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MAGAZINEMAGAZINE OFOF THETHE GEOLOGISTS’GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIAASSOCIATIONTION Volume 8 No. 3 September 2009

FESTIVAL OF GEOLOGY Festival Field Trips Future Lectures Report of Lectures Rockwatch Book Reviews Finds at Portishead Lyme Regis Festival CIRCULAR 980 Tell us about yourself Mole Valley Celebrations Curry Fund support for...... Suttona Antiquior Lectures Bob Stoneley - thanks Forest mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 16:19 Page 2

Magazine of the Geologists’ Association From the President Volume 8 No. 3, 2009 Summer is generally a quiet time for Published by the news and therefore an excellent oppor- tunity to get out and about on fieldwork Geologists’ Association. CONTENTS at home or overseas. I have recently become interested in exploring more of Four issues per year. the famous fossil-rich caves ISSN 1476-7600 3. The Association in the south-west of and have 4. FESTIVAL OF GEOLOGY Production team: JOHN CROCKER, just returned from a couple of weeks 5. Festival Field Trips excavating in a new cave in Somerset Paula Carey, John Cosgrove, 6. Future Lectures where we are finding abundant fossil Vanessa Harley, Bill French 7. Report March/April Lectures material, including wild horse, red deer, mountain hare and many thousands of 8. Rockwatch Printed by City Print, Milton Keynes rodent remains that date to the very 9. Book Review end of the last Ice Age, around 14,500 10. Finds at Portishead years ago. The vertebrate assemblage The GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION Lyme Regis Festival will provide an important means of does not accept any responsibility for 11. CIRCULAR 980 establishing how the fauna responded views and opinions expressed by indi- 15. Book Review to the high-frequency millennial-scale vidual authors in this magazine. climatic changes known from this peri- Tell us about yourself od and help us to understand how early 16. Mole Valley 30th Celebrations modern humans in Britain coped with The Geologists’ Curry Fund support for...... these dramatic changes. I'm also look- Association 17. Report of June Lecture ing forward to participating in new Suttona Antiquior excavations later this summer at the The Association, founded in 1858, exists to world-famous site of Kents Cavern in 18. London Fossils book review foster the progress and diffusion of the sci- Torquay. Classified as a geological Site ence of geology, and to encourage 19. London Quaternary Lecture of Special Scientific Interest and a research and the development of new 20. Foss Quarry Update Scheduled Ancient Monument since the methods. It holds meetings for the reading 21. Bob Stoneley - thanks 1950s, the cave was initially excavated of papers and the delivery of lectures, 22. Pliocene Forest by William Pengelly and others, and is organises museum demonstrations, pub- renowned for its Palaeolithic archaeolo- lishes Proceedings and Guides, and con- gy and the discovery of a jawbone frag- ducts field meetings. ment dated to around 40 000 years old. Advertising Rates The identity of the jawbone's erstwhile Annual Subscriptions for 2009 are £40.00, Full Page £360 Half Page £190 Associates £30.00, Joint Members £58.00, owner is currently a mystery as it rep- Quarter Page £100 resents either one of the last Students £18.00. Other sizes by arrangement. For forms of Proposal for Membership and Neanderthals surviving in Britain or one further information, apply to the Executive of the earliest modern humans - either way, an exciting question! Wherever Secretary, The Geologists’ Association, ADVERTISEMENTS you are this summer, there is usually Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J While precautions are taken to ensure the something of geological relevance with- validity of advertisements the Association 0DU. in a few metres, from building stones to is not responsible for the items offered, for E-mail [email protected] coastal exposures and if you haven't yet any loss arising or for their compliance with Telephone 020 7434 9298 planned any trips, why not take advan- Fax 020 7287 0280 tage of the excellent series of GA Website: http://www.geologistsassocia- © The Geologists’ Association. Guides for inspiration? tion.org.uk All rights reserved. No part of this publica- Looking ahead to the autumn, the tion may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval British Science Festival is taking place President: Danielle Schreve system or transmitted, in any form or by at the University of Surrey in Guildford means, without the prior permission in writ- from 5th-10th September so if you can Executive Secretary: Sarah ing of the author and the Geologists’ get along to it, there are many activities Stafford Association. and talks of interest to geologists, LAST Copy dates for the including lectures on evolution and nat- ural selection, Ice Age mammals, the Circular & Magazine origins of human creativity and technol- March Issue January 14th ogy, offshore oil exploration and climate June Issue April 22nd change (see http://www.britishscience- September Issue July 22nd association.org for further details). December Issue October 21st Plans for our own Festival of Geology at University College London are also well Items should be submitted as soon as possi- underway, with an exciting programme Cover picture: ble and not targeted on these dates. We wel- of lectures, Rockwatch activities and come contributions from Members and others. fieldtrips, as well as stands and presen- Volcanic ash plume over tations by our Local Groups. As ever, it Closing dates for applications to the Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. promises to be a highly enjoyable event Curry Fund for 2009: so do make sure you have got the date Photo: S. Edwards 2006. - Saturday 1st November - firmly - see page 6 for lecture details August 20 for September 18 meeting inscribed in your diaries! In the mean- November 20 for December 11 meeting time, I wish you all a good summer and look forward to seeing you again at the autumn lectures and at the Festival.

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THE ASSOCIATION Report from Council the PESGB in memory of Bob Stoneley Curry Fund plaque. Gloucestershire which will take place on October 1 2010 Geology Trust was granted £100 when Professor Dick Selley will talk on towards geodiversity promotion at the This report covers the June and July "Oil exploration in Dorset". This will recent Three Counties Show which was meetings of Council in which new mem- recognise Bob's contribution, not only deemed by the applicants to be a great bers are welcomed on to Council. to the GA but also to other organisa- success. An interest-free loan of tions such as the GS, PESGB, and £1600, repayable within two years, was The President introduced for Council's JAPEC . awarded to the Cumberland Geological consideration, an initiative to improve Society for its book - "Iron Ore Mines of the efficiency of the GA's operations, in As part of the new publishing deal for West Cumbria". The application from view of the diverse challenges that the PGA, Elsevier have agreed to sponsor Dr. Blanco of Leeds University was Association faces. The main issue is an annual scientific meeting of the GA. refused as it fell outside the Guidelines. that the GA Council currently serves as The first one of these will take place in The outstanding applications which a forum for the reporting of activities 2010 so, for this year (in view of the were funded after supplementary infor- but that there is relatively little time limited time available to make arrange- mation was received were from UCL available in meetings to discuss strate- ments), it was agreed by Council that Geology Collections. £3000 was award- gy or new ideas in any depth. Ideally the GA should sponsor the London ed towards a review, documentation we should develop an annual plan that Quaternary Lectures, which will be and some preliminary archiving of its addresses the activities and objectives open to all GA members. See the notice Micropalaeontology collections. Dorset for the current year, together with the on page 19 for further details. County Museum was granted £1500 long term objectives for the towards the cost of conservation of an Association. These should be reviewed Council received positive feedback from ichthyosaur specimen and the on an annual basis. In addition, the members on the Annual Dinner, which Warwickshire Geoconservation Group current practice does not currently eas- was held this year after the AGM in the requested a "fast track" review of its ily allow for all Council members to con- Connaught Hotel, across the road from geology leaflet on Leamington and this tribute in areas in which they might Burlington House. Sarah was congratu- was agreed. have particular expertise or interest. lated on arranging this event and the As only two (of three possible) £1,000 The President therefore proposed the plan is to return there for the 2010 MSc Curry awards were made this year, creation of around six committees or Annual Dinner. the President requested that the unpaid working groups tasked with specific £1,000 be transferred to the new GA remits, such as finance, membership awards Scheme. The Curry Fund and outreach, which will report back to Committee agreed but stressed that Council on a monthly basis. At the John Crocker this should not be seen as setting a October meeting Council will consider General Secretary precedent. whether to implement this initiative and This is a shortened report so that review the structure and aims of reports from some applicants that have Council. At present Council is rather Curry Fund Report been received as a requirement of the reactive to events and a clearer aim for grants can be shared with you, the magazine readers. We thought that you the coming year is desirable so that it At its June meeting the Curry Fund can be more proactive. would find these interesting and that received five new applications and they'd give you a flavour of some of the made decisions on three matters out- Council has become aware of problems innovative work funded by the Curry standing and on one request from the Fund. in finding biographical information on President. GA members on occasions where an Of the new applications the Leeds Susan Brown obituary is needed for the magazine or Geological Association was awarded Curry Fund Secretary the Proceedings. It was therefore felt £297.85 for new laminated poster that if members were willing to supply boards for display at events. A novel this type of information, together with a application by Geosuffolk was funded photograph, it could be stored at the with £372 for three extant Pliocene GA Office. Please see the request for (Coralline Crag age) tree genera as information on page 15. specimen plants at Sutton Knoll, Suffolk. The site will also display the There will be a special joint lecture with

APPEAL FROM GA ENTERPRISES

If you are doing some late spring-cleaning and have any items of books or specimens you no longer require, please donate them to us for the Bring and Buy table at the Festival of Geology on October 31st. There is only one meeting between now and then, so please bring them along on October 3rd, so that we can price them up.

We are also very much in need of help on the stand both at evening meetings and especially at the Festival. If you can spare even half an hour we would be pleased to see you. Mrs Sue Jacobs

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FESTIVAL OF GEOLOGY Saturday 31st October 10.30 - 4.30 University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

This is a fabulous day of Geological fun and an opportunity to meet up with old friends! We have four excellent speakers giving stimulating and diverse talks throughout the day. We have exhibitors from all over the UK including local geological societies, geological map suppliers, second hand books, fossil and mineral dealers. Stuart Baldwin will be cele- brating 80 years on planet Earth, and 50 Years of exhibiting at the Reunion and Festival, by bringing along many thousands of geological offprints to GIVE AWAY in return for a small donation to Cancer Research UK. UCL Museums and Collections will be open for the day and will be on hand in the Discovery Room.

Rockwatch, our club for young geologists, will also be in the Discovery Room racing trilo- bites, making Jurassic dioramas, sifting sand for fossils, making fossils, and much more. Bring your mystery rocks and fossils to be identified!

The special series of lectures will take place throughout the day in the Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre: Dr Steve Edwards, from the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, will examine the hazards in one of the world's most geologically, environmentally and culturally diverse final frontiers, Papua New Guinea. Dr Danielle Schreve, President of the Geologists' Association and Reader at the Department of Geography at Royal Holloway University of London, will give an undoubtedly enthusias- tic and fascinating talk on The Life and Death of the Woolly Rhino. Dr Ruth Siddall, who bridges the gap between archaeology and geology at University College London, will talk to us about the minerals and other materials in the paints used to decorate Romano-Egyptian Mummy cases.

We are delighted that Professor Iain Stewart from the outstanding and popular BBC sci- ence series Earth - The Power of the Planet will be talking to us on How Earth Made Us.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT. No need to How to get to UCL book - just come along and bring your friends. Suitable for all ages. More details on: www.geologistsassociation.org.uk

In addition there is a Photographic Competition with prizes of £100, £50 and £25 Contact Sarah in the GA Office for appli- cation forms

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GA Festival of Geology 2009 Make a weekend of it by extending the GA Festival to Sunday 1st November by joining one of the 3 Trips. Non-GA Members and Beginners welcome.

