West is Best ERRATIx OPEN UNIVERSITY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ~ WEST OF SCOTLAND BRANCH ~ NEWSLETTER ~ SEPT 2007

Branch Organiser: Post Exam Weekend – West Coast of Argyle Treasurer: Jacqueline Wiles Hammy Corrance 21 Wedderburn Road Dr Jim Morrison 36 Bensley Avenue Dunblane Kerrera, Loch Melfort and more….. Girdle Toll Stirling Based in Oban Ayrshire KA11 1AJ FK15 0FN th th 01294 212801 01786 820127 9 – 11/12 November Branch Web Site: [email protected] Contact Jacqueline Wiles or Stuart Fairley : 01475 520605, www.ougs-wb.org.uk [email protected]

BRANCH ORGANISER’S BULLETIN Hello Everyone, I hope you all enjoyed your summer, which seems to have come to an abrupt end this morning with torrential rain. For our last trip to South Queensferry we were lucky to have a dry, but chilly, day and I am still hoping that there will be another couple of trips this year. The details are now on the new OUGS web-site which is up and running and looking very professional although there is still more to be done. I realise that a couple of next year’s planned trips are a long way off, but trip leaders are often very busy and plan their schedules well in advance, so it helps if we have some idea of numbers as early as possible. Isn’t it amazing how quickly exam time comes round? Good luck to all of you busy studying hard now and do not, like me, leave it all to the last minute. The AGM is being held at Comrie Croft again next year with the Burns Supper afterwards. This is always good fun so try to come along if you can and have a good time. Best wishes, Jacqueline

And from the Editor...... will involve a lot of walking and over rough Hi everyone, So we’re now moving into autumn ground, so is really only suitable if you are very fit). and thinking about the next ‘clutch’ of events. I The Strathclyde RIGS group has been busy over the also hope you all had a good time during the last few months identifying appropriate sites and summer despite the mixed weather. I, for one, was producing (beautiful) explanatory leaflets – we soaked on numerous occasions, while struggling to hope to have various ‘joint trips’ with them in the see, sometimes, really great rocks – Glen Orchy, future. There is an application form for the AGM at Siccar Point etc. Those who were there know what the end of this Newsletter – if you intend to come I mean!!! On the other hand, there were also some could you please send this to Anne Burgess asap as lovely, sunny days – so…….you take the rough we need to confirm numbers and pay the balance by with the smooth! Recently, we had a ‘Branch’ mid December. The Geological Society of meeting (in a Glasgow hostelry) to firm up a few Glasgow is celebrating its Sesquicentenary (150th ideas, and, as a result, coming up there is the trip to Anniversary – doesn’t time fly?!) this year. It is the Opencast Coal Mine in Ayrshire (jointly with hosting a number of notable speakers during the RIGS), the post exam weekend to Argyle (based in session, and there is an ‘all day’ conference on Oban), the AGM in January and the week-long trip Saturday 23rd February. I hope that many of you to northern Scotland at the end of May. (The latter will come along to some of these ‘talks and trips’.

1 Finally, good luck to those of you with exams – and post exam weekend?! Look forward to seeing you! what better way to relax afterwards than to join the Cheers! Margaret

FUTURE EVENTS Talks…………. Date Organisation Details Time Location Oct 11 Geological Society of Prof George Memorial Lecture: Forward into the 7.30 pm Gregory Building, Lilybank Glasgow Past, Prof Richard Fortey, Natural History Museum. Gardens, Glasgow University Nov 8 Geological Society of The Highland Boundary Fault Zone, Dr PW Geoff 7.30 pm Gregory Building, Lilybank Glasgow Tanner, University of Glasgow. Gardens, Glasgow University Dec 13 Geological Society of AGM and short talks. 7.30 pm Gregory Building, Lilybank Glasgow Gardens, Glasgow University Jan 10 Geological Society of Search for life Beyond Earth, Prof Monica Grady, 7.30 pm Gregory Building, Lilybank Glasgow Open University. Gardens, Glasgow University Feb 14 Geological Society of Precambrian suntan lotion: UV screening, Dr 7.30 pm Gregory Building, Lilybank Glasgow Vernon Phoenix, University of Glasgow Gardens, Glasgow University Feb 23 Geological Society of ‘Local Heroes’ Conference, Celebration of 150th All day St Andrews Building, 11 Glasgow Anniversary. Joint meeting with DACE. Eldon St, Glasgow University.

