SCIENTISTu u GEO VOLUME 27 NO 4 May 2016 WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST The Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95
FIELDWORK & NEW TECHNOLOGY ] [Access & Engagement Special
Predicting the subsurface How computer models can integrate field and borehole data to create regional models of physical properties
ONLINE SPECIAL: WILLIAM SMITH FIELDWORK & DISABILITY SPANISH GEOLOGY DAYS Two hundred years of geo-modelling Reduced mobility widens one Fieldwork provides the spur celebrated at IAMG17, Freiberg geologist’s horizons to popular outreach Petroleum Group Annual Dinner 2016 Last Dinosaur Dinner
Natural History Museum 23rd June 2016
For further information or to book a table for this event, please contact [email protected] GEOSCIENTIST CONTENTS
16 21
10 24
FEATURES
18 GEOLODÍA! IN THIS ISSUE... Ana Maria Alonso-Zarza on Spain’s hugely successful field-based outreach programme ‘Geology day’
REGULARS
05 Welcome Ted Nield believes the debate about fieldwork in geology becomes too easily polarised – and this issue is proof 06 Soapbox Martin Carruthers asks – do we ‘need’ field work because we really need it or because we enjoy it? 10 Society news What your Society is doing at home and ON THE COVER: abroad, in London and the regions 10 White Horse 21 Letters Is field experience really that important to the The Westbury or Bratton White Horse, hydrocarbon industry? on the escarpment of Salisbury Plain, 22 Books and arts Four new books reviewed by Nathan Allen, east of Westbury, England Colin Summerhayes, Mark Griffin and Ted Nield 24 People Geoscientists in the news and on the move 26 Obituary Alec Kenyon-Smith 1932-2015 William Smith, and 200 years of NLINE geo-modelling, celebrated by the 27 Calendar Society activities this month International Association for SPECIALS Mathematical Geology (IAMG) 28 Obituary Albert Ludford 1913-2016 29 Crossword Win a special publication of your choice
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 03 FUGRO TECHNICAL COURSES
Cone Penetration Testing (FREE) Wednesday 18th May 2016 – Glasgow Thursday 19th May 2016 – Newcastle Friday 24th June 2016 – Wallingford Friday 14th October 2016 – Bristol Friday 18th November 2016 – Wallingford Friday 16th December 2016 – Manchester
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04 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST
GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME Geoscientist is the ADVERTISING SALES ~ Fellowship magazine of Ollie Kirkman WORK MUST BE DONE BY PEOPLE, PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE, the Geological Society T 01727 739 184 of London E ollie@centuryone AND IT IS NOT BY (OR FOR) BREAD ALONE THAT WE DO IT publishing.uk Front cover image: Alan Jeffery/Shutterstock.com. All rights reserved. 2016 The Geological Society, ~ Burlington House, Piccadilly, ART EDITOR London W1J 0BG Heena Gudka T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 F +44 (0)20 7439 8975 DESIGN & PRODUCTION E [email protected] Jonathan Coke (Not for Editorial - Please contact the Editor) PRINTED BY Century One Publishing House Publishing Ltd. The Geological Society Publishing House, Unit 7, Copyright Brassmill Enterprise Centre, The Geological Society of Brassmill Lane, Bath London is a Registered BA1 3JN Charity, number 210161. T 01225 445046 ISSN (print) 0961-5628 F 01225 442836 ISSN (online) 2045-1784
Library The Geological Society of London FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 accepts no responsibility for the views F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 expressed in any article in this publication. All views expressed, except E [email protected] where explicitly stated otherwise, represent those of the author, and not EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Geological Society of London. All Field versus mouse rights reserved. No paragraph of this Professor Peter Styles publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written EDITOR permission. Users registered with Dr Ted Nield Copyright Clearance Center: the Journal is registered with CCC, 27 Congress his magazine is no (Feature). It expands, rather than E [email protected] Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. 0961- 5628/02/$15.00. Every effort has been stranger to arguments restricts, the ways we as individuals, EDITORIAL BOARD made to trace copyright holders of about fieldwork. Little and as groups, can experience the Dr Sue Bowler material in this publication. If any rights have been seems to push our readers’ natural world (Soapbox). We need Mr Steve Branch omitted, the publishers offer their Dr Robin Cocks apologies. buttons more effectively both. Enthusiasm for one does not Prof. Tony Harris T than a perceived threat to the mean denying the other. Using Dr Howard Falcon-Lang No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/or damage Dr Jonathan Turner to persons or property as a matter of primacy of looking at rocks, in the virtual technology, the better to Dr Jan Zalasiewicz products liability, negligence or field – ‘the geologist’s laboratory’. assimilate real data, is not equivalent otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions Anyone daring to suggest that to walking blindly through life with Trustees of the or ideas contained in the material Geological Society herein. Although all advertising material (perhaps) fieldwork might have had your nose in an iPhone. (At least, not of London is expected to conform to ethical Prof David Manning (medical) standards, inclusion in this its day, or is no longer attractive, unless you let it.) publication does not constitute a (President); Mrs Natalyn Ala guarantee or endorsement of the quality soon feels the walking-boot being Fieldwork, and a love of the (Secretary, Professional or value of such product or of the claims Matters); Mr Rick made by its manufacturer. put in good and proper in outdoors, initially attracted many of Brassington; Mr Malcolm correspondence and, once down, the us to geology. But even in this Subscriptions:All correspondence Brown (President relating to non-member subscriptions final killing blow to the head from increasingly indoor age, the call of designate); Miss Liv Carroll; should be addresses to the Journals Dr Nigel Cassidy; Dr Angela Subscription Department, Geological H H Read’s famous dictum about the the wild persists for millions of Society Publishing House, Unit 7 Coe; Mr Jim Coppard; Mrs Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill best geologist being the one who has people (Second Feature), helping to Jane Dottridge; Mr Chris Lane, Bath, BA1 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 Eccles (Vice president); 445046. Fax: 01225 442836. Email: seen the most rocks. draw large numbers onto geological Dr Marie Edmonds [email protected]. The subscription This may all be good knockabout excursions, and so afford them the (Secretary, Science); price for Volume 26, 2016 (11 issues) to institutions and non-members will be stuff, but these arguments usually opportunity to learn about landscape Mr Graham Goffey £139 (UK) or £159/$319 (Rest of (Treasurer); Mrs Tricia World). end up artificially pitting virtuous while at the same time enjoying Henton; Mr David Hopkins; © 2016 The Geological Society fieldwork against evil virtual reality, simply being out in it. And that is Mr David Jones (Vice pres- of London ident); Dr Jennifer as though the world ever presented our chance to demonstrate how McKinley; Prof David Geoscientist is printed on FSC® mixed us with such an either/or. But in much more pleasure is to be had by Norbury; Dr Colin North credit - Mixed source products are a blend of FSC 100%, Recycled and/or doing so we succumb to bad looking with an understanding eye. (Secretary, Publications); Controlled fibre. Certified by the Forest Prof Christine Peirce; Stewardship Council®. reasoning – the false polarisation of Finally, yes – sometimes we may in Dr Katherine Royse; Mr Keith Seymour; complex issues towards non- our enthusiasm over-state our claims Dr Lucy Slater; Mr Michael alternatives. This issue of for fieldwork, simply because we like Young (Secretary, Foreign & External Affairs) Geoscientist, I believe, perfectly doing it and will resist any attempt illustrates how impoverishing such to diminish our quality of life by Published on behalf of the posturing is. allowing Mr Gradgrind to think that Geological Society of London by Nobody is seriously suggesting maybe the bottom line could do just Century One Publishing that fieldwork is totally passé. as well without it (Letters). But so Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, Nobody really believes we can what? In the end, work must be AL3 4DG replace the real with the virtual. The done by people, people have to live, T 01727 893 894 F 01727 893 895 truth is that new technology offers and it is not by (or for) bread alone E enquiries@centuryone new ways to interpret real data that we do it. publishing.uk W www.centuryone DR TED NIELD, EDITOR - [email protected] @TedNield @geoscientistmag publishing.uk
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS
What your society is doing SOCIETYNEWS at home and abroad, in London and the regions Geological Society Club The Geological Society Club, successor to the body that gave birth to the Society in 1807, meets monthly (except over the field season!) at 18.30 for 19.00 in the Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, or at another venue, to be confirmed nearer the date. Once a year there is also a buffet dinner at Burlington House. New diners are always welcome, especially from among younger Fellows. Dinner costs £57 for a four-course meal, including coffee and port. There is a cash bar for the purchase of aperitifs and wine. Burlington House dinners include wine. LONDON LECTURE SERIES 2016 meetings: 11 May , at The Athenaeum Club. What coal mining hydrogeology tells u Fellows wishing to dine or requesting further information about the Geological Society Club, please email Caroline Seymour on us about the real risks of fracking [email protected]. Speaker: Prof. Paul Younger (University of Glasgow) Date: 18th May
President’s Awards, 2016 Programme u Afternoon talk: 1430pm Tea & Coffee: 1500 The President’s Awards for 2016 are made to Huw Clarke, Cuadrilla Resources, Lecture begins: 1600 Event ends. for his contribution to the interpretation of seismicity associated with shale gas u Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: 1800 Lecture exploration; and Ann Rowan, University of Sheffield, for her contribution to begins: 1900 Reception. geomorphology in glaciated terranes. Congratulations to both. They will be presented with their awards on President’s Day (below). Further Information Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsllondonlectures16. Entry to each lecture is by ticket only. To obtain a ticket please contact the Society around four weeks Notification of Officers for 2016/2017 before the talk. Due to the popularity of this lecture series, tickets are allocated in a monthly ballot and At the AGM Fellows will be asked to elect the following members of cannot be guaranteed. Council as Officers for 2016/17: President: Mr Malcolm Brown. Vice-Presidents: Mr Chris Eccles, Mr Keith Seymour. Secretaries: Miss Liv Carroll, Dr Marie Edmonds, Dr Colin North. ➤ Contact: Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, T: Secretary, Foreign & External Affairs: Mr Michael Young; Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, +44 (0)20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] Treasurer: Mr Graham Goffey. Election results
A total of 1718 valid votes were cast for the seven vacancies on Council. The election was conducted by Electoral Reform Services and where the voting was close the numbers were confirmed by a recount (*). The results are as follows:
Name Valid Votes Name Valid Votes The seven candidates receiving the most votes will go forward to the Sarah Gordon 869 (50.5%) Stuart Jones 570 (33.2%) Annual General Meeting on 8 June Jason Canning 720 (41.9%) Chiara Petrone 514 (29.9%) 2016 for election as Council members. Alexander Whittaker 666 (38.8%) Simon Neale 480 (27.9%) Sheila Peacock 637 (37.0%) Richard Collier 464 (27.0%) Naomi Jordan 633 (36.8%) Daniel Le Heron 462 (26.9%) Robert Larter 607 (35.3%) Toby Strauss 421 (24.5%) Nicholas Reynolds 596 (34.7%)* Jack Matthews 335 (19.5%) Teresa Ceraldi 595 (34.6%)* Toby Hopkins 326 (19.0%) John Talbot 593 (34.5%)*