1. London Building Stones Walk Leader Eric Robinson

We are delighted that Eric Robinson has agreed to lead another of his Building Stone walks for us. This walk will be around the Imperial War Museum. Meet at 10.30 outside Lambeth North Underground station on the Bakerloo Line. The walk will be around 11/2 hours. Eric Robinson outside 2. Cretaceous Geology in the Surrey Hills Westminster Abbey one cold February day - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Leader Graham Williams

Starting at Shere near Guildford the day is divided into two geowalks with a pub lunch at the White Horse in Shere. Each geowalk is about 3 km and covers the area around Shere, St. Martha's and Albury Down. We will show how to map areas with few outcrops or 'Rabbit Hole Geology in the Surrey Hills'!. Building stones in Shere's 15th to 18th century buildings provide fur- ther clues. The day begins at Shere at 10 am. The trip is car-based (park- ing is free).

The Surrey Hills 3. Visit to Walton-on-the-Naze, Leader Gerald Lucy

The Naze cliffs provide a spectacular section through the 50 million year old London Clay () and 2 million year old Red Crag (now reclassified as early Pleistocene). Find out what Essex was like during two very different geological periods. Fossils are abundant. The trip will begin by the Naze Tower at 11 am (time subject to confirmation).

Gerald Lucy was recently been awarded the Foulerton Award by the Geologists' Association for his work on the Geology of Essex. Foreshore Walton on the Naze

4. An introduction to the fossiliferous rocks of Folkestone, Kent Leader - Robert B. Chandler

The Cretaceous rocks exposed on the shore and sea cliffs near Folkestone have long been a source of abundant fossil remains of marine organisms including ammonites, bivalves, crustaceans and rare vertebrate material. This excursion is intended for those who want an introduction to the geology and palaeontology of the area and some tips on finding and developing the fossils found. The level will be for those who have limited previous knowledge of the area. Participitants must be capable of walking about a mile along a boulder strewn beach with some slippery surfaces and undertake some hill climbing at East Wear Bay in the afternoon. Meet at the cafe car park near Copt Point at 10am. Foreshore at Folkestone

To register for any of the above trips please send a cheque for £5 to Sarah Stafford at the GA Office, The Geologists' Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0DU. Please include your name, postal and email addresses and telephone numbers (including mobiles). Also an emergency phone number where different. State which trip you are wishing to attend. It would also be very useful to know if you would be willing to give a lift if required Or do you require a lift ?

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October Meeting

The geology of impact craters Impact cratering is an essential geological Aberdeen and other institutions our under- and ejecta deposits, new process that in most academic institutions is standing of impact ejecta processes is overlooked. This significant process can be improving all the time. Here, I will be pre- insights into a fundamental appreciated when observing the moon, for senting what ejecta is, how its formed and process example, where its surface is littered with deposited, how recent research has provid- craters that vary in size (from 100's of Km ed insights in to emplacement mechanisms Dr Scott Thackrey down to several cm) and age. Early obser- and the future for research in the field of vations of the moon highlighted the pres- impact cratering and impact ejecta. University of Aberdeen ence of rays emanating from craters. These rays are ejecta deposits. Ejecta deposits are Friday 2 October 2009 common round all craters and can vary in Geological Society, Burlington House, character that reflects their emplacement Piccadilly, W1V 0JU mechanism. Through the most recent at 6.00pm, tea at 5.30pm research conducted at the University of

November Meeting - Festival of Geology Friday October 30 at Burlington House Meeting of Local Groups

Saturday October 31 Festival of Geology at University College London with Local Groups, Rockwatch, Dealers etc.,etc.

Sunday November 1 - Field Trips

December Meeting

AVERTING DISASTER

Dr Stephen Edwards Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, University College London

Friday December 4 2009 Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1V 0JU at 6.00pm, tea at 5.30pm

Natural disasters are often spectacular events that capture the inter- est of the public and the media. However, it must not be forgotten that these events cause great losses, both human and financial, and appear to be on the increase. Disasters still take us by surprise and the management of these events is often responsive through the pro- vision of post-disaster assistance. This approach is slowly changing, Volcanic ash plume over Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. as it becomes recognised that society must become better prepared Photo: S. Edwards 2006. and more resilient to disasters. Earth science and scientists have a fundamental role to play here, particularly in identifying, assessing and monitoring disaster risks and enhancing early warning, as was evident and opportunities for Earth science as disaster risk reduction becomes during the Pinatubo volcanic crisis in the Philippines in 1991. Through more prominent on national and international agendas. a number of case studies, the talk will explore some of the challenges

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Evening Lecture March 2009 The Making and Breaking and indeed if their roots were consid- ered, they would outreach them all. Mountains Nature's methods for mountain build- Dr Tom Argles ing can include vulcanism (when the Open University magma is viscous enough), Metamorphosis, or tectonic activity - in many cases constituting recycling of the Dr Argles presented a review of what crust, often in a far from simple way. might constitute a mountain, and of the Argles urged us to consider the image various ways in which it might arise and of the iceberg, with its nine-tenths disappear. His didactic discourse was below the sea's surface. In a similar elevated by fine illustrations and philo- way, the weight of the mountain sophical insights, and peppered by depresses the underlying mantle. The some delightful comic set-pieces. roots, he explained, are a crucial part of He stressed that nature itself both any mountain system. The Andies, the makes and breaks mountains, and that Rockies, the Himalayas and the Tibetan this constitutes a rich field of study. He ranges all demonstrate subduction in recalled that hills and mountains were their provenance. In the latter, in par- part of it became unstable, detached, once defined by altitude, as celebrated ticular, the presence of Eclogites near and sank into the underlying asthenos- by the Hugh Grant film about the sur- the surface provide evidence of isostat- phere. Hot asthenosphere then veyor who climbed one and descended ic recovery following rapid exhumation replaced the detached root, initially the other. Mountain-ness as been cate- during the main orogenic episodes. causing rapid uplift. However, subse- gorised in the public imagination by He closed with a word picture of a quently the asthenosphere cooled, and steepness, pointedness or having snow process, evidenced in the western the mountain belt, having lost its root, on the top - but one decider was that if Mediterranean, and perhaps older belts subsided - in the case of the western your mother had climbed it, it was a in Russia and Finland, in which a classic Mediteanean, 7km below sea level hill. In fact, many of the land masses mountain form existed, on a massive in the region of Tibet lack all of those base, but then the overall weight of the classic attributes, but they nonetheless rock pushed the relatively cold root Tony Iles dwarf many of the mountaineers' icons, downwards to a level at which the lower

Evening Lecture April 2009 Tectonic versus Climate in African regions. She described a clear point in the geology of offshore River Development Namibia, at which microfossils were Professor Lynne Frostick found to have changed from huge warm University of Hull water forms to small cold water ones - the result of a major tectonic move- ment that created the Atlantic and fun- Professor Frostick gave us a dynamic nelled cold water northwards to the and very clear lecture, explaining that Antarctic in the Benguels current. This the morphology of river systems varied in turn created the skeleton coast. according to the effects of many differ- Uplift & Subsidence are particularly ent external factors, but by far the important, as they control stream most significant movers were the cli- power, and the rivers will reflect the mate in their catchment areas and their gradients that are developing. tectonic settings. The Red Sea coast is crossed by many Mechanisms such as hydrology, gradi- rivers as a result of it being an arid area ent, water and sediment supply, and where rainfall is intense requiring lots ecology, all militate to develop the final of drainage. At the river mouths the characteristics of watercourses. size of the fans relies on the geology of Mediterranean, reversing their flow She described how operational mech- the drainage basin for its essential, cre- direction. anisms might often be recognised from ating classic fans where there are soft Studies in the African Rift have shown the preserved river deposits of earlier rocks, but none at all where the rocks that the rifting is very asymmetric, with times, which can provide some insight are hard. Bank character is clearly the major faults flipping from one side into past changes. related to climate, but also to tectonics to the other along transfer zones. These Experience had shown that factors and gradient with the resulting water transfer zones have proved to be such as Uplift & Subsidence, Gradient, courses ranging in plan form from important for the occurrence of oil. This Water and Sediment supply, and the braided to single and straight. brings about commercial interest, as characteristics of the River Bank, are all Changes in the course of a river may the North Sea structures, which contain liable to be influenced by both tectonics still be evident many years afterwards, oil and gas, are very similar to this. & climate. Vegetation stabilises river such as the radial patterns of rivers, banks. It is interesting to reflect that in which resulted from domal uplift as the Pre-Cambrian there was no vegeta- plate tectonic movements took South Tony Iles tion. America away from Africa. Plate tectonics are particularly impor- The Dead Sea is a pull-apart basin tant, and this in turn affects climate. that separates Israel from Jordan and Professor Frostick presented a num- created by northward movement of the ber of examples and illustrations from Arabian Plate. Its creation disrupted her research experience in various rivers which previously flowed to the GA Magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 7 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:42 Page 8

Rockwatch News

Our 2009 field trip season started with an amazingly var- ied series of new and exciting sites. The first was to the Cotswold Water Park and the Colne Gravel Quarry with Neville Hollingworth. This is a superb site where Middle Jurassic deposits (175 - 155 million years old) are overlain by Ice Age Gravels which were laid down by a major river sys- tem between 350,000 and 40,000 years ago. And, on top of the gravels are recent floodplain silts, where a Romano- British site is currently being excavated! Lots of superb fos- sils were found from the Jurassic sediments such as Rory explaining the finer points of the stratigraphy of the chalk talked about the processes that lifted these rocks high above the Cheshire plain, far below where we stood! We looked at the surface features of a long extinct Lower Triassic river sys-

Rockwatchers in Alderley Edge mine

ammonites (including Kosmosceras the Rockwatch logo), corals, belemnites and a magnificent section of the jaw of the crocodile, Steneosaurus. Sadly, no Ice Age fossils, but a few discarded pieces of Roman pottery were prize exhibits for some to take into school as part of their projects on the Superb copper deposits in the mine at Alderley Romans. What a bonus from a Rockwatch field trip! The geology on the train trip from London (Marylebone) to Warwick with Martyn Bradley was a great success. Martyn tem that flowed through the area some 240 million years ago brought along geological maps and specimens of the rocks and saw evidence of mineralization that we would explore and fossils we would pass on the way. Rockwatchers and their later underground. The exploration of Wood Mine was fan- parents were kept busy identifying the outcrops as the train tastic! Chris, with colleagues from the Caving sped westwards, marking up their own maps on the way. Club, told amazing tales of mining in the area over some After a picnic lunch in Warwick, Martyn led a geological walk through the city exploring its locally distinctive building stones, and raising awareness of the importance of geodi- versity en route! And, there were lots of sleepy Rockwatchers on the train journey back to London! Another great first for us was a trip to Alderley Edge, on a brilliantly sunny day, to explore of one of the UK's ancient copper mines. Chris Carlon led the trip, starting with a walk along the Edge to work out how these Permo-Triassic sedi- ments of the Cheshire-Shropshire basin were formed. We