………..and Trips Date Location Details Branch Contact Oct 27 Glenbuck Joint trip with Strathclyde RIGS to opencast coal mine RIGS Stuart Fairley in Ayrshire, followed by a visit to Loudon Hill. WSc Jacqueline Wiles Nov 9 – 11/12 Argyle Based in Oban & visiting Kerrera, Loch Melfort & the WSc Stuart Fairley surrounding Argyle coast, with Dr Jim Morrison. Jacqueline Wiles Jan 11 – 13 Comrie AGM & Burns Supper WSc/ ESc Anne Burgess 01343 820834 Apr 18 – 26 Cornwall West Cornwall and Lizard: Alan Holiday Wessex Sheila Alderman 2008 Week’s Field Trip WSc 01935 825379 May 31 – North Coast of Cape Wrath to Bettyhill : Dr Iain Allison WSc Margaret Donnelly Jun 7, 2008 Scotland Week’s Field Trip 0141 334 0559

Jacqueline Wiles 01786 820127, [email protected]. Stuart Fairley 01475 520605, [email protected]. Anne Burgess [email protected] Sheila Alderman [email protected]. Geological Society of Glasgow – Margaret Donnelly, 0141 334 0559, [email protected].

AGM & Burns Supper th th 11 – 13 January 2008 Comrie Croft Hostel Come along and join the fun!! Overnights are optional, AGM is free Contact Anne Burgess Application form at the end of this Newsletter

Joint Trip with Strathclyde RIGS Sat 27th October, 10 am Visit to Spireslack Quarry/Opencast Coal Mine, followed possibly by a walk up Loudon Hill Located at Glenbuck, 5 ½ kms east of Muirkirk on the A70 Contact: Stuart Fairley 01475 520605; [email protected]

2 West of Scotland Branch North Coast of Scotland Trip Sat 31st May – Sat 7th June, 2008 Leader : Dr Iain Allison, University of Glasgow Cape Wrath to Bettyhill Meet in Inverness and drive to accommodation in Durness Youth Hostel. Cost ~ £230 Lewisian, Torridonian, Cambrian, and Moine, a variety of Thrusts – some of the oldest rocks in the World!! NB This trip will involve a lot of walking over very rough ground. For further details contact Margaret Donnelly at [email protected], tel: 0141 334 0559.

Disclaimer: Attendance at OUGS Events The OUGS has Public Liability Insurance Cover for field and indoor meetings, but Personal Accident Cover and Personal Liability Cover remain the responsibility and personal choice of the participant. There may be an element of appropriate cover included in house insurance or in travel insurance: although OUGS activities are not particularly dangerous members are advised to check whether exclusions apply to activities in which they plan to participate in case they wish to arrange further cover . An annual travel insurance may be the best solution for any member who regularly attends field events: this again is a matter of personal choice. Please note however that all members participating in overseas events will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the event: this is so that participants are covered for Medical, Repatriation and Personal Liability expenses. The Personal Accident element remains the personal choice of the member and again members are advised to check exclusions so that they can make an informed decision about the cover they want.

