SCIENTISTVOLUME 28 No. 01 ◆ FEBRUARY 2018 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST
GEOThe Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95
Applied Geoscience] [ Special!
PETROGRAPHY RULES ONLINE SPECIAL PEER REVIEW Alan Poole on how the micro To ‘ae’ or no? Society Something’s going affects the macro adopts ‘new’ spellings wrong, says John Cope Themed years are at the heart of the Society’s science strategy. Throughout 2019 the Society will explore the geoscience of Carbon through research conferences, lectures, our education programme and other activities. Carbon is one of the most important elements of our planet. In the oceans and atmosphere, carbon has important consequences for the global climate system. Complex organic molecules led to life on Earth. Carbon-based energy resources remain of critical importance, both in terms of extraction and mitigation of carbon emissions, but also for planning for a future carbon-neutral society. Carbon is central to a number of critical societal challenges. Understanding the carbon budget of our planet over long timescales requires quantification of the cycling of carbon between surface reservoirs and Earth’s deep interior. On shorter timescales, complex feedbacks exist between the precise nature of our orbit around the Sun, the biosphere and solid Earth. Over the last century, the rapid increase in
atmospheric CO2, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time, and will occupy generations to come. Carbon-based fuels, however, remain essential for our economy, transport, communications and everyday life. Petroleum geoscience develops innovation in exploration, in extraction and in mitigating emissions. In the future, however, a move to carbon-neutral fuels and energy sources is unavoidable, and is the focus of much research, including studies in the field of carbon sequestration. The Year of Carbon is an opportunity to showcase both academic and applied research focussing on energy, geochemical cycling, climate and materials, among many others. Events throughout the year will involve academe, industry, economists and government bodies, as well as partner geoscience societies and organisations. We welcome proposals for meetings and events aimed at a range of audiences to bring into focus the myriad of ways carbon underpins life on Earth.
Get Involved!
Find out more at www.geolsoc.org.uk/carbon19 To suggest a meeting topic or activity, email Georgina Worrall E: [email protected] GEOSCIENTIST CONTENTS
Geoscientist is the ADVERTISING SALES Fellowship magazine of the Jonny Knight Geological Society T 01727 739 193 of London E jonathan@ centuryonepublishing.uk 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 & LAYOUT E [email protected] Ryan Gaston (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 Charity, BA1 3JN number 210161. T 01225 445046 ISSN (print) 0961-5628 F 01225 442836 ISSN (online) 2045-1784 06 27 Library T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 The Geological Society of London F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 accepts no responsibility for the views expressed in any article in this E [email protected] publication. All views expressed, except where explicitly stated otherwise, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF represent those of the author, and not Professor Peter Styles The Geological Society of London. All All rights reserved. No paragraph of this EDITOR publication may be reproduced, copied Dr Ted Nield or transmitted save with written permission. Users registered with E [email protected] Copyright Clearance Center: the Journal is registered with CCC, 27 Congress EDITORIAL BOARD Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. 0961- Dr Sue Bowler 5628/02/$15.00. Every effort has been Mr Steve Branch made to trace copyright holders of Dr Robin Cocks material in this publication. If any rights 10 16 have been omitted, the publishers offer Prof. Tony Harris their apologies. Dr Howard Falcon-Lang Mr Edmund Nickless No responsibility is assumed by the Mr David Shilston Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of ON THE COVER: Dr Jonathan Turner products liability, negligence or Dr Jan Zalasiewicz otherwise, or from any use or operation 10 GEOLOGY AND HS2 of any methods, products, instructions Trustees of the or ideas contained in the material Geological Society herein. Although all advertising Geology and industrial legacy both influence of London material is expected to conform to ethical (medical) standards, inclusion the HS2 route through mid-Cheshire Mr Malcolm Brown (President) in this publication does not constitute Mr John Booth a guarantee or endorsement of the Mr Rick Brassington quality or value of such product or of Dr Jason Canning the claims made by its manufacturer. Miss Liv Carroll Subscriptions: All correspondence Ms Lesley Dunlop relating to non-member subscriptions FEATURESFEATURES Dr Marie Edmonds (Secretary, should be addresses to the Journals Science) Subscription Department, Geological 16 PETROGRAPHERS IN CONSTRUCTION Society Publishing House, Unit 7 Mr Graham Goffey (Treasurer) Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Alan Poole* on the important work of the Applied Dr Sarah Gordon (Secretary, Lane, Bath, BA1 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 Petrography Group’s many members Foreign & External Affairs) 445046. Fax: 01225 442836. Email: Mrs Tricia Henton [email protected]. The subscription Ms Naomi Jordan price for Volume 27, 2017 (11 issues) to institutions and non-members will Dr Robert Larter be £157 (UK) or £179 / US$358 (Rest Dr Jennifer McKinley of World). REGULARS Dr Colin North (Secretary, Publications) © 2018 The Geological Society 05 Welcome Ted Nield remembers his first job as Dr Sheila Peacock of London a petrographer Prof Christine Peirce Geoscientist is printed on FSC® mixed Mr Nicholas Reynolds credit - Mixed source products are a 06 Society News What your Society is doing at home and Prof Nick Rogers (President blend of FSC 100%, Recycled and/or Controlled fibre. Certified by the Forest abroad, in London and the regions designate) Stewardship Council®. Dr Katherine Royse (Secretary, Professional Matters) 09 Soapbox End of the peer show? John Cope says Mr Keith Seymour (Vice something’s going rotten president, Regional Groups) Miss Jessica Smith NLINE 20 Calendar Society activities this month Mr John Talbot (Vice president, Chartership) 22 Books and arts Six new books reviewed by Ted Nield, Dr Alexander Whittaker SPECIAL Jeremy Joseph, Cynthia Burek, Bob Anderson, Jason Holden Published on behalf of the and Nigel Combley Geological Society of TO ‘AE’ OR NOT TO London by ‘AE’? SPELLINGS OF 25 Letters CCS, Helium economics and a bit of history
SCIENTISTVOLUME 28 NO 01 ◆ FERUARY 2018 ◆ WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHIC Century One Publishing GEOThe Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95 Applied Geoscience] PAUL PEARSON 26 People Geoscientists in the news and on the move Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam [ Special! TERMS. Road, St Albans, Herts, GIVES THE DEEP AL3 4DG BACKGROUND ON THE 28 Obituary Deryck James Colson Laming 1931-2017 T 01727 893 894 F 01727 893 895 SOCIETY’S DECISION TO 29 Crossword Win a Special Publication of your choice E enquiries@centuryone ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL
publishing.uk SPELLINGS FOR W www.centuryone PETROGRAPHY RULES ONLINE SPECIAL PEER REVIEW STRATIGRAPHIC TERMS. Alan Poole on how the micro To ‘ae’ or no? Society Something’s going publishing.uk affects the macro adopts ‘new’ spellings wrong, says John Cope
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 03 JW poster 2018 v7 1-2018_Layout 1 10/01/2018 12:25 Page 1 Lyell poster 2018 v4 8-1-18_Lyell leaflet 10/01/2018 12:24 Page 1
THE JANET WATSON MEETING 2018 Event Partners Event A Data Explosion: The Impact Lyell Meeting 2018 of Big Data in Geoscience Mass extinctions: understanding the 27 February – 1 March 2018 The Geological Society, Burlington House, London world’s worst crises
The rise of ‘Big Data’ has been characterized by a rapidly increasing availability and diversity of data that will play a role in shaping the future of Geoscience 7 March 2018 Research and the Hydrocarbon Industry. The Geoscience community has been slow to embrace the Big Data technologies that are revolutionizing other sciences such as the pharmaceutical industry and medical research. Where The Geological Society, Burlington House advances in data acquisit ion and interpretation technologies are being made in academic Geoscience, progress in uptake has been hampered by unstructured The study of mass extinctions is one of the most data, stored in silos. interdisciplinary research areas within Earth and This three day meeting will bring together early career geoscientists with leading industry and academic experts to discuss the opportunities and environmental sciences. Recent, major advances challenges of Big Data and showcase advances in data collection and interpretation technology. It will pres ent an opportunity to learn and collaborate have come from a broad spectrum of fields, between Geoscience and Computer Science on the subject of Big Data. This will including atmospheric modelling, high-precision age be an excellent forum for networking and an opportunity for graduate students and young professionals to present their research. The conference offers more dating, volcanology, geochemistry, stratigraphy and experienced hydrocarbon geoscientists new research, ideas and concepts and palaeontology. The 2018 Lyell Meeting aims to the chance to add their experience to a panel discussio n. highlight these achievements and showcases the Conference themes improved understanding we now have of the great ● Opportunities and Challenges associated with Big Data in Geoscience environmental catastrophes of the past. The ● Data standards, storage and security challenges • Novel Approaches to data collection Meeting aims to encompass the full spectrum of • Technology Advances in interpretation and reservoir characterization, crises seen in the Phanerozoic fossil record. e.g. virtual geosciences. • The future role of Big Data in academic and industry Geoscience The 2018 Lyell Meeting provides a platform to The final day of the conference is dedicated entirely to workshops and assess the current stratigraphic and geochemical demonstrations of technology advances in Big Data on a variety of scales, from regional subsurface interpretation, to virtual fieldtrips and virtual outcrops, with Convenors: records of environmental change during mass special sessions on automated interpretation and artificial intelligence. Paul Wignall (University of Leeds, UK) extinction events and the role of atmospheric Dave Bond (University of Hull, UK) Further information A panel discussion on ‘The Future of Big Data’ will be held at the close of the climate modelling in understanding the causes of For further information about the conference second day. Keynote Speakers: please contact: the crises. The goal is to evaluate the relative Prof Mike Benton (University of Bristol) Naomi Newbold, Conference Office, Keynote Speakers The Geological Society, Burlington House, Dr Sofie Lindström (Geological Survey of Denmark importance of environmental changes in major Liz Wild (Shell) Steve Garrett (Chevron) and Greenland) Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG episodes of species extinctions, and to further T: 0207 434 9944 Satyam Priyada rshy (Halliburton) John Thurmond (Statoil) Further information: E: [email protected] Nick Richardson (OGA) Chris Jackson/Eric Larson (Earth Science Analytics) For further information about the conference please explore the mechanisms that link these proximal kill Web: www.geolsoc.org.uk/jwatson18 Ed Parsons (Google) John Howell (University of Aberdeen) contact: mechanisms to the ultimate drivers, such as large Follow this event on Twitter: #jwatson18 Garry Baker (BGS Group) Naomi Newbold, Conference Office, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG igneous province eruptions and meteorite impacts. Convenors: Conference sponsored by T: 0207 434 9944 This will be a rare opportunity to hear research Nicole Duffin (Shell UK) Helen Smyth E : [email protected] Caroline Gill (Shell UK) (Halliburton) Web: www.geolsoc.org.uk/lyell18 developments happening in diverse disciplines John Howell (University Isobel Sides of Aberdeen) (Halliburton) Follow this event on Twitter #lyell18 applied to all m ass extinction events.
