynote Speakers: This 3-day conference will seek to share recent advances and case studies and will be built around a minimum of five years’ experience of working in the four main themes: minerals/quarrying industry with sufficient relevant experience in soil • The known global heterogeneity of hydrocarbon resources – including source rocks mechanics, rock mechanics or excavation engineering to satisfy the • The controls on heterogeneity – including palaeoclimates and geodynamics • The geological and data science tools to aid prediction competency requirements for a geotechnical specialist. • What our present understanding means for future exploration Event to be accompanied by a post-conference field trip to the Wessex Basin. CEMEX offers a competitive salary and employee benefits structure. For further information please contact: We are an equal opportunities employer. Please ensure you are legally Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. able to work in the UK before applying for this role. Tel: +44 (0)20 7434 9944 or email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/PG-Hydrocarbons-in-Space-and-Time To apply please send a covering letter and CV to Steven Hopkins Principal Engineering Geologist CEMEX UK Operations Ltd [email protected] At the forefront of petroleum geoscience
www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum
26 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 27 MEETING REPORTS
Southwest Britain inspires through the ages
Nadine Gabriel reports on how of the southwest, such as Charles olivenite; some of these were donated to southwest Britain fascinated Moore [1815-1881], a palaeontologist the BRLSI in 1826. Another Cornish mineral Georgian and Victorian geologists from Ilminster, Somerset. In 1858, he collector, Richard Talling [1820-1883], purchased three tonnes of gravel from amassed minerals when mining activity in and fossil collectors, and how this Holwell, Somerset for 55 shillings. This Cornwall was extensive. Between the 1850s region continues to inspire today massive purchase took years to sort, but and 1860s, Talling sold some of his minerals forged a path for bulk fossil collection—it to the British Museum for £20-100 per lot, The geology of southwest Britain has turned out to be filled with Rhaetian- which is a fortune because the annual wage influenced many lives. People have aged (208.5 to 201.3 million years old) at the time was just £40-90 per year. collected rocks, minerals and fossils fish, mammal and reptile fossils. Other talks during the conference looked from this region for centuries, and many much farther back into geological time. For still do today. On 18 September 2018, example, we learnt that around 435 million the Geological Curators’ Group and the GEORGIAN AND years ago, Beacon Hill in Somerset was a History of Geology Group held a joint volcanic arc similar to the Lesser Antilles meeting at the Bath Royal Literary and VICTORIAN INTEREST IN in the Caribbean; during the Late Triassic, Scientific Institution (BRLSI) entitled COLLECTIONS FROM spores of Naiadita sp. (a type of liverwort) ‘Collectors, Collections and the Geology SOUTHWEST BRITAIN WAS floated across the Bristol region; and in the of Southwest Britain’. The southwest ice age caves of Pleistocene Plymouth, of Britain is well-known for its stunning NOT LIMITED TO JUST humans, hyenas, cave lions, wolves and geology, but this meeting—with around FOSSILS woolly rhinos roamed. 80 attendees—also looked back at the The relationships between geology and people who have dedicated their lives architecture were also discussed, with to exploring this geologically diverse Moore also collected fossils from the presentations on the geological origins of region. Lower Jurassic limestone of Strawberry the limestones used as building stones in The day started off with a keynote Bank, a once working quarry just north Bath (if you look closely at the stones, you’ll speech from Steve Etches, who spent of Ilminster. These remarkably well- find fossils and sedimentary structures), over 35 years collecting fossils from preserved fossils, some with three- and how the construction of Brunel’s Great the Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay deposits dimensional preservation, are now Western Main Line led to the discovery of of southwest England. In 2016, his cared for by the BRLSI, who recently exceptional fossils in 1841. For cartography collection of over 2300 fossils found a collaborated with the Palaeobiology fans, geological maps featured too. In 1864, home in The Etches Collection: Museum and Biodiversity Research Group at William Sanders [1799-1875] published a of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, the University of Bristol, as part of the 720-square-mile geological map of Bristol Dorset. Steve described the difficulties Jurassic Ecosystem of Strawberry Bank and surrounding areas that would have cost associated with starting a museum Ilminster (JESBI) project. The project £300 in today’s money. from scratch, but despite the initial aimed to understand the diversity of this One take-home message was the global challenges, the museum looks incredible Jurassic ecosystem and gain an insight influence of the geology of southwest and is filled with a diverse array of into how these fossils were preserved; Britain: many museums across the UK and scientifically important specimens. the findings were published