Sam’s Steneosaurus jaw

40,000 years! The high point came when we had to crawl, snake-like, some 5 metres along a very tiny tunnel - and yes, I did it too! Beautiful copper deposits shimmering in our hel- met lights were the best any of us had ever seen! Some believed they saw footprints in the mine roof of three-toed dinosaurs, which lived here during the Triassic - others were somewhat sceptical! There's more work to be done on that for budding geologists! Martyn explaining the geology from he train Our first trip to The Chalk of southern England, led by Rory 8 GA Magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:41 Page 9

Another trilobite

Mortimore, was superb. We met on the cliffs to the west of Rockwatch at Macclesfield Primary School Eastbourne and walked along the cliff top to Cow Gap. On the way we looked at a range of geological features including cliff found some trilobites to take home, even though many were erosion and slope stability which is a real and on-going prob- in excruciatingly difficult sites to access - more exciting for lem in the area. Once down on the beach we walked along as the hunters, I think! John Davies, recently retired from the far as Falling Sands at Beachy Head, collecting fossils on the Countryside Council for Wales, led the trip, helped by Steve Howe from the National Museum & Galleries of Wales and me. John gave us a superb overview of the Ordovician and Silurian environments of the Llandeilo area before we set off to find trilobites. Many of the sites were seriously overgrown so we had a degree of site clearance to do before the first trilobites were found, but once people "got their eye in" trilobites even seemed to be staring back at the searchers! The trip was somewhat unusual for Rockwatch in that we visited three sites each day, necessitating a significant amount of driving, but we did not lose anyone from the convoy and, rain notwithstanding (well, it is Wales!), we saw many of the for- mations that John had set the scene with at the start of the day. The second day dawned warm and sunny and we concen- trated on Carboniferous environments, finding some splendid limestone fauna in the two quarries we visited. Lots of bra- chiopods, crinoids, corals and some wonderful calcite crystals were found. There were also some stray pieces of coal from the nearby northern rim of the South Wales coalfield lurking Some superb fossils in the chalk in the quarry which caused some considerable interest. At the end of May, we once again joined the Lyme Regis way. We explored the changes in depositional environments Fossil Festival for a weekend extravaganza. We had hundreds from the Gault, Upper Greensand to The Chalk, as we traced of visitors sharing in our activities making Jurassic dioramas, through the exposed sediments seen on the shore at low tide learning about the Dorset geological environments with a and up on the cliffs above us. Everyone found lots of splendid splendid fossil collection from the area, handling a range of fossils including echinoids, corals, brachiopods, ammonites fossils from different geological periods and much more. It and sponges. Many were beautifully preserved, some were was a very hot, sunny weekend which certainly drew in the perfectly silicified - a great find! After a picnic lunch and a crowds and in spite of the many helpers we were fortunate to steep walk back to the cars we drove round to Beachy Head have over the weekend, we were all kept constantly busy. where Rory explained some of the work he was doing there Just before the end of the summer term we spent a day at predicting slope stability - important for the safety of visitors a Macclesfield Primary School which was immersed in its to the area! Science Week project. The children were thrilled to have the A weekend visit to South Wales was the area for our first chance to handle the rocks and fossils brought in and I was trilobite hunting trip. It was a huge success and everyone amazed at their not inconsiderable knowledge. We talked about the rock cycle and the formation of soils and fossils - what they are, how they might be formed and what use they are. It was good to see that many of the children are really quite observant and are able to make valid deductions from their observation and questioning. It was a most enjoyable day. These activities give a flavour of some of the exciting places we've explored with Rockwatch recently and illustrate some of the public events we support. We are really lucky have so many generous people who give up their time and share their expertise to help Rockwatch members and the public, to understand a bit more of the world around them. We thank you all. Susan Brown Rockwatch at Lyme Regis

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An interesting find on the beach at Portishead, Somerset

A recent field trip to Portishead with appear to be corallites (Fig.3). I have a group of GCSE geology students from not seen anything like this before and I All Saint's School, Weymouth came up wondered if any G.A. members can with an interesting find. We were shed light on this and hope they might studying the sections either side of the be interested in this chance find. park area which overlooks the Severn Alan Holiday Estuary and had reached the area just south of Battery Point where the Carboniferous Limestone is exposed Fig.2 with numerous small scale fold struc- tures. One of the students found a specimen of limestone with bright red mineral clusters on the surface (Fig.1). Fig.3 I did not know what these were although I should have remembered that cinnabar is bright red but what was it doing here! I took the specimen home and asked a friend knowledgeable about minerals what it was. He did some qualitative analysis and proved mercury was pres- ent and identified cinnabar as well as calomel. He also took some pictures under the microscope and showed that Fig. 1 the cinnabar had replaced some colo- nial coral material (Fig.2). The broken surface of the specimen shows what

Evolution Rocks! - Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2009 Report To The Curry Fund

Evolution Rocks! was the fourth Natural Sciences launched Evolution creative and artistic Lyme Regis Fossil Festival and staged Rocks! where he gave a key note minds as well. The Festival included over five days between 20th and 24th speech on the theme of Darwin and theatre, street performance and art May 2009 and designed to share evolution, which was followed the next workshops and demonstrations for knowledge, fire the imagination and day by the opening of the Youth children and adults alike. leave people of all ages wanting to Summit. Evolution Rocks! underpins a broad- know more. Part of the national The Evolution Rocks! Festival was er regeneration strategy to position Darwin200 Celebrations, Evolution attended by approximately ten thou- Lyme Regis and Charmouth as an Rocks! the opportunity to look into 180 sand people of whom six hundred were internationally significant education million years of the earth’s history in students attending the School's Day destination and home to the planned ways that provide insights into con- also held on Friday 22nd May. Jurassic Coast Studies Centre. temporary natural sciences. Participative activities were offered by Evolution Rocks! is grateful to Evolution Rocks! kicked off with the science organisations including the Curry Fund for its support for UK National Commission for UNESCO Rockwatch, the Geologists' this event. staging their World Heritage Education Association, the Natural History Conference and Youth Conference in Museum and the British Antarctic Lyme Regis on the first two days which Survey, who joined forces with univer- Marcus Dixon brought representatives from the sities, Museums including National Lyme Regis other UK sites to discuss future educa- Museum of Wales and Royal Albert tional collaboration. On Friday 22nd Memorial Museum. The community of Development Trust May over eighty students from UK Lyme Regis are also key partners and schools linked to UNESCO including participated with activities staged by parties from The St Kilda's, Wales, Lyme Regis Museum, Charmouth Bath, Bermuda, Avebury, London, Heritage Coast Centre and local fossil Darwin's Landscape, Chatham, collectors and experts. Hadrian's Wall and Lake District. Evolution Rocks! was not just for sci- Professor Walter Erdelen, UNESCO entists and fossil hunters, there was (Paris) Assistant Director-General for plenty going on to excite and provoke

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CIRCULAR No. 980 SEPTEMBER 2009 arrange for another member to provide a lift or collect you from the nearest railway station. This service cannot be guaranteed, but PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FOR FIELD please ask before booking. MEETINGS ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE for field meetings is provided but Geoff Swann organises day and weekend meetings in the UK. personal accident cover remains the responsibility of the participant. Michael Ridd is responsible for overseas and longer excursions. Further details are available on request from the GA office. Sarah Stafford at the GA office is responsible for bookings, payments SAFETY is taken very seriously. Should you be unsure about either and general administration. the risks involved or your ability to participate, you must seek advice You must book through the GA office to confirm attendance. Please from the GA office before booking. Please make sure that you study do not contact the field meeting leader directly. Meeting times and the risk assessment prepared for all GA field meetings and that you locations will be confirmed on booking. These are not normally adver- have all the safety equipment specified. You must declare, at the time tised in advance, as there have been problems with members turning of booking, any disabilities or medical conditions that may affect your up without booking or paying and maximum numbers being exceed- ability to safely attend a field meeting. You may be asked to provide ed. Field meetings are open to non-members although attendance by further information on any prescription drugs etc that you may use non-members is subject to a £5 surcharge on top of the normal whilst attending a field meeting. In order to ensure the safety of all administration fee. Some meetings may have restrictions on age participants, the GA reserves the right to limit or refuse attendance at (especially for under 16s) or be physically demanding. If you are field meetings. uncertain, please ask. EMERGENCY CONTACT: if you are lost or late for the start of a PAYMENTS for day and weekend meetings must be made before meeting, an emergency contact is available during UK field meetings attending any field meeting. Cheques should be made out to by calling the GA mobile phone (07724 133290). PLEASE NOTE Geologists' Association Field Meetings. If making multiple bookings, THIS NEW NUMBER. The mobile phone will only be switched on just please enclose a separate cheque for each meeting unless you have before and during field meetings. For routine enquiries please call the first confirmed that there are places available. A stamped addressed GA office on the usual number. envelope is appreciated. Please give a contact telephone number TRAVEL REGULATIONS are observed. The GA acts as a retail and, if possible, an email address and provide the names of any other agent for ATOL holders in respect of air flights included in field meet- persons that you are including in your booking. PLEASE ALSO PRO- ings. All flights are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (see VIDE AN EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME AND TELEPHONE NUM- GA Circular No. 942, October 2000 for further details). Field meetings BER AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. of more than 24 hours duration or including accommodation are sub- There are separate arrangements for overseas meetings. ject to the Package Travel Regulations 1992. The information provid- TRANSPORT is normally via private car unless otherwise advertised. ed does not constitute a brochure under these Regulations. If you are a rail traveller, it may be possible for the GA office to

FIELD MEETINGS IN 2009 Cost & booking: Numbers will be limited to museum to be collected on the day. 14 each way. Further details will be avail- able from Sarah Stafford at the GA office. We are hoping to arrange additional fossil Register with Sarah sending an administra- collecting opportunities during the year. FURTHER AFIELD IN 2009 tion fee of £5 per person to confirm your There may not be time to advertise these in place. the Circular so if you would like details when they become available contact Sarah PROPOSED FIELD EXCURSION TO POT LUCK Stafford at the GA office. LYBIA AUTUMN 2009 Leader: Dr Mick Oates September/October 2008 ON THE CHILTERN LINE TO WARWICK- Leader: Professor Richard Moody SHIRE Once again, a trip not to be missed with Leader: Dr Martyn Bradley Approximate dates: Wednesday 21st interesting geology and lots of fossils to Sunday 20th September 2009 October - Sunday 1st November 2009 keep the collector happy. Date and loca- tions are still to be arranged. The rail journey from Marylebone to Approximate cost (assuming 15 partici- Warwick cuts across the strike of Tertiary, pants): £1800 You must have suitable footwear, a high Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic strata. visibility jacket and hard hat. From the train we can follow the land- This excursion will provide an exceptional scapes as we travel down the geological opportunity to examine the varied geology Cost & booking: Further details will be succession. On arrival in Leamington Spa of Libya, from Lower Palaeozoic to Tertiary, available from Sarah Stafford at the GA we will view a small river cliff by the Leam sedimentary rocks and volcanics. The itin- office. Register with Sarah sending an before visiting the Royal Pump Rooms for erary includes the deep Sahara with spec- administration fee of £5 per person to con- coffee(or lunch) with an opportunity to sam- tacular sand-seas, mountain scenery and firm your place. ple the mineral rich waters. A walk via the prehistoric rock-art, as well as some of the elephant wash and riverside Jephson gar- finest Roman antiquities on the SEDGEWICK MUSEUM OF EARTH dens will continue up the parade noting Mediterranean coast at Sbratha and Leptis SCIENCES, CAMBRIDGE building and ornamental stones. Those Magna. Leader: Dr Liz Harper who wish may continue on to Warwick and Saturday 7th November 2009 its castle, built of and on fine exposures of The provisional itinerary includes Tripoli, Bromsgrove Sandstone. There is Arden Nalut, Jado, Ghadames, Yiffran, Sbratha, This is an opportunity to visit this world Sandstone and Marlstone in Warwick build- Sebha, Birak and the 'Great Man-made famous museum with its magnificent col- ings too. River', Germa, Mandara Lake, lections. Matchandosh, Akakus Mountains, Tadrart, If there is sufficient demand the itinerary Alawynat, Ghat, and Leptis Magna. Cost & booking: Further details will be can be run in reverse on Saturday 19th available from Sarah Stafford at the GA September. To register your interest, please contact office. Register with Sarah sending an Sarah at the GA Office. administration fee of £5 per person to con- Equipment: The BGS solid 1:625,000 south firm your place. Please note that there is an geological map will be useful. additional donation of £1 per person to the GA Magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 11 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:39 Page 12