Corporate Corporate Supporters: Call for Abstracts – Deadline: 2 March 2018 Supporters: Call for Abstracts – Deadline: 23 Feb 2018 Operations Geoscience Eastern Mediterranean – Adding Value An emerging major 7-8 November 2018 petroleum province The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London 29-30 May 2018
Convenors: The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London Richard Diggens BP – Chairman
Chris Samson Independent – Secretary
Hozefa Godhrawala Centrica
Chris Hayes Image courtesy of Chevron Image courtesy of PGS RPS The main focus will be on the value operations geoscientists deliver and the pivotal role they play via the following topics: Tim Herrett Convenor: The objective of the conference is to enhance technical understanding of the status Independent • The value of learning lessons well – what is a lesson?; how are lessons learned and managed of key plays in this geologically complex region (e.g. avoiding non productive/invisible lost time)?; practical examples of lessons with demonstrable change; Iain Brown Rachael Horton personal willingness to share failure/sub optimal performance PGS In recent years the Eastern Mediterranean region has witnessed growing interest from international energy BP • Risks and safety of operations – identifying, managing, communicating risks and planning contingencies companies. Substantial gas reserves have been found in Egypt’s Nile Delta Basin and in the Mediterranean Maxim Kotenev effectively coastal areas since 1995, and in more recent times Noble Energy has discovered a series of substantial gas Sasol • Formation pressure and geomechanics – sharing good practice, techniques and knowledge, prediction fields off the Israeli coast. Several countries have been announcing licensing rounds in recent years. and detection methods A key objective of the meeting is to seek a strong set of papers to highlight in greater depth recent discoveries Kirstin McBeath • The value of managing and interpreting data – effective data management for field life, examples of BP Event Sponsor: such as those of the prolific Pliocene Nile Delta province and the more recent ENI Zohr supergiant carbonate cross company collaboration discovery and the successful clastic plays in the Levant Basin. Results from Totals current drilling campaign in Jim Raggatt Overarching themes: Cyprus Blk 11 will also drive interest in the region. Independent • Value of these themes to well life cycle The conference will review exploration activity, as well as challenges to a better understanding of the geology Christine Telford • Sharing real world examples and case studies in the eastern Mediterranean, including seismic (and other data) acquisition and imaging. Key geological Independent • Importance of personal behavioural skills throughout (leadership, communication, relationship building issues for understanding subsurface risk in the area will be addressed, including but not limited to and influencing others) • Geodynamic Evolution • Share good practice, showcasing innovative approaches and technologies • Pre-salt plays including carbonate build-ups We look forward to active participation from our colleagues across subsurface, drilling and engineering disci- • Source rock distribution and maturity plines to significantly broaden the main conference themes. • The importance of regional seismic and refraction data • Sediment provenance studies There will be a parallel poster session in the library. • Reservoir quality and reservoir characterisation Call for Abstracts: • Potential of deeper plays and possibilities for oil. Please submit paper contribution to [email protected] by 2 March 2018. Call for Abstracts: For further information and registration please contact: Please submit abstract contribution to [email protected] by 23 Feb 2018. Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. For further information please contact: T: +44 (0)20 7434 9944 or email: [email protected] Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG. T: 020 7434 9944
At the forefront of petroleum geoscience At the forefront of petroleum geoscience www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum www.geolsoc.org.uk/petroleum
04 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST ~ GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME
IT WAS THE EARLY ‘80S… EVEN A PALAEONTOLOGIST IN DISGUISE (ALBEIT ONE WHO HAD WORKED ON LIMESTONES) COULD GET A JOB ~
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: Micro to macro
here’s nothing quite like seeing your final job I decided at this point to run away and join the circus advertised – in your own magazine, too that is science journalism; but as I now read the book (Geoscientist 27.11, p4) - to remind one of the again, marvelling at what I once knew, I am reminded of transience of things; unless it be publishing the the joy that is petrography; the excitement of seeing obituary of my first line manager, the incomparable something in a minuscule pore space, diagnosing all the Lou Macchi. Both events have made me think things that had happened there since deposition, and Tabout how it all started, with my first job - which was in drawing conclusions that might be hugely important for Cheshire (subject of our first feature this the client. month) as a petrographer (subject of the Alan Poole, of the Engineering Group’s Applied second). Petrography Group, conveys the same excitement, It was the early ‘80s. UK though in a different field – construction. From the consultancies, suckled on North Sea infinitesimally small can spring solutions to great business, were now looking to other practical problems. Looking back, I am glad that I plays – and away from clastics to have been allowed – even if only briefly – to share limestones. Carbonate sedimentologists that excitement for myself. were fewer on the ground than their clastic brethren, and many operators lacked experience. For that reason, even a palaeontologist in disguise (albeit one who had worked on limestones) could get a job; and for the same reason, training in carbonate petrology, sedimentology and diagenesis was in demand. Thus was born what I suspect was the first book that anyone ever paid me to write. ‘The Petrographic Interpretation of Carbonate Sediments – a course for petroleum geologists’, was published by the company in 1983, to accompany a week- long intensive course. It is a work packed with action, pathos and syngenetic sabhka dolomites, and was written somehow in between describing the hundreds of thousands of feet of core and ditch- cuttings from Kuwait that was my team’s main responsibility. I never got to deliver it myself, alas. It was published in 1983, as the first oil shock struck. Brent crude hit $28; difficult wells were capped; consultancies (which depend on such difficulties) caught an early cold, and I (like all others ‘last in’ at their pay-grade) was ‘first out’.
DR TED NIELD NUJ FGS, EDITOR - [email protected] @TedNield @geoscientistmag
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS
What your society is doing SOCIETYNEWS at home and abroad, in London and the regions Society Awards 2018
The Society is delighted to announce The Awards will be presented at the names of the winners of its medals President’s Day on 6 June 2018. and funds and offers all its heartiest President’s Award winners will be congratulations writes Steph Jones. announced at a later date. LONDON LECTURE SERIES
Name Affiliation Award Close to the edge? Approaching Prof Terry Plank Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Wollaston new frontiers for mineral and metal Columbia University Medal Speaker: Dr Andrew Bloodworth (BGS) Prof Julian Dowdeswell Scott Polar Research Institute, Lyell Date: 14 February University of Cambridge Medal Prof Janne Blichert-Toft CNRS and Ecole Normale Supérieure Murchison Programme de Lyon Medal ◆ Afternoon talk: 1430pm Tea & Coffee: Dr Peter Dolan Co-Founder Director - Ikon Science William Smith 1500 Lecture begins: 1600 Event ends Limited Medal ◆ Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: 1800 Lecture begins: 1900 Reception Prof Jan Zalasiewicz University of Leicester Prestwich Medal Further Information Prof Robert Holdsworth Durham University Coke Medal Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/ gsllondonlectures18. Entry to each lecture is by Mr David Shilston Atkins Coke Medal ticket only. To obtain a ticket please contact the Society around four weeks before the talk. Due ‘Girls into Geoscience’ Plymouth University R H Worth to the popularity of this lecture series, tickets Award are allocated in a monthly ballot and cannot be Prof Simon Poulton University of Leeds Bigsby Medal guaranteed.
Dr Charlotte Adams Durham University Aberconway Contact: Sarah Woodcock, The Geological Society, Burlington Medal House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, T: +44 (0) 20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] Dr Owen Weller University of Cambridge Wollaston Fund
Dr Amanda Owen University of Glasgow Lyell Fund
Dr George Cooper University of Leeds Murchison Fund Elections to Council
Dr Hannah Hughes University of Exeter, Camborne William Smith 2018-2019 School of Mines Fund The October issue of Geoscientist invited Fellows to nominate new members of Council, writes New Medal Steph Jones. A preliminary ballot will be conducted, the results of The Society sustained field mapping and/or field which will determine the list for the formal vote at this seeks observation of rocks, and who has a year’s Annual General Meeting to be held on 6 June. nominations for strong record of training, leading and Electoral Reform Services (ERS) has been the inaugural encouraging others to practise and commissioned to administer this year’s Council elections. award of the pursue advances in geology by this ERS is the UK’s leading independent ballot services new Dewey means. provider, and has extensive experience of overseeing Medal, which A form is available at ballots for a wide range of organisations. will be made geolsoc.org.uk/awards. Those Fellows for whom we have an email address will at this year’s Nominations must be received no receive an email from ERS on or soon after 12 February AGM. later than 31 March. The Society with instructions how to vote online. If you have not heard We invite nominations for the medal is most grateful to Professor John by 23 February please check your spam emails before to be awarded to a geologist who Dewey for making this award contacting the Society. Fellows for whom we do not have has made substantial and significant possible through his generous an email address will be sent a postal ballot pack. The contributions to geology through donation. Steph Jones closing date for voting, online or postal, is 31 March 2018.
06 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 07 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS
Join the Science Committee!
The Society is looking for volunteers to join the Science The committee comprises a Chair, five Council members and five Committee, writes Georgina Worrall. from the Fellowship. It meets three times a year. An important We are seeking volunteers for the Science Committee, aspect of the role will be to act as dedicated representatives which reports to the Science & External Relations to the Specialist Groups, attend their meetings ex officio, Committee and is responsible for shaping the Society’s and provide a link between Science Committee and the scientific activities and programme. The Committee’s Groups. Length of service is usually three years. main task is to ensure that the scientific output of the If you are able to give some of your time we invite Society remains consistent with the Science Strategy, you to volunteer to serve on this committee. You may and to maintain a high quality and relevant programme of nominate another Fellow, but please sound them out first! scientific meetings. The situation is unpaid, but we reimburse travelling expenses. As well as advising on ideas for future Special Publications/ If you are interested, please email your CV and a brief supporting Thematic Sets, the Committee steers and encourages publications statement to Georgina Worrall by Monday 5 March based on these meetings in our Journals and Memoirs. E: [email protected] Mentoring workshops
The Society has organised a number of successful basic understanding of modern practice. This includes how to negotiate well-attended (117) and well-received mentoring workshops and manage a mentoring relationship and develop trust. over the last two years. Effective mentoring appears simple, but is not easy. A mentor must Workshops are available to all with mentoring responsibilities, have an open willingness and curiosity to learn about an important or those who might like to try in the future, and are not restricted aspect of professional practice outside of Earth science. Participants to geoscientists. The next workshop is scheduled for 5 February need an altruistic desire to help younger (early career) professionals to at Burlington House. With a growing number of training schemes, develop their careers and to be curious about their own career path, and concern about Chartership, engagement is increasing. character and motivations. The full-day workshops include: Should Fellows show sufficient interest, a further workshop will be 1. What makes an effective Mentor? organised later in the year. Registration costs £200 (Fellows) and 2. What knowledge skills and attitudes should be encouraged in £250 (non-Fellows). The number of participants is restricted to 18. mentees? Please contact the Chartership Officer ([email protected]) 3. Useful behavioural skills – questioning, flexibility and giving feedback. if you are interested. 4. The mentoring process – how to structure sessions and avoid pitfalls. Workshops give an appreciation of essential mentoring skills and a An extensive manual is provided. Accreditation
The Accreditation Committee is pleased to announce the recent Accreditation Committee is seeking new members. accreditation of two postgraduate programmes, writes Andy The Committee oversees the accreditation of Geoscience Saunders degrees in the UK and overseas. Members are asked to attend The NERC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Oil and Gas around three meetings a year (usually in Burlington House), Training Academy Programme, run from the School of Energy, are responsible for formulating accreditation criteria, and Geoscience Infrastructure and Society at Heriot-Watt University on ensuring that degree programmes meet the requirements for behalf a consortium of UK universities, NERC research centres, and accreditation. industrial partners. Normally, members are experienced geoscientists based in ◆ The MSc in Structural Geology with Geophysics, offered by the education, industry or public-sector bodies. Please send your School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds. expression of interest and a brief biography (300 words) to the While you are here….. Like the Science Committee, the Accreditation Officer, Andy Saunders E:[email protected] .
Programme: 2017 Meetings of the Geological Society Discussion Group (formerly the Geological Society Club) are 18.30 for 1900, when dinner is served. Attendance is open to all members of the Society. For up to date information concerning topics for discussion and speakers, please go to W: http://bit.ly/2AhEZrf ◆ Wednesday 7 February. Gay Hussar ◆ Tuesday 24 April. Burlington House ◆ Thursday 14 June. Athenaeum ◆ Wednesday 12 September. Gay Hussar ➤ Please contact Sarah Woodcock for more information and to ◆ Wednesday 24 October. Bumpkins make a reservation. E: [email protected] ◆ Wednesday 5 December. Athenaeum
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 07 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS
Chartership news
CGeols and CScis elected at the November Council were Re-instatement to CGeol: Jennifer Anne Green; as follows. Margaret McBride CGeol: Amir Reza Abbasi; Raquel Arzola; Richard William CSci: Matthew Paul Askin; Philip Mark Sales Belcher; Emily Birt; Craig Brock; Adam Chapman; Gary Hung Wai CGeols granted EurGeol status were: Konstantinos Tsigkas; Cheng; Daniel Evans; Andrew Donald Forsythe; David Michael Paul Michael Conie; Robert Paul Webster; Richard Lagesse; Martin Hammond; Glenn Richard Hughes; Lucy Jane Keegans-Wood; Heys; Marc Protheroe; Brendon Wang Hin Lee; Daniel Lean; Fiona Dawn Marks; Numbers on RoGEP register have now reached 500. This Rebekah Karen Patricia Marsh; Miles Patrick Martin; includes 317 at Professional Grade with 53 at Specialist Laura Fern Mason-Davis; Katie Amelia Montgomery; and 130 at Adviser level. Deadlines for applications for Michael Scott William Palmer; Adam Timothy Perks; the Register in 2018 are: Jan 23 for a result by April 3; Kirsty Joanna Poore; Alexandra Holly Rowlay; Christopher April 24 for July 3; July 24 for Oct 2; Oct 23 for Jan 9 2019. Smeathers; Lucy Catherine Snape; Hannah Clare Steaggles; The current list of Registrants can be found on the ICE Ian Nicholas Stephens; Duncan Storey; Taija Torvel. website. For further details visit W: www.ice.org.uk or contact Retrospective CGeol: Richard Hines E: [email protected] Diphthongs out!