in the 2015 abroad are now home to important and Many of the talks focused on the review paper ‘The Strawberry Bank fascinating specimens from the region. enthusiastic collectors Lagerstätte reveals insights But you don’t necessarily need to travel to into Early Jurassic life’. explore these collections—the BGS have Georgian and Victorian online catalogues of the rocks, fossils interest in collections from and minerals transferred from the Royal southwest Britain was not Geological Society of Cornwall. limited to just fossils. Sir Francis Basset [1757-1835] collected Nadine Gabriel is a recent UCL geology many minerals from Cornwall graduate and an emerging museum since his estate included several professional. She is a Geology Collections mines. Basset’s collection Assistant for the UCL Earth Sciences contained classic Cornish Department and a Fossil Mammal Collection minerals such as cassiterite, Volunteer at the Natural History Museum, native copper, siderite and London; e-mail: [email protected]
26 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 27 PEOPLE NEWS
DISTANT THUNDER Romance of the Fossiles
Geologist and science writer on to compile the Outline Geology of Assistant Tutor bored with teaching Nina Morgan contemplates the Cambridgeshire, the first account of the mathematics to indifferent Cambridge role of love in the development geology of Cambridgeshire. Although undergraduates and longing for outdoor of geology he doesn’t appear to have given many activity and “active exertion in a way lectures on geology, Hailstone did build which will promote my intellectual It is often said that behind the success up a collection of rocks and minerals to improvement”, decided to apply. “I had”, of every man stands the love of a good supplement Woodward’s mainly fossil Sedgwick recalled, slightly tongue- woman, and this is certainly true for collection. He was elected to the Royal in-cheek, “but one rival, Gorham of many geologists. Wives, including Society in 1807, and the same year Queen’s, and he had not the slightest Emma Darwin, Mary Buckland, became a member of the Geological chance against me for I knew absolutely Charlotte Murchison, Mary Lyell and Society. nothing about geology, whereas he sisters, such as Anne Phillips, all played Although the salary attached to knew a great deal — but it was all important roles in furthering the science the Woodwardian Professorship was wrong.” of geology. But for John Hailstone [1759- not particularly generous—just £100 Sedgwick got the job, but his victory 1847], sixth Woodwardian professor of a year—it offered many advantages came at some personal cost. He geology at Cambridge University, the in terms of light workload, academic took his Woodardian ‘marriage vows’ course of ‘love’ was convoluted, to say freedom and few, if any, teaching seriously and often wrote wistfully about the least. commitments. But there were his lack of wife and children, noting that drawbacks. One of the conditions of “...my Museum is in the place of wife Fossile legacy Woodward’s will was that the holder of and children.” Hailstone was born in Hoxton near the post should not be distracted by London on 15 December 1759, and matrimony. End notes: Sources for this vignette went up to Cambridge in 1778. He Thus, Hailstone’s career as include the entry for John Hailstone was elected Fellow of Trinity College Woodwardian Professor came to a by John. D. Pickles in the DNB; Adam in 1784, and in 1788 became the sixth grinding halt when, at the age of 58, he Sedgwick, Geologist and Dalesman by Woodwardian Professor of Geology. married 35-year-old Mary Telford [1783- Colin Speakman (ISBN 978-0-9955609- The Woodwardian Professorship 1838] in York on 21 May 1818. It might 4-9); The life and letters of Adam was established in 1728 under the have been love, but the motive behind Sedgwick by JW Clark and TM Hughes, title ‘Professor of Fossils’, thanks his marriage is not obvious. Hailstone first published in 1890 and available to a generous bequest from John may not have taken the Woodwardian online at Archive.org; The bicentenary Woodward [1665-1728]. Woodward, requirement for celibacy too seriously— of a pioneering account of the Geology a brilliant scholar who dabbled in a after his death it was rumoured that he of Cambridgeshire by Douglas Palmer wide range of fields was perhaps the fathered four illegitimate children. But available at https://www.esc.cam.ac.uk; first academic to fully appreciate the he seems to have been content with and the Dalesman Don by Douglas importance of field work in geological the way things turned out. He retired Palmer, Geoscientist May 2018, pp. studies. He is also thought to have to the vicarage of Trumpington near 17-19. served as the inspiration behind the Cambridge, worked for the education of cuckolded Dr Fossile in Three hours the poor of his parish, and continued his after Marriage, a restoration comedy studies in chemistry, mineralogy attributed to John Gay [1685-1732]. and geology. Early on in his career as Woodwardian Professor, Hailstone Marriage of the mind travelled to Freiburg in Germany to But a love match or not, Hailstone’s study with Adolph Gottlob Werner marriage did play an important role in [1749-1817], the most famous teacher the development of geology. When, of geology and mineralogy of the early in the Lent Term of 1818, rumours day. In 1792, soon after his return, began to spread around Cambridge he published a Plan of a Course of that Hailstone was proposing to * Nina Morgan is a geologist and science writer Lectures, which may be the earliest marry—and thus create a vacancy based near Oxford. Her latest book, The Geology prospectus for geological teaching in for the Woodwardian Professorship— of Oxford Gravestones, is available via a British University. In 1814 he went Adam Sedgwick [1785-1873], then an www.gravestonegeology.uk