WORKSHOP ON RECENT castle museum with Harz minerals and and Fauna of the River Trent - Tom White FORAMINIFERA IN BRITISH AND IRISH Triassic [Buntsandstein] amphibians), Contact - Alan Murphy on 07768 821385 SHELL SANDS Wettin to Bernburg - Permian/Triassic Email: [email protected] boundary. Dorset Local Group Leader: Dr. Adrian Rundle Day 5. Halle to Helmstedt (change hotel) - August 8 Fossil and Mineral Fair at the Saturday 13th February, 2010 from 10.30 Kyffhäuser (Rotliegend [Lower-Middle Allendale Centre Wimborne. a.m. Permian] sandstone with silicified trees), August 17-24 Joint trip with West OUGS to The next microfossil workshop in this series Ilfeld (Rabensteiner Stollen - historical Ireland. is on Recent Foraminifera. The principles Stephanian coal mine) and nearby Lange Contact Doreen Smith 01300 320811. for collecting good recent shell sands and Wand (Rotliegend porphyry overlain by Email: [email protected] how to separate the Foraminifera from min- Zechstein sediments), Nordhausen (karst www.dorsetgeologistsassociation.com eral grains will be covered, as well as how phenomena in Zechstein evaporites), drive Essex Group to sort residues under the microscope and across Harz Mountains. September 2 Unusual Microfossils - Dr mount selected specimens on slides. A Day 6. Quedlinburg area - Hamwarte Adrian Rundle. booklet will be supplied covering aspects of (Barremian [Lower Cretaceous] nonmarine October 7 Geology in the Deserts - Dr Peter the study of Recent Foraminifera, including sandstones with plants), Neinstedt Bush. a key to the most commonly encountered (Teufelsmauer 'Devils Wall', Santonian November 4 Fossils and Drugs - Dr Chris species. During the morning the booklet [Upper Cretaceous] marine sandstones; Duffin. and two slides (with 64 named species) will Harz foreland tectonics), Upper Cretaceous December 2 Members evening. be used in the introduction. In the after- clays with plants; cultural afternoon in Contact Dr Trevor Greensmith 01268 noon there will be a chance to study the lit- Quedlinburg old town. 785404 erature, process samples and make your Day 7. Schöningen opencast browncoal Farnham Geological Society own slides. The main aim of the workshop mine - ? to Eocene nonmarine September 11 Dolerite Emplacement and is to enthuse participants and to enable sequence; archaeological site (oldest Continental Breakup: the Theron them to continue their studies afterwards. known spears); preserved section of former Mountains, Antarctica - Donny Hutton. Meet: At the leader's house, 55 Dancer frontier between east and west Germany. October 4 Watership Down - Romans rab- Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4LB (map Day 8. Harz Mountains - steam train to biting around in the Cretaceous - Dr reference TQ 191759, location map avail- Brocken, highest point of Harz; botanical Graham Williams and Mike Rubra. able on request). garden of mountain plants; local sections October 9 Brick making and Chalk Mining Equipment: If you have a suitable binocu- as time permits. Hazards in Reading - James Ford. lar microscope (about x20 to x40) please Day 9. Königslutter - Visitor Centre and November 13 Ice Age England - Dr Julian bring it along together with its light source. museum for Geopark Harz- Murton Bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will Braunschweiger Land-Ostfalen, König - December 11 The star of Bethlehem - Dr be provided. slutter Dom (cathedral), Muschelkalk quar- Paul Olver. Cost: £8, to cover materials and adminis- ry; Heeseberg - type locality of stromato- Contact - Mrs Shirley Stephens tel: 01252 tration. lites (Triassic); Seinstedt - Rhaetian (Upper 680215 It is essential to register with Adrian (tele- Triassic) plants, insects and fish; Helmstedt Field Trip Contact - Dr Graham Williams tel: phone 0208 878 6645) for the workshop as old town. 01483 573802 Email secretary@farnham- numbers must be limited to 12 per day. A Equipment:Members will need to provide geosoc.org.uk back up on Sunday 14th February can be their own helmets; high visibility www:farnhamgeosoc.org.uk. arranged if needed and later dates if more jackets/tabards are not obligatory but Harrow & Hillingdon Geological Society than 24 express an interest. should be brought if members already own September 9 Diamonds Through Time - them. Stout footware necessary; normal Prof. Andy Fleet. NORTH GERMANY fieldboots are fine even in the browncoal October 14 From Mud wrestling to meta- mines (unless it rains, which is unlikely in morphism - Steve Hirons. Leaders: Profs. Volker Wilde and late August). November 11 Rapid catastrophic weather- Alan Lord The leaders are currently negotiating ing of limestones within the historic walls of 20th - 29th August 2010 (provisional) hotels in Halle and Helmstedt. In the latter Oxford - Dr Heather Viles. Provisional programme: we hope to be accommodated in Burg December 9 Giant Cu-Au deposits of Day 1. Fly London Heathrow to Warberg, a converted castle. Single rooms Central Asia - Dr Reimar Seltmann. Leipzig/Halle, arriving early to mid after- will be limited in number. Contact: Jean Sippy 020 8422 1859 noon, coach to hotel; short evening briefing The itinerary includes a number of items Email: [email protected] Field otherwise free time in Halle (birthplace of of cultural interest, including a free after- trip information Allan Wheeler 01344 G.F. Händel). noon in Quedlinburg (Day 6). The Mayor of 455451. Day 2. Geology of Halle - 'Saline' salt Schöningen has already invited the party to www.hhgs.org.uk works, Market Fault, Geiseltal Museum; a reception in the local castle and there Kent Geologists Group Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte (State may well be other invitations. 15 September Geological drawing work- Museum for Prehistory) to see the The provisional cost will be about £700 shop - Fred Clouter. Himmelsscheibe von Nebra (Sky Disk of per person (at the present euro/sterling October 20 The Oxford Clay - Clifford Nebra). exchange rate) plus the air fare which is Nicklin. Day 3. South of Halle - Geiseltal (former under negotiation but not expected to November 17 Highlights of the geology and opencast browncoal mine and classic exceed £198. scenery of South Wales. Middle Eocene fossil locality), Amsdorf GA members interested in participating in Contact information www.kgg.org.uk (working opencast browncoal mine), this field meeting should inform Sarah The Kirkaldy Society (Alumni of Queen Sangerhausen (mine in Upper Permian Stafford at the GA office. Mary College) 'Kupferschiefer'; Pleistocene mammoth Contact: Tony Iles: 020 88664348; skeleton). GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION [email protected] Day 4. North of Halle along Saale valley - Contact David Greenwood 0208449 6614 Wettin (Permian porphyry; Stephanian LOCAL GROUPS email:[email protected]. coal), Dobis (Weisse Wand - Upper Lancashire Permian Zechstein transgression), Cambridgeshire Geology Club Contact Acting Secretary Jennifer Rhodes Bernburg (Triassic Muschelkalk quarry; September 14 The Pleistocene Geology 01204 811203 12 GA Magazine of the Geologists’Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:39 Page 13