Field Trip to South Queensferry, 2nd September 2007

Report by Cliff Probert

On a grey and overcast morning seven members met with Dr Andrew McLeish at South Queensferry to study the rocks in this area, which are of early Carboniferous age and belong to the Upper and Lower Oil Shale Groups. We set off from under the Forth Rail Bridge and walked east along a path for 1.5 –2 km to Hound Point where we descended on to the beach to examine the first outcrop. This belonged to the Lower Oil Shale Group and consisted of a quartz-dolerite sill with a transgressive base underlain by a baked sandstone. The upper surface of the sill was very fine grained which may have been caused by chilling. The chilling could have been due to the presence of a xenolith of metamorphic shale within the sill. We then walked west along the beach and it was noticeable that the shoreline contained a large variety of rock fragments (including dolerite, coal and spent oil shale) and many different shells. These included oyster shells which may have lain for many years since, as Andrew pointed out, the last living oyster in the Firth of Forth was recorded in 1907, but possibly some of the shells on the beach could have been washed from raised beach deposits. The next exposure we studied was a differentiated teschenite sill that was medium grained but then became coarse-grained as we followed the sill along the beach. The teschenite contains analcite. As we followed the sill we next observed amphibole crystals in a fine grained matrix. We then found scattered on the beach many rocks containing large black crystals of titanaugite (many over 10 cm long) in a pinkish groundmass. In several of the rocks the titanaugite had a dendritic pattern. This location was thought to be close to the centre of the sill as the magma would have to have cooled slowly and be stationary to allow the large crystals to form. It is possible that many of these pieces of rock had been brought to the surface when excavations for a nearby pipeline had taken place. Farther along a small exposure of indurated mudstone containing pale grey spots that indicated it had been subject to thermal metamorphism was seen. It was thought that the mudstone overlay the teschenite sill but no contact was found.

3 Continuing upstream we came to a sedimentary exposure of black shale overlain by a dolomitic limestone having the characteristic brown surface layer and grey interior. The shale was rich in fossils with several coprolites being found along, with a branched stem and possibly a Lepidodendron. Nearby on the beach were fragments of limestone with layers of bitumen. This shale was deposited in a fresh water environment but close by was a shale band deposited under marine conditions. This was part of the Pumpherston Shale Bed. Deposits of sulphur formed by bacteria were found in between some of the shale layers. A few metres along was an exposure of sandstone overlying a mudstone and showing a reverse fault. The mudstone had an area of desiccated breccia formed by the mud drying out and then crumbling. Boudins of sandstone could also be seen in this area. Several stromatolites were observed in the sandstone close by. Our attention was then drawn to a most unusual feature that left many of us puzzled, and was eventually identified as white trap. This was a transgressive dolerite sill that had intruded into the oil shale and been altered by the release of gases from the oil shale. The altered dolerite now consists mainly of carbonates of calcium, iron and magnesium, and contains kaolin and muscovite. We then walked back to an area near the Forth Rail Bridge and in the process passed an exposure of deltaic sandstone with ripple marks and cross-bedding. We also passed but did not visit the Burdiehouse Limestone exposure that marks the boundary between the Lower and Upper Oil Shale Groups. At the area near the bridge we observed an outcrop of deltaic sandstone with cross-bedding, ripple marks and mud cracks. In addition there were numerous fossils of plant remains including Stigmaria and rootlets, as well as U-shaped burrows. At the end of the day we spent a few minutes looking at the granite blocks that form part of the support piers of the Forth Rail Bridge. Originally from Rubislaw Quarry, Aberdeenshire1, the granite shows very few signs of wear even though it is over 100 years since the bridge was constructed. The mica crystals in the granite could be clearly seen glinting in the afternoon sunshine. This was a very interesting and informative day with everybody being impressed by how many aspects of geology could be studied in such a small area. Many thanks to Andrew McLeish for an interesting and enjoyable day, and for his anecdotes on Scottish history and football.

Ref. 1: Gillen, C., ‘Geology and Landscapes of Scotland’, Terra Publishing, 2003, p 202

ELECTRONIC ‘ERRATIX’ Almost half of our readers now receive their copy of ERRATIX via e-mail as a PDF file (300-500KB). If anyone else would like to do so, then please let me know (Adobe Reader can be downloaded free from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.). Benefits are You’ll receive your copy 2-3 days ahead of postal delivery It will be in glorious technicolour You can store your copy on hard disk or print off if you wish – saving shelf space Postal costs to the branch will be reduced.