Council (June meeting) approved a proposal from the Paleoproterozoic, Paleozoic, Paleocene, Paleogene, Cenozoic, Eon, Stratigraphy Commission that GSL adopt international spellings, Eonothem. The decision only applies to stratigraphical terms – we particularly regarding diphthongs, writes Adler deWind. will continue to use the traditional British spelling of other words, This change has been adopted by the Publishing House and the such as ‘palaeontology’ and ‘archaeology’. Society will adopt this as the ‘house style’ in any communications ◆ Interested readers may wish to read more on this subject in the from Burlington House. Online Special ‘To ae or not to ae?’ by Paul Pearson, attached to That means, fo example, that we shall henceforth use: Archean, this issue. See Geoscientist Online. Editor.
Latest news from the Publishing House
Jenny Blythe has the latest from the Geological Society Publishing House The strength of earthquake-generating faults By Alex Copley New Book: Engineering Geology and Geomorphology of Glaciated This paper summarizes the observations and methods that have and Periglaciated Terrains: Engineering Group Working Party Report been used to study the strength of active earthquake-generating (seismogenic) faults. Indirect inferences based upon a range of The Engineering Group of the Geological Society Working Party brought geophysical and geological observations suggest that faults fail in together experts in glacial and periglacial earthquakes at shear stresses of less than c. 50 MPa, equivalent to geomorphology, Quaternary history, effective coefficients of friction of less than 0.3, and possibly as low engineering geology and geotechnical as 0.05. These low levels of effective friction are likely to be the result engineering to establish best practice of a combination of high pore fluid pressures, which could be local or when working in former glaciated and transient, and the frictional properties of phyllosilicate-rich fault rocks. periglaciated environments. The Working The dip angles of new faults forming in oceanic outer rises imply that Party addressed outdated terminology and intrinsically low-friction fault rocks must control the fault strength in at least that setting. When combined with the much higher fault strengths reviewed the latest academic research to inferred from borehole studies and some laboratory measurements, provide an up-to-date understanding of the observations are most consistent with weak faults embedded in glaciated and periglaciated terrains. This strong surroundings, providing a clear reason for the prevalence of transformative, state-of-the-art volume is fault reactivation. However, the conditions required for the formation the outcome of five years of deliberation of new faults, and the reasons for an apparent wide variability in the and synthesis by the Working Party. degree of fault healing through time, remain unknown. This is an essential reference text for practitioners, students and academics working in these challenging ground conditions. The narrative style, and a comprehensive glossary and photo-catalogue of active and relict sediments, structures and landforms make this material relevant and accessible to a wide readership. Available to purchase as a hardcopy: www.geolsoc.org.uk/spe28 Read the open access paper in the Lyell collection Available in the Lyell Collection: http://egsp.lyellcollection.org/content/28/1 http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/early/2017/07/20/jgs2017-037
08 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 09 GEOSCIENTIST SOAPBOX
What’s happening to Peer Review? We all rely upon peer review to get published in respectable scientific journals, but is it working? John Cope* has his doubts
ver my 50+ years’ experience, not be a good editor. Elementary spelling my publications have ranged mistakes are becoming legion and a lack of from one-page discussions to basic training in nomenclature is beginning SOAPBOX palaeontological monographs, to haunt palaeontological literature. O books and book chapters. In Thus a paper published in one of the CALLING! general I have been well satisfied by my world’s most prestigious palaeontological treatment at the hands of referees and editors. journals quotes ‘septae’ as the plural of ‘septum’; another lacks the obligatory Soapbox is open to contributions Through the mill commas between an author’s name and the from all Fellows. You can always Recently I have had two contrasting date of publication of the species, while a write a letter to the Editor, of publications through the refereeing mill. The colleague has told me of a paper in which a course: but perhaps you feel you first, some 40,000 words long, was published new species has nine holotypes! need more space? with one referee’s report, after a long fruitless search to find another willing or able to do Vetting If you can write it entertainingly in it. Obviously, I thought, the length is off- If the peer review system is to survive as a 500 words, the Editor would like putting. However, the second publication well-functioning way of vetting manuscripts to hear from you. Email your piece, (<2500 words) still took two months to find for publication, it is essential that mainstream and a self-portrait, to a second reviewer - the editor informing me active research workers commit some of their [email protected]. that he had met with at least eight refusals. time to reviewing. But it may need some Copy can only be accepted Former colleagues have said that they now official system of recognition of the effort electronically. No diagrams, tables always reject requests to referee a paper, they put into this to persuade them to change or other illustrations please. citing ‘pressure of work’. As is well known, their minds from their present increasingly a handful of ‘Prima Donna’ workers have obdurate stance. Pictures should be of print always taken this attitude; but now it seems quality – please take photographs this is becoming the norm. If mainstream on the largest setting on your researchers are no longer potential referees, camera, with a plain background. then reviewers are likely to be retirees (who are assumed to have more time on their Precedence will always be given to hands) or younger researchers, who may more topical contributions.
be flattered to think that their name has Any one contributor may not
been recognised. The pitfalls are obvious: appear more often than once per older workers may not be up-to-speed in the volume (once every 12 months). subject, while younger ones may not yet have ~ sufficiently developed critical faculties. Standards THIS WILL This will inevitably lead to a lowering of standards and the publication of papers INEVITABLY LEAD that should not have seen the light of day. TO A LOWERING OF I and colleagues identify increasing numbers of papers lacking in scientific rigour and STANDARDS AND exhibiting faults that should have been THE PUBLICATION OF identified by any competent referee. But it is PAPERS THAT SHOULD not only the reviewers that are at fault here, but editors too. NOT HAVE SEEN THE Many international journals now boast LIGHT OF DAY long lists of editorial-board members; some *Professor John C W Cope is Honorary members are junior researchers who have Research Fellow at Amgueddfa Cymru - National JOHN C W COPE made a name on the basis of a handful of Museum Wales. A longer version of this piece is ~ good papers. But a good researcher need available online.
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 09 GEOLOGY AND HS2
Image: Yerko Espinoza/shutterstock.com
his 20km section of the HS2 revised in November 2016. This Geological Phase 2B route passes through revision involved moving the track, gently undulating farmland in an area southwest of Northwich, conditions and crossing a number of A-roads, up to 800m west because of geology anthropogenic T canals and two minor railway and subsurface anthropogenic lines that would, in many areas of features. lowland UK, have routine ground The route leaves the Crewe to legacy will engineering risks. However, this part Preston line north of Crewe, passing of the HS2 route will be technically between Winsford and Middlewich, significantly challenging for design and construction, crossing the A530 King Street SE of affect HS2 in due to the presence of deep salt karst Northwich and then running east of and several hundred years of human Northwich entirely through farmland mid-Cheshire, say impact on the ground - including below- (and close to a number of villages). ground infrastructure. In November The 20.2km length of the 2016 Chris Eccles and 2016, HS2 announced a change in both route covered here is from HS2 horizontal and vertical alignments Chainage 9.9km to 30.1km, and Simon Ferley through Cheshire, as a result of both includes two Rail Crossings, 11 these factors. River/Canal crossings, 10 Road Crossings, re-routing 2.3km of dual HS2 Alignment carriageway, embankments up to Colour photos: HS2’s alignment through Cheshire was 26m high and a large rolling-stock Chris Eccles first published in January 2013 and depot. There are no cuttings.
10 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 11 ~
THIS PART OF THE HS2 ROUTE WILL BE TECHNICALLY CHALLENGING FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF DEEP SALT KARST AND SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS OF HUMAN IMPACT ON THE GROUND ~
Authors: Chris Eccles, Director and Dr Simon Ferley, Technical Director, TerraConsult Ltd
HS2 the Cheshire Basin Syncline with strata Pumping of brine from wells Superficial deposits in this part of dipping south. There is a single major sunk into wet rockhead (‘wild brine Cheshire are up to 30m thick. Drift fault (the King Street fault, crossed at pumping’) started in the 1800s and deposits at surface are nearly all glacial Chainage 22.5km) forming a curved line continued until 2006. This often till, with alluvium in the river valleys. running roughly north-south through caused subsidence many miles away Almost no glacial sand and gravel or Cheshire. The relative movement across - due to hydrogeological conditions, fluvioglacial deposits are mapped below the fault is a relative drop of over 500m groundwater was not drawn in this part of the route. to the east. uniformly, with flow following so-called The bedrock consists of the Mercia ‘brine runs’. The most active subsidence Mudstone Group (formerly Keuper Halite often took place where relatively salt-free Series, see Table) over 1.5km thick. The Salt extraction in Cheshire has a long water was drawn towards a well and subdivision underlying the whole of history stretching almost continuously met bedrock halite. this area is the Sidmouth Mudstone over 2000 years with small scale Roman Pumping from flooded conventional Formation, which includes major and mediaeval saltworks from brine mines was carried out, but the practice deposits of halite (rock salt) of economic springs. In 1670, John Jackson, digging was banned in1938 due the scale of importance - especially the Northwich for coal in Marbury (three miles north of subsidence. Such so-called ‘bastard brine Halite. This is a series of halite strata Northwich), found salt. From then until pumping’ created extensive subsidence interbedded with marl (overall, the 1928, mining continued in Northwich in lakes or ‘flashes’, particularly north of Northwich Halite is 75% salt 25% marl). Witton, Dunkirk, Marbury & Marston Northwich. Controlled solution mining This member is 200 to 285m thick and areas. The oldest mine still working in Cheshire began in 1928 and this is the thins east to west. is Compass Minerals’ Winsford mine, method currently used to withdraw salt
The route runs through the north of operating since 1844. for the county’s chemical industry. ▼
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 11 Table: Typical Lithology Nomenclature & Group Old Formation Name New Formation Name Classification of in the Saltfield Triassic Strata Red-brown mudstone in the Cheshire Brooks Mill Mudstone Upper Keuper Marl gypsum/anhydrite nodules and a bed Saltfield Formation of anhydrite Thick rocksalt (halite) with Upper Keuper Saliferous Beds Wilkesley Halite Formation red-brown blocky mudstones Blocky mudstone with gypsum/anhydrite nodules and thin Wych Mudstone Formation rocksalt bands in Mercia Mudstone Middle Keuper Marl the base Group Poorly laminated and blocky red- Byley Mudstone Formation brown mudstone (Formerly Keuper Series) Rocksalt with thin laminated mud- Lower Keuper Saliferous Beds Northwich Halite Formation stones Interlaminated red-brown and green- grey mudstones with some thin dolo-
Lower Keuper Marl Bollin Mudstone Formation ▼ mitic siltstone laminae, with thin veins of gypsum Interlaminated and interbedded red-brown with green-grey Keuper Waterstones Tarporley Siltstone Formation mottled siltstones, mudstones and sandstones Sherwood Sandstone Group Helsby Sandstone Sandstone with pebble beds and Lower Keuper Sandstone (LKS) Formation (HEY) siltstone (Formerly Bunter Series)
▼ Materials of many kinds are also Bedrock geology stored in the salt caverns, including map sheets: documents (Winsford), hazardous waste 97, 98, 109 & 110, British Geological (Winsford), solvent waste (Holford), Survey © NERC strategic oil reserves (currently being BGS decommissioned) and gas. Construction of gas-storage caverns began in 2006, becoming operational in 2011. Four of these lie close to the proposed route. Wet rockhead Where salt-bearing rocks of the Northwich Halite occur at rockhead, it is referred to as ‘wet rockhead’, indicating that saturated brine is present (from dissolution of the upper section of the halite) and that original brine extraction has taken place. In contrast, the traditional name for an area where salt has not dissolved (because it is sealed Image: beneath a cover of the Byley/Wych Photo showing Billinge Flash Mudstone) is ‘dry rockhead’ (‘dry’ here meaning simply that water is not dissolving salt). Wet rockhead is present below about 57% of the route covered here. At ‘wet’ rockhead, groundwater has circulated, dissolving out the salt from the strata and leaving only the interbedded insoluble marl. As salt dissolves, the marls collapse and become broken up (brecciated) and softened. Large voids
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 13 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