Email:[email protected]. Coelacanth eyes - Dr Peter Forey. Contact: [email protected] or Mole Valley Geological Society December 18 Member Xmas meeting. www.cpgs.org.uk September 10 Cretaceous Greensand tidal Contact Betty Steel 01903 209140 Cumberland Geological Society dunes of Western Surrey. Email: [email protected] Meet at the car park behind the Blencathra September 27 Field trip: The Bargates of Centre, Threlkeld at 10.00am NY Guildford and Godalming - Dr Graham AFFILIATED SOCIETIES 303257Sunday - Rocks & landforms along Williams. the shores of Derwentwater. Meet in public October 8 AGM and Dinner. car park (pay & display) at The Theatre by November 12 Supercontinent - our once Amateur Geological Society the Lake, Keswick at 10.00am NY 265229 and future World - Dr Ted Nield. Quartz the most precious mineral? - Dr Contact Susan Beale 016974 78353 December 10 Soiree with members lec- Monica Price [email protected]. turettes and mince pies. January 13 AGM and New year Party. www.cumberland-geol-soc-org.uk. www.dendron.net/mvgs. Email: Richard Enquiries: Julia Daniels 020 8346 1056. The Devonshire Association (Geology Higgs [email protected] Bath Geological Society Section) North Staffordshire Group September 3 Club evening. Members talks September 19-26 Field trip to Brittany - Dr September 26 Field trip: Churnet Valley and recent finds. John Renouf. Geotrail - Dr Richard Waller. October 1 Global Warming and Climate October 17 Field trip to Torbay Geopark - Dr Contact for details Eileen Fraser 01260 change (Eocene and Oligocene epochs) - Elaine Burt. 271505 Contact Field trips: Gerard Ford Dr Paul Pearson. November 14 10.30 at the Boniface Centre 01630 673409. November 5 Observations on Ordovician Crediton. Marie Stopes: Passionate about Oxford Geology Group Oceans - Dr James Wheeley. Palaeobotany - Dr Howard Falcon- Lang. www.oum.ox.ac.uk/ogg.htm. or call pro- December 3 Fossilized embryos from the Contact John Dangerfield 01297 33326 gramme secretary 01865 272960. dawn of animal evolution - Dr John email [email protected] Ravensbourne Geological Society Cunningham. The Dinosaur Society September 8 The driest place on Earth - Contact Elizabeth : Email:chair- www. Dinosaursociety.com. Contact: Prof Chris Carlton. [email protected] Richard Moody [email protected] October 13 AGM followed by Members www.bathgeolsoc.org.uk Dorset Natural History & Archaeology evening. Belfast Geologists' Society Society November 10 Computer Modelling September 18 -21 The Yorkshire Dinosaur Contact Jenny Cripps email:jenny@dor- Techonics and Sedimentation - David Coast mus.demon.co.uk Waltham. Contact [email protected] Edinburgh Geological Society December 8 Xmas Festivities - My favourite Contact Peter Millar 9064 2886. September 5 Field meeting: North Esk Specimen & Quiz. Black Country Geological Society Pentlands - Dr Euan Clarkson and Celia Contact Carole McCarthy Secretary: 020 September 19-20 Dudley Rock and Fossil Taylor. 8854 9138 email: [email protected] Festival at Dudley Concert Hall and Dudley September 6 LABRIGS Barns Ness Open or Vernon Marks: 020 8460 2354. Museum & Art Gallery. Day. North Wales - Cymdeithas Daeareg For information contact Barbara Russell September 19-20 Weekend Excursion. Gogledd Cymru 01902 650168. www.bcgs.info September 26 British Geological Survey Contact Jonathan Wilkins 01492 583052 Brighton & Hove Geological Society Open Day. Email [email protected] Contact John Cooper 01273 292780 email: www.edinburghgeolsoc.org www.ampyx.org.uk/cdgc [email protected] Earth Science Teachers Association South Wales Group Bristol Naturalists' Society Annual Conference 18-19 September at the Cymdeithas Y Daearegwyr Grwp De Contact 01373 474086 University of Southampton. Cymru Email: [email protected] For membership contact: Hamish Ross PO September 19 Field trip: St Davids, Carn Brea Mining Society Box 23672 Edinburgh EH3 9XQ Tel: 0131 Pembrokeshire - Dyfed Elis Gruffydd October 20 A personal view of South Crofty, 651 6410 October 24 Field trip: Cwm Gwrelech and 1970-1974 - Jon Nurhonen. Email:[email protected] Sdelar Opencast, Neath Valley November 17 Quarrying, the past present ESTA website www.esta-uk.org. Ben Evans (BIGC). and future, by Graham Hicks, Operations East Herts Geology Club Full details to follow. Contact Lynda Garfield Manager Bardon Aggregates. November 24 Iceland - Chris Darmon. at [email protected] December 8 Members medley. Check website for venue or contact Diana West of England Contact Lincoln James 01326 311420 Perkins 01920 463755. October 20 Australia - Douglas Robinson Cheltenham Mineral and Geological www.ehgc.org.uk email: [email protected] November 17 Moon Rocks - Geoffrey Society Visitors most welcome - £2 Eglinton. September 5 Field trip to Taff Well Quarry - East Midlands Geological Society December 8 Darwin as a Geologist - Paul Kath Vickers. September 27 Field afternoon visit to Pearson. September 11 Whittington Quarry - an Chatsworth House - Ian Thomas. Contact Graeme Churchard 0117 967 1066. Underground Walk of ½ mile or more - October 18 Field trip: The Geology of the www.wega.org.uk Arthur J. Price. Matlock Gorge area - Lynn Willies. West Sussex Geological Society September 13 Equipment workshop and Contact Secretary Janet Slater email. September 18 Magnetite, Apatite & related Junior workshop - Ann Kent. [email protected] copper deposits in Sweden & Kazakhstan - September 13 Guided walk: Geology of the www.emgs.org.uk Dr Martin Smith. Malverns - Dave Green Essex Rock and Mineral Society October 11 Mapping the chalk in the October 9 Decorative Stone - Monica Price. September 8 The Icy Moons of Saturn - Cissbury and Chanctonbury area - Prof. November 13 Equipment workshop and Gerry Workman. Rory Mortimore. junior workshop. For more details contact September 13 Field visit: Station Quarry, October 16 A Geological Transect across Ann Kent 01452 610375 Blockley, Glos. - Bob Higgins. the Himalaya - Dr Chris Duffin. For more information on lectures: contact September 27 Field visit: and October 18 Winchester Building Stones - Di Kath Vickers 01453 827007 Wrabness, Essex - Bill George and Graham Smith Contact Alan McKay 01452 547255. Ward. November 20 Scientists throught Craven & Pendle Geological Society Nigel Mountney Ph.D., University of Leeds GA Magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 13 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:39 Page 14

October 13 Gems and Crystals - Ian Martyn Bradley & John Crossling. UK and abroad listed on the web-site Mercer. October 10 National Coal Mining Museum, ougs.org Events Officer Dr Christine October 17 Visit to Natural Wakefield. Arkwright [email protected] 01772 History Mseum - Jerry Bowdrey. Contact Andrew Swift 0116 2523646; 335316" November 10 AGM. email [email protected] Reading Geological Society December 8 Annual Social. Leeds Geological Association Contact Christine Hooper- for lectures Graham Ward for Lectures 01277 218473. October 15 Deglaciation in the Tyne Valley 0118 9471597 www.erms.org - Dr Linda Yorke. email: [email protected] Friends of the Sedgwick Museum, November 12 Plate Tectonics and Human Contact David Ward - for field trips 01344 Cambridge Evolution - Prof Geoffrey Bailey. 483563 Contact: Dr Peter Friend 01223-333400. December 10 AGM and Conversazione. The Russell Society Geological Society of Glasgow Enquiries email Email Frank Ince Contact Dr Iain Allison email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Liverpool Geological Society www.russellsoc.org Geological Society of Contact: Joe Crossley: 0151 426 1324 or Shropshire Geological Society Contact Email: [email protected]. email [email protected]. September 13 Open day at Snailbeach Hastings and District Geological Society Manchester Geological Association Mine. December 14 AGM and Christmas party. September 18 -20 Field trip to Southern December 9 AGM and Lecture Contact Diana Williams email: Lake District - Chris Arkwright. Contact Karen Whitaker - herts_and_flow- [email protected] October 10 Field trip: Building Stones of [email protected]. www.hastingsgeolsoc.org.uk Manchester University and its www.shropshiregeology.org.uk Geological Society Environments - Norma Rothwell. Sidcup Lapidary and Mineral Society September 5 Field visit to Denbies October 14 Spiders: The Ultimate Meets every Monday evening at Sidcup Vineyard. - Prof Richard Selley. Predators - 400 Million Years of Evolution Arts Centre. October 10 Field visit to Brighton - Colin Dr. David Penney. Contact Audrey Tampling 020 8303 9610 Whiteman. November 21 Darwin and the Voyage of the Email: [email protected]. November 12 Mount Vesuvius - Dr Chris Beagle Southampton Mineral and Fossil Society Kilburn. Charles Darwin: Gentleman Geologist Hampshire Mineral & Fossil Show - December 3 The hydrogeology of aboard H.M.S. Beagle - Dr. Bob Callow, 5th September time 10:00 to 16:30Venue: Hertfordshire - Robert Sage. University of Manchester Lyndhurst Community Centre, High St., www.hertsgeolsoc.ology.org.uk On the Geological Origins of Darwinian Lyndhurst, Hants.Admission: Adults £1, Contact Linda Hamling 01279 423815. Theory: Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin and accompanied children under 14 and Horsham Geological Field Club Alfred Russel Wallace - Professor Jon RockWatch members free September 9 Stones of Sussex, Roger Hodge, University of Leeds, Darwin in Contact: Gary Morse, 01489 787300 Email: Birch, Collyers 6th Form College Tierra del Fuego - Professor Peter Worsley, [email protected] October 14 How to Make and Break an University of Reading, The Beagle Web site: Asteroid - Prof Hilary Downes. Collection - Dr. Lyall Anderson, Sedgwick http://members.lycos.co.uk/SMFS/smf- November 11 Space - Dr Graziella Museum, University of Cambridge sshow.htm Branduardi, Mullard Space Laboratory. The Rough Guide to Darwin - Professor Contact Gary Morse 01489 787300. December 5 Christmas Party. Mark Pallen, University of Birmingham. Stamford and District Geological Contact Mrs Gill Woodhatch 01403 250371 December 12 Volcanoes and Volcanic Society Hull Geological Society Hazards - Dr Peter Floyd, Dr John Contact: Bill Learoyd on 01780 752915. September 6 Field meeting: to Quaternary Stevenson, Dr Roger Suthren.. Ussher Society geology of Dane's Dyke and South Landing Contact Nick Snowden 07932 927040 , Contact Clive Nicholas 01392 271761. - Ian Heppenstall. [email protected] Warwickshire Geological Conservation September (dtc) Field Meeting to the Bays email:[email protected] Group of the Flamborough Headland - Mike www.mangeolassoc.org.uk September 12 Field trip to Boons Quarry - Horne. All meetings in the Williamson Building, Martyn Bradley. October 24 Joint meeting with Yorkshire University of Manchester. Contact: Chris Hodgeson 01926 511097. Geological Society The Last Glacial Mid Wales Minerals, Fossils and Contact Martyn Bradley 01926 428835. Maximum - Mike Rogerson Paul Hildreth, Geology Club Email: [email protected]. Speakers include Dick Mol, and Ian Contact Bill Bagley 01686 412679. www.wgcg.co.uk Heppenstall. Norfolk Mineral & Lapidary Society Wessex Lapidary and Mineral Society October 25 Joint field meeting with the Meetings at St Georges Church Hall Contact Pat Maxwell 02380 891890 email: Yorkshire Geological Society Churchfield Green, Norwich. 19.30hrs [email protected] Contact Mike Horne 01482 346784 every first Tuesday of the Month except Westmorland Geological Society Email:[email protected] August. Contact [email protected] website http://go.to/hullgeolsoc [email protected] The Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club The Jurassic Coast North Eastern Geological Society October 3 Field excursion to the North Details are available on the web site at August 9 Field trip: Penshaw to Castle Malvern area - Richard Edwards. www. Jurassiccoast.com. Eden Dean: Pemian - Dr Eric Johnson. November 5 Talk on Mercury - new insights Leicester Literary & Philosophical September 6 Field trip: A fluvia conundrum into the Sun's innermost planet - Dr David Society (Geology) at Saughtree, Roxburgh - Gordon Liddle. Rothery. September 5 Whitmans Hill Quarry, October 25 Field trip: Westgate in December 4th Members evening. Storridge, Malvern and the Abberley & Weardale - Brian Young. Contact Sue Hay on 01432 357138 or Malvern European Geopark -Sue Edwards. www.northeast-geolsoc.50megs.com svh.gabbros@btinternet .com September 26 Field meeting Boon's Email: [email protected] or 01207 Yorkshire Geological Society Quarry, Hartshill, Warks. Joint Excursion 545907 Contact Trevor Morse 01833 638893 with the Warwickshire Geological www.dur.ac.uk/g.r.foulger/NEGS.html www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk Conservation Group to view the Open University Geological Society Precambrian/Cambrian unconformity - Over 200 events every year throughout the