06 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS
TALKS BY SENIOR MEDALLISTS
Wollaston Medal: Come and meet the award winners Susan Brantley – Distinguished at the Society’s gala day Professor of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University: President’s Day Exploring the critical zone: Where rocks meet life President’s Day at Burlington House on 8 June will begin with the Annual General Meeting (11.00) followed by a buffet lunch with the award winners (members with ticket only – £27.50/head). As in previous years, the recipients of the major medals have been invited to give short talks; thus the Awards Ceremony will be followed by presentations from Lyell, Lyell Medal: Murchison, William Smith and Wollaston medallists (details below). The timetable for John Underhill – Chair of President’s Day and the agenda for the AGM are also below. Exploration Geoscience, To obtain luncheon tickets please send cheques (made payable to The Geological Society) to Institute of Petroleum Stephanie Jones at Burlington House, or email [email protected]. Please also Engineering, Heriot-Watt contact Stephanie if you wish to attend the afternoon events, for which there is no charge. University: The need for and increasing role of forensic geosciences and visualisation in AGM Agenda accurately characterising the Timetable u Apologies subsurface Time Event u Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 3 June 2015 11.00 Annual General Meeting u Appointment of Scrutineers for the ballots for (members only) Council and Officers Murchison Medal: u Ballot for Council Jon Blundy – Professorial 12.30 Lunch with the Award u Annual Report and Accounts for 2015 Research Fellow in Petrology, winners (members with u tickets only) President’s Report University of Bristol): The mute u Secretaries’ Reports testimony of volcanic crystals u 1400 Awards Ceremony Treasurer’s Report and what we can learn about u Comments from Fellows the build up to eruptions 1515 Talks by Lyell, u Formal acceptance of the Annual Report and Murchison and William Accounts for 2015 and approval of the Budget Smith medallists for 2016 u Annual Fellowship subscriptions for 2017 William Smith Medal: u 16.30 Tea Deaths Michael de Freitas – u Report of Scrutineers on the ballot for Council Distinguished Research Fellow, u 17.00 Talk by Wollaston Ballot for Officers Faculty of Engineering, Medallist u Appointment of Auditors Department of Civil and u Report of Scrutineers on the ballot for Officers Environmental Engineering, 17.30 President’s closing u Election of new Fellows Imperial College: remarks u Any other business Homage to William Smith: u Provisional date of next Annual General Meeting aspects of recent research 17.40 – 19.30 Drinks reception u Meeting closes
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 07 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS
SOCIETYNEWS...
Annual Fellowship subscriptions
Council agreed in April 2015 that Fellowship fee increases would be linked to the rate of Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) as measured in February of FROM THE LIBRARY each year. The increase for 2016 was 0%, based upon a zero CPI rate rise as at February 2015. u The CPI figure for February 2016 was 0.3%. The Library newsletter Finance & Planning committee recommended to Council not to increase Fellowship fees for 2017 Subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter to keep up-to- on the basis that the total increase in the date with important Library news, electronic journal Society’s fee income by applying this formula updates, online exhibitions, events and more: was minimal, that even a small rise would be http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/newslettersignup unwelcome to those Fellows affected by the u economic downturn in the extractive industries; and that in future years it may be New acquisitions necessary to increase fees above the rate provided by this formula. At its meeting on 6 April Council agreed to recommend to the Fellowship for approval at the A month-by-month list of new books and serial special Annual General Meeting the subscription rates for 2017 shown below. issues which have been added to the catalogue can be viewed on our website at Category 2016 (£) 2017 (£) www.geolsoc.org.uk/library_collections u E-Journals Junior Candidate Fellow 10.00 10.00 Candidate Fellow 15.00 15.00 Fellows of the Society can access over 90 journals Candidate Fellow full course fee 0.00 0.00 online using Athens authentication. There is no charge 27 and under 70.00 70.00 28-33 130.00 130.00 to Fellows for this service. Visit 34-59 198.00 198.00 http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ejournals to register. 34-59 (Overseas) 152.00 152.00 u 60-69 99.00 99.00 Literature searching 60-64 130.00 130.00 65-69 99.00 99.00 Not enough time or struggling to find the information 70+ 68.00 68.00 you need ? We can search a wide range of resources Honorary Fellow 0.00 0.00 on your behalf and send you the results directly to your Life Fellow 0.00 0.00 inbox. To find out more about this service, please email Senior Fellow 0.00 0.00 [email protected] Concessions 70.00 70.00 Concessions (ERET) 0.00 0.00 u Document delivery Special Free Rate 0.00 0.00 Joint Fellow Non-Payer 0.00 0.00 Not based in London or simply too busy to come to the Full time postgraduate MSc 28.00 28.00 library ? We can send you by post or fax photocopies of Full time postgraduate PhD 41.00 41.00 articles from our collection. To find out more about this BP-funded postgraduate 41.00 41.00 service, please email [email protected] or call Unemployed 0.00 0.00 020 7432 0999 Supplement (to payer) for Joint Fellowship 58.00 58.00 CGeol supplement payers 48.00 48.00 u Postal loans
You do not need to live in London to borrow books, FUTURE MEETINGS maps or journals from the library – we can post them to Dates for meetings of Council and Ordinary General Meetings until April 2017 you ! For more information, contact shall be as follows: [email protected] or call 020 7432 0999 Ordinary General Meetings: Meetings of Council: u 2016: 22 June; u 2016: 22 June; 20 September; 20 & 21 September (residential); 24 November; 24 November; ➤ The library is open to visitors Monday-Friday 0930- u 2017: 1 February; u 2017: 1 February; 1730. For a list of new acquisitions click the appropriate 4 April 4 & 5 April (residential) link from http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/info
08 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST SOAPBOX
Need? Or enjoyment?
Is fieldwork actually essential to making good geologists? Or do we pretend it is because we enjoy it? Martin Carruthers* reflects on access for all
hough fieldwork was the most the country, which I have no problem enjoyable aspect of my training, I accessing; with staff happy to help, if I want a have learned far more from mapping closer look or more details. Online collections SOAPBOX exercises, borehole data, lab work, are open 24/7. One wonders how T microscopy, study, and spending undergraduates are able to turn their back on CALLING! time with geological collections. To be a good this vast resource, just to produce original micropalaeontologist, for example, you need pieces of fieldwork! Should we not be good academic and analytical skills, not boots embracing technology, and using the likes of Soapbox is open to contributions and a hammer. Geophysicists and Reservoir Google maps and BGS online geological maps from all Fellows. You can always Engineers need primarily to be physicists and for training and distance learning? A good write a letter to the Editor, of engineers with strong IT skills. The vast scientist’s mind-set surely constantly course: but perhaps you feel you majority of geology and Earth science challenges the premise of the questions asked need more space? graduates go on to pursue non-geological and remains open to explore all means and careers – probably not requiring fieldwork. options. If you can write it entertainingly in Those who do go on to field-based careers I have recently (just in time!) bought an 500 words, the Editor would like have a lifetime to hone their craft on-the-job. automatic Land Rover Defender. My current to hear from you. Email your project is to see how much access that affords. piece, and a self-portrait, to Inclusivity The biggest help in this regard would be ted.nield@geolsoc. org.uk. This becomes particularly poignant when using the influence of The Geological Society Copy can only be accepted considering access and inclusivity for all to obtain, organise, and facilitate permissions electronically. No diagrams, tables abilities. Yes, I enjoyed fieldwork, but did I for vehicle access to areas where I am unable or other illustrations please. actually need it? I have become disabled and to walk, but can drive. To enable those who am no longer able to work full-time. Though still want to do fieldwork rather than need, Pictures should be of print this has created personal challenges, far from we must be provider- and user-focused in quality – please take photographs restricting my access to geology – it has equal measure to ensure best delivery. on the largest setting on your caused it to be re-born! Paradoxically, I am camera, with a plain background. now at liberty to wander wherever my fancy takes me. Precedence will always be given
So much has changed in the decades to more topical contributions. since university. With a laptop and Any one contributor may not
(optional) microscope, the choice and appear more often than once per access is truly amazing. Add a volume (once~ every 12 months). smartphone or tablet and you’re really cooking. I can research areas I could never hope to access - I CAN without leaving home: RESEARCH AREAS far more efficient and I COULD NEVER affordable than trudging through HOPE TO ACCESS terrain in all WITHOUT LEAVING weathers. Mars is fascinating, but I HOME. MARS IS don’t need to go FASCINATING, BUT there to study I DON’T NEED TO it. We are GO THERE TO blessed with STUDY IT world-class ➤ See also Letters, P21. geological ~ Martin Carruthers collections up and down
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 09 PREDICTING THE SUBSURFACE
Images: Alan Jeffery/Shutterstock.com
ritain is blessed with a Our modern society requires a huge Mark Woods* and magnificent variety of variety of infrastructure and resources, landscapes, much of it the not just the things we see at the surface, colleagues from result of the diverse range of but things we build in and extract from B rock types that form our the underground. Much of the water we British Geological small island, and the different ways in consume in our homes and factories which they respond to weathering and comes from buried bedrock units – Survey ask: How erosion. Nowhere is this clearer than supplies that we must manage, predict when enjoying a walk along many of and safeguard from contamination. can we confidently the paths that snake around our Rapidly varying geology might be good coastline; dramatic colour changes in for landscape diversity, but it can create predict the nature the cliffs, steep climbs and descents real headaches for planning future between headlands and bays all reflect growth and economic development. of the ground changes in the underlying geology. Sometimes the connection is obvious, Variability beneath us? such as the contrast between the low, Currently, we only have highly detailed sandy and muddy cliffs that tumble understanding of how rocks’ physical into the sea along the coast of Essex, properties vary in relatively limited areas, and the rugged white cliffs on the south where geological units are of particular coast of England. These natural commercial interest – for example, the features, which we take for granted, hydrocarbons industry, which requires a Above: Westbury White Horse. have a significant impact on how we holistic knowledge of how such On the Chalk, Salisbury Plain live and move about our island. properties relate to geological structure,