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Geoscientists in the news and on the move in the UK, Europe and worldwide
GeoWeek 2019: Get involved – run a GeoWeek event Chris King & John Stevenson urge you to join in for GeoWeek 2019 – a national event to bring the public to geoscience across the country
Last year, thanks to the involvement of quite an eye-opener! Our two friendly and geoscientists from across the regions, more informative experts opened up the world of The Society notes with than 30 events ran in England and Scotland. geological rock types and formation in an sadness the passing of: And we are hoping to greatly increase this amazing way! No longer is it possible to walk number for 2019. GeoWeek was initiated to around the city without noticing the various Barnes, Barry * Blanche, James Bruce * involve as many geoscientists as possible in rock types in walls and buildings and Bott, Martin Harold Phillips outreach activities with the public. So, if you recalling something of their extraordinary Carmichael, David* are a geoscientist, you too can join in this journeys through time and place to Casey, Raymond * Cooke, Herbert Basil * endeavour. eventually form part of the city. Highly Cornes, Barbara Charlotte * If we can build up a ‘head of steam’ in the recommended!” Dobson, Margaret * UK, we can emulate the Spanish Geoloday “In just a short distance around the Ireland, Richard * initiative where some 150 geoscientists centre of the town we encountered a range Kempton, Nicholas Hugh * Lambert, John F * take nearly 10,00 members of the public on of different rocks all formed in differing Llewellyn, Peter L field trips on one day in May each year. Or climatic conditions.” Lynch, Edward * we could try the Ottawa model, where on “I joined a group that went out onto the Manning, Aubrey Moores, Eldridge * GeoHeritage Day, members of the public edge of the Mendip Hills to explore the rocks Okada, Hakuyu visit 19 geosites across the city ‘manned’ by found there and to appreciate something of Roberts, Brinley volunteer geoscientists from universities and the mechanics by which the landscape had Shrimpton, Godfrey * Veevers, John James industry. Even if you don’t have the variety of been formed. I soon realised that this kind of White, Owen * exposures that Ottawa is blessed with, there fieldwork calls for considerable imagination, Whyatt, Stephen John * must be plenty of other places in your town and so the guide’s use of a homemade model or city where the geological heritage can be to demonstrate geological folding, faulting In the interests of recording its Fellows’ work for posterity, the Society publishes introduced and explained. and thrusting came in useful.” obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. Wondering why we have chosen May for “What proved to be somewhat more The most recent additions to the list are GeoWeek, instead of aligning it with Earth challenging was trying to comprehend the in shown in bold. Fellows for whom no obituarist has yet been commissioned are Science Week in October or Science Week timespans involved and to appreciate the marked with an asterisk (*). The symbol in March? It’s the weather. There is a much conditions under which different rocks were § indicates that biographical material has better chance of entertaining and enthusing formed.” been lodged with the Society. the public on a sunny day in May than in “Most interesting” “Fascinating!” If you would like to contribute an obituary, poor weather in March or October. The more of us that can be involved, the please email amy.whitchurch@geolsoc. Feedback from some of last year’s events greater the interest and understanding of the org.uk to be commissioned. You can during a particularly sunny nine-day public at large. So, please join us for GeoWeek read the guidance for authors at www. geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save GeoWeek included: 2019. You can read more background and yourself unnecessary work, please do not “The Wells GeoWalk in May 2018 was all the details at: www.geoweek.org.uk. write anything until you have received a There you will find a commissioning letter. toolkit including GeoWeek Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is logos, leaflets, social media forthcoming have their names and dates images and a press release recorded in a Roll of Honour at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. template. …and if you need help to Help your obituarist The Society operates a scheme for Fellows devise your own building to deposit biographical material. The object stone trail or field visit is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, in ways that will involve dates and other information, and thus ensure and enthuse the public, that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate accurate commemoration. Please send your just contact us (ESEFEW@ CV, publications list and a photograph to gmail.com). Amy Whitchurch at the Society.