The Ian Gass Bursary. This award (up to £750) is made annually. Open to anyone who has studied with the OU (good grades in at least 3 Earth Science courses required) and wishes to pursue independent geological work, but who doesn’t already have a grant – PhD, MSc or PP (private passion) for example. Details from http://www3.open.ac.uk/Earth-Sciences/opp-bursaries.shtml.

David Jones's term as OUGS Newsletter Editor is coming to an end, and the Society needs a new Newsletter Editor. Could any member interested in filling this post please contact David at [email protected]. ?

Editor : Margaret Donnelly, 56 White Street, Glasgow, G11 5EB tel: 0141 334 0559 email : [email protected].

4 OUGS WEST OF SCOTLAND BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

2.00 pm Saturday 12th January 2008 at Comrie Croft Hostel, Crieff Guest speaker: tba + EAST AND WEST OF SCOTLAND BRANCH BURNS SUPPER Saturday Morning Field Trip: Glen Lednock with Dr James Morrison, Glasgow Geological Society

Cost: £40 including 2 Nights Accommodation (Friday/Saturday) and Burns Supper

Please Note: Attendance at the AGM itself is FREE

Full Amount Payable on Booking, *Guests are very welcome to attend the weekend* [So please remember to invite spouses, offspring, siblings, parents, in-laws and out-laws] Health Warning: The meal will be cooked by Branch Committee members

Other Information Bookings: In order to secure the booking and keep costs down the hostel has been booked on a 2 night basis, therefore we need as many bookings as possible for both nights, please. Accommodation: Clean, simple, modern accommodation in a rustic setting. Two self-contained buildings: the Lodge (sleeps 56, and the Old Farmhouse (sleeps 14) Lodge: 6 private ensuite rooms with pine furnishings and bunk beds for 2, 4 or 6 (double room coming soon) Lodge: 5 standard dorm rooms with bunk beds for 4, 6 or 8. Old Farmhouse: 2 standard dorm rooms with bunk beds for 6 or 8. Quality sprung beds with full bed linen and individual reading lights (please bring your own towel). Spacious, well equipped kitchen including ovens/hobs, microwave, coffee maker, fridge, freezer, etc. Cosy lounge with sofas, TV and video Pinewood furnished dining area with a view of the hills. Central heating and lots of powerful, always hot showers. Breakfast: Cost £2.50 per person. Self-service continental consisting of croissants from the village Deli baked the same morning, locally made jam, bread/toast, choice of cereal, fruit juice, fruit, tea, coffee or hot chocolate, etc. Pre-order the previous day essential. Have your breakfast anytime you like up to 10.30am (must be after 7.30am for croissants) Getting There: 5 miles west of Crieff on the A85 Crieff to Comrie road. Glasgow and Edinburgh 1hr 10mins by car. Inverness 3hrs by car. Bus services are available from Crieff, Perth, and Stirling. Rail stations at Perth, Stirling with connecting Citylink bus services. Further information on Hostel Website www.comriecroft.com Payment: Full amount due on booking. We need to confirm numbers and pay the balance in full to the Hostel by mid December. Late bookings may not accepted

Please complete the form below, and return with a cheque made out to OUGS East of Scotland Branch and a SAE to: Anne Burgess, Mardale, 21 Woodside Place, Fochabers, IV32 7HE

Name ………………………………………………………….. Membership No ……….………….

Branch ………………………………………Phone No/ Email………………………………………….

Address…………………………………………………………………………………......

I wish to attend the AGM + Burns Supper + 2 Nights Accommodation Yes/No £40.00

I wish to attend the AGM + Burns Supper + 1 Night Accommodation Yes/No £25.00

I wish to attend the AGM + Burns Supper Only Yes/No £10.00

I will be attending the AGM only Yes/No FREE

Vegetarian Haggis Yes/No

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