10 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST ~ BRITAIN IS BLESSED WITH A MAGNIFICENT VARIETY OF LANDSCAPES, MUCH OF IT THE RESULT OF THE DIVERSE ROCK TYPES THAT FORM OUR SMALL ISLAND ~
Traversing the hazardous shoreline beneath the 160 m high cliffs forming Beachy Head, Sussex
Dissolution cavities in Chalk developed along a fault Approaching the Beachy Head lighthouse, Sussex plane and burial history. More generally, what detailed descriptions of variation within classified, but that is enough to affect its we need is a broad 3D model framework units, but it may be difficult to relate behaviour for particular applications capable of containing disparate data types spatially all of this information to the (such as its engineering and and showing how they inter-relate. geological map in order to arrive at a hydrogeological use). Recently, BGS has This approach would provide a trend synopsis. Furthermore, the extent begun to explore how we can characterise comprehensive overview of observable and resolution of the data are likely also variation in physical properties. The Late data, display statistically-derived to be highly variable. Cretaceous Chalk, with its wealth of predictions for regions lacking data, and Ideally, we want to be able to see recent research, relatively simple allow new models to be calculated as new beneath our urban and rural landscapes, subdivision, structure and range of observable data become available. This is and observe both the distribution and physical properties, provides the ideal the goal of current work at the British thickness of different geological units and test-bed to develop this innovative Geological Survey (BGS), focusing on the the range of internal variation within approach to geological parameterisation. Chalk Group (hereafter ‘Chalk’) of each. We want to envisage how these southern England and East Anglia. properties vary across broad swathes of Chalk Conventionally, field geologists slowly country, and understand the extent to The Chalk is one of the most widely accumulate knowledge about the extent of which these features are affected, and/or occurring units across southern England, rock variation in the subsurface as they controlled by, structural features, such as frequently worked during civil make geological maps and cross-sections; patterns of faulting. engineering projects, and one of the UK’s but the rock classifications used in these With this knowledge we could predict most important units for water supply. A documents typically only provide an geographical trends, in things such as walk beneath the towering 160m-high, overview of physical properties for each patterns of hardness and compositional dazzling white, flint-banded Chalk cliffs unit. Related memoirs, sheet explanations changes – variation that is not so great as of Beachy Head (Sussex) is not for the
and published papers may provide more to cause a geological unit to be differently faint-hearted – with dangerous tides and ▼
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 11 Left: Cross-sections through the Chalk facies model. Setting the vertical scale at 40 times the horizontal scale exaggerates the east- west trending buckles within the Chalk created by Alpine orogenesis. Folding diminishes toward the north onto the London Platform under Norfolk and the Thames valley
Above right: Three-dimensional Chalk model of southeast England with the coloured layers representing different Chalk formations
Lower right: A modeller’s eye view of the Chalk and its physical properties. Here multiple cross sections extend into the distance
▼ frequent rock falls; but recent work along this coast shows that even a seemingly Cellular geological uniform rock like the Chalk is riven with model showing Chalk formations to the variations in physical characteristics. west of the Weald Some units are very soft and lack flints, Anticline. The area in the immediate while others are intensely hard and foreground shows the fractured. Some are even rich enough in Chalk arching around clay to form a barrier to water migration the edge of the broad dome formed by The through the rock. Variations in these Weald in south-east properties have very significant England implications for construction, water management and pollution control, as well as for evaluating the risk from ground- water flooding. Established stratigraphy 1, 2, which sub-divides the Chalk into formations, describes the general pattern of this variation but not the detail or regional differences that are potentially significant at the project-scale. 3D geological model of the London Basin For example, the pattern of cementation showing geometry of in the Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation main bedrock geological units varies hugely across southern England, (Burke et al., 2014) both in its degree and stratigraphical distribution. The typically marl and flint- rich Newhaven Chalk Formation is virtually devoid of these features in parts of East Anglia and Kent. If an apparently uniform rock like the Chalk can display such wide variation in physical characteristics, then it is clearly imperative to understand physical property variation across a broader spectrum of geological Cross-sections through the units that might be interpreted as interpolated facies ‘strategically important’ for national model clearly development and well-being. showing the undulating traces of the Chalk Rock and Unique model Melbourn Rock (dark green and red In recent years, the use of 3D geological colours) across the models has become commonplace, like that northern Wessex recently developed for the London Basin3. Basin. Vertical cylinders represent In many of these, geological formations are the location of the basic building blocks; but the range of boreholes which have physical property variation capable of been coded for chalk facies being displayed is limited by the extent to which different sub-units have been GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
defined. In the case both of formations describing outcrops. For this group of and their sub-divisions (i.e. members), the terms a degree of rationalisation is needed, only physical property data that can be by combining several categories of feature inferred are the generalised details that into a single generalised characteristic (for define them. So if these formations are example, combining references to ‘hard basin-wide, it is not possible to perceive chalk’ and ‘nodular chalk’). The end result regional trends and variations easily. is a table of physical property types that Ideally, physical property models would form the core of the physical property show the total amount of variation within model. a geological unit. In the case of commercial enterprises for which this Data sources knowledge is essential, huge investment Building any type of geological model can achieve this high degree of requires a lot of data, and ideally that data understanding across limited areas. should be widespread and evenly However, attempting to duplicate such distributed across the region of interest. data-richness is impractical for large, The importance of the Chalk as an aquifer basin-scale models. We need to balance means that water supply boreholes are what is useful to model against the numerous across outcrop, many with availability of data that allows it to be geophysical logs. Confident interpretation modelled. Arriving at this balance will of these, as well as deeper boreholes drilled define the list of features that can, for hydrocarbons and coal-investigation, is realistically, be modelled. permitted by cored and optically scanned To do this requires knowledge of the boreholes, in which features such as mud range of geological features that can content and hardness can confidently be potentially occur, and a broad matched to associated inflections on understanding of how they are defined by geophysical logs5. the data (for example, the combination of There is also a lot of exposed Chalk, in geophysical responses that permit us to coastal cliffs, large inland quarries, or in the identify a given physical characteristic). numerous smaller inland ‘pits’ that lie We need to consider also the likelihood scattered across Chalk downland, from that criteria for indirect inference of such which lime for agriculture and construction features might be ambiguous, and that this was historically extracted. Both boreholes may affect our model’s degree of certainty. and outcrop sections can function as data The aim should be for our models to form points for our model, each being defined by a framework capable of holding and unique combinations of geographical co- visualising more detailed data, as and ordinates and topographical elevations. when they eventually become available. Where Chalk is particularly well exposed, for example in coastal sections Chalk physics and large quarries, we can deploy laser- The Chalk is a relatively simple geological scanning technology, allowing detailed unit in terms of its main physical features of exposed surfaces to be converted components. Publications that review its into 3D images (point clouds) that can be geology, such as the Geological ‘draped’ with high-res digital photographs Conservation Review Series4, show the for direct interpretation of rock-properties, range of potential physical properties that fracture patterns and structures. might be useful to record in a physical Chalk and many other geological units property model. These would include display ‘marker-beds’ – units that are primary features, related to depositional physically distinctive and widespread, Above top: Example of a borehole geophysical log – used history; for example: abundance/presence having formed in a comparatively short to interpret Chalk stratigraphy and variations in physical of flint, marl (clay-rich chalk), hard chalk, time. These units are often useful in properties Above lower: Key to Chalk formations (opposite. For facies nodular chalk, hardgrounds (hard chalk correlation, but they can also be used to key, see online.)~ formed at times of reduced rates of define packages of strata, allowing us to sedimentation). They also include make high-resolution analyses of physical secondary (post-depositional) features, property distributions between selected such as fracturing. pairs of marker-beds. In this way, BUILDING ANY Not all of these can be shown in our relationships between thickness trends and GEOLOGICAL MODEL model – some require visual observation to physical properties can be assessed, and REQUIRES A LOT OF DATA, confirm their presence, and including them may prove useful in predicting likely in our model would bias their distribution patterns of physical properties in areas AND IDEALLY THOSE DATA to regions with outcrop, field survey, cored where few data exist. SHOULD BE WIDESPREAD borehole or borehole image data. Other The modern geological classification of AND EVENLY DISTRIBUTED types of physical property might be the Chalk 1,2, 4 that has been mapped at capable of interpretation, but not in the outcrop6 and recognised in borehole ACROSS THE REGION 1,5,7 wide range of forms observed when geophysical logs provides a vast ▼ ~ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 13 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