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OBITUARY Andrew Parker 1941-2017 GET NOTICED
Head of the Postgraduate Research Institute for ndrew graduated Committee from eminent from Keele Sedimentology at Reading University, with a passion sedimentologists globally, WITH YOUR University in 1964 for fast cars and Bridge a campaign that reversed A with a B.A. in the decision and led to the Geology and Chemistry. He successful set-up of PRIS, moved to Reading University, under the directorship of John graduating with his Ph.D. in Allen, with Andrew as his 1967 under the supervision deputy. ADVERT HERE! of Mr. J. E. Thomas. Andrew was appointed as a Research Fellow Officer with responsibility for Andrew was a Fellow of the X-Ray unit in the Geology the Geological Society Department, subsequently (Chartered Geologist), being promoted to Senior Mineralogical Society (Vice- Research Officer, Principal President, 1996-1997) and Research Officer and Senior Royal Society of Chemistry Lecturer in a career spanning (Chartered Chemist). He over 40 years at Reading. was Chairman of the British Andrew was the Head of Sedimentological Research the Postgraduate Research Group (1990-1991) and Institute for Sedimentology Chairman of the Committee (PRIS) at the University of of Heads of University Reading, from 1993 to 2003. Geoscience Departments (2001-2003). Calm and competent Andrew enjoyed driving From an early focus on fast cars and sailing fast mineralogy, Andrew’s dinghies. As one colleague research changed to the Andrew made a community, who was put it, Andrew was a World study of environmental substantial contribution to courteous and supportive. War 2 Spitfire pilot only with pollution in modern the supervision of research He worked hard to keep the a Triumph Spitfire instead! A sediments and he made students and teaching. He department at the front of successful Bridge player, he a significant contribution was instrumental in the technical developments and won the Berkshire County to the understanding of creation of a hydrogeology was a strategic thinker, always Bridge League 12 times with the behaviour of organic M.Sc. course and B.Sc. course providing an illuminating the Reading Bridge Club. He contaminants in these in Environmental Science of contribution to an academic was Secretary of the Parochial sediments. He published the Earth and Atmosphere. It debate, often most astute in Church Council of his local 74 journal papers, as was a pleasure to teach field subjects he was not an church and sang in the choir. well as 43 chapters and classes with Andrew—always expert in. Andrew was married twice, to articles in books. Andrew calm and competent in all Perhaps Andrew’s Anne and then to Aniela, who edited four books, two on weathers, and preferring outstanding contribution to survives him. Sedimentary Diagenesis civilized accommodation the University of Reading Get in touch with Bruce Sellwood, on the to the cheap, cold digs to came in 1988, during the dark ➤ By Clive McCann, with Environmental Interaction of which most of us had grown days of the Earth Science contributions from To see your advertisement in the colleagues from Reading Clays with Joy Carter and on accustomed! Review and the prospect University leading magazine for geologists, The Frontiers of Geochemistry of the forced closure of the contact us today: with Russell Harmon. Strategic thinker Sedimentology Research A longer version of this obituary Andrew was particularly Colleagues remember Laboratory. Andrew together with comments from proud of these books, which Andrew as a loyal and initiated a flood of letters colleagues may be read online. Editor Alex Killen continue to be widely used. stalwart member of our to the University Grants [email protected] 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 Amy Whitchurch at the Society. 01727 739 182 30 | FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2019 | 31 GET NOTICED WITH YOUR ADVERT HERE!
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