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channel-side slope angles, their ele- Book Review vation on the hillside and direction of slope of the valley bottom. The con- The Last Two Glaciations of East clusion that is presented from this Lincolnshire, work is that there have been two Straw, A. 2008 46 pp. £6.50 glaciations: the first and most exten- Published by Louth Naturalists' sive is characterised by the 'drift- Antiquarian and Literary Society, residual' soils and degraded meltwa- Louth Museum, 4 Broadbank, ter channels; the second which is less Louth, Lincs, LN11 0EQ, UK. extensive, except in the south of the [email protected]. county, and this is characterised by hummocky terrain and 'fresh', clearly This booklet is one of two published defined meltwater channels. by Allan Straw on the Quaternary his- tory and geomorphology of In the part of the text that explains Lincolnshire. The first (Straw, 2005) the various hypotheses proposed to deals with the evidence for earlier explain this evidence, Straw sets out glaciations in the area; this deals with his own interpretation: that both sets the evidence for glaciation in the of features formed during the region since the Last Interglacial (c. Devensian Glaciation (the last glacial 125,000 years ago). The book has stage in Britain), that the earlier two parts. The first provides a glaciation occurred around 50,000 detailed description of the glacial sur- years ago and the second glaciation faces, moraine ridges and meltwater occurred during the Last Glacial channels that characterise the region. Maximum (LGM) about 20,000 years The second part considers the various ago. Straw then discusses the rela- hypotheses that have been proposed in eastern England, and it allows us to tionship of this scheme to the conven- see, in a coherent fashion the very for the formation of these features. tional scheme that proposes only one The book is well illustrated with colour important work that was done by glaciation (LGM) about 20,000 years Allan Straw in this part of Britain, over photographs of sites and sections ago (Evans et al., 2005). In this dis- described in the text, and a colour the last half century, since his first cussion he brings together relevant cited publication in 1957. map showing the location and distri- information about former ice-dammed bution of the glacial features and the lakes in the Trent and Fen Basins, the ice limits proposed from the interpre- former history of drainage through tation of these features. The text is Evans, D.J.A., Clark, C.D., and the Lincoln Gap and the stratigraphic Mitchell, W.A. 2005. The last British supported by a reference list and a and dating evidence for the region glossary of terms used. Ice Sheet: a review of the evidence and the topic. Naturally he concludes utilized in the compilation of the in favour of his own model, but he Glacial Map of Britain. Earth Science The descriptive section works from provides a very enlightening insight the north to the south of the county Reviews, 70, 253-312. into the many theories that have been Straw, A. 1957. Some glacial features describing the glaciogenic landforms proposed for the region and the many in a way that they can be located and in east Lincolnshire. East Midland problems that arise around a study of Geographer, 1, 41-48. studied by the reader. Particular this kind. attention is given to the distribution Straw, A. 2005. Glacial and pre-gla- cial deposits at Welton-le-Wold, and distinctiveness of the glacial ter- Overall this is a very nice piece of rain, so that reference is made to Lincolnshire. Studio Publishing work and a very useful guide. In Services, Exeter, 33 pp. whether it is possible to recognise dis- terms of the field detail provided, it is tinct moraine ridges or undulating in the model of GA Field Guides, pro- relief, or that the glacial signature viding the information needed to Jim Rose simply remains a thin soil residue, locate and interpret the field evi- Department of Geography, what Straw calls a 'drift-residual' soil. dence. It allows the reader to engage Royal Holloway University of London Similarly attention is given to the with some of the debates that have [email protected] meltwater channels in terms of their developed around the last glaciation

Please tell us about yourself

Every member of the Geologists' will be filed. any geological highlights, other Association is entitled to an obituary Whether a professional or an ama- interests, family information. following their death. But few obitu- teur geologist, every member is You may transmit your piece to aries get written and one of the rea- requested to shun modesty and put the GA office electronically or hand- sons is that too little documentary pen to paper. A single page will be written on paper. And if you have a material exists about that person's enough, but several pages will be photograph of yourself please attach life. And so to encourage obituarists better. As a minimum, please it, making sure that if it is of more to come forward, and to help them, include date and place of birth, edu- than one person, you are clearly Council is asking every member to cation, career highlights, how you identified. write a brief account of their life and became interested in geology, peo- to send it to the GA office where it ple who were influential in your life,

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THE MOLE VALLEY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES ITS 30TH BIRTHDAY

The Mole Valley Geological Society, a was elected President. After Muriel's GA Local Group, celebrated its 30th talk there was an opportunity to view birthday on the 4th of July with a party the extensive club archives that docu- at the Box Hill Village Hall. On a bright ment its history with illustrated reports sunny day some 60 members and of lectures and field trips extending guests attended, including 9 of the sur- back over 30 years. Meanwhile there was a continuous slide show in the hall of the society's activities. On the lawn outside there was a 'GeoQuiz'. This gave members an opportunity to try The GeoQuiz their skills at identifying a selection of won by Rose Wait, and the Mens' by rocks, minerals and fossils. The winners Mark Spencer. The cakes were then cer- of the dinosaur cake competition were emonially cut by Danielle. She then then announced. The Ladies' Class was proposed a toast to the health of the society in a glass of local sparkling wine (from Denbies, naturally). A splendid tea was then enjoyed by all, providing viving founder members. The GA ample opportunity for old members to President Danielle Schreve was the renew friendships, and for recent mem- Guest of Honour, attending en famille bers to make new ones. Though 30 with her partner, son and dog. The years is nothing to a geologist it was event began with a talk by Muriel agreed that the party had been a great Woolven, one of the founders. She success, and members look forward to explained how the MVGS began after the next million years. the local council ceased to fund a long Thanks are due to the MVGS committee running course of geology lectures. The for all their hard work in organising the class metamorphosed itself en masse event, and to the GA for generous into the Mole Valley Geological Society. Danielle Shcreve cuts the cake financial assistance Their lecturer, the late Richard Butler, Clare Hill The Curry Fund support for "Three Counties Show: geodiversity promotion"

I can report that the event was a great success and that the stand shared between ourselves, Gloucestershire Geology Trust (GGT), and our partner group, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust (H&WEHT) narrowly missed out on a commendation from the event judges. We hadn't realised that stands were being judged and the judges turned up at 10.00 am on the first day as racks and tables with free leaflets, we go to find fossils, and where can we (Friday 19th June). We hadn't quite LGAPs and brochures, including those take the kids?" This has prompted us finished setting up by this time so were from the GA. Many people asked how to start considerations for a 'fossil ineligible for a commendation, as the their children could learn more about hunting in Gloucestershire' book. rules stated that displays must be rocks and fossils, as "they are totally This event was a great success, and complete prior to judging. Next time obsessed with dinosaurs", so a lot of we were already discussing how to do we will know, and will get there an Rockwatch leaflets were handed out. even better next year before we had hour earlier. But, the judges were very We had a selection of activities for finished taking everything down this impressed with the information and children, including badge making, fos- time. I'm sure our presence at the activities we offered. sil painting and making jointed show has done much to raise aware- We had a large area 8m x 8m mar- dinosaur skeletons. Parents, mean- ness of geodiversity and to inform peo- quee to work in. H&WEHT have slight- while, made the most of the chairs ple that there are organisations such ly larger than life size Velociraptor provided, looked at the displays and as our Trusts, Rockwatch and the GA skeleton made from plywood (named information, and chatted to our staff who are actively promoting geodiversi- Vernon) who occupied the centre of and volunteers about our activities and ty. It has reinforced our belief that the stand, with his head poking out of displays. Specimens included rocks there are a great many people from all the tent. A scale model of a T-rex skull, from the Malvern Hills (especially walks of life, who want to know more owned by GGT took guard of the other appropriate as the hills were the back- about our subject, and are keen to side of the entrance. Both creatures drop to the whole event), a wonderful participate but just need to know how served as an almost irresistible attrac- slab of Wenlock Limestone, packed to do it, and who to do it with. tion to any passing child (only tem- with all sorts of fossils, and a On behalf of GGT, I would like to offer pered by their parents enthusiasm to Megalosaur tooth from a quarry in the our sincere thanks to the Curry Fund reach the nearby flower show). Cotswolds. for its support in this project, and in Displays inside the marquee included The stand was manned by staff and others, and look forward to working the GA banner, information on GGT & volunteers from both Trusts and in all with the GA again in the future. H&WEHT work including Abberley and fifteen different people helped to run Malvern Hills and the Cotswold Hills the event over the three days of the Geoparks. Trail guides and publications David Owen show. One question that we were all from both trusts were on sale, as well asked several times was "where can Head of Geology, 16 GA Magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:39 Page 17

GA Evening Lecture 5 June 2009

Postcards from the Amazing Mud reference the stratigraphy of the Factory - Multimillion-year under- region, particularly indicating greater ground transformations of fossils and and lesser amounts of carbon. These strata in the Welsh Basin formations were once a significant sink, with up to 16 per cent carbon - Dr Jan Zalasiewicz of Leicester with now only a per cent or so remain- University ing. The Ocean alternately took the carbon out, and later returned it, Dr Zalasiewicz entertained us with mainly as dead animals. It is now his summary of what had gone into recognised that life forms flourished in building up the huge, and apparently the ocean shelfs, while the water was relatively featureless content of the poisoned below 100 fathoms, so that the organic remains floated down and Welsh Basin - 90 per cent of which was Dr Jan Zalasiewicz mimes the action of the lay unpredated in the anoxic areas Mud, but which 50 million years later Welsh Turbidites below. This condition was world-wide became the Welsh Mountains. means of accurate dating for the During the late Ordovician and the during the Ordovician, but is repre- sented today mainly only in the Black processes that occurred deep under- Silurian times, mud sediments heavily ground. The subduction process will dominated the Basin, but they were Sea. Pyrite quite quickly started forming have destroyed the early developmen- punctuated by turbidites. Dr. tal evidence, as with all of the older Zalasiewicz pointed out that once a in the rhabdosomes of graptolites in the anoxic horizons, while apatite formations. turbidite had started running, it often Later, the tectonic compression from went on and on, with mud providing cement layers were precipitated just below the sea floor during the oxy- the building of the Welsh Mountains the transient lubricant for the process. caused extensive slate formation, and Some rock-flows originating well out- genated periods. Both these process- es helped to preserve the fossil and the development of chlorite mica side the area were drawn down sub- stacks, while fresh mica grew around marine canyons, to emerge finally as mineral matter from the deformation of the subsequent Acadian Orogeny. graptolites from clay-organic interac- turbidite fans. He mentioned that tions. This provides yet a further dat- Lapworth had published a good paper The deposits were at considerable depth during the formation of oil and ing system for the Acadian orogony, as in 1900, not mentioning turbidites, as well as indications of the complexity of they were only invented 50 years gas, which leached away during the rock's erosion, but in the process facil- its progress. Dr Zalasiewicz, in his live- later! The deposition alternated ly but very clear and engaging style between anoxic sea floors, bearing itated wide distributions of rare earth elements, including millions of charac- gave a sense of the perpetual motion organic plankton matter - spectacular- in this huge area, citing the distinctive ly including graptolites - and oxy- teristic tiny monazite nodules - phos- phatic concretions - common in gran- detritus from these processes now genated sea floors sporting burrowing being washed down into the Irish Sea, organisms, though with scarcely any ites, but here occurring in sediments, forming useful dating markers. Both which will become markers for the shelled creatures. strata of the future. The alternating lithologies help to this, and the dissemination of stron- tium isotopes within the rock, provide TONY ILES

storms sweep these shells out to sea. SUTTONA Offshore, shell debris is accumulating in migrating sand waves, driven south- ANTIQUIOR westwards by strong currents. Dog Cockle and Trough Shell communities Inspired by the famous 1831 Duria develop their own epifauna of corals, Antiquior of Henry De la Beche recon- bryozoans and nestling Pea Urchins. structing life in the Liassic sea, student Sharks, fish (such as ray, cod and eel) artist Louis Wood has created his own and Cetaceans swim the temperate water colour illustration showing what sea, while gulls and a lonely albatross life was like around 'The Pliocene cruise overhead. Seals cavort and frol- Island' at Sutton Knoll, Suffolk - an ic happily on the island itself. island of Coralline Crag during Red Talented 18 year-old Louis is study- Crag sea times, about 2 ½ million ing art A-level at years ago. County High School, together with Boulders of Coralline Crag have fall- English, Philosophy and History. He is of the GeoSuffolk group and Louis has en from the low cliff, which is slowly particularly interested in illustrations used this as his guide. And some of his being eroded away to form a steeply and water colours, and after a degree friends study A-level geology, provid- dipping wave-cut platform. The boul- course in art at Bournemouth hopes to ing 'useful tips'! ders provide shelter for molluscs, bra- become a professional illustrator. His A geological interpretive panel pre- chiopods and other invertebrates to A-level coursework certainly demon- pared by GeoSuffolk has been installed live. Banded Carpet Shells and Razor strates his abilities. Suttona antiquior adjacent to the public footpath that Shells burrow into pockets of soft is his first commissioned work, execut- runs alongside the Sutton Knoll site. sand; and Necklace Shells and a vari- ed during his final year in the VIth Suttona antiquior was first revealed to ety of different whelk species predate form. He estimates that he took the public at the panel unveiling cere- and scavenge. around 50 hours to paint the A1 size mony on May 14th. Mussels and barnacles are growing in water colour, after preparing the out- profusion on the exposed rocky tidal line sketch. The geology of the Red shore; Piddocks burrow into the under- Crag at Sutton (Rockhall Wood SSSI, Roger Dixon lying London Clay surface, scoured TM305441) has benefited from much clean by the strong currents. Periodic recent site interpretation by members GA magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 17 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:38 Page 18