▼ improvement on the traditional three-fold including formations, members and outcrop and borehole evidence) that these classification. Modern digital map data for marker-beds. Cells between these surfaces persist across tens and sometimes the Chalk compiled by recent BGS surveys are coded to represent the different hundreds of kilometres. However, provides detailed control for matching physical properties. smaller extents have to be assumed for subsurface geology with surface This last aspect – assigning physical features such as hardgrounds, which tend topography. Areas across which obsolete property information – is the most to be localised in certain regions or at Chalk subdivisions persist, or where there difficult, because ‘real’ data only exist for discrete geological structures. is particular structural complexity, are the the boreholes and outcrop sections that Kriging looks at the extent to which focus of a programme of continuing field form part of the model: in this case, 380 data points close to one another are also survey, to allow full integration of outcrop boreholes and 150 logged sections covering similar in character, while variograms and modelled subsurface data. the Chalk as far north as The Wash (in describe the extent of this similarity. In northern East Anglia). Physical property essence, the variogram provides a Data-crunching logs were created in WELLCADTM template for determining how far real The first step in creating a physical software and exported as simple depth- data can be projected into the model property model is to build a framework attributed digital files, with different mesh, with the caveat that the extent of that will hold all the data, show how it is properties translated to numerical codes. certain features might be limited by what related, and be capable of performing Stratigraphical and physical property is known about the general behaviour of calculations and analyses of that data. Our interpretations of adjacent data points can these geological features. model has been built in GOCAD-SKUATM be compared by selecting alignments software, and can be thought of as a large (‘correlation lines’) of boreholes within the Structures three-dimensional cellular meshwork that model, allowing the relative positions of Folding and faulting affect many UK is coextensive with the Chalk outcrop and geological and physical property Mesozoic formations extensively, but are subcrop across southern England. boundaries to be compared, and if generally less pronounced in the Chalk. The mesh relates to geographical and necessary, adjusted. Despite this, much published research topographical data within which outcrops An important function of our model is suggests that structural features influence and boreholes can be accurately located. It to predict physical properties in areas the character of local and regional Chalk is also designed to obey a set of where raw data are lacking. Statistical successions 8, 9, 10. Knowledge of these stratigraphical rules that closely reflects techniques (kriging, variograms) are used features has improved greatly with how bed geometries naturally respond to to achieve this, based on assumptions detailed formational mapping, partly geological features (such as about the likely lateral extents of the because traditional stratigraphical unconformities). The mesh is cut through different physical property components. subdivisions were simply too coarse to by geological surfaces, representing For example, large spatial extents can be reveal them. different kinds of geological boundary - assigned to marls, because we know (from Faults are potentially an important
Example of a laser-scan of coastal cliff section. Combining these Unit of hard chalk (hardground) with burrow-systems scans with high-resolution digital photography provides a picked out by dark-coloured mineralisation (glauconite) potentially rich source of data for physical property modelling. GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
source of physical property variation, in ‘domains’, distinguished by particular terms of both displacement and fracturing, combinations of physical property and REFERENCES as well as by influencing physical property geology, that can guide engineers and patterns where movement took place hydrogeologists in their understanding 1 Mortimore, R N, 1986 Stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous White Chalk of Sussex during sedimentation, but perhaps without of subsurface characteristics. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 97, manifesting as discernible displacement. The model also has the capacity to 97 – 139. Consequently, structural analysis of the act as a ‘hypothesis generating engine’, 2 Hopson, P M 2005 A stratigraphical Chalk for physical property modelling has revealing linkages between diverse framework for the Upper Cretaceous Chalk focused both on faults that are known to types of data or flagging up unusual of England and Scotland with statements cut the Chalk as well as older Mesozoic patterns that can be used to guide field on the Chalk of Northern Ireland and the structures that may have been rejuvenated and laboratory research. Already, UK Offshore Sector British Geological Survey by contemporaneous tectonism. simple formational thickness plots, Research Report RR/05/01, 102pp. Folds and faults have been incorporated based on high-resolution stratigraphy 3 Burke, H, Mathers, S J, Williamson, J P, into the model from modern digital data used to construct the model, are Thorpe, S, Ford, J, Terrington, R L, 2014 The geological and tectonic map data, borehole providing important information about London Basin superficial and bedrock stratigraphy records and published data. patterns of Chalk deposition in relation LithoFrame 50 Model British Geological Cross-section analysis allows the likely to basin architecture. Survey Open Report OR/14/029. geometry of these faults to be understood, As new data are acquired from 4 Mortimore, R N, Wood, C J, Gallois, R W and workflows within the model software outcrops and boreholes, refinement of 2001 British Upper Cretaceous Stratigraphy Geological Conservation Review allow fault planes to be converted into the model will increase, revealing Series, No 23, Joint Nature Conservation triangulated surfaces against which wider potential impacts on our Committee, Peterborough. geological units can be cut and offset. understanding of the processes of 5 Woods, M A, 2006 UK Chalk Group Chalk deposition, and allow more stratigraphy (Cenomanian – Santonian) Synthesis detailed and reliable prediction of determined from borehole geophysical When completed, our physical property physical properties across more tightly logs Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology model should allow us to understand defined geographical regions. u and Hydrogeology 39, 83 – 96. patterns of variation in a number of 6 Aldiss, D T, Farrant, A R, Hopson, P M, 2012 physical characteristics of the Chalk on a Geological mapping of the Late Cretaceous broad regional scale across southern * Mark Woods, Andrew Newell, Richard Haslam, Chalk Group of southern England: a England, and allow comparison of spatial Andrew Farrant, Helen Smith: British Geological specialised application of landform trends in these properties against Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, interpretation Proceedings of the Geologists' stratigraphy and structure. In future, it Nottingham, NG12 5GG. Contact: Mark Woods, Association 123, 728 – 741. should be possible to define broad regional corresponding author: E: [email protected] 7 Mortimore, R N, Pomerol, B, 1987 Correlation of the Upper Cretaceous White Chalk (Turonian to Campanian) in the Anglo-Paris Basin Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 98, 97 – 143. 8 Mortimore, R N, Pomerol, B 1991 Upper tectonic disruptions in a placid Chalk sequence in the Anglo-Paris Basin Journal of the Geological Society, London, 148, 391 – 404. 9 Mortimore, R N, Pomerol, B 1997 Upper Cretaceous tectonic phases and end Cretaceous inversion in the Chalk of the Anglo-Paris Basin Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 108, 231 – 255. 10 Woods, M A, Chacksfield, B C, 2012 Revealing deep structural influences on the Upper Cretaceous Chalk of East Anglia (UK) through inter-regional geophysical log correlations Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 123, 486 – 499.
➤ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Images of geological models have been generated in GOCAD-SKUATM software. This article is published with the permission of the Executive Director, Images: All images used in this feature with the exception of the cover British Geological Survey (NERC). image were supplied by; BGS©NERC. All rights reserved. 2015.
Modern and historical chalk quarries and cored boreholes provide detailed physical property data for inland exposures GEOLODÍA! Ana Maria Alonso-Zarza1 and friends2-5 describe Spain’s hugely successful field-based outreach programme ‘Geology day’
cience – perhaps especially Conducting all the excursions during the geological science - is not as same weekend lends greater media close to society as it should be, visibility to the activity, allowing geology and so in recent times many to become a news focus. It also provides S different scientific continuity from one year to the next, so organisations, universities and research that keen participants can be confident to institutes have been making a great effort book that weekend in their diaries every to get lay-people interested through a year. variety of resources and activities. In Spain one such initiative, Geolodía Provinces (‘Geo-day’), is trying to bring geology Geolodía10 (2010) was the first to be closer to the general public through our organised at national level, when 36 most powerful tool - the observation of provinces of Spain joined the initiative landscapes and rocks in the field. To this and about 5400 people attended. end we organise one free geological field Geolodía11 was celebrated in all Spanish trip in each of Spain’s 52 provinces, as provinces, and since then the number of well as some extra ones within the participants and organisers has various islands. continuously increased. The map shows the number of participants in its latest Voluntary manifestation (Geolodía15) in the various The latest, Geolodía 15, took place on 9 provinces and archipelagos. and 10 May 2015, with nearly 9000 people attending its 54 field excursions, Throughout, Geolodía has tried: guided by c. 500 volunteers. The u to teach how to regard, the incredible success we have seen in recent environment in which we live with years has been the result of the continued ‘geological eyes’; how to read the involvement and voluntary work of language of rocks and landscape as the many professionals, many from the very pages of the book telling the long history outset of this outstanding project. of our planet; Both the term ‘Geolodía’ and u to explain the effects that some subsequent activities originated in 2005 geological processes (earthquakes, in Teruel province, when J L Simón and L volcanoes, floods,…) have on the surface Above top: Geolodía15. Ávila. Gredos National Park Alcalá organised, for non-geologists, a of our planet and thus on our lives, and Above lower: Geolodía15. Bizcaia Sunday field trip to the Geological Park how to minimise associated risks; Left: Geolodía15. Asturias. In the Dinosaur Coast of Aliaga (now part of El Maestrazgo u to show how various natural Geopark, included in the Global Geopark geological resources are obtained, their Network of UNESCO). uses and their sustainable management;
Its aim was to make people familiar u to exhibit our rich and varied
with the geology of the area and show its geological heritage in order to spread value. From 2005 to 2009, various knowledge of it and protect it; provinces (Guadalajara, Alicante, u to illustrate the work of geologists ~ Valencia, Huesca, Segovia and Zaragoza) while revealing how they contribute to joined the initiative, but all on different the well-being of society, and to dates. In 2010 the Geological Society of encourage young people to become GEOLODÍA IS TRYING Spain (SGE) took over coordination of geologists. TO BRING GEOLOGY Geolodía, and since then it has been Geolodía is coordinated by the celebrated on the same weekend (the Geological Society of Spain (SGE) with CLOSER TO THE GENERAL second in May) all around the country. the collaboration of the Spanish PUBLIC THROUGH OUR These dates, considered the most Association of Earth Science Education MOST POWERFUL TOOL – convenient, are an attempt to hit on (AEPECT), and is mostly funded by the ‘Goldilocks’ weather conditions – which Spanish Foundation for Science and THE OBSERVATION OF should be not too cold in mountain areas, Technology (FECYT), the Spanish LANDSCAPES AND ROCKS and not too warm in the south - Geological Survey (IGME) together with IN THE FIELD regardless of the basically unpredictable a pool of universities, research institutes,
