THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

CHAIRMAN A. CUTLER, B.Sc. VICE CHAIRMAN P. G. OLIVER, B.Sc., Ph.D., F.G.S. HON. SECRETARY D. S. WRAIGHT HON. TREASURER Mrs. E. BAKEWELL

T NEWSLETTER NO. 6 -- NOVENBER 137E

Editorial

Many important geological exposures are in conglomerates. The underground workings the process of disappearing or are are unsafe. The site is rapidly threatened. This is only too clear deteriorating, and it was felt that some fo lowing recent lectures and field trips action to conserve it should be made. studies at Pouk Hill, Wren's Nest and der sites. The BOGS must take up the The party then drove to Barr Beacon. Fine .challenge by creating a positive working views over the Black Country as far as relationship with interested (or in some , with on the horizon, cases disinterested) bodies and also by made this stop profitable alone, but the being ever watchful. Permo-Triassic succession of the Barr Beacon ridge was also investigated. It has The Health and Safety at Work Act has made an eastward dip, and the sediments show a life somewhat difficult for geologists palaeocurrent from the south. The absence visiting exposures on private land. It is of Lower Mottled Sandstone from this side in our own interests to be safety conscious of the Coalfield implies that the Coalfield during fiefd work at all times. The block acted as some kind of control on Committee, therefore, is recommending, as a sedimentation during the Permo-Trias. first step, that helmets are worn in quarries and at large outcrops. Helmets Having seen sites on both sides of the fault, will. be available^_._...._ for purchase at or coming the party then moved to a locality of great me"et"irigs. geological importance, as it lies exactly on the Eastern Boundary Fault: the Three :rs y Field Excursion to the Eastern Boundar Fault Public House . A full investigation of this theiWlalsall lnlier, Sunday 18 July 1976 exposure proved a pleasurable way of spending lunchtime. The cars were left (wisely?) in About a dozen members. met at the Royal Oak, the car park, and the party walked along the Daw End, , to examine the geology of outcrop of the Barr Limestone, a few. the Walsall area. Peter Whitehead acted as exposures of which still remain in the guide. Hayhead Quarries. At the end of the quarries, the fault itself can only be traced The first locality visited was the Daw End by a change in soil and vegetation. Railway cutting, which was studied from the Dales Lane Bridge, as permission to enter From Three Crowns, the party drove down Skip the cutting is virtually unobtainable. In Lane, noting old coal pits in Beds. the cutting, the Wenlock Shale is seen to next to the fault, which indicates a throw dip west at about 10 0 , and is overlain by of some 800 m. Finally, the party saw a Lower Wenlock Limestone - several good small exposure of Upper Llandovery sandstone 'crogballs' are exposed, these being at the Aston University Sportsground in interpreted as patch-reefs. This limestone Road. This outcrop is on a horst has been quarried along its outcrop in in the fault complex, and these are the Walsall, but the quarries, in most cases, oldest exposed beds in Walsall. A Cambrian are overgrown. basement was proved by borehole in 1937.

Along the cutting runs the Daw End Fault, Hence, the Walsall area shows great`• which brings down the limestone by Bosty geological variety, but is regrettably only Lane, and here, in Linley Wood, old workings exposed in a few good sites. and crownings show the Nodular Beds overlain by Middle Coal Measure sandstone and -2-

Next For ial Meet in -- Annual Social The southern end of the has been affected by subsidence resulting in This year, the 'get-together' of members "The Bulge" and "The Gaol" where a complete will be on Thursday 18h November at the layer of brick had to be removed to allow 'Old Mill', Windmill Street, Upper Gornal, boats through. . Come and enjoy a cosy, friendly evening with a superb buffet. Tickets The last 10 chains of the tunnel were £1.50 from Eileen Bakewell (Kingswinford rebuilt in the 19th century because of 79589). mining subsidence. This is also the driest part of the tunnel because water drains Next Lecture - 9th December through the tunnel to disused mine workings below. will Doug Bedson lecture on 'The History of Tectonics', Dudley Library 7.45 p.m. During the two hour trip, members were given Tea and biscuits at 7.15 p.m. an opportunity to 'leg' the boat and several people including children took up the offer Trip T•nrouGh Dudley Tunnel and managed to propel the boat for a short distance. i On; ay August 22nd, approximately 56 meth s and friends enjoyed a guided trip At the end of the trip, members were given thr gb Tunnel. John Horton the opportunity to purchase booklets and of the Canal Trust described the con- souvenirs.. If anybody else would like struction of the tunnel and the copies of the booklet, please interesting features as they were reached. contact the Hon. Secretary.