from six to 10 metres high can be found in presence of such caverns presents a the brecciated/collapsed strata, although lower risk than the Holford Brinefield, large ‘rafts’ of intact marl also occur. The because the crown of the gas caverns is overall thickness of brecciated ground usually deeper than 600m. Individual typically varies from 15 to 120m below storage caverns may be 100m across drift. It can be difficult to distinguish and over 100m high. Locating HS2 between glacial deposits and brecciated directly over such a cavern is technically bedrock because both have similar possible; but it would affect the surface composition. Control of Major Accident Hazards The development of collapsed (COMAH)-regulated infrastructure. strata was strongly influenced by The UK Government classifies these groundwater flow and the modification gas storage facilities in Cheshire as of the groundwater regime during the “nationally strategic.” last (Devensian, and possibly earlier) Both 2013 and 2016 routes avoid the glaciations. The Devensian glaciation EDF gas storage facility of Warmingham buried Cheshire in a thick ice-sheet with between Crewe & Middlewich. The 2013 water at its base, raising groundwater route crossed both Storenergy’s Stublach pressures and flushing out saline waters Gas Storage facility (south west of from the ground, forcing fresh salt-free Northwich) and the King Street Energy water to the dissolution surface of the facility, which has planning permission salt and cutting deeper into the sequence. for a new storage field. When the ice melted, further dissolution Between 2013 and 2016 HS2 of the salt occurred as new regional carried out a review of the risk from groundwater patterns formed. Because of constructing the route across the glaciations, salt dissolution is now found solution-mined brine caverns at Holford at up to 120m down. Brinefield and reassessed the importance of the gas storage caverns to the south. Cavities Moving the 2016 route to the west Solution-mining of the Northwich Halite avoids both Holford Brinefield and the at depth has taken place in areas of gas storage caverns. However, it does dry rockhead for the last 79 years, and cross surface facilities for the planned Map Sheets: HS2 alignment in mid-Cheshire. Orange: continues today. The 2013 proposed route King Street Energy Storage Facility, and Jan 2013 route. Green: November 2016 route passed through 1.46km of the Holford intersects the edge of the settlement Brinefield east of Lostock Green, passing bowl of the Holford Brinefield. over 14 brine cavities. Here, 20m of drift lie over Byley and Wych Mudstones, Salt subsidence with solution mining in the underlying As already mentioned, areas of Northwich Halite. Cavities may be up wet rockhead comprise 54% of the IT IS THE NATURE OF to 170m across and are as little as 30m 20.1 km length of the 2016 route. ROCK SALT TO CREEP OVER (or less!) apart, the shallowest being only Natural subsidence can occur here in a TIME, AND THE GROUND 60m below surface (in the north of the number of ways. ABOVE THE HOLFORD brinefield). Some cavities at Holford are Groundwater, flowing at rockhead in being used to store solvent waste. depressions, causes slow dissolution. BRINEFIELD IS SLOWLY In a number of locations at Holford This occurs faster along river valleys. SETTLING BY THREE OR FOUR there has been break-through between Areas of wet rockhead can often appear MILLIMETRES A YEAR adjacent cavities. In Cheshire, no stable for long periods, but solution may solution-mined cavities have collapsed; accelerate if conditions change. Where but near Preesall in Lancashire similar there has been historic uncontrolled wild solution mining was carried out in the brine pumping, subsidence features may PAPERS Northwich Halite to shallower depth, still be active many years after pumping resulting in a series of collapses that ceased. The full list of further reading may be found online. Editor created lakes. One area of recent reactivation It is the nature of rock salt to creep over occurs near Lea House Farm (Chainage Waltham, T: 2016 : Control the drainage: the time, and the ground above the Holford 15.75km). Here the farmer has gospel accorded to sinkholes. 16th Glossop Lecture, 2015 Brinefield is slowly settling by three or reported that the field, level in 1990, four millimetres a year. The settlement now has two parallel settlement Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, Vol. 49:5-20, first published on bowl extends to a wider area than the troughs up to two metres deep, and February 9, 2016, Cooper, A.H. 2002. Halite actual plan extent of the cavities. subsidence appears to be accelerating. karst geohazards (natural and man-made) in To the south of the Holford Brinefield Not far south, at Yew Tree Farm (close the United Kingdom. Environmental Geology, the halite is deeper and the 2013 route to chainage 15.45km) new subsidence Vol. 42, 505-512. passed over gas-storage caverns. The hollows can be seen. ▼
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 13 GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
▼ Another subsidence feature in open and Mersey Canal, in an area of wet Winsford salt mine farmland occurs northeast of Northwich, rockhead with intact salt at about 60m Winsford mine is located northeast of where a pond has formed since 2004 in below ground, with collapsed bedrock Winsford and is owned & operated by a new hollow. The cause of subsidence and glacial deposits above. Compass Minerals Ltd. An extensive features in areas of wet rockhead remote The Billinge subsidence feature is network of caverns lies typically 140 to from historic wild-brine pumping is mentioned in both of the geological 220m below ground and extends over usually unknown. They could be due to memoirs for Geological Map Sheets 109 an area four by three kilometres in plan. salt dissolution at depth at rockhead (often and 110. These suggest that it is not At its northern end, the mine roof is less more than 60m down), and migration known whether the subsidence was due than 100m down. Mining is by ‘room and of the void. New subsidence features in to pumping at Northwich (2.5km away) pillar’, with caverns up to 20m wide and open farmland usually go uninvestigated. or Middlewich (4km). The location 8m high. The pillars (of salt) are usually The Cheshire Brine Board has assessed of the subsidence is thought to be 20m square with a 68 to 75% extraction farmland hollows near Plumley, (about a partially controlled by the King Street ratio. Historically, a single bed of salt was kilometre east of the HS2 route). Findings Fault, running parallel to the trough’s mined; but in the last few years Compass did not indicate deep-seated solution, eastern edge. Brine pumping will have have started to mine from a second, but concluded that uneven drainage drawn groundwater principally from shallower level, in the southern part of and consolidation of heterogeneous drift just above intact bedrock at the base of the mine, directly below the HS2 route, deposits were probably responsible. previously collapsed strata. Therefore, which overall passes over a 3.1km length However, even subsidence features caused the already weakened and collapsed of workings. by shallow movement in drift present a strata (formed during glacial periods) The 1.16km-long River Dane viaduct, significant potential risk to a high speed underwent an additional period of which is up to 26 m high, also runs railway line (with a very low tolerance to subsidence when wild brine pumping over the mine. Further to the north a settlement). further reduced strength and increased 160m-long viaduct crosses Puddinglake compressibility, creating c. 60m of Brook and the Trent & Mersey Canal and Wild brine mining highly compressible strata above is up to 13.4m high. The HS2 route also The best known case along the HS2 rockhead. crosses hazardous waste landfill within alignment is at Billinge, between Subsidence in this area has already the salt mine. The mine sits within in Northwich and Middlewich. The route required the railway embankment an area of wet rockhead where depth crosses a 1.5 by 0.5km subsidence trough to be rebuilt, the canal towpath to be to intact rock decreases from 100m in with a series of six flashes. Here a reconstructed, the railway bridge over the south (below Dane viaduct) to 60m viaduct will cross both the Northwich to Whatcroft Lane to be raised by over (below Puddinglake viaduct). Dane Middlewich railway line and the Trent 2.7m and strengthened. viaduct also runs over an area where
Floating swing bridges in Northwich Hayhurst Bridge Left: Bridge turntable on pontoon GEOSCIENTIST FEATURE
mining occurs at two levels; but at drains and could trigger subsidence. FURTHER READING Puddinglake viaduct, the depth to the The drainage from embankments located mine is even shallower than in the in areas of wet rockhead will have to The full list of further reading may be found south - only 30m below intact rockhead. be carefully managed with ditches and online. Editor Due to the thickness of the drift attenuation features, lined to prevent Drawings & Reports deposits and the collapsed breccia localised infiltration that might lead to HS2 Drawing No C320-AEC-RT- beneath (known to have voids above subsidence. Remember - in his 2015 DPP-220-061002 to 061005: Design Stage the mine) foundations for HS2 viaducts Glossop Lecture, Dr Tony Waltham Post-Consultation. Preferred Route HSM10B are likely to be piled - potentially noted how 95% of all karst subsidence Plan and Profile” Sheets 2 to 5 of 6. Date 11/01/16 requiring 120m-deep piles below are the result of engineering structures Dane Viaduct! These will probably interfering with natural drainage! “Salt Related Ground Stability.” Document no.: C601-WAR-GT-REP-220-000001. 61 Pages be the UK’s deepest on-shore piles including appendices. Report is Draft. Date : and will be particularly difficult to Innovation None on Document. Author Pauline Cooke and construct. Shorter piles will be required Ground problems have stimulated checker Dave Wilshaw, both from consultancy below Puddinglake viaduct, though many innovative solutions in the Wardell Armstrong. substantial backfilling and stabilisation Northwich area. The use of timber Geological Maps, Memoirs and British work will probably be needed, due to ring-beams for properties enabled Geological Survey (BGS) Reports the depth of mining below bedrock. them to overcome large scale ◆ B GS Map Sheet Runcorn 97 Solid 1:50,000 settlements and then be jacked level (1980) and Drift 1:50,000 (1977) Drainage & salt karst again. Many conventional bridges ◆ B GS Map Sheet 98 Stockport Solid The 2013 route required embankments in the area have jacking points for 1:50,000 (1977) and Drift 1:50,000 (1962) up to 18m high and cuttings up to re-levelling. Hayhurst (1898) & Town ◆ B GS Map Sheet 109 Chester Solid 10.2m deep. The 2016 alignment has no Bridge (1899) in Northwich (on the 1:50,000 (1986) and Drift 1:50,000 (1965) ◆ B GS Map Sheet 110 Macclesfield Solid cuttings but the embankments are up to Weaver Navigation) were constructed 1:63,360 (1968) and Drift 1:63,360 (1968) 26m high. HS2 said of these changes: with their turntables on floating Earp J R and Taylor BJ: 1986 :Memoir: BGS “the route has been elevated across the area pontoons so that as long as the water Sheet 109 Geology of the country around …... to allow for careful management of level is maintained the bridges will Chester and Winsford. British Geological Survey drainage and geological risks”. The 2016 continue to remain operational. The Evans W B, Wilson A A, Taylor B J and Price D: alignment recognised that drainage construction of HS2 in Cheshire will 1968: Memoir: Institute of Geological Sciences posed a significant potential risk in doubtless require more such innovative Sheet 110 Geology of the country around areas of wet rockhead, particularly solutions to stand alongside these Macclesfield, Congleton, Crewe and Middlewich deep cuttings, which would act as deep historic achievements. ◆
Subsidence of canal at Marbury, 1907 PETROGRAPHERS IN CONSTRUCTION
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 17 CONSTRUCTION Alan Poole* offers an insight into the important work performed by members of the Applied Petrography Group
eological materials are the density and durability characteristics fundamental components used are all specified, and are most of all building construction. stringent for the outer layer of armour. Members of the Society’s In this example, relative rock-density was G Applied Petrography Group specified to be greater than 2.5; primary provide the essential professional armour blocks should be of equant shape expertise to evaluate these materials. and between 0.75 and 2 tonnes in weight. The composition, characteristics and The source rock was a soft limestone. properties of these mineral materials are On delivery to site some blocks were well understood by the petrographer. found to be unsuitable because of In the rare cases where premature numerous joints and clay seams, which deterioration of the structure has together with the high water absorption occurred, the causes - and remediation characteristics of the soft limestone options - need to be addressed. Here would render them liable to rapid too, a petrographer can quickly assess weathering degradation and breakage in suitability for purpose of a natural storm events. Such blocks if used would geological material and offer alternative compromise the design requirements of options to avoid costly building mistakes. the structure. Fifteen years ago, the Engineering Petrographic investigation of the Group, recognising the increasing clay seams revealed the presence of numbers of professional geologists, smectite clays. Standard testing for petrographers and materials experts relative density and water absorption, acting as advisors to the construction joint frequency analysis, clay partings industry, instigated the Applied frequency and a drop-test breakage index, Petrography Group (APG) as one of together allowed a rigorous distinction its Working Parties, providing a forum to be drawn between acceptable and for scientists of many disciplines and a unacceptable blocks. A series of examples platform for presenting research and of such blocks was placed on site to case-studies to a global audience. act as comparators for inspectors who You can find out much more about the then visually assessed the suitability (or APG by visiting the GeoscientistOnline otherwise) of the blocks as they were version of this article. What follows are delivered. some examples of APG members’ work. Aggregates & Rock quality assessment concrete-cracking A relatively straightforward materials Another illustration of petrographic study concerns the use of natural-rock investigation involving optical and armouring of the breakwater protection scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for a power-station water supply intake. concerns the use of aggregate in The design of a seemingly simple rubble- concrete. Unsuitable aggregates promote mound breakwater is more complex premature cracking and expansion of than it might appear, because loose core the hardened concrete as a result of material must not be allowed to wash out ‘alkali-aggregate reaction’. This is a (‘pipe’) through gaps in the outer armour relatively rare - but very costly - form layers. Therefore, a series of graded of deterioration, and much research underlayers is laid over the core material, has been aimed at understanding the while the outermost layer is constructed mechanisms involved, and designing of blocks large enough to withstand measures to avoid it. movement and breakage during storm In outline, some poorly crystalline events. forms of silica, opal being the best known,
Consequently block-shape, size, relative will react with alkalis, usually from the ▼
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 17 A schematic cross-section sketch of a typical conventional breakwater construction
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, THE ENGINEERING GROUP ... INSTIGATED THE APPLIED PETROGRAPHY GROUP (APG), PROVIDING A FORUM FOR SCIENTISTS OF MANY Examples of poor quality DISCIPLINES (weathering grade 4) granite aggregate particles (left) and the same un-weathered aggregate (weathering grade 2) good quality (right).