nature of the weather everywhere! local administrations and industries. ▼ ~ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 17 Above: Geolodía15. A Coruña more cloudy weather in the Galicia Right: Geolodía15. Castellón
▼ Budget The selection of the area to be explored yearly activity is over it is recorded in a The overall budget and cost of Geolodía15 by the different field trips is left up to the photographic summary containing one was €48,400. The Geological Society of local organisations, based mainly on both image from each field trip. You can see a Spain applied to FECYT under the project quality of outcrop and beauty of selection of these in this article. title Geolodía15: Geology for the general landscape, but also on accessibility and Geolodía is becoming very popular in public, and was given €24,000. IGME security. Once the leaders and localities Spain, especially with people fond of contributed €5,000. The rest came from a are chosen, local organisers prepare a nature. In future we aim to focus on two variety of organisations. About half of the poster to announce the activity through things. The first is to improve and make budget (€25,400) was spent in travelling the web, media and social networks. more uniform the style of the field trips, costs, such as buses, or to cover the and to explain the main, basic geological preparation costs and travelling of field- Numbers concepts in a simple way, using high trip leaders. The other half (€23,000) was Field trips are carried out in different quality sketches. Our experience confirms used in producting guides, posters and ways according to numbers. Easiest for people´s enjoyment of beautiful security vests. organisers is a trip by bus, with just a few landscapes; but the look on their faces, This sum did not really cover the total leaders explaining all the various stops. when they understand and feel, for cost, since salaries were not included at This does not however work well where a example, what a geological fault really is, all, and many small costs were covered large attendance is expected. For bigger is incredible. directly by local organisations and are not events (>100 participants), the most We hope also to widen this initiative therefore included in the general budget. suitable method is to find an easy walking into neighboring countries. At present, The support from FECYT and IGME are path along which a number of leaders can Andorra has joined the initiative and we critical in organising Geolodía, as it forms station themselves at the different stops, hope more countries will follow. u the basic funding resource available to the and explain them as the public passes by SGE (Geological Society of Spain). In during the day. This requires a large AUTHORS future the aim is to obtain some financial number of leaders and the participation of support from private companies, but so many students to help with logistics and Zarza, A M1, Aurell, M2, Carcavilla, L3, Corral, far we have had no success. explanations. I4, Crespo-Blanc, A5. The overall coordination and program Alicante and Segovia provinces have 1 Geological Society of Spain, Facultad de CC. of Geolodía is carried out by a relatively pioneered this type of large-scale trip, Geológicas, Universidad Complutense Madrid, IGEO, small group of people led by the President supporting in some cases more than 2000 CSIC (Spain) of the Geological Society of Spain and a participants each. In addition to the 2 Geological Society of Spain, Departamento representative of the Spanish Geological organisation itself, the local committee Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Zaragoza Survey. This group receives proposals elaborates a simple but well-illustrated (Spain) from local organisers in each province, field guide written in an easy non- 3 Geological Society of Spain, IGME, Rios Rosas, and searches for potential organisers in technical style. All of these guides are 22, Madrid (Spain) provinces lacking proposals. Usually by made available on the SGE website at 4 Geological Society of Spain, Facultad de Ciencias, January the entire programme is www.sociedadgeologica.es/divulgacion_ Universidad de Salamanca (Spain) arranged. Once the leaders in each geolodia.html, so we are gradually 5 Geological Society of Spain, Departamento province are appointed, the task is to accumulating a huge amount of material Geodinámica-IACT, Universidad de Granada (Spain) organise every field trip and to prepare that can be used for teaching, tourism or material. to promote rural development. Once the
18 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEO-
Top left: Geolodía15. Gomera looking at the volcanoes
Top right: Geolodía15. Granada on the fault plane
Lower left: Geolodía15. Madrid explained by the next geologist generation
Lower right: Geolodía15. Salamanca in the Spain- Portugal Frontier
Map showing the number of Geolodía 15 participants in the different Spanish provinces and archipelagos
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 19 20 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as promptly as possible in Geoscientist Online and a selection READERS’ printed each month. Please submit your letter (300 words or fewer, by email only please) to [email protected]. LETTERS Letters will be edited. For references cited in these letters, please see the full versions at www.geolsoc.org.uk/letters Fieldwork’s importance - overstated?
Fossil attitude – are we guilty of overstating the importance of fieldwork just because we like it?
Sir, I feel having Gary Nichols, Managing Director of Nautilus, ‘largest single provider of field based training’ making the case for field based training (Ground truth, Geoscientist 26.01 February) is like having Jerry Garcia make the case for ice cream. I don’t find he makes a good one. We cannot walk along subterranean hydrocarbon reservoirs, but year-on-year enhanced recovery demonstrates we are doing something right. That would be the study of rock mechanics, fluid mechanics, porosity, permeability, reservoir pressures, injection pressures, flow rates, draw-down fluid contacts & so on - laboratory sciences. It is not true that we can only study the vertical in well bores. Most hydrocarbon-based well-paths now navigate horizontally through the reservoir with down-hole, real time tools that give fantastic resolution; particularly the measured physical properties so important to evaluation & production. We know there are commonly facies variations across reservoirs – no surprise there. But do field studies inform us on the best way to make reservoir fluids flow? Continuing Personal Development (CPD) is an important aspect to everyone’s careers and companies’ success. I would venture that the amount spent on Nautilus-type field training by energy sector companies when seen against everything else they put into individuals’ development approaches insignificance. For our geological pioneers, field study was indeed essential. But they also rode around on horses and had no electric light. Times change. I like a day in the fresh air as much as the next person, so can’t we just be honest & say we go into the field because we enjoy it, rather than it being ‘essential or integral’ to being a good geologist?
Now, where’s my ice cream?
P M A Carruthers
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 21 have no Internet access? CALL THE [Library Bookshop 0207 432 0999 for] BOOKS & ARTS advice and to purchase publications
A Stratigraphical Basis these markers for stratigraphy is often today, in the arid belts north and south of condensed into a few final paragraphs the equator. Cretaceous corals characterized for the Anthropocene rather than being considered as an the equatorial zone between the 30th integral part. The reader is given parallels, just like today. Glacial indicators There is little doubt substantial and fascinating instruction on clustered around the poles. And coals that human activity has decay of isotopes from nuclear weapons occurred under temperate humid drastically changed the testing, but is left with more questions conditions, and in the humid tropics. face of the Earth, and than answers about how to use these as a For their Quaternary chapter, Köppen this has led to the basis for stratigraphy. This is a shame, invited a contribution from Milutin suggestion that we are given the volume’s ambitious title. Given Milankovitch, who had just begun using now living in a new that the authors are such proponents of celestial mechanics to explain climate geological epoch - the the Anthropocene (albeit with sensible change over the past 65,000 years. Anthropocene. caution) it is a shame the volume doesn’t Milankovitch graciously allowed the use of The Holocene was a quite 'go the final mile', from detailing the his published calculations in the book, and time of gradual increase of humans and controversies and methodologies to added some new unpublished features. As human influence, and the Anthropocene suggesting their more concrete the book’s editors point out, this made it began with level of geologically- application to formal stratigraphy. possible for the first time “to establish a significant global change. precisely defined time scale of Late Anthropogenic changes to the Reviewed by Nathan Allen Cenozoic glacial-interglacial history”. lithosphere, biosphere, chemosphere, (and Where Köppen and Wegener went now 'technosphere') have overtaken the A STRAPHIGRAPHICAL BASIS FOR THE wrong was in thinking that differences in geological agents with which most of us ANTHROPOCENE BY C N WATERS, J A ZALASIEWICZ, the positions of the fronts of past ice sheets are familiar. Humans have now overtaken M WILLIAMS, M A ELLIS & A M SNELLING in Europe might also reflect the wandering 2014. GSL Special Publication #395; 321pp, hbk; ISBN nature as producers of minerals and 9781862396289. Geological Society Bookshop of the Quaternary pole, whose positions sediments, outpacing sediment routing would not be established for another 25 systems. Extinction is usually the result of years. Even so, they did make clear that the competition and evolution, not peak of the last Ice Age - the Last Glacial overfishing; and artificial radionuclides Maximum – occurred about 20,000 years obscure the classic volcanics for dating The Climates of the ago. Köppen, the great climatologist, recent deposits. Geological Past convinced Milankovitch that the key to With this new era of significant creating a glaciation was the duration of processes there is a need to move from an All geologists will have summer warmth, not winter cold. informal chronological concept to heard of Alfred Milankovitch’s data showed that the latest formally-defined stratigraphic unit, the Wegener. Few will have peak in insolation and summer warmth Anthropocene, which needs a definition heard of his father-in- occurred about 10,000 years ago. Since based on markers. This volume compiles law, Wladimir Köppen, then, Köppen reasoned, orbital change evidence from a wide range of disciplines one of the founders of cooled northern hemisphere summers – a to help constrain the Anthropocene. In modern climatology. In process that is still going on today. doing so it ambles deftly from formal his early work Wegener Despite the limitations, this is a historical stratigraphic definitions and discussion applied the principle of masterpiece and well worth the purchase. through to a wide range of indicators of the primacy of climatic anthropological activity which may be zones to reconstruct continental positions Reviewed by Colin Summerhayes used to define the epoch. through time, capitalizing in a way on In addition to discussing the familiar Lyell’s notion that a shifting of the indicators of stratigraphic definition (ice, continents across climate zones might THE CLIMATES OF THE GEOLOGICAL PAST / DIE KLIMATE DER GEOLOGISCHEN VORZEIT BY volcanic markers, geomagnetics, index explain the global distribution of fossils KÖPPEN, W, AND WEGENER, A, fossils), the editors have given space to and the location of past climate-sensitive Borntraeger Science Publishers, Stuttgart 2015, uniquely Anthropocene considerations deposits. Meeting Köppen, whose climate edited by J Thiede, K Lochte and A Dummermuth. ISBN 978-3-443-01088-1. from archaeology to anthropogenic classification system matches temperature W: www.borntraeger-cramer.com/9783443010881 radionuclides. The chapter 'Coral reefs in and precipitation to patterns of vegetation the Anthropocene' makes for a frank and soils, Wegener found an ideal (albeit grim) assessment of reef decline but collaborator. doesn’t necessarily contribute to the Their magnum opus was published in Geofluids book’s overall objective of considering the German in 1924. It featured the first stratigraphical basis for the epoch. comprehensive suite of global The interdisciplinary However, the excellent speleology chapter palaeoclimatic maps (displaying the nature of research 'Anthropocene viewed from the distributions of climate sensitive undertaken to underworld' is a holistic appreciation of indicators) for the Carboniferous, Permian, understand the role of multiple markers and their interrelations. Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Eocene, fluids in geological Overall, the publication treats Miocene, and Pliocene + Early Quaternary, environments, coupled Anthropocene stratigraphy as more of a all made without the benefit of with rapid developments journey than a destination. Much palaeomagnetic observations. Salt and in new non-destructive discussion is given to marker gypsum deposits were found to be analytical techniques, has meant that the methodology, but the basis for some of common where such evaporites are found production of a single current and practical