The first 150 yards are the oldest part The Black Country Geologist of the tunnel and leads to Skirts Hill Basin and then Castle Hill Basin. The A number of publication problems have held latter is interesting geologically and up the appearance of The Society's Journal. can be reached+ by foot. There are 3 Every effort will be made to produce it as exits from the Basin, two forming the soon as possible. present tunnel and the other leading to the disused and blocked Wren's Nest Muck low Hill Exposure Tunnel. It is hoped that as soon as the recording at The main section of tunnel 2904 yards Pouk Hil l is complete, more time can be long. cuts through a variety of rocks. and sPfat the Mucklow Hill exposure. The nel has been lined W where the rocks latter is proving to be extremely significant jc t or unstable. with much debate about the form of the junction between the Etruria Marl and the Halesowen Beds. The first notable feature is Cathedral All excavations in the area must be carefully Arch which is the underground junction of monitored, and these and existing exposures leading to disused mines beneath mapped. Castle Hill. It is hoped to fix a field trip date in the Quarry Pit, one of the original near future. constructional shafts has some beautiful oxide stained stalactite formations. Conserving Shropshire's Geology Calcite formations are found throughout a large proportion of the tunnel in the The Society was pleased to welcome Dr. Toghili form of "curtains" stathed by iron oxide on September 23rd who started his lecture by and calcite straws-hanging from the roof. defining the word conservation as:Active intervention to A) Make sites last longer, or The tunnel was started at various places B) To preserve a site for ever. along its course and the effects of this can be seen in the Basalt Cavern at With the use of some excellent slides, Dr. 39 chains. This is an unlined section and Toghill in his role as a member of the shows the shot. holes drilled from opposite Shropshire Conservation Trust showed how he directions. This is the only point from was actively involved in both types of which both ends of the tunnel can be seen. conservation. -3-

Using grants made available by the Nature Pouk Hill. Conservancy, the Trust has been able to erect signs and fences at various sites The recording of sections at Pouk Hill is within Shrc shire. The-signs are used to nearing completion. A final field trip was good purpose and include information fixed for the morning of Sunday 31st October. about the history of the site, access and This may be our last c ance to see the restricted areas. These signs have been excellent exposures of dolerite before they very effective and have helped to prevent are buried beneath the waste of a thousand further "student erosion" at sites which homes. are famous and consequently attract a lot of. attention. Programme 1977

Sites well known for their sedimentary January 6th."The Geological Survey . Sheet 167- structures also have signs and these Dudley and Bridanorth". An infpz`mal discussion. display an extra line "No Hammering Dudley Library 7.3.5 p.m. Please". Again these have been effective. January 16th. Field Tri p . A. Cutler B.Sc. The Trust, with the aid of a Palaeontological "The Western Boundary Fault". Meet Dudley Society Grant have purchased an old quarry. Library 9.445 a.m. Bring a,packed lunch. or - new exposures and closed old ones. Tk..^ a exposures have been made available February 17th. Lecture. Colin Knipe B.Sc.F.G.1 for research and it is hoped that students "Faults and Folds of the S. Staffs Coalfield". and teachers of geology will respect them. Dudley Library, 7.45 p.m. Tea & biscuits 7.15 p

Dr. Toghill outlined the policy of the Trust March 10th. Annual General meeting, Dudley in making new sites available especially Library. those which may be affected by quarrying. He also mentioned the work of the Forestry March 20th or 27th. ipi-_ Commission who, during the last 6 months The Qle ecer^c ion.tiy have clearedrthe quarries along the April 21st. Film Night - Dudley Library. Wigmore Road at Ludlow. The Nature Conservancy with the Shropshire May 12th. Informal Meeting - Dudley Library. Conservation Trust are currently writing May 22nd. Field Trip - W.J. Norton F.G.S. a trail guide to these exposures. However, "The Ludlow An€cline". a totally new solution will be needed for the exposure at Ludford Bridge in Ludlow June 9th. Informal Meeting - Dudley Library. .ih - .ere the Ludlow Bone Bed is exposed L June 18th. Field Trip - P. Whitehead - : Castleton Area. 'I 4 i .his lecture, Dr. Toghill mentioned the work of some American friends who have July 7th. Informal Meeting - Dudley Library. been collecting samples of bentonite clay July 10th or 17th. Aust Cliff & Severn - for radio1 ti . --k r & i tes"'E F'ield Trip. gav date of 453 million years for a ben anite an `Strata cSase August 4th. Informal Meeting - Dudley Library, its notion with Silurian Strata. Dr August 14th. Field Trip to the Cotswolds. Toghill has found various bands of bentonite cla in the Silurian Rock of September 4th. Field trip (morning only). Shropshire. This leads to the possible Birch Coppice Opencast. conclusion that there was volcanic September 22nd. Lecture - T. Pettigrew, M activit in Silurian times oin a formerly British Antarctic Survey now with much larger $cafe thah was thought Sunderland Museum. previously. October 6th. Informal Meeting - Dudley Librar: Dr. Toghill's lecture provided a useful Cto er 9th 16th _ ld Trip to guide to the way in which the Society C nwo orest. might direct its own thoughts and some ideas as to the methods which can be November 17th. Social Evening. used in recording, research and December 8th. Members Evening - Dudley Librar, conservation. Editor: Peter Oliver 26 Belvedere Close, 'Kidderminster DY t0 3AT