▼ cement used, to form an alkali-silica gel. aggregate components and the alkalis that age. Because SW England did not suffer This absorbs water, swelling with sufficient are always present in the pore-fluids even glaciation, the deep geological weathering force to crack the concrete in which it of hardened concrete, it is very difficult profile developed in these volcanic occurs. Often only a small percentage to arrest - and it will typically continue rocks through the Tertiary had not been of reactive aggregate is involved. It is slowly for many years. Remediation and significantly stripped from exposed the petrographer’s job to identify this repair of affected structures is both difficult surfaces. However, tectonic movements reactive mineral component within an and costly. In some minor cases this has had produced significant jointing - otherwise satisfactory aggregate. Detailed led to the long-term monitoring of affected some with slickensided surfaces within examination of petrographic thin sections structures (to keep a check on structural shear zones, and late-stage silica-rich will identify which aggregate particles integrity) while in some cases it has led to mineralisation. are the seat of the reaction. Further demolition and replacement. On-site inspection of the old quarry investigations using SEM with X-ray confirmed that the three main benches microanalysis will show the composition Carcinogenic minerals were stable, but the lowest bench was of the gel and the siliceous component The redevelopment of a disused quarry, submerged under water. The largest responsible. and the petrographic analysis it set in Cracks resulting from such expansive train, provides an illustration of a quite reactions can lead to a variety of possible different type of investigation. It also damage features including: indicates an aspect common to many ◆ Loss of strength, particularly at critical investigation briefs as presented to the points in a concrete structure petrographer. In this illustration, the ◆ Misalignment between elements of a petrographic investigation focused on the structure as in the Val de la Mare Dam nature of the rock materials, the jointing ◆ Leakage through water-retaining and vein infillings in the exposed faces, in structures the residual stockpiles and in the hard- ◆ Ingress of air and water into the concrete, standing working areas adjacent to the allowing other deleterious mechanisms quarry itself. (such as corrosion of steel reinforcement) The quarry concerned was situated Demonstration of a moisture sensor to be inserted to initiate. in SW England and was developed in into a drilled hole in a concrete bridge support Since the reaction occurs between some basic volcanic dolerites of early Triassic column, Trondheim, Norway
18 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 19 exposed bench was eight metres high material were collected for laboratory asbestos containing products have and the one above 3.5m high - with an examination. The asbestos material been banned since 1999. overburden of approximately two to was examined in greater detail three metres. It was clear from field using polarising light microscopy Conclusions inspection that the upper bench was of and dispersion staining techniques. The extensive variety of investigation highly weathered dolerites, while the Nine samples were found to contain undertaken by professional petrographers lower bench was of fresher rock. asbestos. One was of anthophyllite, provides great interest and challenge to Joints and veins were obvious in the remainder were identified as those working in this expanding field. many quarry faces, with four or more actinolite. Whether they work as individuals, in principal joint directions. Careful The presence of asbestos would small groups or in larger companies, inspection of a number of infilled joints likely prove be a problem for any kind APG members find they are very busy and shear-planes confirmed that the of redevelopment in this quarry site. and have more work than can be easily infillings were principally of quartz; In spite of having been successfully managed! The principal problem seems though epidote, chlorite, calcite and worked for aggregate in the past, and to be one of recruiting graduates with a fibrous asbestiform material were although actinolite and anthophyllite the appropriate skills and flexibility to be also present. The fibrous material are not considered as carcinogenic able to deal with this variety and range of was identified as an asbestos mineral. as crocidolite (blue asbestos), UK investigations coming from all over the Altogether, 15 samples of rock and vein regulations require that all cement – globe on an almost daily basis. ◆
Map cracking due to AAR on a concrete pumping plant wall, Tai Po, China A general view of the disused quarry faces
*Alan Poole researched and taught in the University of London until 2000. Over the last 30 years he specialised in problems associated with concrete and related materials, producing over 120 scientific papers. Contact E: abpoole@btinternet. com. If you are interested in joining the APG, visit W: geolsoc.org.uk/ Groups-and-Networks/Specialist- Groups/Engineering-Group/ Working-Parties/Applied-Petrography- Group or W: appliedpetrographygroup. com
FURTHER READING
The full list of further reading may be found online. Editor ◆ A list of further reading is available in the longer version of this article published at GeoscientistOnline. Editor
The Val de la Mare Dam, Jersey. Note the bay on the left has been completely replaced, the reason being that it developed expansive cracking (right) due to a cement/aggregate reaction (AAR) in the concrete
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 19 GEOSCIENTIST CALENDAR New publications ENDORSED TRAINING/CPD to add to your bookshelf
MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS
Venue: Higham Hall College, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, The Geology of England 5-7 February Cumbria. Fees apply – see website for details. Contact: E: [email protected] Venue: Higham Hall College, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, The Geology of Scotland 7-9 February Cumbria. Fees apply – see website for details. Contact: E: [email protected] Venue: The Green Park Hotel, Clunie Bridge Rd, Pitlochry, Perthshire. An Introduction to Rocks, Minerals and 26 February – Fees apply – see website for details. Fossils 3 March Contact: E: [email protected] ‘Lapworth’s Logs’ is a series of e-courses involving practical exercises of Lapworth’s Logs N/A increasing complexity. Contact: [email protected]. Lapworth’s Logs is produced by Michael de Freitas and Andrew Thompson.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE MEETINGS FOR WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE SPACE. EVENTS ALWAYS CHECK WITH WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/LISTINGS
MEETING DATE VENUE AND DETAILS
Venue: Burlington House. Feesand discounts apply. See website for GSL Mentoring Workshop 5 February details. Contact Georgine Worrall E: [email protected]. See also article, P06 Controversial Geoscience Dealing with Venue: Holywell Park Conference Centre, Holywell Way, Loughborough Public Perception University Science and Enterprise Park. Time 0900-1700. 8 February Cost: £295.00 Envireau Knowledge Contact E: [email protected] Venue: The Gay Hussar 2 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4NB. Time: 18.30 for 19.00. Dinner. Fees apply. Geological Society Discussion Group 8 February Topic: TBA Contact E: [email protected] Discussion Workshop on Educational Venue: Burlington House. See website for details. 15-16 February and Citizen seismology Contact: Paul Denton E: pdenton@ bgs.ac.uk Pipeline Geotechnical Engineering and Geohazards in the onshore and offshore Venue: ICE Time: 17.30 for 18.00. Speaker: Dave Waring, BP. environment 21 February Contact: Engineering Group. BGA, Engineering Group A Data Explosion: The Impact of Big Data in Venue: Burlington House. Fees and discounts apply. Geoscience: Janet Watson Meeting 2018 27 February - Keynotes: Ed Parsons (Google) Dr Satyam Priyadarshy (Halliburton). 1 March Contact: Naomi Newbold E: [email protected] GRSG, GIG, Data Management Special Interest Group (PESGB), Petroleum Group
CENTURY ONE PUBLISHING To plan your ad campaign in Browse the Online Bookshop for these and other titles from FELLOWS IS THE UK’S BRIGHTEST GeoScientist magazine contact: RECEIVE UP TO the Geological Society and other earth science publishers, AWARD-WINNING Alex Killen www.geolsoc.org.uk/bookshop CONTRACT PUBLISHING t: 01727 739 182 AND ADVERTISING SALES AGENCY. e: [email protected] Special Publications and Memoirs are also available as w: www.centuryonepublishing.uk 50% an electronic version in the Lyell Collection, as part of the DISCOUNT ON HARD COPY SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS Full Book Collection (for subscribing Fellows). Find out more at AND MEMOIRS www.geolsoc.org.uk/fellowsaccess##fullbookcollection
20 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST New publications to add to your bookshelf
Browse the Online Bookshop for these and other titles from FELLOWS RECEIVE UP TO the Geological Society and other earth science publishers, www.geolsoc.org.uk/bookshop Special Publications and Memoirs are also available as 50% an electronic version in the Lyell Collection, as part of the DISCOUNT ON HARD COPY SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS Full Book Collection (for subscribing Fellows). Find out more at AND MEMOIRS www.geolsoc.org.uk/fellowsaccess##fullbookcollection FOR A FULL LIST OF TITLES AVAILABLE, GO TO [WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/REVIEWS] BOOKS & ARTS
A Wilder Time demonstrating how the team From Somerset to vindicated and even refined the the Pyrenees Geologist Bill original model, putting its assailants Glassley (University to flight. But the science is almost the As noted in the of California, Davis) maguffin here. introduction: “A has spent six field Natural scientists may well great flowering seasons studying be the only intellectuals to find of interest in some of Earth’s most themselves routinely exposed to archaeology, local ancient rocks in the transformative experience of history, and the one of its remotest wilderness these days. Yet (as I have natural environment wildernesses. Many observed myself) on many it seems took place in early will rightly envy completely wasted. This may not Victorian England”. him, and his brief but ambitious book be their fault. Expeditions, like the Jones, the youngest in a Unitarian family demonstrates that there’s nothing like ones Glassley describes, teach you in Carmarthen, Wales, was born in being a geologist for taking you to how travel narrows the mind. But 1818, nicely in time to participate in that unfrequented places, at other people’s Glassley’s vivid subjective impressions flowering. His diaries show that his expense. attempt what few scientist-writers do: broad interests, in geology and natural The area he explores in his new book, to explore beyond his science’s normal history in particular, began before he out this month, with Danish colleagues comfort zone. went to Glasgow University aged 20, Kai Sørensen and John Korstgård, is Mediaeval scholastic philosophers, to study for life as a minister in the vast; a segment of Greenland’s coastal following Duns Scotus, coined the Unitarian church. fringe of ice-smoothed rock and terms haecceity (‘thisness’, of specific Having graduated, he moved to periglacial tundra that extends like a things) and quiddity (‘whatness’, of ministry in southern England, joining valance around its vast central ice cap. the classifier). They are ‘science’. But the Somerset Archaeological and Natural Plucked from civilization, our heroes Glassley tries also to grasp something History Society in 1849, when he moved find themselves marooned in this beyond - the noumenon - an ineffable from Northampton to Bridgwater. He wilderness, alone in the short summer’s inner reality that cannot be discerned became the Society’s general secretary perpetual day, where land feathers into by vulgar senses. Glassley seems in 1853 and remained an office-holder arctic sea, ice floes glide by on mirror- preoccupied with our limitations until his death, in Taunton, in 1873. His smooth tongues of clear, frigid water, when it comes to grasping the time in the Pyrenees, arising from a need and nature’s eternal silence reigns. wholeness of the world - questioning to deal with illness in his family, lasted What drew the companions there may how our ‘reality’ contrasts with, say, from October 1866 to July 1868. sound, by contrast, like a storm in an a seal’s, or a fish’s. Absenting himself As for most of us, the records of Jones academic teacup. Someone (tactfully from camp, he wanders alone with and his families’ travels seem to be rather unnamed) had published a paper his reflections, and attempts closer patchy, making this a difficult biography attacking the established geological communion with the hidden genius to compile because of the relative paucity view of the ‘Nagssugtoquidian Mobile of place. of evidence and/or information. He was Belt’. As geologists we are familiar with Although he repeatedly explains a well-travelled man in an age when these jaw-cracking Inuit place-names, what he’s attempting (a scientist’s travelling was difficult, although it many ending in the ‘oq’ sound, which tendency to write abstracts for became gradually easier as time (and his the late Stephen Moorbath FRS once everything, perhaps) he is not always life) passed – when he went to Glasgow described to me as ‘like a piano string successful. What he gropes for in 1838 he travelled from Swansea by sea being cut at the bottom of the ocean’. requires art, not analysis. Perhaps via Liverpool and Greenock. The book Moorbath helped make the area that was why I kept returning to takes the reader through his life from famous by finding what are still among Hugh MacDiarmid’s great poem, On a his childhood and youth in Carmarthen, the oldest known rocks on Earth. raised beach, which also grapples with university days in Glasgow, and on via Arthur Escher and Juan Watterson nature, science and metaphysics via Northampton, where he spent several mapped these high-grade metamorphic a more successful medium. After an years (including about six months mélanges of altered sediments, mantle opening parody of scientific language, touring northern Europe after his first rocks and ocean-floor basalts almost the poet observes: wife died - they had been married for 3.5 billion years old in the 60s and 70s. Deep conviction or preference can less than five months), to Somerset, were Feiko Kalsbeek, Bob Pidgeon and Paul seldom / Find direct terms in which to he lived for some 24 years (including the Taylor, in the 1980s, whose plate-tectonic express itself. time in the Pyrenees). interpretation (describing the distinctive The book is well illustrated with East-West shear zones as sutures left by Reviewed by: Ted Nield pictures ranging in age from early- the most ancient plate-tectonic collisions to mid- 19th Century sketches and A WILDER TIME – NOTES FROM A GEOLOGIST on our planet) was now apparently in AT THE EDGE OF THE GREENLAND ICE photographs, to modern-day images. doubt. by WILLIAM E GLASSLEY. There are also half a dozen appendices, Such is the scientific narrative Bellevue Literary Press, New York February 2018. including a list of papers given/ 222pp. underpinning Glassley’s book, which W: www.blpress.org presented by Jones. Sadly, however, arrives at a satisfying conclusion, there are no quotations or extracts from
22 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 23 FOR A FULL LIST OF TITLES AVAILABLE, GO TO Would you like to receive a free book and write a review? WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/REVIEWS Available titles are listed online, of which a small selection is shown below. Contact the editor for further information [email protected]
the papers, and the book contains no Maryland. (Did you know Maryland had a artistic and commercial aspects of diamonds comment on technical or other issues in State Gastropod? Perhaps we should have through the ages. relation to any of them. Summaries – county fossils for UK.) During WWII, she She begins with short histories of diamond the abstracts, if they exist – would have used her knowledge of palaeontology to mining in India, Brazil and South Africa, been interesting, along with, perhaps, a identify sand ballast shells in incendiary concentrating heavily on the working conditions little more about perceptions in geology, bombs from specific beaches in Japan. and suffering of the labourers, often slaves, but natural history and archaeology when The Interwar years saw increasing omitting to mention of how organised, safe and Jones was active. numbers of women employees in the environmentally responsible the vast majority petroleum industry. Katherine Woodley of diamond mining in modern times is. This Reviewed by: Jeremy Joseph Carman, who died in 2008 aged 102, was unfortunately conveys the false impression that an accomplished micropalaeontologist, this sorry history is reflected in modern-day FROM SOMERSET TO THE PYRENEES – IN THE obtaining a geology PhD from MIT in 1929. practice. STEPS OF THE REVEREND WILLIAM ARTHUR JONES, GEOLOGIST AND ANTIQUARY She was an AAPG member for 82 years - In a short history of the De Beers organisation, by DAVID RABSON, 2015. surely a record! she repeats the shibboleth of De Beers using Published by: Somerset Archaeological & Natural History As in the UK, it was difficult for a woman its ‘vast stocks’ to manipulate rough diamond Society, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset, UK. ISBN: 978-0- 902152-28-1. (Pbk.) 109pp. to remain in position if she married, and prices using Edward Jay Epstein (a controversial List Price: £14.95 many women quit their jobs to become commentator) as a source. She also carries W: www.freewebstore.org/SANHS consultants. The impact of Affirmative out an overview on ‘conflict diamonds’ and Action (1973) on hiring women is illustrated the perceived shortcomings of the Kimberley by the fascinating story of the author Process, giving credence to Global Witness and herself - who ended up running her own oil dismissing De Beers’ comments. Anomalies – Pioneering company in Denver. The book ends with 11 On safer ground, she describes how diamonds Women in Petroleum management ‘rock stars’ who were a result have figured throughout history, going back of the American 1980s Equal Employment to Pliny the Elder and before. She is at her best Geology: 1917-2017 Opportunities Commission. Similar when relating stories, such as her short histories legislation in the UK was passed in 1975. of the Koh-I-Noor and the Cullinan. The section If like me, you The amount of research undertaken on how the global trade grew during the 16th thought females were for this book is phenomenal, allowing and 17th Centuries is particularly interesting. scarce in the early the subjects to come alive as we see them Professor Pointon devotes a chapter to how petroleum industry in their work clothes or struggling with the shape of diamonds in particular, and the you will have your drill bits. Robbie Gries calls this book rhombus in general, has figured in art and eyes opened by ‘a celebration of 100 years of individual design and in religious symbolism. This is clearly this well-illustrated courage, fortitude and professionalism’. her forte and this section is both instructive and book. However, the She recalls her own journey to discover lost entertaining. inevitably American stories of pioneering women. She does a She then covers the culture of the diamond focus must be taken remarkable job. I found this book readable engagement ring. While diamonds have been into account when reading it; WWI and and rewarding - perhaps not as a single given as symbols of love since time immemorial, WWII (dated as beginning in 1917 and read, but to enjoy over time. After all, it it was the discovery of large supplies in Brazil 1941 respectively), requiring American was 100 years in the making. that led to a nascent commercial market, its oil companies to employ women. The subsequent expansion after the First World War, first were hired by Roxana during WW1 Reviewed by: Cynthia Burek culminating in the famous slogan ‘A diamond is - as employees not consultants. Read forever’, dating from the 1940s. The final chapter about Reba Masterson, the first female ANOMALIES – PIONEERING WOMEN IN in the book contains some interesting stories of PETROLEUM GEOLOGY: 1917-2017 petroleum geologist. by ROBBIE RICE GRIES, 2017 diamond thefts, both factual and fictional. In this female perspective of the oil Published by JeWel Publishing LLC405pp (hbk) ISBN: I feel that this is ‘two books in one’ and industry history, Robbie Gries looks at 9781936499090 therefore a mixed bag. The author brings nothing List Price: $50.00 available geological education. As in the W: : www.jewelpublishing.com new to our knowledge of the diamond market UK, women could take geology classes as it operates today but she is a good storyteller during the early 20th Century but not and historian. I would recommend this book to graduate in the subject until 1919. After someone who has no knowledge of diamonds - setting the initial context, the author Rocks, Ice and Dirty but advise them not to treat her observations on provides small biographical studies of 149 how the modern market works as gospel. female petroleum geologists (87 of whom Stones – Diamond are dead). Histories Reviewed by: Nigel Combley One outstanding woman - Julia Anna Gardner (1882-1960) - has her own The author, Professor Emerita chapter. She was the first petroleum in History of Art at the ROCKS, ICE AND DIRTY STONES – DIAMOND HISTORIES biostratigrapher. She was taught by Frances University of Manchester, by MARCIA POINTON, 2017. Published by: Reaktion Bascom at Bryn Mawr, published over 40 admits that this book is not Books 256pp (hbk) ISBN: 978 1 78023 752 7 papers and has three fossils named after a technical treatise but an List Price: £25.00 W: www.reaktionbooks.co.uk her, including the State Gastropod of exploration of the social,
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 23 FOR A FULL LIST OF TITLES AVAILABLE, GO TO [WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/REVIEWS] BOOKS & ARTS
Seismicity, Fault setting of the Tien Shan or Hangay railway and a wire tramway devised to Rupture and Mountains. The collection is a very minimise costs and ground preparation helpful resource on a regional scale. I in hauling ore. This book is a model of Earthquake Hazards also found a paper on the influence of how to present the findings of personal groundwater recharge on naturally investigation. O’Hagan’s voice is that of in Slowly Deforming occurring intraplate earthquakes to be a the patient researcher, ever mindful in his Regions great primer to the subject. sifting of materials. Packed with photos, diagrams and historical documents, mine This publication Reviewed by: Robert Anderson economics and mining methods are also includes 13 papers discussed. from topics SEISMICITY, FAULT RUPTURE AND EARTHQUAKE Mining is beginning to re-appear in HAZARDS IN SLOWLY DEFORMING REGIONS related to applied by A LANDGRAF, S KÜBLER, E HINTERSBERGER AND S Northern Ireland, with early stage PGM seismology, geodesy, STEIN (eds) 2017 Published by the Geological Society, exploration as well as feasibility studies earthquake hazard ISBN: 978-1-86239-745-3 on a gold mine close to Omagh. From a List Price: £100.00 Fellows Price: £50.00 assessment and W: www.geolsoc.org.uk/SP432 geologist’s viewpoint it would have been nice earthquake geology to see more information on the geology and in slowly deforming formation of the deposits, and a couple of (intraplate) settings. maps. But all in all, this is a very compelling None of the papers appears to cover any The Mountains of Iron: story, told extremely well. It would appeal one topic in detail. Rather, a few of the to an audience with an interest in history of papers give insight into a few issues, A History of the Iron mining and local history in Northern Ireland. including some in specific geologic Mining in Mid-Antrim settings. The title could have been used Reviewed by: Jason Holden for a three-volume set, each volume Kevin J O’Hagan has taking one topic, leading to a final series spent many years THE MOUNTAINS OF IRON: A HISTORY OF of papers addressing seismic hazard meticulously researching THE IRON MINING IN MID-ANTRIM by KEVIN J O’HAGAN, 2016. Published by: Shanway assessment in slowly deforming regions the history of iron ore Press 140pp (pbk) ISBN:9781910044124 verses active fault margins. mining in and around List Price: £12.99 The lead paper addresses areas of Mid-Antrim, and he has backed this up W: shanway.com/product/the-mountains-of-iron/ slowly deforming regions at a regional with his own experiences exploring and level, noting that in some cases a fault recording old underground workings. It or fault-related features may have is obvious from the onset that he has the been partially eroded, buried, or have knowledge and passion for the industry. BOOKS FOR REVIEW extremely long reoccurrence intervals. Cornwall is acknowledged nationally Areas with currently higher strain rates as the home of hard-rock mining and Please contact [email protected] if you would may have more sharply pronounced the cradle of the steam engine. The like to supply a review. You will be invited to keep the crisp fault-related features. It is noted bleak hills of the Antrim Plateau have review copy. See a full up-to-date list at www.geolsoc.org.uk/reviews that this is not always the case, since previously been completely overlooked, faults can migrate; and faults away from and now it’s only marked by red ◆ NEW! Building Stone Atlas of Sussex areas with currently large strain-rates spoil-heaps. by Roger Cordiner and Anthony Brook 147pp sbk have experienced a number of large With iron ore mining these days mostly ◆ NEW! Atlas of Natural & Induced Fractures in Core earthquakes in both the historic record taking place in large-scale open pits, it is by John C Lorenz & Scott P Cooper. WileyBlackwell/ as well as in prehistory (as in parts of nice to hear a great storyteller tell us how AAPG 2017,305pp, hbk central Asia and elsewhere). it was once conducted. This fascinating ◆ NEW! Tectonic Evolution of the Eastern Black Sea and Caucasus Of the papers presented, several merit study in the microcosm of the birth, by Sosson et al., GSPH Special publication #428 specific attention; however, the room development, and decline of the mining 368pp hbk in this review is limited. Five of the traces the rise of Mid-Antrim from its first ◆ Crustal Evolution of India and Antarctica: volume’s papers were devoted to work in underground mine in 1867 through its The Supercontinent Connection central Asia. This set of papers helps to glory years and to its effective demise after by Pant & Dasgupta, GSPH/SCAR Special Publication fill in both the historic and palaeoseismic the Second World War. Like virtually all #457 359pp hbk ◆ records in, or near, the Tien Shan other successful mining communities, it Geological Evolution of the Central Asian Basins and the Western Tien Shan Range was entrepreneurs of vision and courage, Mountains in Northern Kyrgyzstan and Brunet et al., GSPH Special Publication #427 605pp hbk Southern Kazakhstan or in the Hangay willing to take great risks, who were ◆ The NE Atlantic Region etc Mountains of Mongolia. This is a essential to the founding and survival of Peron-Pinvidic et al, GSPH Special Publication relatively important study region since the mining towns. #447 467pp, hbk so many large magnitude earthquakes O’Hagan is perhaps at his best when ◆ Geology of the S Devon Coast (Dorset county are known to have occurred there either describing the lives of the average working boundary to Brixham area) & Geology of the Dorset Coast (2nd Edn) in historic times or in the Holocene. This men and women who populated these by John C W Cope. Geologists’ Association 122pp & is a region that is not heavily populated towns; but a lot of time is spent discussing 222pp resp., sbk. OFFERED FOR REVIEW TOGETHER or well mapped or instrumented. None the technology advances introduced in the of the papers covers the entire geologic mines, including the Irish narrow-gauge
24 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 25 Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as promptly as possible in Geoscientist Online and a selection FOR A FULL LIST OF TITLES AVAILABLE, GO TO READERS’ printed each month. Please submit your letter (300 words or WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/REVIEWS 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 1851 Exhibition is still paying
Sir, I read in your magazine (Geoscientists passim.) ‘For reasons lost in the mists of time the President of the Society is an ex-officio Commissioner of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851’. I thought I would attempt to thin these mists a little. The Society of Arts (now the Royal Society of Arts) proposed a national exhibition of manufactures in 1844. The SA’s patron, Prince Albert, backed the idea and was instrumental in forming a Royal Commission. To broaden representation, leaders of industry, arts and science were appointed. These included, among others, Sir Charles Lyell, then President of the Geological Society and Sir Henry De la Beche, founder and Director General of the Geological Survey. Charles Lyell’s position on the Royal Commission has been inherited by all subsequent Presidents of the Geological Society. The Great Exhibition of 1851 earned a large surplus (£505,000). Investments from the original surplus continue to generate income; the forward-looking Royal Commission continued to administer and distribute this income for the furtherance of the objectives of the 1851 project.
JOHN HENRY
Scaling CCS Helium economics
Sir, Bryan Lovell’s Soapbox (Geoscientist 27.10 November 2017) concludes: Sir, I found the article on helium by Danabalan and colleagues “We geologists have been set the challenge of finding adequate safe storage for (Geoscientist 27.11 December/January 2017/18) an interesting and carbon dioxide … We have seldom had a more important job to do.” I would go timely reminder of an often overlooked resource. The authors have further, and say it is the pre-eminent practical challenge for geosciences in the evidence of helium being vented from ‘off-spec gas’ during clean-up. next two or three decades. This isn’t surprising and is an indication of the complexity of the CCS needs to be operating by mid-century at a scale comparable with the economics of helium recovery. Oddly the nitrogen content of the gas
current global fossil fuel industry and dealing not only with CO2 from power plants can be important in the economics of helium recovery in those fields and other familiar industrial ‘point sources’, but also from bio-energy production which are predominantly methane.
and probably from methane to hydrogen conversion and direct air capture of CO2. Helium is extracted from natural gas by fractional distillation at low But is CCS on such a scale geologically feasible? Opinion is strong and temperature. This inevitably requires an expensive, energy-hungry
divided. It seems to me that the longer that geological storage/disposal of CO2 gas-processing plant. The economics of this process can be quite (in whatever form) is portrayed primarily as the saviour of fossil fuel, the greater will challenging, but this changes if the natural gas is mostly methane be the resistance to it. but contains sufficient nitrogen (c. >4%) to be ‘out of spec’. The The time has come for the Society to educate its Fellows on the geological nitrogen must be removed from the gas stream before it can be sent prospects for CCS, both globally (the scale that matters) and for the UK. A to market, again using cryogenic distillation. Since such a plant is concise survey of the current scene would enable Fellows to have informed required anyway, only the incremental cost of additionally recovering discussions of CCS in their professional and social networks, and help counter helium need be considered. Helium recovery could then be an false narratives. attractive bonus to an essentially methane development. HUGH RICHARDS JEREMY LOCKETT
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 25 PEOPLE NEWS Glossop Evening 2017
Dr Jackie Skipper (right) received the Glossop Medal and delivered the Glossop Lecture 2017 at the Royal Institution on November 8. The awards were presented by Emma Slack
The Glossop Award (left) was given to Gemma Sherwood of Atkins for her project: Construction of Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station
CAROUSEL All Fellows of the Society are entitled to entries in this column. Please email [email protected], quoting your Fellowship number.
◆ David Abbott ◆ Chris Cornford Has been appointed American Association of Was recognised for his lifetime of work in the South-West Petroleum Geologists Distinguished Lecturer for Ethics. region with the Frederick Sherrell Career Recognition This position will involve travelling around the US and Award 2017. Sadly, following a long battle with cancer, further afield, lecturing on geoscience professional Chris had died 10 days before the AGM and so the ethics at AAPG meetings, at geoscience society meetings, award was received by his son Dan. Chris, as well as founding his colleges and universities. David has been writing and speaking geochemical consultancy – which is based near Bideford – was an about geoscience professional ethics since 1989. active member of the Geological Society, the Ussher Society and the Devonshire Association (President 2014-2015).
◆ Mike Bowman ◆ Graham Worton Has left his position of Professor and Chair of the Borough Geologist, Dudley Council, has been awarded Petroleum Engineering programme at Texas A&M the Brighton Medal, an award set up in memory of the University at Qatar, returning to the UK at the end renowned Bertie Brighton, a curator of the Sedgwick of November 2017. He will continue to hold an Museum who through his lifetime catalogued more than Honorary Visiting Professorship in the School of Earth & 375,000 specimens at a rate of more than 10,000 a year. Graham Environmental Sciences (University of Manchester). He is has worked for Dudley Council for 17 years and has been closely also an independent non-executive Director on the boards involved with Dudley Museum for more than 35 years. The award of RWM UK Ltd and Nu Oil and a trustee of the River Holme is given every three years to a curator by Geological Curators’ Connections Charity. Group.
26 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 27 GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE NEWS
Geoscientists in the news and on the move in the UK, Europe and worldwide
DISTANT THUNDER Enduring Love
Geologist and science used to converse on all manner memory – and especially his writer Nina Morgan of subjects connected with the books – remained describes a belles-lettres and the philosophy very much alive. Her love life-changing encounter. of mind.” never died. The quote “Fortune favours the Silent on the subject The Society notes with prepared mind” is generally However, he noted: sadness the passing of: attributed to French scientist “... Love formed the one solitary Louis Pasteur [1822 – 1895]. subject which, from some curious Booth, Tony * But it might equally be applied contingency, invariably escaped Catt, John Chillingworth, Patrick Cecil Hamilton * to geologist, evangelical writer us... Nature had not fashioned Coombs, Douglas * and one-time stonemason, me one of the sort of people Cornford, Chris Hugh Miller [1802 – 1856]. who fall in love at first sight. Drysdall, Alan Roy * Miller was born in Cromarty I had even made up my mind Elueze, Anthony Azbuike * Emeleus, Charles Henry on the northeast coast of to live a bachelor life, without Fischer, Alfred* Scotland. Following the death being much impressed by the Helm, Derick * of his shipmaster father in 1807, magnitude of the sacrifice” Helm, Douglas George * he was raised by his mother But in the end love Howell, Frank Travis * Kelly, Desmond Michael * and her brothers. His life was blossomed, and much to the King, Anthony John Paynter nothing if not varied. Expelled disapproval of Lydia’s mother, Laws, Michael James * from school at around the age the two became engaged. In Leighton, James * of 16, and perhaps influenced a letter to Alexander Finlay, a Marshall, Mr John A * O’Reilly, Kevin J O * by a passionate interest in the former school fellow, written in Shepherd, Colin* local geology, he first worked as 1836 Miller expressed his elation Shingleton, Sam * a stone mason. His life changed at the prospect of his forthcoming Trewin, Nigel * forever when, at the age of 29, marriage. “And isn’t it a still Whitlow, Roy * Wilson, John Brodie he had a fortunate encounter better thing that a bonny sweet Young, Paul Ivor * with a young lady who was to lassie with a great deal of fine become his wife. sense and a highly cultivated In the interests of recording its Fellows’ As he recorded in his mind does’nt [sic] think me too work for posterity, the Society publishes obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. 1852 book My schools and ugly to be liked very much and The most recent additions to the list are schoolmasters: promises to marry me sometime in shown in bold. Fellows for whom no “[I] had just closed my work in Spring! Miller took up a new obituarist has yet been commissioned are for the evening when I was career as an accountant for the marked with an asterisk (*). The symbol § indicates that biographical material has visited by one of my lady friends Commercial Bank in Cromarty in been lodged with the Society. ... when a third lady, greatly 1834, and nearly five years after Hugh Miller, marble statue by Amelia younger than the others, and their fortunate meeting, the couple Robertson Hill, 1820 - 1904, Sculptor. If you would like to contribute an obituary, whom I had never seem before were married on 7 January 1837. © National Museums Scotland please email [email protected] to be commissioned. You can read the came hurriedly tripping down guidance for authors at www.geolsoc. the garden-walk... the young Keeping ➤ Acknowledgement org.uk/obituaries. To save yourself lady was, I saw, very pretty... nor memory alive Sources for this vignette unnecessary work, please do not write did I observe that she favoured The couple’s affection for each include the DNB entry anything until you have received a for Lydia Miller by Marian commissioning letter. me with a single glance.... But other was reinforced by their McKenzie Johnson; the what else could be expected by intellectual compatibility. In DNB entry for Hugh Miller by Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is an ungainly, dust-besprinkled 1840 Miller became founding Michael Taylor; Hugh Miller forthcoming have their names and dates mechanic in his shirt sleeves, editor of an Edinburgh-based by Keith Leask (1896), My recorded in a Roll of Honour at schools and schoolmasters www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. with a leathern apron before newspaper, The Witness – a by Hugh Miller (1852); him” move that launched his career Hugh Miller’s memoir: from The young lady, intelligent as a journalist and popular writer stonemason to geologist, ed. Help your obituarist M. Shortland (1995) and well read, was Lydia about geology. After his tragic The Society operates a scheme for Fellows * Nina Morgan is a geologist to deposit biographical material. The Frasier, then just 19 years old. death from a shotgun wound in and science writer based object is to assist obituarists by providing A friendship between the two 1856, Lydia, by then a successful near Oxford. Her latest contacts, dates and other information, and soon arose, with Miller meeting children’s author writing under the book, The Geology of thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded Lydia “at the charming tea- pen name ‘Mrs Harriet Myrtle’, Oxford Gravestones, is appropriate and accurate commemoration. available via Please send your CV, publications list and a parties of the place” where “we ensured that her husband’s www.gravestonegeology.uk photograph to Ted Nield at the Society.
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 27 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY
OBITUARY Deryck James Colson Laming 1931-2017
Exeter-based geological consultant and editor, expert consultant, based Ussher in Exeter, Deryck on South West England and the New Red Sandstone Deryck was a Senior Fellow Laming had been of the Society, having joined professionally as a Junior Associate in 1952; A involved with an early supporter of the geology in south-west England Institution of Geologists, for over 60 years. He was and a regular participant born on 24 November 1931, at meetings of the Ussher at Plumstead in south-east Society. He had many interests London, the second of three outside geology: he sang in brothers. From Shooter’s Hill local choirs, was involved Grammar School, he went in local politics and was to Imperial College in 1949, an active member of the graduating with first class Methodist Church in Exeter. honours and staying on to He had attended the Ussher undertake research under meeting in early January, Doug Shearman. where he took a full part in His PhD on ‘Sedimentary the discussions, but soon processes in the formation afterwards fell, fracturing of the New Red Sandstone his hip and contracting of South Devonshire’ was pneumonia, from which he awarded in 1954, when he was died on 30 January. An early just 22 years old – a remarkable marriage broke down and achievement. Later that same for the past two years he had year he left for Canada to work lived with Margaret Dobson, a in the oil industry in Calgary, geologist, fellow student before an appointment as and long-time friend, who lecturer in sedimentology survives him. and marine geology at the University of New Brunswick, consultancy, which and undertook studies on where he is remembered for his he named Herrington local estuaries which, in some EDITORIAL role in the birth of the journal Geoscience, after the village cases, involved 20 years of WORK WAS Atlantic Geology. in County Durham where he monitoring. was living at the time. Editorial work was a A SPECIALITY, AND UNESCO Moving to Exeter shortly speciality, and he compiled HE COMPILED THE Returning to the UK in 1967, afterwards he rapidly The Herrington List, which Deryck held several university established himself as recorded the titles of research HERRINGTON LIST, posts, including two years at a consulting geologist, theses on British geology WHICH RECORDED University College, Swansea. working with industry, between 1960 and 1984, and THE TITLES OF In 1969, invited by UNESCO, advising on dam sites co-edited The Geology of Devon. he went to the University of in collaboration with He sought a source of stone RESEARCH THESES Dacca, then in East Pakistan, the engineer Ernest for the restoration of Exeter ON BRITISH GEOLOGY as Professor of Sedimentary Taylor and making a Cathedral, and was involved Geology. Later he worked significant contribution recently with the route of a BETWEEN 1960 AND for UNDP in Bangkok to our understanding pipeline tunnel beneath the 1984 coordinating the offshore of the regional geology, Exe estuary. The South West mineral and petroleum particularly the ‘red beds’ Regional Group of the Society exploration programmes of which he had worked on awarded him its Frederick seven East Asian countries. for his PhD. He advised Sherrell Career Recognition ➤ By John Mather In 1974, he started his own on shoreline management Award in 2011.
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 | FEBRUARY 2018 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST CROSSWORD
CROSSWORD NO.222 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL PUBLICATION!
The winner of the November Crossword puzzle prize draw was Lauren Manning of Newcastle upon Tyne.
All correct solutions will be placed in the draw, and the winner’s name printed in the April 2018 issue. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date - February 12 2018.
The competition is open to all Fellows, Candidate Fellows and Friends of the Geological Society who are not current Society employees, officers or trustees. This exclusion does not apply to officers of joint associations, specialist or regional groups.
Please return your completed crossword to Burlington House, marking your envelope “Crossword”. Do not enclose any other matter with your solution. Overseas Fellows are encouraged to scan the signed form and email it as a PDF to [email protected] ACROSS DOWN Name ...... 07 Reincorporated fossil (7) 01 Pr oduced by wind, like dune Membership number ...... 08 Mythical hybrid creature used as a bedding (7) logo by Mobil Oil since the 1930s (7) 02 Cut by vertical cracks (8) Address for correspondence ...... 10 Upward-fining cyclic sediments 03 Gentle, sweet breeze (6) ...... deposited by turbidity currents (6) 04 Jew of Iberian origin (8) 11 Snake (8) 05 Lawless, desperate marauder - ...... 12 Cold sea fret typical of the English eating a 1970s chocolate biscuit (6) ...... NE (4) 06 Keeper of museum collection (7) ...... 13 Partial refusion or solution of a 09 Oil or gas rig workers with no phenocryst (10) specific skills (11) ...... 14 Characteristics produced by 15 Graphite, historically (8) Postcode ...... evolutionary pressure on evolving 16 Free-swimming in the ocean (8) lineages (11) 17 Scientific periodical (7) 19 After the ‘bell of quittance is heard in 18 Dig up, bring to light (7) SOLUTIONS NOVEMBER the gloom’... (10) 20 Alarm bell - sounds poisonous (6) 22 Small crookedness in the straight; a 21 Short-term standing wave Across: sexual proclivity (4) oscillation of the water level in 7 Neotype 8 Faraday 10 Wrench 11 Socrates 12 Afar 13 Transition 14 Hydrophilic 23 More common than a bouquet (8) a lake (6) 19 Antecedent 22 Oboe 23 Lancelet 24 Line of equal pressure (6) 24 Exhume 25 Teenage 26 Bedrock 25 Long tubes used to shutter drill holes (7) 26 Careful with money (7) Down: 1 Petrify 2 Stingray 3 Upshot 4 Narcissi 5 Basalt 6 Camelot 9 Escarpments 15 Rheology 16 Isochore 17 Enrages 18 Dormice 20 Eocene 21 Toeset
WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | FEBRUARY 2018 | 29 GEOSCIENCE JOBS
Geoscience Jobs is the offical jobs platform for the Geological Society. Whether you are searching for a new role, or in a managerial position keen to advertise a new vacancy, you will be able to access and use jobs.geolsoc.org.uk knowing it is tailored to a broad spectrum of specialist earth science professions. Managed by the Geological Society of London, Geoscience Jobs is an essential resource for any earth science professional looking for the next step in their career.
LIVE NOW
SIGN UP & RECEIVE UPDATES ON THE SITE AND BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN THE FIRST WAVE OF WORLDWIDE OPPORTUNITIES IS PUBLISHED jobs.geolsoc.org.uk
IF YOU HAVE A JOB VACANCY TO ADVERTISE CALL DIRECTLY ON 01727 739 182 Early Bird Registration ends 31 January 2018 www.pesgb.org.uk/asia-pacific-ep-conference/ PES GB
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE THURSDAY 28 JUNE 08.50 Introduction and Welcome SESSION FIVE SOUTH CHINA SEA SESSION ONE CONTEXT 09.00 South China Sea: the Problem of Politics 09.00 Keynote - What the future holds for SE Asia’s E&P Industry. Chatham House An independents perspective 09.25 Rewards and Challenges of Exploration on the South China Margin Richard Lorentz BP 09.25 E&P CONFERENCE Opportunities in Asia Pacific 09.50 Ca Voi Xanh Field, Vietnam: Exploration Highlights and Development IHS Markit Challenges 09.50 Plate Tectonic Reconstructions of SE Asia ExxonMobil Geognostics 10.15 TBA Course on the 10.15 Paleogeographic Mapping of SE Asia Empyrean Energy Petroleum Geology Palynova 10.40 REFRESHMENT BREAK 10.40 of SE Asia REFRESHMENT BREAK SESSION SIX 25-26 June 2018 SESSION TWO CAMBODIA & REGIONAL ASPECTS Premier Oil Offices, MYANMAR 11.15 Cambodia Victoria 11.15 Exploring the “undeformed” Bengal fan and what lies below KrisEnergy Ophir Energy 11.40 Volcanic Reservoirs in SE Asia : An Overview 11.40 Exploration History and Future Potential of Myanmar’s Onshore Basins Andy Racey Geoscience South East Asia Andy Racey Geoscience 12.05 Sediment Provenance Studies in SE Asia Petroleum Geology 12.05 Physics and Biology of Biogenic Gas Plays : Implications for SE Asia Royal Holloway University Workshop for MacGeology Ltd 12.30 12.30 LUNCH Managers LUNCH SESSION SEVEN 26 June 2018 SESSION THREE NW BORNEO Premier Oil Offices, PAPUA NEW GUINEA 13.30 tbc Victoria 13.30 The Antelope Gas Discovery and Surrounding Prospectivity Shell TOTAL 13.55 13.55 A New Direction for Asian Stratigraphy Ice Breaker Tectonic Evolution of the Gulf Of Papua & Offshore Papuan Plateau Universiti Teknologi Petronas TOTAL Reception 14.20 Reservoir Characterization of Deep Marine sediments, Northern 14.20 Pasca A field, offshore Papua New Guinea Borneo 26 June 2018 Twinza Oil Geode Hand & Flower Pub, 14.45 Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Basins 14.45 Frontier Sabah Malaysia – New Exploration Opportunities Discover Geoscience Olympia PGS 15.10 REFRESHMENT BREAK 15.10 REFRESHMENT BREAK Quiz Night SESSION FOUR INDONESIA SESSION EIGHT 27 June 2018 AUSTRALIA & TIMOR-LESTE 15.45 Exploration History of the Jangkik and Merakes Discoveries in the Bush Hall, 15.45 Kutei Delta Onshore Timor-Leste Prospectivity Shepherd’s Bush ENI Timor Gap 16.10 16.10 Shallow Gas Play Takes Off in West Natuna Sea, Indonesia Mesozoic Stratigraphic Evolution of the North Carnarvon Basin 17.00 Conrad Petroleum BP Pub Crawl 16.35 16.35 The Greater Tarakan Basin Area - New Plans And New Opportunities Australia NW Shelf Successes 28 June 2018 VGS Carnarvon various locations
17.00 Onshore Indonesian Anticlines Revisited 17.00 Asia-Pacific Unconventional Opportunities at $50 Oil
Sonoro Energy RISC Advisory Field Trip EVENING SOCIAL - QUIZ NIGHT, BUSH HALL EVENING SOCIAL - PUB CRAWL
Please note that content is subject to change and approvals Please note that content
NEW IDEAS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES NEW IDEAS, NEW 2018 JUNE 27-28 LONDON, OLYMPIA ASIA-PACIFIC REVISITED ASIA-PACIFIC 29 June – 1 July 2018
flyers.indd 4 08/01/2018 16:02:29 Move2018 out now!
Highlights include:
• A brand new 2D Elliptical-Fault Flow algorithm and a new surface construction tool. • Developments and improved functionality within the horizon/fault extrusion and extension tools. • Stochastic modelling in Fault Analysis • Monte Carlo Fracture Response in Fault Response Modelling. • A new Attribute Query tool and 3D Seismic export capability. • Map View control of 3D data.
Visit www.mve.com/move-latest for more information
See it first at our Edinburgh Training, 22-26 January
Visit www.mve.com/training to see our full training diary and to register a Petroleum Experts Ltd. Company
GeoScientist Ad Jan 18.FINAL.indd 1 22/12/2017 13:40:34