22 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST Would you like to receive a free book and write a review? Available titles are listed online, of which a small selection is shown below. Contact the editor for further information [email protected]
reference or data source on geofluids / become established as a standard impossible to name accurately. This palaeofluids has proved problematic – a reference work. problem is not unique to this region, situation familiar in other burgeoning where Lower Cretaceous – Jurassic areas of geoscience. ‘Geofluids’ is a Reviewed by Mark Griffin ironstones can hardly be distinguished commendable attempt to address this without fossils. Middle Jurassic oolites shortcoming in the literature. GEOFLUIDS – DEVELOPMENTS IN of the ‘stone belt’ pose similar problems. Introduced with overview chapters MICROTHERMOMETRY, SPECTROSCOPY, Potter asks – could there be a case for summarising the general characteristics THERMODYNAMICS AND STABLE ISOTOPES BY professional geologists being allowed to VRATISLAV HURAI, MONIKA HURAIOVÁ, MAREK of geofluids, their phase diagrams and SLOBODNÍK AND RAINER THOMAS. sample? Perhaps minor chips, following equations of state, the main sections Published by: Elsevier. 2015. ISBN 978-0-12-803241-1. a formal application? He suspects (with (with supporting appendices) cover both Sbk. 489pp. good reason) that the answer would direct (fluid inclusion microthermometry, List Price: £100.00, www.store/elsevier.com probably be no. Raman and infrared spectroscopy) and The hundreds of churches surveyed indirect (fluid thermodynamics and are illustrated in crisp B&W photos stable isotopes) techniques that are within the text, accompanied by currently applied to routinely analyse Patterns in Stonework: perceptive descriptions of their and interpret geological problems. An the Early Churches in stonework. Potter draws attention to the additional chapter on miscellaneous fact that Cheshire and Lancashire, with spectrographic and chromatographic Northern England negligible ‘Anglo Saxon’ remains, methods is also included. contrast markedly with the riches of Topics are presented through a In his recent book The Durham and Lincolnshire. He suggests practical step-by-step approach, Road to Little Dribbling, that while this may reflect contemporary describing the theoretical background of author Bill Bryson population size, it may also be a function each method, sample preparation, remarks: “If you tried of the availability of good stone. Local measurements, analysis and the to visit all the rock types in Cheshire and Lancashire interpretation of data appropriate to mediaeval churches in are inappropriate for building and not mineral – fluid – melt equilibria. Most England – just England durable; early churches, if they existed, chapters include relevant worked – at the rate of one a would almost certainly have been examples derived from both theory and a week, it would take completely rebuilt later. range of specific case studies, many in you 308 years”. The Potter’s survey endorses the existence the form of solved ‘Problem Boxes’ indefatigable John Potter, in his continuing of distinctive ‘patterned’ stonework seen within the main text. quest to prove Mr Bryson wrong, has now elsewhere in pre-Norman building, The appendices contain extensive followed his surveys of the churches of while Norman and later churches equations of state data, stable isotope Ireland, and of Early Welsh Churches display changes in building fashion fractionation equations and Raman (2013, reviewed 2014) with this survey of similar to those noted in his previous spectroscopic analysis tables (including England’s northern counties. This is part studies. At £55, this volume represents Raman analytical data for 548 mineral A – Part B, covering Northumberland, excellent value and can be highly phases and fluid species arranged by Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, recommended to serious amateurs of both vibrational energies and Westmorland and Yorkshire, is expected in ecclesiastical architecture everywhere. phase/species name) that underpin the 2016. identification of fluid inclusion daughter Once again, Potter uses his geologist’s Reviewed by Ted Nield minerals and associated dissolved eyes to help archaeologists (whose compounds. lithological observations are generally PATTERNS IN STONEWORK: THE EARLY The volume provides an excellent spurious) recognise ‘Anglo Saxon’ (pre- CHURCHES IN NORTHERN ENGLAND – A synthesis of current geofluid research Romanesque) building work where no FURTHER STUDY IN ECCLESIASTICAL GEOLOGY methodologies and their application. classically recognised architectural details PART A: THE COUNTIES OF CHESHIRE, CUMBERLAND, DERBYSHIRE, DURHAM, Authored by a team of highly survive, using such features as ‘patterned’ LANCASHIRE AND LINCOLNSHIRE experienced researchers in the field, the use of stone (alternating ‘long and short’ by JOHN F POTTER 2015 BAR British Series 617 ISBN book is written in a clear and concise work in the quoins) as touchstone. 978 1 4073 1393 1 List price: £55.00 W: www.barpublishing.com 314pp style, with numerous figures, data-tables, Identifying lithologies in early churches graphical drawings and photographs is no simple matter even for an that appropriately supplement the experienced geologist like Potter. In accompanying text. Many are presented Wales, he found himself faced with its less- BOOKS Available for review in colour and enhance the understanding than-forthcoming Palaeozoic limestones Please contact [email protected] if you would of the textual details. and greywackes, rendered (pun intended) like to supply a review. You will be invited to keep the The expected readership are graduate even more intractable by the lamentable review copy. See a full up-to-date list at students and professional academic and local habit, encouraged by CADW, of www.geolsoc.org.uk/reviews industrial geoscience researchers limewashing. Here, he faced a different u specialising in fluids and fluid flow in the problem. NEW! The Destruction of Sodom - a scientific commentary by Graham Harris. Lutterworth Press Earth’s crust and mantle, fluid–rock Lower Cretaceous rocks of Lincolnshire 2016191pp, pbk. interactions, hydrothermal geochemistry are poorly exposed and difficult to u NEW! Tectonics of the Himalaya by Mukherjee et al and mineral, oil and gas exploration. An identify. In church walls (sampling, of (Eds) Geological Society of London 2016 Spec Pub overdue treatment of the subject, this course, not permitted!) and in their #412 323pp hbk book is recommended and will, I expect, weathered state, they are virtually
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 23 PEOPLE NEWS CAROUSEL Publications night 2016 All Fellows of the Society are entitled to entries in this The Publishing House played host to Editors of Society publications column. Please email ted.nield @geolsoc.org.uk, quoting your at Burlington House on 29 February, writes Dawne Riddle Fellowship number. Photos: Ted Nield
uDavid Cronan has recently been awarded the Moore Medal of the International Marine Minerals Society,its highest award,"for excellence in documenting the geochemistry of sea floor William M minerals worldwide". cCarth Catherine y (Un M Hirs iversity t (Durh of St And am Unive u Colin Summerhayes' rews) rsity) book Earth's Dr Quentin Crowley (Trinity College, Dublin), Catherine M Hirst (Durham University) outgoing Chief Editor, JGS, presents the JGS Young accepts the W Dearman Award 2015 Climate Author of the Year Award for 2015 to William from QJEGH Chief Editor Eddie Evolution - an McCarthy (University of St Andrews) for his part in Bromhead, for her role in the co- expanded and the co-authored paper 'Distinguishing Diapirs from authored paper 'The late field life of inflated plutons: an integrated rock magnetic fabric the East Midlands Petroleum Province; updated version and structural study on the Roundstone Pluton, a new geothermal prospect?' (QJEGH of the GSL Western Ireland' JGS 172 (5) 550-565. (by McCarthy, 48 (2) 104-114. (by Hirst, Gluyas and Climate Change Statement - Petronis Reavy and Stevenson) Mathias) was published in October. He has now given several lectures about it, not only at Burlington The annual occasion, held included the presentation Quarterly Journal of House but also to regional to thank all Editors of of ‘young author’ awards Engineering Geology and groups and affiliates (e.g. Irish Society publications for by both the Journal of the Hydrogeology, by their Geological Institute, Dublin), their hard work, also Geological Society and the respective Chief Editors. and local geological societies (Mole Valley, Horsham, and Farnham). Groups interested in hosting the lecture should WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/OBITUARIES contact Colin at E: IN MEMORIAM [email protected]. THE SOCIETY NOTES WITH SADNESS THE PASSING OF:
u Paul Younger Armitage, John * Gorsline, Donn * McNicholas, J B * has been Bishopp, David * Grinly, David * Terris, Alexander P * elected a Fellow Colley, H * Haddow, Douglas * Theokritoff, George * of the Royal Davis, Robert Vincent * Hawkins, Alfred Brian * Wood, Christopher J * Society of Flood, Raymond Edward * Kilpady, Sripadrao * Edinburgh. Holding the In the interests of recording its Fellows' work for posterity, the Society publishes obituaries online, and in Rankine Chair of Engineering Geoscientist. The most recent additions to the list are shown in bold. Fellows for whom no obituarist has yet been commissioned are marked with an asterisk (*). The symbol § indicates that biographical material has been lodged (University of Glasgow) he is with the Society. also Professor of Energy Engineering. Paul has If you would like to contribute an obituary, please email [email protected] to be commissioned. You can combatted pollution from the read the guidance for authors at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save yourself unnecessary work, please do extractive industries and not write anything until you have received a commissioning letter. developed fresh approaches Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is forthcoming have their names and dates recorded in a Roll of Honour at to sustainable geo-energy. He www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. has founded five companies and remains a Director of two, in the water and energy sectors. His book – Energy: all that matters – appeared in November 2014.
24 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE NEWS
Geoscientists in the news and on the move in the UK, Europe and worldwide
DISTANT THUNDER Modest proposals
As geologist and science assume the liberty, in which the ice, others more capable come up to the mark [since the] fossilists are often indulged, and than himself may be induced to substance of the papers writer Nina Morgan* to hazard a vague conjecture of communicate the researches on themselves does not prove the can testify, scientific my own, I would say it [the fossil the same subject." author to be much at home modesty can cloud thigh bone] may probably have either in chemistry, mineralogy, conclusions belonged to the hippopotamus, Tell it like it is petrology or physics". to the rhinoceros, or some such But in Forbes's case, the Presumably the UK’s now When it comes to reporting the large animal, of whose anatomy description ‘obedient and notoriously wide-ranging libel results of scientific studies, we have not yet a competent humble servant’ did not really laws did not then apply! scientists and science journalists knowledge." apply, at least among his peers. often find themselves at Forbes's relationship with some ➤ Acknowledgement loggerheads. The journalist In modest footsteps of his colleagues could best be Thanks to Philip Powell of the hopes for a good story with a A century later, mineralogist described as combative. A Oxford University Museum of Natural History for drawing my clear conclusion. The scientist, David Forbes’ [1828 – 1876, straight-talking Manxman, he attention to the modest remarks meanwhile, is only too well younger brother of Professor was not averse to forthrightly made in print by Joshua Platt aware of the misunderstandings Edward Forbes 1815-1854], expressing unfavourable and David Forbes which inspired such a simple summary might followed Platt's self-deprecating opinions of his peers in the this vignette. Other sources engender. As a result, the example. In an article entitled correspondence columns of include: David Forbes FRS Conclusions sections of many 'The Microscope in Geology' prominent scientific journals. (1828-1876): A chemist and scientific papers are hedged published in 1867 in The James Geikie [1839 – 1915], mineralogist who advocated for with so many caveats that it can Popular Science Review, he an assistant at the British thin section microscopy by Helen be difficult for the uninitiated to extols the value of studying Geological Survey and younger Kerbey, Geological Curator, 9 discover what, if any, conclusion rocks in thin section under a brother of Archibald Geikie (10), 2014, pp. 515-525; the entry for David Forbes by W H was actually reached. polarising light microscope, [1835—1934], was one of those Brock in the Oxford Dictionary of This 'hedging of bets' has a then confesses: who received a public pen- National Biography, and An long history. Joshua Platt "It is with great hesitation and lashing at the hands of Forbes. account of the Fossile Thigh- [c. 1696 – 1776], writing in the only after much In a series of letters published in Bone of a Large Animal, Dug up Philosophical Transactions of the solicitation 1867 in the Geological at Stonesfield Near Woodstock, Royal Society in 1759, where he that the Magazine, Forbes dismisses in Oxfordshire by Joshua Platt identified himself as 'Your ever author of James Geikie's publications (Phil Trans Roy Soc, vol 50, obedient, and most humble these about a possible metamorphic 1757-1758, pp. 524 -527). servant', provided a virtuosic remarks origin for granites and other example of such scientific has now igneous rocks, citing the *Nina Morgan is a geologist and diplomacy with his account of a ventured "rather startling statements science writer based near Oxford. fossil thigh bone from into print, with embodied in these papers" Her latest book, The Geology of Stonesfield, Oxfordshire: the hope that and asking if "the papers Oxford Gravestones, is available "If I may be allowed to by once breaking here under consideration via www.gravestonegeology.uk
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 25 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY
OBITUARY ALEC KENYON-SMITH 1932-2015
Distinguished sedimentologist, academic leader lec Smith died on 12 and founder of the magazine Geology Today Head of Department. His November 2015 enlightened leadership following a heart created a style that has attack. He was born endured successfully for the A in Wakefield but his past 30 years. He retired in family moved to Wales in 1992, assisting the Principal at 1934 where he grew up. Royal Holloway until 1995. Married first to Joan, he had a son and a daughter. In 1990 Geology Today he married Anita, who Kenyon-Smith organised survives him, and changed several national and his name to Kenyon-Smith. international conferences: was He won the John Hughes Treasurer (1971–77) and Vice- Open Scholarship to UCW President of the Geological Aberystwyth (1950-53) and Society, London (1990); graduated with 1st Class President of the Geologists’ Honours in Geology. He Association (1980–1982); stayed on to research the Chairman, Greenwich Forum; Aberystwyth Grit Series. Chairman, Watt Committee There he learned how to on Energy; Chairman, interpret turbidites and Geological Grants Committee, understand their formation NERC; President, Section C and was awarded a PhD (Geology) BAAS, (1991–92); (1956). Geological Advisor to Kuwait
University, (1991–92); and University of London creator of Geology Today (1985).
Then began his a 35-year He received: The Coke career in the University of Medal (Geological Society of London. In 1957 he was ~ London, 1990); was made appointed lecturer in Geology Fellow of the Society for at UCL and 10 years later was Geology, Chelsea College) Underwater Technology; and promoted to Reader. During HE PUBLISHED agreed to keep all options of Royal Holloway University that period he focused on the open. of London (1998). He submarine geology of the OVER 100 PAPERS Alec hit on the idea of published over 100 scientific English Channel, in AND WAS AUTHOR sending a telegram to Senate papers and was author, or co- collaboration with Bristol House saying that our two author, of four books: Geology University and discovered OR CO-AUTHOR OF Departments wished to (1974); Exclusive Economic that the Channel had been FOUR BOOKS amalgamate and asking how Zones - British Dependencies; formed as a result of at least the University could help. Geology of England and Wales, two catastrophic floods. ~ His initiative succeeded Geological Society (1993) and Alec was very active in In 1977 Alec was beyond all expectations, but The Evolution of Clastic studying sedimentary geology appointed Professor and it took until May 1982 for Sedimentology (2005). of various regions of Japan Head of Department at Bedford College to agree to The Earth Sciences (1972-92) and was Visiting Bedford College. In March move to Egham, and only in Department at Royal Professor at Tokai University, 1980 we had to respond to February 1984 was Holloway is his legacy. Japan (1975-80) and the Swinnerton-Dyer agreement reached for the participating sedimentologist ‘Committee on Academic Geology Departments of with the DSDP, Leg 87, Organization’, set up with a Chelsea and King’s Colleges ➤ By Derek Blundell Nankai Trough (1980-85). He view to rationalisation. to join Bedford there. A (much) longer version of was also fascinated by ikaite, Each with a small In 1985 Alec was this obituary is available which he worked on with department potentially at appointed Foundation online Editor. Doug Shearman. risk, Alec and I (as head of Professor of Geology and
HELP YOUR OBITUARIST The Society operates a scheme for Fellows to deposit biographical material. The object is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, dates and other information, and thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate and accurate commemoration. Please send your CV and a photograph to Ted Nield at the Society.
26 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST CALENDAR Can’t find your meeting? VISIT www.geolsoc.org.uk/listings] [full, accurate, up-to-date
ENDORSED TRAINING/CPD
COURSE DATE VENUE AND DETAILS
Introduction to Micromine 17-18 May Micromine, Challoner House, 19 Clerkenwell Close, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0RR. Fees: £110. Contact E: [email protected]. See website for details.
Resource Estimation in Micromine 19-20 May Micromine, Challoner House, 19 Clerkenwell Close, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0RR. Fees: £110. Contact E: [email protected]. See website for details.
Geocience Education Academy 2016 27-30 May Venue: Burlington House. Free training for UK teachers. Includes field trips. Supported by BP. See website for details and registration.
Lapworth’s Logs n/a ‘Lapworth’s Logs’ is a series of e-courses involving practical exercises of increasing complexity. Contact: [email protected]. Lapworth’s Logs is produced by Michael de Freitas and Andrew Thompson.
DIARY OF MEETINGS 2016
MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS
Fossils of South East England 10 May Venue: The Bell Inn. Godstone. Speaker: Ken Brooks, Hastings & District Geological SE Regional Society. Time: 1800 for 1830
The Impact of Water on the Geology of Mars 11 May Venue: Burlington House. Speakers TBC. Contact: Richard Ghail Engineering Group E: [email protected]. Time: 1730 for 1800
14th Groundwater Modellers' Forum and 16 May Venue: Burlington House. Registration online – deadline May 6. Speaker: Professor Ty Darcy Lecture Ferré (University of Arizona). Contact: Corinna Abesser E: [email protected] Hydrogeological Group, GMF
Southern Wales: Cardiff Ground Source 17 May Venue: LT 1.40, Cardiff University. Speakers: David Boon (British Geological Survey), Heat Map David Tucker (WDS Green Energy), David James (Cardiff Harbour Authority). Contact: E; Southern Wales Regional [email protected]
What Coal Mining Hydrogeology Tells us 18 May Venue: Burlington House. A London Lecture. For details, see advert, page 06 about the Real Risks of Fracking GSL London Lecture
Field Meeting 2016 20-23 May Venue: Isle of Skye. See website for details and registration. QRA Convener: Colin Bllantyne (St Andrews) E: [email protected]
Arthur Holmes Meeting 2016 - The Wilson 23-25 may Venue: Burlington House. Conference with field trip. For details and registration see Cycle: Plate Tectonics and Structural website. Fees and discounts. Contact Naomi Newbold Inheritance During Continental Deformation E: [email protected] GSL, Geol Soc Canada, Tectonic Studies Group
32nd IAS Meeting in Sedimentology 23-25 May Venue: Marrakech, Morocco. See website for details and links for registration. IAS E: [email protected]
Moscow International School of Earth 23 May Venue: Vernadsky State Geological Museum, Moscow. See website for details and links Sciences 2016 for registration. Contact: Viktor Zaytsev E: [email protected]
Next Steps for renewable energy in Venue: Edinburgh. See website for details. Contact E: [email protected] Scotland Scotland Policy Conferences
Palaeozoic Plays of Northwest Europe 26 May Venue: Burlington House. For details and registration see website. Fees and discounts. Contact Laura Griffiths, E: [email protected]
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 27 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY
OBITUARY ALBERT LUDFORD 1913-2016
Committed and an enthusiastic teacher, with a orn in Willenhall, phenomenal memory, who became a Fellow of University of Bedfordshire). near Geological resources at Wolverhampton, he the Society in 1945 Luton for the External attended London BSc were B Wednesbury Boys considerably enhanced High School. Although through the advent of chemistry was his initially Norman D’Cruz in 1960. preference he graduated in Later, with a rapid increase 1934 with a good honours in undergraduates, further BSc in Geology & staff appointments were Geography from made. Birmingham University, having been awarded the CNAA Panton Geological Prize. He At his retirement in 1976, taught at a local primary Albert was Principal Lecturer school following completion in charge of five geology staff of a teaching diploma. and Deputy Head of the A strong mutual interest Science Department. in geology developed with Additionally he was a Ellen Seagar (Nellie), whom member of the Geology he married in 1940, Board of the Council for continued through the National Academic Awards Midland Group of the and an Examiner for London Geologists’ Association, University External BSc. which he joined in 1938. Nellie and he retired to Albert carried out researches Malvern where he continued in his spare time; firstly into his interests through the local local industrial mineral RIGS group. In 2013 he was deposits and then into the awarded a University of Carboniferous stratigraphy Bedfordshire honorary DSc. of the Pennines in (detailed in the publications mural department of Encouraged by Albert and
Staffordshire and south-west of Ted Rose & co-authors). Birmingham University. Norman the Luton geology Derbyshire. Both involved a He was demobbed in 1947 He was awarded the MSc section maintained high lot of walking and bicycling. with the~ rank of Captain. in 1945 for his work on the standards of degree-level Carboniferous stratigraphy of teaching that provided a Royal Artillery the Weaver Hills, which was good foundation for the In 1940, he was ALBERT WILL BE subsequently published in establishment of a university. commissioned in the Royal BEST REMEMBERED QJGS. Two fossils are named Albert will be best Artillery and initially served FOR CHAMPIONING after him as a consequence of remembered for as a battery commander in his researches: a Ludlovian championing the interests of England, Orkney and THE INTERESTS OF Leptaenid brachiopod students and as a stimulating Nigeria. Then Albert was STUDENTS AND AS A Ludfordina pixis and a teacher with great seconded as a geologist to Carboniferous goniatite thoughtfulness, consideration the Inter-Services STIMULATING Pronorites ludfordi. His and patience. He lived to be Topographical Department TEACHER Carboniferous researches the Geological Society’s and was involved in the were extended into Dovedale oldest Fellow, a position he preparation of overlays for Albert transferred~ to the for the award of a London held for many years. soil types in north Germany Wolverhampton Municipal University PhD in 1972. for tank runs and made High School where he taught In 1955 he was appointed ➤ By Gordon Taylor with help visits to Norway, Sweden, geography but introduced a Lecturer at Luton & South from Norman D’Cruz and Thailand, Singapore and geology. Also, he was a Bedfordshire College of Ian Ludford Burma for other projects geology lecturer for the extra- Further Education (now the
HELP YOUR OBITUARIST The Society operates a scheme for Fellows to deposit biographical material. The object is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, dates and other information, and thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate and accurate commemoration. Please send your CV and a photograph to Ted Nield at the Society.
28 | MAY 2016 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST CROSSWORD
CROSSWORD NO.202 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL 1234 5 6
78PUBLICATION!
9 The winners of the draw for the 200th Geoscientist Crossword (March) were: 10 11 John Cubitt of Holt, and William Jones of Retford.
All correct solutions will be placed in the 12 13 draw, and the winner’s name printed in the July 2016 issue. The Editor's 14 decision is final and no correspondence
15 16 17 18 will be entered into. Closing date - May 20.
19 The competition is open to all Fellows, Candidate Fellows and Friends of the 20 21 22 23 Geological Society who are not current Society employees, officers or trustees. 24 This exclusion does not apply to officers
25 26 of joint associations, specialist or regional groups.
Please return your completed crossword to Burlington House, marking your 27 28 envelope “Crossword”. Do not enclose any other matter with your solution. Overseas Fellows are encouraged to scan the signed form and email it as a ACROSS DOWN PDF to [email protected] Name ...... 7 Wind-sculpted pebble (9) 1 Protective shield of the Gods (5) ...... 8 Noble gas, atomic number 18, much 2 Treeless grassland in continental used in dating (5) semi-arid landscape (6) Membership number ...... 10 Monoclinic pyroxene, found in 3 Publications Secretary, External Address for correspondence ...... ultramafics (8) relations Secretary, for example, in the Society (8) ...... 11 Absence of the respirable gas (6) 4 Area in which drilling for oil, for 12 Only a small lake (4) ...... example, is licensed by Government 13 Setting mixture of gypsum plaster, (7) ...... Portland cement, and sand (8) 5 Protected by bony plates - the ...... 15 Curve on a plane surrounding two foci Placodermi, for example (8) such that the sum of the distances to 6 Repeated, penetrative planar feature ...... the two focal points is constant for in metamorphic rock textures (9) every point on the curve (7) Postcode ...... 9 Goes the other way from the weft (4) 17 Residence of the now eponymous family of Saxe-Coburg Gotha (7) 14 Polymerised lattice with molecular host, such as water with methane (9) 20 Natural medicinal substance, found in SOLUTIONS MARCH the nightshades (8) 16 Coal quality measure contouring equal sulphur content (8) ACROSS: 22 One flows through Yorks, another 7 8 10 through Sussex and there's a Great one 18 Line of equal drilled thickness of a rick Ichnology Huron Eruptive/Graphite in Northants (4) unit (8) (wrong clue printed - any or no solution accepted) 11 Oblate 12 Urdu 13 Uniramia 15 Bitumen 25 To break in or invade (6) 19 Respiration requiring oxygen (7) 17 Aureole 20 Anodised 22 Tusk 25 Slalom 26 One of the snakes (8) 21 A jot or tittle, at least (4) 26 Marbling 27 Agate 28 Angstroms 27 Incremental stages in a progress (5) 23 Type of dolomite with pronouncedly DOWN: curved lattice (6) 28 It may tumble, as the song says, but 1 Ochre 2 Sniper 3 Altitude 4 Igneous isn't 'made of clay'. (9) 24 At the bottom, like the Moine (5) 5 Nucleate 6 Foothills 9 Gobi 14 Limnology 16 Undulate 18 Upthrust 19 Adamant 21 SIMA 23 Sclera 24 Enema
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 29
CALL FOR PAPERS Organic Contaminants in Groundwater - Thematic Set In the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology (QJEGH)
Papers to be submitted on • Behaviour, fate and transport of • Remediation and risk-management organic compounds in groundwater of organic pollution • Risk assessment of organic • Emerging organic contaminants contaminants in groundwater • Organic contaminant hydrogeology Papers will form a thematic issue of QJEGH aiming for publication in August 2017. Abstracts of suitable papers should be sent no later than 27th June 2016 to: All accepted papers will Helen Floyd-Walker, QJEGH Production Editor be published Online First, (PDLO KHOHQÁR\GZDONHU#JHROVRFRUJXN ahead of the printed thematic issue. $XWKRUVZLOOEHFRQWDFWHGE\WKHHQGRI-XO\WRFRQÀUPWKHVXLWDELOLW\RIWKHLUabstracts. For those deemed suitable, full papers should then be prepared in accordance with the normal QJEGH guidelines: www.geolsoc.org.uk/qjegh_authorinfo. Papers should then be submitted for peer-review to www.editorialmanager.com/qjegh no later than 25th November 2016.
The Geological Society Publishing House z Unit 7 Brassmill Enterprise Centre z Brassmill Lane z Bath z BA1 3JN z UK z The Geological Society is a registered charity number 210161
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MAY 2016 | 31 GroundwaterGroundwater inin FracturedFractured BBedrockedrock Environments:Environments: ManagingManaging CatchmentCatchment andand SubsurfaceSubsurface ResourcesResources
1100 JuneJune 22016016 QQueen’sueen’s UUniversity,niversityy,, BBelfast,elfast, NorthernNorthern IrelandIreland
Across the UK & Ireland, fractured bedrock aquifers have been traditionally regarded as low productivity aquifers, with only limited relevance to regional groundwater resources. But it has been increasingly recognised that these complex bedrock aquifers can play an important role in catchment management and subsurface energy systems. At shallow to intermediate depth, fractured bedrock aquifers help to sustain surface water baseflows and groundwater dependent ecosystems, provide local Convenors: groundwater supplies and impact on contaminant transfers on a catchment scale. At greater depths, understanding the Dr. Ulrich Ofterdinger (Queen’s University Belfast) properties and groundwater flow regimes of these complex Prof. Alan MacDonald (BGS) bedrock environments can be crucial for the successful Dr. Jean-Christophe Comte installation of subsurface energy and storage systems, such (University of Aberdeen) as deep geothermal or aquifer thermal energy storage
Mike Young (The Geological Society) systems and natural gas or CO2 storage facilities as well as the exploration of natural resources such as Further information: conventional/unconventional oil and gas. For further information about the In many scenarios, a robust understanding of fractured conference please contact: bedrock environments is required to assess the nature and Georgina Worrall, Conference Office, The Geological Society, Burlington House, extent of connectivity between such energy & storage Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG systems at depth and overlying receptors in the shallow T: 0207 434 0983 subsurface or above ground. E: [email protected] Web: Conference Focus: www.geolsoc.org.uk/fracturedbedrocks This conference will focus on the role of fractured bedrock Follow this event on Twitter: @geolsoc #fracturedbedrocks aquifers in catchment management and in managing #yearofwater subsurface resources.
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