BOOK REVIEW glance. The fossil illustration, though, shows just what can be found at the London Clay Fossils of Kent classic London Clay localities, such as and Essex the Isle of Sheppey, but also lesser By David Rayner, known sites. Clear maps are provided, with detailed descriptions backed up Tony Mitchell, Martin Rayner by photographs of the sites, so no col- and Fred Clouter lector can be excused for being in the wrong place. For the adventurous, ISBN 978-0-9538243-1-1 some lesser known sites requiring skill and patience are also described. In 2000, these four London Clay col- The full colour fossil photographs, lectors jointly produced the 100 page, which are mostly shades of brown, A4 format London Clay Fossils of the grey and black, are excellent and are Isle of Sheppey. It was an immediate probably the prime reason for anybody success and is now out of print. Rather buying this book. Invertebrates, verte- than reprint they have now gone sev- brates and plants are all covered but eral steps further with their new watch out for the 'miscellaneous spec- London Clay Fossils of Kent and Essex. imens' at the end, added after the This 228-page book published by the main text had been finalised. The pho- Medway Fossil and Mineral Society tographs are of such quality that it is embraces a much wider geographical easy to criticise the few that don't area and illustrates far more fossils come up to the same high standard, than previously, including the addition such as the slightly out of focus of new groups (foraminifera, crinoids Hyracotherium ('dawn horse') jaw. drawings. It is a shame that a more and plants). Whilst it is not possible to illustrate consistent approach could not have Most of the book is dedicated to pho- exhaustively every fossil species, I am been used. My attention was drawn to tographs of the London Clay fossils, sure that the book covers the most this by the use of a Venericor planicos- but the introductory pages help to set common plus the unusual and spectac- ta shell from the Bracklesham beds in the scene and include pages appropri- ular specimens that every collector Sussex to illustrate bivalves. The line ate to those only just seriously starting really hopes to find. A few, more drawing used for bird terminology is on fossil collecting. Notes on collecting unusual, specimens caught my eye. copied from an unacknowledged techniques, cleaning and preservation These included the trace fossils, such source and is out of focus. But this is a (very important to prevent pyrite as coprolites (fossil dung) and a lob- minor issue that only slightly detracts decay), and storage include some use- ster burrow, the head section of a wee- from an otherwise excellent publica- ful tips. The London Clay stratigraphy vil at only 0.9mm in actual size, and a tion. Even if you have the earlier and palaeogeography with maps and crocodile skeleton complete with London Clay Fossils of the Isle of reconstructions are well explained and 'stomach stones'. Sheppey, you should purchase a copy help to put the sites and their fossils Each section starts with a reference of this book, even at the somewhat into a broader context illustration and very useful description hefty price of £25. It represents a lot The cover illustration of the mudflats of the terminology used in describing of thorough work that is well repro- at Burnham-on-Crouch, photographed and identifying the fossils. duced and eminently accessible. on a dull, grey day, is highly reminis- Unfortunately, a rather random selec- cent of so many of my own fossil-col- tion of illustrations has been used - lecting trips and how unrewarding ranging from real fossils to an appar- David Bone some of these localities appear at first ently modern gastropod shell to line

Earthlearningidea - an initiative for • at minimal cost, with minimal the International Year of Planet resources; Earth and beyond • for teacher educators and teachers of Earth science through school-level sci- “Earthlearningidea has been a source of inspi- ence or geography; happen within range of their classroom. ration for both my pupils and myself.” • an online discussion around every Thanks to voluntary translators Earthlearningidea, www.earth- idea; across the world, the activities are learningidea.com, is a voluntary initia- • to develop a global network. being regularly translated into Spanish, tive which brought a new Earth learning Interested educators from around the Italian, Norwegian, Mandarin Chinese idea to Earth science educators across world subscribe free of charge and and Portuguese. the world every week during 2008, the receive email updates when new items Since the website was established in International Year of Planet Earth. The appear on the website. A list of key- project continues with a monthly activ- May 2007, it has received over 15,500 words on the website means that a ‘hits’ from over 140 countries ity throughout 2009 and all previous search can be made for particular top- activities remain live on the site. (www.earthlearningidea.com/home/ELI ics. A list of supporters offering geo- _around_the_world.html) and the blog The ideas are aimed primarily at science or educational expertise, is is being well patronised, with com- classrooms with few or no resources posted on the website. A separate list ments and ideas for extension work. and at pre-service teacher educators of those who have offered moral sup- All activities are free to download. (to reach wide audiences). Global dis- port is also maintained. cussion around each idea is encouraged Do have a look at the site and con- Activities range from simple investi- tribute your own ideas to the blog. through a blog, www.earth- gations, such as ‘Earthquake prediction learningidea.blogspot.com. By July – when will the earthquake strike?’, Chris King, 2009, 64 different activities had been using a pile of bricks and a piece of Peter Kennett and Elizabeth Devon posted. The Earthlearningidea refrain elastic, to ‘A landslide through the win- Earth Science Education Unit, is: dow’, where pupils are asked to envis- • an Earth science teaching idea at reg- age the scene if such an event should Keele University, U.K. ular intervals; 18 GA magazine of the Geologists’ Association Issue 8,vol.3, 2009 mag31.qxd 12/08/2009 12:38 Page 19

The Geologists' Association will this year be sponsoring the London Quaternary Lectures, which will take place in the: Department of Geography at Royal Holloway (University of London) on Wednesday 25th November 2009. This sponsorship has generously been provided by Elsevier, as part of our new publishing deal for the Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. The meeting is free to members of the GA. The London Quaternary Lectures have been running since 1979 and are designed to appeal to a wide interdisciplinary audience, including geologists, palaeoecologists and archaeologists. Previous internationally-renowned speakers have included Nick Shackleton, Bill Ruddiman and Nick McCave. The programme for this year's event is as follows:

16.30 Dr Maria-Fernanda Sanchez-Goni (Université Bordeaux 1): Pollen from the sea: improved under- standing of the climate system through marine-continental correlations

17.30-18.00 Tea

18.00 Professor Francesco d'Errico (Université Bordeaux 1): The possible role of climate change in cultur- al innovations 19.00 Close

The lectures will take place in the Queen's Lecture Theatre in the Geography Department (Queen's Building, no. 35 on the campus map). Maps and travel directions can be downloaded at http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Visitors-Guide/. There is ample car parking for visitors in Car Park 4 on the cam- pus plan, or adjacent to the department in Car Park 5. Alternatively, there are frequent trains to Egham from London Waterloo (about 40 minutes journey time). The university is a short taxi ride away, or approx- imately 15 minutes on foot.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The annual Stevenson Science Lecture* will be held at Royal Holloway, University of London at 6.00 p.m. on 6th October, 2009, and this year will be presented by:

William F. Ruddiman of the University of Virginia, USA. His topic will be: "Did Early Farming Prevent a New Ice Age? Answer: Yes". Bill is extremely well known for his 'Overdue Glaciation Hypothesis' which, as expanded in the notes below, envisages that humans began to modify climate several thousand years ago. The lecture will take place in the Windsor Building Auditorium (the Windsor Building is no. 2 on the campus map). Maps and travel directions can be downloaded at http://www.rhul.ac.uk/Visitors-Guide/. There is ample car parking for visitors in Car Parks 2, 4 and 12 on the campus plan, and there are frequent trains (every 30 minutes) to Egham from London Waterloo (about 40 minutes journey time). The university is a short taxi ride away, or approximately 15 min- utes on foot, from Egham Railway Station.

We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Notes We are familiar with the concept of 'global warming' and the notion that increased industrial activity during the past 300 years may have led to significant increases in 'greenhouse gases' in the atmosphere. However, Bill Ruddiman claims that humans began to interfere with the natural atmospheric gas balance by a much earlier date - perhaps as early as 7,000 years ago. In a series of papers and an award-winning book**, he points to evidence in the geological record for significant increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from about 7,000 years ago, and in methane from 5,000 years ago. These run counter to natural cyclical variations, and suggest the impact of a new player in the system. The observed changes coincide with records of the emergence of farming, of widespread burning of vegetation and the development of rice paddy cultivation, as well other impacts of increasingly versatile Homo sapiens. Ruddiman makes a further bold and controversial claim: that were it not for these activities and their inadvertent gas emissions, the world would by now have entered the early stages of the next 'Ice Age', if left to the mercy of natural environmental rhythms. If true, this thesis has major implications for understanding our past environmental history, for predicting future climatic developments, for global environmental management and the concept of 'environmental sustainability'. In his 2009 Stevenson Science Lecture, Bill Ruddiman will outline the basis of his theory and speculate on its key impli- cations. This will be followed by an open debate on the subject.

** W.F. Ruddiman, 2006: Plows, Plagues and Petroleum: How Humans Took Control of Climate, published by Princeton University Press: awarded the 2006 Phi Beta Kappa Science Book Award.

* The Stevenson Science Lecture was inaugurated in memory of Miss Margaret May Stevenson, a member of the College Council who died in 1922 and left a small legacy to endow a lecture. In recent years high profile speakers have includ- ed Professor Chris Stringer, Sir Peter Crane, Sir John Sulston, Professor Kay Davies and Professor Uta Frith.

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Foss Quarry upgrade - work supported in part by the Curry Fund Foss Cross Quarry is an historically famous site, located time to come, as the landscaping work is completed and hope- north-east of Cirencester in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, on fully, as educational materials are developed. land owned by Gloucestershire County Council. Fossils and structures at the quarry have been the subject It is one of the most important exposures of the Bathonian of academic research on several occasions in the past, but the White Limestone Formation in Gloucestershire, with well- improved accessibility of the site has allowed local profession- developed sedimentary structures, hardgrounds and abun- al geologist, sequence stratigrapher and Jurassic carbonate dant fauna, including bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, specialist, Dr Christopher Toland, to log the whole exposure in corals, echinoids, zonally diagnostic ammonites and the fossil detail and take samples for thin section. It is hoped that his red alga Solenopora jurassica. Through contrast and compar- current research will shed more light on the palaeo-environ- ison with related sites, Foss Cross Quarry has provided crucial mental setting, including water depth and palaeosalinity. data for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironments that exist- Members of the public can already visit the southern section ed in the warm, shallow sea that covered much of present day of the site, as described in the Gloucestershire Uncovered Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire during the middle Jurassic guide. Access is via the household recycling yard on the lane period. to the village of Calmsden from the A429 (Fosse Way), and The quarry was established just west of the old Cirencester visitors must sign in and read the safety instructions at the to Andoversford railway and was worked for limestone ballast site office before walking to the quarry. Once the landfill slope in the first half of the twentieth century. The pit was subse- renovation work is complete, the whole site will be open to the quently used for tipping, but a 200m section of the rock face public. Meanwhile, group visits can be arranged by contact- was preserved as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ing Gloucestershire Geology Trust (see on geological grounds alone. Landfill activity ceased in the www.glosgeotrust.org.uk). mid 1990s leaving the SSSI as a quiet hollow, isolated at the Foss Cross Quarry is now a quiet, pretty place, especially in centre of a large grassy field of made ground. While the land- Spring, when daffodils, apple blossom and snowdrops com- fill site was monitored, the SSSI was completely neglected for plement the honey-coloured rock and birdsong fills the air. It well over a decade, and the remaining quarry section filled to is looking cared for again - and that is what geoconservation overflowing with briars, nettles and crumbling rock. is all about. This transformation has been brought about Happily, in 2007 - 2008, Gloucestershire Geology Trust through the cooperative work of many people, from (GGT) obtained funding from the Aggregates Levy Gloucestershire Geology Trust, Gloucestershire County Sustainability Fund to renovate and publicise several linked Council, Natural England, May Gurney household recycling sites in the Cotswolds. With the approval of the county coun- yard and the Cotswolds Conservation Board. Gloucestershire cil and support from Natural England, Foss Cross was select- Geology Trust thanks the Aggergates Levy Sustainability ed as one of these, and the fortunes of the quarry were Fund, Gloucestershire County Council and the Geologist's reversed at last. Association Curry Fund for their financial support. The initial aim was to clear and conserve just the southern third of the quarry, open that part to the public and produce Julie Harrald Gloucestershire a simple guide to the geology. These objectives were achieved, and furthermore, through careful use of the ALSF Geology Trust budget and substantial practical and material assistance from the county council and the Cotswolds Conservation Board (CCB) volunteers, it also became possible to clear an access route through the whole of the site and start construction of a path and viewing area on the landfill slope opposite the cen- tral section of the cliff face. The guide to the geology was written and printed, as part of the popular series of "Gloucestershire Uncovered" land- scape and geology trail leaflets. These are aimed at both amateur geologists and the general public, encouraging them to venture off the beaten tourist track to appreciate the rocks that underlie the whole character of the natural and built land- scape. At this stage, in summer 2008, with a glossy guide on sale at tourist outlets, a team of enthusiastic volunteers on hand, and the potential for the remainder of the site apparent, fund- ing ran out. Thankfully, the Geologist's Association came to the rescue! During the last year, a grant of £1300 from the Curry Fund A Six Day Fieldtrip: 25TH-30TH OCTOBER 2009 has enabled materials to be purchased and the following work to be done by GGT and CCB volunteers: Led by Professor Donny Hutton BSc, MA, PhD - a long ramp has been built at the north end of the quarry, allowing "nose to the rockface" access to the whole succes- With full board accommodation and cuisine provided by Wiz Clift sion, - the framework of the perimeter path and viewing area has PUT YOURSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE EXPERTS! been completed (and will be filled with stone or bark chippings Top level tuition on the continental collision this summer), process from an international research scientist. - trees and bushes have been planted, Superb cuisine and beautiful gite accommodation - grass and wild flower seed has been purchased (to be sown on the landfill slope later this year). from a top level chef and host. Meanwhile, Gloucestershire County Council has continued to A relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere based in show its commitment to the renovation of the site by paying Haute-Provence. for their skilled horticulturalists to take a raised platform into the quarry to treat all vegetation and remove loose rock from Prices include: tuition, accommodation, food, wine and the cliff face. By autumn this year, they will also have spread local transport. and stabilised a new layer of soil on the landfill slope, and sown the grass seed purchased with money from the Curry Fund. For more information go to: Foss Cross Quarry will remain a work in progress for some www.wizinfrance.com 20 GA magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol.8,No. 3 2009 mag31.qxd 17/08/2009 20:06 Page 21

Somerset Earth Science agement and many others, to suit ing its first field trip to this superb new group requirements. Splendid use is centre! Centre made of local stone to line the walls of The Centre, like the old East Mendip Having organised a number of the Centre, so introducing visitors to Study Centre, is supported, funded Rockwatch field trips to the old East one of the important aspects of geolo- and managed by the Mendips Quarry Mendip Study Centre at Whatley gy as soon as they set foot inside the Producers (MQP). The MQP secured Quarry, it was a great pleasure to be building! grants from the Somerset Minerals invited to the official opening of its The classroom at the centre is well Forum for a feasibility study and from superb replacement. On an incredibly equipped with all the latest teaching the Somerset CC's Aggregates Levy rainy July day, HRH The Princess Royal aids and has facilities for those with Sustainability Fund. Many local quar- officially opened this state of the art, disabilities and special needs. rying companies helped and support carbon neutral, Earth Science Centre Teaching takes place in the centre the project to drive the dream to at Moons Hill Quarry near Stoke St. classroom, around the site's lake and reality. Michael, Somerset. The Centre offers a woodlands and additional field trips to Details for booking, e-mail: range of curriculum friendly topics nearby sites of relevance and interest. [email protected] or tel: through Key Stages 1 - 4 and also for Staff are all experienced and highly 01749 840 274 further and higher education students. motivated. During term-time, the cen- Topics can include quarrying, geology, tre is fully booked by schools but in river management, sustainable devel- the evenings and during school holi- Susan Brown opment, environmental impact man- days it is available for wider communi- ty use. Rockwatch is already organis- GA magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 21 mag31.qxd 17/08/2009 20:05 Page 22

THE PLIOCENE FOREST Green shoots from GeoSuffolk and the Curry Fund

The site at Sutton Knoll (Rockhall Wood SSSI) has been actively main- tained by GeoSuffolk members since 2003. Sutton Knoll is arguably Suffolk's premier geological site, famous as a 'fossil island' of Coralline Crag during Red Crag times, and recent work has enabled a better understanding of the site. Sutton Knoll has thus become an Sciadopitys in the foreground, Tsuga ideal location for educational visits and Canadensis is the low shrub, purple Atriplex is many field groups have come to the under the Liquidambar and Barry is tending Knoll in recent years. Not only are the the T. Heteropylla. London Clay (sometimes), Coralline (Sweetgum), a common hardwood Crag and Red Crag to be seen, but also native to the south-eastern states of evidence of the Kesgrave Sands & Barry and the GA Curry Fund plaque just installed. North America, is a popular ornamen- Gravel proto-Thames deposits. tal tree grown for its intense yellow, Sedimentology, palaeontology, indus- red and purple autumn colours and trial/economic geology (the C19th usually 20-35m tall. A similar form is coprolite industry), building stones, found in the Miocene of Europe. The history of geology, Miocene Boxstones form grown at Sutton is 'Worplesdon', are all relevant to this unique site. And a cutleaf cultivar. to encourage lay interest GeoSuffolk 3. Tsuga heterophylla (Western have this year installed an explanatory Hemlock) can grow to 80m in its native and interpretive panel adjacent to the North American west coast habitat and public footpath on the northern bound- has both medicinal and edible uses. Its ary of the SSSI. long drooping branch tips make it a To enhance the site further as an favourite evergreen conifer for gardens educational tool, as part of a continu- and parks. ing programme of site development, 4. Tsuga canadensis (Eastern the idea arose of creating a 'Pliocene Demonstrating the finer points of Sciadopitys to Hemlock) 'Jeddeloh', one of over 300 plantation'. Pollen analyses are uncom- a field group. mon for the Crags - preservation is ash was used at each planting site to very poor (if at all) in the coarse, oxi- improve water retention and soil struc- dised sediments, and British Pliocene ture of the free-draining sandy soil. Crag floras are still relatively poorly Continued nurturing and maintenance known. However, pollen analyses from - watering and weeding - is needed the Coralline Crag, including at Sutton, until the plants become truly estab- have shown Pinus-dominated assem- lished. blages with Sequoia, Picea, Barry's concept envisaged the use of Sciadopitys, Abies, Tsuga and others, 2m 'standards' to provide immediate including Liquidambar and Juniper, visual impact: with heathers and grasses. They indi- 1. Sciadopitys verticillata (Japanese Coralline Crag, the 'Pliocene Forest' enclo- cate a nearby Pliocene landscape dom- Umbrella Pine) is the most unusual, sure and the Deben Estuary beyond. inated by forests containing a signifi- having a fossil record that goes back cant number of exotic species from some 230Ma and already in decline by cultivars of the species, is a dwarf Eastern Asia and North America. shrub form reaching 2m in width. This With advice from Professor Richard species also has extensive medicinal West, GeoSuffolk have planted four and edible uses. extant Coralline Crag trees: This is just the beginning of the Sciadopitys verticillata, Liquidambar Pliocene Forest. It will grow in time, styraciflua, Tsuga canadensis and near both upwards and sideways as more the explanatory panel. The project planting takes place. Already the red- was funded by the Curry Fund of leaved annual Atriplex hortensis var. the Geologists' Association. rubra (Red Orach) has joined the trees, GeoSuffolk member Barry Hall, a the first of others in the family to be horticulturalist by profession and The GeoSuffolk interpretive panel and the planted at Sutton; it self-seeds freely - responsible for the maintenance of the 'Pliocene Forest' enclosure on the flank of Sutton so next year ... Sutton Knoll site, conceptualised the Knoll. To steal a line from Barry, "If always project and guided the work on "The the mid-Cretaceous. Endemic to Japan, having something to look forward to is Pliocene Forest". Deer and rabbits are where it was worshipped since the the secret of a long life, then planting a very real problem and major threat early C14th, and with vulnerable con- out a 'Pliocene Forest' surely fits the to the plants in their early years; this servation status, it has no close rela- bill most admirably". meant the erection of protective fenc- tives and is the sole representative of Your chance to win a real ing, creating a safe enclosure and its own family. A slow-growing ever- Sciadopitys verticillata: the making use of remnants of an old ani- green, it reaches 20-30m in height and GeoSuffolk raffle at the GA Festival mal pen. Although on shelly Crag is noted for bearing long green clado- of Geology on October 31st - come deposits, ph tests consistently gave des composed of stem tissue, which and see our stand! results in the 6.3-6.4 range - well suit- perform the function of leaves. ed to these plants. A special manure- 2. Liquidambar styraciflua based compost and weathered bonfire Roger Dixon 22 GA magazine of the Geologists’ Association Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009 mag31.qxd 17/08/2009 20:05 Page 23

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AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION