GeoscientistThe Fellowship magazine of The Geological Society of London | www.geolsoc.org.uk | Volume 22 No 4 | May 2012

CRATONIC BASINS Filling the data gap in Parnaiba, Brazil ANNUAL REVIEW Plus, your guide to the AGM!

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IN THIS ISSUE MAY 2012

FEATURES 20 CRATONIC BASINS Mike Daly describes a new BP-underwritten research project to constrain the formation mechanisms and play potential of the Parnaiba Basin of Brazil REGULARS 05 WELCOME There is new life in ‘old-fashioned’ geology yet, says Ted Nield 06 SOAPBOX Haydon Bailey and Bob Jones fear that micropalaeontologists are going the way of the dinosaurs 07 GEONEWS What’s new in the world of geoscientific research 10 SOCIETY NEWS What your Society is doing at home 14 COVER FEATURE: HIDDEN VALLEYS and abroad, in London and the regions Stephanie Bricker and friends uncover the 23 LETTERS We welcome your thoughts hidden drainage patterns of East Anglia - in 3D 24 PEOPLE Geoscientists in the news and on the move 26 BOOK & ARTS Two reviews by Tim Holt-Wilson and Sarah Day 27 CALENDAR Society activities this month 28 OBITUARY A distinguished Fellow remembered 29 CROSSWORD Win a special publication of your choice ONLINE SPECIALS n MICROPALAEONTOLOGY UNDER THREAT

n HERTFORDSHIRE GEOLOGY 08 20

MAY 2012 03

~ EDITOR’S COMMENT GEOSCIENTIST BURE MARSHES, NORFOLK. VERY FLAT MAYBE, BUT WITH HIDDEN DEPTHS Front cover image: Meirion Matthias/Shutterstock.com~ THE REAL THING f any scientific tribe can be expected to Geoscientist is the F 01727 893 895 Fellowship magazine of E enquiries@centuryone understand the inevitability of change, it must the Geological Society publishing.ltd.uk surely be geologists. After all, we have seen it of London W www.centuryone publishing.ltd.uk all before, and worse. Yet, increasing age can The Geological Society, still cause any of us to rebel - even against Burlington House, Piccadilly, CHIEF EXECUTIVE changes we know are not only inevitable but London W1J 0BG Nick Simpson T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 T 01727 893 894 necessary and desirable. F +44 (0)20 7439 8975 E nick@centuryone IHow many readers, for example, secretly ask E [email protected] publishing.ltd.uk (Not for Editorial) themselves the question that dare not speak its name ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE – namely, ‘how much longer they are going to have Publishing House Jonathan Knight The Geological Society T 01727 739 193 to put up with climatology masquerading’ (go on, Publishing House, Unit 7, E jonathan@centuryone admit it, that’s the word you mean) ‘as geology?’ Brassmill Enterprise Centre, publishing.ltd.uk Brassmill Lane, Bath Nature Geoscience and Nature Climate Change have BA1 3JN ART EDITOR become barely distinguishable. Is it possible to get T 01225 445046 Heena Gudka any paper published that isn’t at least pretending to F 01225 442836 DESIGN & PRODUCTION test some hypothesis linked however tenuously to Library Sarah Astington the state of the atmosphere? Why are we to be T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 PRINTED BY expected to care about prediction when, as any fule E [email protected] Century One Publishing Ltd. kno, geology’s essential charm lies in the past? EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Copyright And when can we go back to what really interests us Professor Tony Harris FGS The Geological Society of orthogeologists – namely, finding out what stuff is London is a Registered Charity, where, what is the same age as what, which way EDITOR number 210161. Dr Ted Nield NUJ FGS ISSN (print) 0961-5628 up it is, how it got there, and whether it’s worth E [email protected] ISSN (online) 2045-1784 digging it up? Recent anxieties expressed in these pages over the EDITORIAL BOARD The Geological Society of London Dr Sue Bowler FGS accepts no responsibility for the views future of micropalaeontology - continued this week Mr Steve Branch FGS expressed in any article in this Dr Robin Cocks FGS publication. All views expressed, in Soapbox (p 6) - seem to crystallise just how out-of- Dr Joe McCall FGS except where explicitly stated joint the world has become when we find ourselves Prof. Peter Styles FGS otherwise, represent those of the author, and not The Geological in this recidivist mood. Palynology, for example, Dr Jonathan Turner FGS Society of London. All rights reserved. Dr Jan Zalasiewicz FGS No paragraph of this publication may used to be - and possibly still is, an area where be reproduced, copied or transmitted industrial interest arguably outweighed the Trustees of the Geological save with written permission. Users Society of London registered with Copyright Clearance scientific. It may not have been that rewarding Dr J P B Lovell OBE Center: the Journal is registered with intellectually, splashing HF about and classifying (President); Professor P A CCC, 27 Congress Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. 0961-5628/02/$15.00. microscopic flecks. But, by all that’s mucky and Allen (Secretary, Science); Every effort has been made to trace Miss S Brough; Mr M copyright holders of material in this trilete, there was brass to be had in it. Was not such Brown; Professor R A publication. If any rights have Butler; Mr D J Cragg; been omitted, the publishers offer useful research exactly the sort of industrial grist that Professor J Francis; their apologies. universities in the 1980s were expected to produce? Professor A J Fraser; Dr S A No responsibility is assumed by the What happened? Gibson; Mrs M P Henton Publisher for any injury and/or (Secretary, Professional damage to persons or property as a Well, while you put some effort into snapping out Matters); Dr R A Hughes Dr matter of products liability, of it, I hope our two features this week amply prove A Law (Treasurer); Professor negligence or otherwise, or from any R J Lisle; Professor A R Lord use or operation of any methods, that modern geoscience that is still recognisable as (Secretary, Foreign & products, instructions or ideas geology is yet pursued with pleasure and profit by External Affairs); Mr P contained in the material herein. Although all advertising material is both academe and industry. And anyone prone to Maliphant (Vice president); expected to conform to ethical Professor S B Marriott (Vice (medical) standards, inclusion in this Daily Mail moments about the state of Earth science president); Professor S publication does not constitute a Monro OBE; Mr D T Shilston guarantee or endorsement of the can take Hertfordshire. Here the, home county of the (President designate); Dr C quality or value of such product or of puddingstone that features so prominently in our the claims made by its manufacturer. P Summerhayes (Vice case for a deep-time perspective in climate change, president); Professor Subscriptions: All correspondence J H Tellam; Dr J P Turner relating to non-member subscriptions has received a scientifically up-to-date but spiritually (Secretary, Publications); should be addresses to the Journals old-fashioned treatment, reviewed in this issue (p 26) Professor D J Vaughan; Subscription Department, Geological Mr N R G Walton Society Publishing House, Unit 7 and featured in an Online Special by its Editor, John Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath, BA1 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 Catt. This fine book is a worthy successor to the Published on behalf of the 445046. Fax: 01225 442836. Email: county monographs of Robert Plot and is today a Geological Society of [email protected]. The London by subscription price for Volume 22, pleasing antidote to be taken whenever you are Century One Publishing 2012 (11 issues) to institutions and tempted to say scrotum humanum (p 25) to the Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam non-members is £108 (UK) or £124 / Road, St Albans, Herts, US$247 (Rest of World). modern, future-obsessed world. AL3 4DG © 2012 The Geological Society T 01727 893 894 of London DR TED NIELD EDITOR

MAY 2012 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOAPBOX

Threat of Extinction BY HAYDON BAILEY AND BOB JONES Haydon Bailey and Bob Jones* of the Micropalaeontological Society Educational Trust Fund fear that the bug-pickers might soon go the way of the dinosaurs

SOAPBOX Applied Micropalaeontology SOLUTION (“Biostratigraphy”) is a core subsurface Industry and academia need to work technology in petroleum geology, with high together. Generally, they could provide Soapbox is open to impact all along the ‘value chain’ from direct financial support to contributions from all Fellows. regional exploration to reservoir exploitation, micropalaeontology, through The You can always write a letter to including in Operations. It is also important Micropalaeontological Society Charitable the Editor, of course: but in the fields of Environmental Impact Educational Trust Fund (a UK Registered perhaps you feel you need Assessment (EIA) and environmental Charity). This will disburse moneys to more space? monitoring, and will become increasingly so suitable student applicants to cover fees for once the European Framework Water their tuition in the subject. If you can write it entertainingly in Directive passes into law in 2015. Alternatively, and more specifically, the 500 words, the Editor would like However, formal postgraduate teaching in sectors can combine to provide direct to hear from you. the subject essentially came to an end in the financial support to the setting up and/or UK with the recent peremptory closure of the running of suitably quality assured and Email your piece, and a self- MSc course in Micropalaeontology at accredited units (including HSE-compliant portrait, to ted.nield@geolsoc. University College London in 2008. laboratory facilities) to MSc and PhD courses org.uk. Copy can only be Service companies are already experiencing in these units - such as the Applied and accepted electronically. No difficulties in recruiting appropriately Petroleum Micropalaeontology MSc course diagrams, tables or other qualified staff to undertake biostratigraphic due to be launched at the University of illustrations please. analytical work, including operational well- Birmingham in 2012 (course director, Ian site work and value-adding “biosteering”, Boomer), or to individual students on these Pictures should be of print and in planning for the future. “Biosteering” courses. They could also provide tacit quality – as a rule of thumb, has saved tens of millions of dollars in support to units or courses in the form of anything over a few hundred drilling wells, added tens of millions of goods - such as student project materials, or kilobytes should do. barrels of reserves, and tens of thousands of by contributing services, for example in barrels per day of production (sustainable teaching or project supervision. Precedence will always be given

throughout field life), as well as adding value If you or your company would be to more topical contributions. 1 running into hundreds of millions of dollars . interested in being part of the solution - or if Any one contributor may not

Unless remedial action is taken you would simply like further information - appear more often than once per immediately, it will only be a matter of time please contact us. volume (once every 12 months). before operating companies start to suffer as ~ increasingly beleaguered service suppliers Online Special are unable to meet their demands - especially Bailey and Jones have written an Online Special to and most worryingly at well-site (and also, in accompany this Soapbox. See the Online edition of this issue UNLESS the longer-term, through their own REMEDIAL ACTION IS difficulties in recruiting). * Haydon Bailey Network Stratigraphic Consulting Ltd., TAKEN IMMEDIATELY, IT The urgency is all the greater on account Harvest House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, of the ageing demographic in the EN6 3JF E: [email protected] WILL ONLY BE A MATTER micropalaeontological community in UK Bob Jones BG Group plc, 100 Thames Valley Park, OF TIME BEFORE industry (see Online for details). Within 10 Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT (E: Bob.Jones@bg- OPERATING COMPANIES years, group.com) and The Natural History Museum, Exhibition around half Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 5BD START TO SUFFER AS SAVE of the (E: [email protected]) INCREASINGLY THE BUG community will have BELEAGUERED SERVICE PICKERS! retired, and REFERENCES SUPPLIERS ARE UNABLE over half of the TO MEET THEIR communal 1 Jones, RW, 2011. Applications of Palaeontology – Techniques and Case Studies. Cambridge experience will DEMANDS University Press. Haydon Bailey and Bob~ Jones have been lost. GEONEWS GEOSCIENTIST Kimberlites uncorked Kimberlites’ rapid rise may be fuelled by exsolving carbon dioxide gas, if the parent magma is carbonatitic, say Canadian researchers. Monique Tsang reports Image Courtesy of The Diavik Diamond Mine

Read G eoNe Image: Kelly Russell G ws first i eoscienti n [www st Online .geolsoc g .org.uk/ eoscient ] ist

regular mantle mineral. Because CO as a fluid phase. “This forces the GEOCHEMISTRY Above left: Aerial 2 orthopyroxene is rich in silica, it is the photograph of the production of the fluid phase which Kimberlite hails from deep most reactive mantle mineral when Diavik Diamond cuts the density” Russell says. underground, and kimberlite magmas brought into contact with silica-poor Mines operation, The pair calculated that dissolving Northwest travel up through about 150km of carbonatitic melt. Territories, Canada. an amount of orthopyroxene continental lithosphere, picking up “As soon as the carbonatitic melt The open pit is equivalent to 15% of the weight of the

plenty of mineral cargo along the way – comes into the mantle lithosphere, the developed to mine melt could create enough exsolved two kimberlite

sometimes including diamonds. orthopyroxene dissolves, and we were pipes (A154- north fluid to reduce the density of the melt Geologists have known for a long able to show the dissolution rates are and A154 - south) by some 20%. which are very time that kimberlite magmas rise up very fast,”~ Russell told Geoscientist. close together Although the new cargo adds through the mantle more quickly than weight to the load, the newly formed any other, at speeds five to ten times Above right: Open liquid CO reduces the overall density pit mine operation 2 faster than average. Some have THE NEWLY of the Diavik of the melt so much that it effectively thought that this rapid rise could be due Diamand mines Ltd contains pockets of 'hot liquid balloon' to the exsolution of dissolved volatile FORMED LIQUID CO in, Northwest to turbocharge the melt in its ascent. 2 Territories, Canada. substances such as carbon dioxide REDUCES THE DENSITY OF The two black And as the melt rises it experiences circular patches on (CO2) and water - meaning that these less pressure. This makes the magma THE MELT SO MUCH THAT the floor of the substances are no longer held in their open pit even less dense, further increasing its dissolved state. This could cause IT CONTAINS POCKETS are the two buoyancy. pockets of liquid carbon dioxide and kimberlite Russell and colleagues now plan to OF 'HOT LIQUID BALLOON' pipes(A154-north water to form within the magma, and A154-south) run the same experiments on olivine. making it more buoyant. But exactly TO TURBOCHARGE They hope that by comparing the time how this worked remained unclear – THE MELT’S ASCENT required to dissolve olivine, and the until now. ~ amount of CO2 produced, against Kelly Russell and Lucy Porritt, from Russell and Porritt, with colleagues their results for orthopyroxene, they University of British Columbia, Canada, from the Ludwig Maximilian University can better constrain the kimberlite have found that carbon dioxide of Munich, Germany, ran high- magma's speed of ascent. dissolved in the rising magma can easily temperature analogue experiments in

be coaxed into exsolving to a CO2-rich the laboratory to show the concept of fluid phase if the magma begins its this chemical reaction, as seen in the REFERENCES journey as a 'carbonatitic' melt. effervescence of the reaction 1 Kelly Russell, Lucy A Porritt, Yan Carbonatitic melts are rich in CO2 but ingredients. As orthopyroxene low in silica, so providing plenty of CO dissolves, the melt becomes enriched Lavallée, and Donald B Dingwell 2 Kimberlite ascent by assimilation- to react with the mineral cargo picked with silica. CO2 is less soluble in a fuelled buoyancy, Nature 2012; up as the magma 'elevator' rises. more silica-rich melt, so the melt has doi:10.1038/nature10740 Among the cargo is orthopyroxene, a no choice but to exsolve the excess

MAY 2012 07 GEOSCIENTIST GEONEWS The other Olympics The International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) is an annual Earth Science Competition for secondary school students worldwide. Dwain Eldred reports

observers. The number of countries hydrosphere test on the Venice GEOEDUCATION Below: Although represented almost doubled over this was the first lagoon. The International Earth Science 2010, though as in all previous years Earth Science In addition to contest activities, Olympiad (IESO) aims to encourage the UK was not represented. Olympiad to be held related activities such as International outside Asia, the international interaction and In all, 217 participants and UK was not Team Field Investigation (ITFI) were cooperation among students from all observers took part, from 34 countries represented organised in the Valle d’Aosta. To over the world and so promote public - 26 of which put up student teams. promote cooperation between team Inset: After gruelling awareness of the importance of Earth Of the 115 students involved, 38% competition six members from different cultural Science Education. The 5th were female, and the average age outstanding student backgrounds, ITFI activity regrouped teams were International Earth Science Olympiad between 16 and 17. The competition awarded participating students into mixed 2011 took place in Italy in September consisted of a written examination and certificates nationality teams both during the field last year, with the theme: ‘Earth a practical. The written test aimed to investigations and in presentations the Science Renaissance: science, examine participating students’ following day before judges and other environment and art’. The theme was understanding of theory, while the participants. held to reflect the host country’s practical included experiments and Finally, six outstanding student artistic heritage and show the link field tasks designed to evaluate the teams were awarded certificates for between Earth science, art and students’ problem-solving abilities. “Best Cooperation”, “Best Creativity” cultural heritage. In 2011 the practicals included and “Best Presentation”. You can find This was the first Olympiad to be exercises involving the operation of out who they were and much more held outside Asia, where the concept equipment, data analysis, and field about the Olympiad at was born in 2007, as part of the surveys from astronomy in the civic www.ieso2011.unimore.it. The International Year of Planet Earth. It planetarium of Modena, to next IESO 2012 will be hosted in was also the first where all continents atmosphere and geosphere tests in Argentina ieso2012.gl.fcen.uba.ar/ were represented by team or Modena city centre, as well as a index.php/about-ieso. Photographs: © Deborah lo Castro

08 MAY 2012 GEONEWS GEOSCIENTIST Celebrating publications New developments result in ‘huge increase’ in accessions to Society publications, says Publications Secretary Jonathan Turner. Dawne Riddle reports Images: Ted Nield PUBLISHING “We operate in a fiercely competitive environment, within a climate of extraordinary and inexorable change, especially in the pace of technological development” said Publications Secretary Dr Jonathan Turner (University of Birmingham). He was speaking at the annual Burlington House reception for Editors, after a day of meetings – the Publications Management Committee (comprising the editors in chief of all journals and book series, plus Publishing House staff), followed in the afternoon by separate editorial board meetings. “The Lyell collection, started in 2007, has been a huge success, as more and more people obtain their published material online. We are now looking at the possibility of using mobile devices – symbolic of this constant need to develop new capability within inevitably limited resources, and against better- resourced~ competitors.

reference system called ‘Geofacets’. Above: Daniel Viete THE LYELL This is geared particularly to the and Quentin Crowley hydrocarbons industry, whereby if a COLLECTION, STARTED IN subscriber company can identify all Right: Jonathan Turner, Publications 2007, HAS BEEN A HUGE Elsevier publications relevant to any Secretary SUCCESS, AS MORE AND area of the world. Elsevier were keen also to include the entire Lyell MORE PEOPLE OBTAIN Collection archive in this system. We THEIR PUBLISHED are only now a couple of months into MATERIAL ONLINE this venture, but we are already seeing Dr Jonathan Turner a financial benefit, in that it has already ~ resulted in a huge increase in the “We continue to do this very number of people accessing Society successfully” said Turner. “Two publications.” examples from the past year: the Dr Bob Pankhurst, Chief Books ‘Online First’ system, being initiated Editor for “two weeks short of 10 groundwater vulnerability assessment with the books series, but which will years” who has in that time seen the methods for carbonate aquifers. He eventually migrate to journals, will publication of almost exactly half of the received a certificate, books of his mean that no longer will publication of total Special Publications series to choice, two years’ free Fellowship of a collection of papers have to await the date, was stepping down, Turner the Society, and “a one year sentence slowest moving paper. In future, once announced. Dr Rick Law (Virginia Tech on the QJEGH Editorial Board”. your paper, which is contributing to a University), who was also present, will Dr Quentin Crowley (Trinity College, book, has been accepted, it can be succeed Bob in this crucial role. Dublin) Editor of the Journal of the posted online, given a date, and Mike Winter (TRL), Editor of the Geological Society presented its formally published at that point. In this Quarterly Journal of Engineering Young Author of the Year Award to new world we are no longer reliant on Geology and Hydrogeology presented Daniel Viete , who had travelled from publishing hard copy. the 2011 William Dearman Young Australia to receive it in person, for The “We have also developed a Author of the Year Award to Dr Alberto nature and origin of Barrovian partnership with Elsevier, who have Ximenez-Madrid for his paper The metamorphism, Scotland, on which he developed a GIS-based bibliographic comparative analysis of intrinsic was senior author.

MAY 2012 09 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS SOCIETYNEWS PRESIDENT’S DAY 2012

President’s Day at Burlington House on 13 June will begin with the Annual General Meeting at 11.00, followed by a buffet lunch with the award winners (members with ticket only – £27.50 each). As in previous years, the recipients of Council Election results the major medals have been invited to give a short talk on their subject, and the The ballot for Council closed on 31 March. A total of Awards Ceremony will be followed by presentations by the Lyell, Murchison, 972 valid votes were cast for the six vacancies on William Smith and Wollaston medallists. Details of these, a timetable for Council. There were 10 invalid votes. The results are President’s Day and the agenda for the AGM follow. shown in the table below. The six candidates receiving To obtain luncheon tickets please send cheques (made payable to ‘The Geological the most votes go forward to the AGM for election as Society’) to Stephanie Jones at Burlington House or email Council members. [email protected]. (To help us plan, please also contact Stephanie if you wish to attend the afternoon events for which there is no charge.) COUNCIL RESULTS n TIMETABLE 11.00 12.30 Name Votes Annual General Meeting (members only); Lunch with Award winners (members with tickets only); 14.00 Awards Ceremony; 15.30 Talks by Lyell, Murchison and William Smith medallists; 16.45 Tea; 17.15 Talk by Wollaston Natalyn Ala 669 (68.8%) Medallist; 17.45 Presidential Address; 18.30-20.00 Drinks reception David Jones 569 (58.5%) Michael Armitage 457 (47.0%) n Neil Chapman 447 (46.0%) AGM AGENDA Gary Nichols 427 (43.9%) Apologies; Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 8 June 2011; Brian Marker OBE 414 (42.6%) Appointment of Scrutineers for the ballots for Council and Officers; Ballot for Council; Annual Report and Accounts for 2011; President’s Report; Secretaries’ Bernie Vining 410 (42.2%) Reports; Treasurer’s Report; Comments from Fellows; Formal acceptance of the Jon Davidson 371 (38.2%) Annual Report and Accounts for 2011 and approval of the Budget for 2012; Antony Brown 338 (34.8%) Fellowship subscriptions for 2013; Deaths; Report of Scrutineers on the ballot for Howard Rose 334 (34.4%) Council; Ballot for Officers; Appointment of Auditors; Report of Scrutineers on the ballot for Officers; Election of new Fellows; Any other business; Provisional date of next Annual General Meeting. n OFFICE CLOSURE The Geological Society (London and Bath offices) will be n TALKS BY MEDALLISTS closed on Friday 25 May for staff training. Eric Wolff (Lyell Medal) Science Leader (Chemistry and Past Climate) at British Antarctic Survey and Honorary Visiting Professor in School of Ocean and Earth n THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CLUB Science, University of Southampton: Ice cores and interglacials The Geological Society Club, successor to the body that Frank Spear (Murchison Medal) Professor and Head of Department Earth and gave birth to the Society in 1807, meets monthly (except Environmental Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Thirty years of over the field season!) at 18.30 for 19.00 in the metamorphic P-T-t paths: what we have learned about orogenesis Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall. Once a year there is also a William Aspinall (William Smith Medal) Cabot Professor in Natural Hazards special dinner at Burlington House. New diners are and Risk Science, Visiting Industrial Professor, University of Bristol: A restless always welcome, especially from among younger volcano and restive volcanologists: uncertain judgements and uncertain risks Fellows. Dinner costs £52 for a four-course meal, Chris Hawkesworth (Wollaston Medal) Deputy Principal and Vice-Principal including coffee and port. (The Founders' Dinner, in (Research), University of St Andrews: The generation and destruction of November, has its own price structure.) There is a cash continental crust bar for the purchase of aperitifs and wine. 2012 11 April (Burlington House); 23 May. Any Fellow of the Society wishing to dine should contact FUTURE MEETINGS Dr Andy Fleet, Secretary to the Geological Society Dining Club, Department of Mineralogy, The Natural Dates for meetings of Council and Ordinary General Meetings until History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. June 2013 shall be as follows: Email: [email protected] from whom further details n 2012: 27 June, 26 September, 28 November may be obtained. DR n 2013: 6 February (1500); 10 April

10 MAY 2012 SOCIETY NEWS GEOSCIENTIST

FROM THE LIBRARY [lectures The library is open to visitors ] Monday-Friday 0930-1730. For a list of new acquisitions click Shell London the appropriate link from Lecture Series http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/info Fellowship dues 2013

At its meeting on 11 April Council latter range would be eligible to pay agreed to recommend to the as MSc or PhD students, and for Fellowship, for approval at the those students fees are reduced by AGM, the 2013 subscription rates about 25%. shown in the table The Society also recognises that RPI at the end of February 2012 some Fellows are experiencing was 3.7%. The proposed overall financial difficulties and would wish to increase averages 3.65% though do all that it can to help them through Unconventional Gas some rates increase by a little over this difficult time. If approved, the Speaker – Melvyn Giles 4%. Council believes that their concessionary rate, which has to be 9 May 2012 recommendation is the best applied for, will reduce from £92.50 compromise between the need to to £68. In the past decade in N. America, the application of raise additional income, given that The Athens service, which allows modern drilling and completion technology has resulted the subscription income lags behind Fellows remote electronic access to in an explosion in exploration and development inflation, while recognising that youth 86 journals the Library holds on activities in so-called unconventional gas and more are the future of the Society and we subscription, was introduced as a trial recently in light tight oil. These are all examples of must attract younger members into service in 2007. Council has decided hydrocarbons trapped in tight rocks which only a Fellowship (and retain them). that it should become a permanent decade ago would have been considered source rocks, Council proposes that the under core benefit to all Fellows as part of waste zones or seals. Many of these hydrocarbons are 21 and the 22 – 27 age rates be the Fellowship fee. Details will follow trapped in synclines, turning our accepted wisdom of merged, recognising that many in the of its re-launch later this year. petroleum exploration on its head. These resources include basin centre gas/oil, shale gas/oil and coal bed methane. In the past few years exploration for unconventional resources has become global, during SUBSCRIPTIONS 2013 which time it has become apparent that the range of developable unconventional resources is far wider than Council agreed to the following subscription rates for 2013 at its meeting on 11 previously thought. April 2012. These will go forward to Fellows to agree at the AGM. Dr Giles is Global Theme Lead for Unconventional Gas - a consultancy role - that requires a holistic view Subscription type 2012 2013 of Shell’s unconventional gas business. n Programme – Afternoon talk: 1430 Tea & Coffee: Junior Candidate Fellow 10.00 10.00 1500 Lecture begins: 1600 Event ends. n Programme – Evening talk: 1730 Tea & Coffee: Candidate Fellow 15.00 15.00 1800 Lecture begins: 1900 Reception. Candidate Fellow full course fee 40.00 40.00 27 and under 65.50 68.00 FURTHER INFORMATION 28-33 120.50 125.50 Please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/ 34-59 183.50 191.00 shelllondonlectures12. Entry to each lecture is by 34-59 (Overseas) 141.00 146.50 ticket only. To obtain a ticket please contact us around four weeks before the talk. Due to the popularity of this 60-69 92.50 96.00 lecture series, tickets are allocated in a monthly ballot 70+ 63.50 66.00 and cannot be guaranteed. Concessions 92.50 68.00 Full time postgraduate MSc 37.00 27.50 Contact: Naomi Newbold, The Geological Society, Burlington Full time postgraduate PhD 51.50 40.00 House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BG, T: +44 (0) 20 7432 0981 E: [email protected] Supplement (to payer) for Joint Fellowship 53.50 56.00 CGeol supplement payers 28.00 29.50 CSci supplement payers 23.00 24.00

MAY 2012 11 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS

[Chartership news] SOCIETYNEWS... Right qualifications – scrutineers and mentors

Geologists working in Contaminated Right: Chartership Land (CL) and other emerging areas of Officer Bill Gaskarth geological practice constitute a has some advice and guidance to impart considerable proportion of recent applicants for validation as Chartered Geologist (CGeol). But many candidates whose day-to-day work may be low in geological components may find it hard to demonstrate fulfilment of criterion ‘i’ of the requirements for CGeol. However, on many CL projects the geological and hydrogeological component of the work can be significant. The criterion requires that applicant demonstrate ‘understanding of the complexities of geology and geological processes in relation to their speciality’. When applying, candidates for CGeol need to emphasise the geological content of their work, and to show understanding of the geology of any site reported on (perhaps by submitting geological addenda to their SCRUTINEERING identify weak spots before they Supporting Documents, showing The numbers of people applying for submit. Anyone able and willing to geological knowledge and thinking Chartership (CGeol and CSci) show no help in this way should contact the associated with, and required for, their signs of falling, and so we need to Chartership Officer offering their work). It is also important to increase the number of available services. The Society will offer demonstrate ‘geological thinking’ when Scrutineers. Anyone who has been training and advice for all new dealing with uncertainty in conceptual Chartered for five or more years may Scrutineers, mentors and coaches. site models. One may also apply to become a Scrutineer. demonstrate continued geological The more recruits we get, the less SCIENCE COUNCIL learning through CPD. often you will be asked! We hope to The Science Council has agreed However, candidates who feel that call on your services once (maximum that anyone may retrospectively the geological component of their work twice) per year. apply for CSci up to two years after is too slight to support application Scrutineer application forms are election to CGeol. The Application along the CGeol route as a ‘practising available here: www.geolsoc.org. can use the same documentation professional geologist’ might consider uk/scrutineers as that for CGeol; however applying for Chartered Scientist (CSci). Chartership applicants of all kinds information on CPD activities for the They will still have to demonstrate the are encouraged to look for a Mentor intervening period and updated production of conceptual site models. within their employment organisation Sponsors’ statements are required. CSci is a professional qualification of and to have him or her act as a You must complete a CSci equal status, and together with Sponsor. Many candidates have found Application Form, but another ‘FGS’ denotes a geologist working as it impossible to locate an in-house Professional Interview will not be a professional scientist. It should Mentor and so have struggled to required. It is important for be noted that many geologists appreciate fully what is involved Candidates to ensure that their working in CL are likely to be eligible applying for Chartership. Professional Report and Supporting for both qualifications (as are many The Society would like to help Documents show their fulfilment of in other areas). candidates identify experienced CSci criteria (especially i and ii). Anyone wishing for clarification of CGeols and CScis who might be their individual situation should prepared to ‘coach’ them in Contact chartership@geolsoc. contact the Chartership Officer. developing their applications, or to org.uk with any queries

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s Quaternary glaciations Survey. Not unusually in the Survey, his gripped eastern England first assignment exposed him to blanketing it in swathes of completely different geology - a detailed ice, torrents of subglacial assessment of water resources in Eastern meltwater carved a network England. This involved extending the of channels through the ice known limits of the Crag - and deducing sheetsA and buried landscape, partially the presence of subglacial streams. superimposing themselves on pre-glacial Woodland proved to be an effective river networks. Reaching depths of up science manager and went on to become to 100m, these buried channels produced the Director of the British Geological a significant scar in our subterranean Survey in 1976. Now, with computer environment - one that often has no technology we are able to revisit his surface expression but which is of work and define the extent of these considerable consequence to modern buried channels in 3D. In doing so, we hydrogeological processes and our are able to establish the inter-connections understanding of the dynamics of between the pre-glacial setting of central ancient ice sheets. Where these channels and eastern England, and the modern were once enveloped by a great day hydrological regime. thickness of ice they are now in-filled and buried beneath more recent COLDER CLIMES superficial deposits. Prior to the major glaciations of the We cannot claim to be pioneers in Quaternary, the drainage patterns of uncovering these glacial features since central and eastern England were very several geologists identified the different from the river systems we existence of palaeovalleys in East Anglia know today. It is only in the in the late 19th Century. It wasn’t until reconstruction of these older pre-glacial 1970 though that Austin Woodland CBE river systems that we understand the PhD (1914 – 1990), while working at the present day distribution of superficial Institute Geological Sciences (now deposits, some of which lie far from our British Geological Survey) collated modern river valleys2. information from water supply In summary, the region was drained borehole records to map the distribution by the easterly flowing Bytham River of the buried valleys in sufficient which joined the North Sea near regional detail1. Lowestoft while the River Thames Austin Woodland’s PhD (1939) was a discharged to the North Sea near study of manganese-bearing rocks in Ipswich. The most extensive glaciation Meirionnydd, Wales - so why his to affect the region occurred during the interest in buried valleys? Woodland Anglian, some 450,000 years ago, and was born in Glamorgan, eldest son of a was responsible for destroying the colliery carpenter. After graduating Bytham River and diverting the lower from the University of Wales, reaches of the River Thames to their

Aberystwyth he joined the Geological present course. ▼

EAST ANGLIA’S BURIED CHANNELS Woodland revisited: Stephanie Bricker, Jonathan Lee, Vanessa Banks, Anthony Morigi and Marieta Garcia- Bajo* uncover the past in 3D following in the footsteps of a pioneering Survey Director

Geology data, BGS ©NERC 2011

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▼ It is therefore possible to distinguish two types of buried valley in East Anglia: (i) relict pre-glacial river valleys – including the ancestral rivers Bytham and Thames and their tributaries, and (ii) subglacial ‘tunnel valleys’ that formed beneath the ice sheets. The latter are common features within glacial environments and research into the locations, orientation and geometry of the valleys is traditionally used to understand the subglacial hydraulic regime and assist in the reconstruction of former ice sheet development. There has been considerable debate regarding both the genesis of the valley features and the name they are ascribed. The terms ‘tunneldale’ in Denmark and similarly ‘rinnentaler’ in Germany were coined to describe subglacial meltwater- eroded valleys not buried by ice. This was translated to ‘tunnel valley’ by Map of the study Woodland, to describe all buried valley area showing features in the UK. Accordingly, many the pre-glacial use the term ‘tunnel valley’ for both open- River Bytham and River channel and buried valleys of inferred Thames, Anglian subglacial origin. glaciation limit, Referring to buried tunnel features as tunnel valleys as defined by valleys is not entirely appropriate either, Woodland as they do not always exhibit a falling (1970) and the underlying head along their profile. Since subglacial 1:625,000 drainage channels are formed beneath ice bedrock geology

sheets, meltwater frequently flows under P210030 BGS© NERC hydrostatic pressure and as such the water may flow ‘uphill’ along the hydraulic gradient. With subglacial drainage channels occupying space within both the overlying ice sheet (‘englacial’) and the underlying substrate, and emanating from the ice margins in fans, the subsurface expression of the subglacial channel upon deglaciation is rather inconspicuous and not akin to modern river valley form or pre-glacial river valleys. The trace of tunnel valley deposits remaining within the geological Gravel workings near Swinford, succession may be patchy, undulating or showing anastomosing, depending upon the extent gravelly boulder to which the channel carved its path clay on flint-rich glacial gravels, through the ground as opposed to the possibly overlying ice sheet. The absence of a en-glacially buried valley deposit within a borehole deposited record does not necessarily mean that the P210925 BGS© NERC buried valley did exist at that point. For instance, its base may have become elevated into an englacial position, or its form may have been subsequently eroded from the geological record. Piecing together the buried valley environment is therefore a complex task. Cross-bedded glacial outwash sands, BURIED VALLEYS photographed at a gravel pit near Working on his own and with limited Costessey, technology, Woodland’s efforts in Norfolk

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mapping the buried valleys of East Anglia are commendable. Using only the geological borehole logs from the water supply well records, Woodland was able to mark the approximate, albeit perhaps over-interpreted, course of 16 buried valley systems, and attempted where possible to mark the level of the underlying bedrock. With access to nearly 30,000 borehole records held by BGS (and now available online at www.bgs.ac.uk/data/boreholescans /home.html), including over 8000 mineral assessment boreholes, we are now in a far better position to delineate the 3D form of the valley features and consider their inter-relationship with the underlying bedrock. We also have access to a superficial drift thickness model, bedrock surface model and the 1:50,000 digital superficial map (DIGMapGB50) to direct us to the most appropriate areas of search. These datasets were used in Block model showing the combination to record the presence and sub-glacial and thickness of buried valley deposits. englacial tunnel At the same time other key geological valley formation along with the descriptors were recorded, including geological the type of buried valley infill material, tunnel valley type of underlying geology and its legacy upon deglaciation engineering properties, for example evidence suggests that weathered or ‘putty’ chalk is often present beneath buried valleys. The contours of the buried valleys (relative to OD) were produced with Geographical Information System (GIS) software using the derived buried valley thicknesses and a digital terrain model provided by the Centre for Ecology Cross-bedded glacial outwash and Hydrology (Morris and Flavin, sands, 1990) to create the 3D form of the photographed at buried valleys. a gravel pit near Costessey, We identify several major buried Norfolk valleys within our area of study in East

© Crown Copyright and database rights 2011 Anglia. In general, we see very good agreement with Woodland’s work, with buried valley deposits identified along all of the major channels he identified. However, we suggest that the channel deposits are less continuous than he implied. There are intervals along the valley where channel deposits appear to be absent from the geological record and may represent sections where the channel narrowed or became englacial. The observed buried valleys appear 2D delineation of to take two forms. First, there are mapped buried valley along the narrower valleys associated with modern day River modern day rivers and streams (e.g. Stour. Contains Ordnance Survey Stour, Stort and Cam), plus isolated

data valleys that are unrelated to modern ▼

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▼ drainage. The narrower channels are As the Anglian ice sheet advanced the classic sub-glacial ‘tunnel valleys’. across the Midlands and East Anglia Typically they are just 0.5 – 1km wide from the west, it eroded sections of the and heavily incised, reaching depths of Jurassic clays and limestones, which up to 100m. Viewed in plan they tend to were subsequently re-deposited as tills Geology data, BGS ©NERC 2011 be fairly linear in form, as seen in the across the east of the region (Lowestoft valleys of the rivers Cam and Stour. Till), and created a topographic low However, there is also a suggestion that within which the Fens lie. drainage within the Stour may be Contemporaneously, the chalk Section through the long-profile superimposed upon a fault system escarpment, which trends in a SW-NE of the buried within the bedrock. direction across western East Anglia, tunnel valley present within The second type of buried valley is was also eroded causing it to migrate in the valley of the much wider and more continuous, and a south-easterly direction. modern day includes those found within the Hitchin- Curiously, some of the buried valleys River Cam Stevenage Gap and along the course of terminate and appear to be absent the buried Bytham valley in central East across the Lower Chalk that occupies Anglia. These larger channels are over sections of the scarp slope. The 2.5km wide locally, and tend to have an exception to this is the Hitchin buried undulating base punctuated with scour valley, which cuts a deep channel hollows where the thickness of the through the chalk escarpment at the valley fill varies from less than 15m to Hitchin Gap. By plotting a geological

over 100m. We interpret these channels section along the subglacial channel P212343 BGS© NERC and sections of their infill as pre-glacial within the Cam valley we examine Boulder clay river systems that drained central and whether it is a lithological control and sand and eastern England prior to the Anglian exerted by the Lower Chalk, or the gravel sequence glaciation. influence of the subglacial topography photographed Certain buried valleys appear to that determines the formation or near Long exhibit a polyphase history. The Bytham otherwise of buried valleys in this Melford, Suffolk River valley, for example, contains sand setting. In fact, it appears that the and gravel deposits that include a Melbourn Rock (a hard bed of cemented number of discrete but mappable terrace chalk at the base of the Middle Chalk) is aggradations. However, parts of the acting as a base level for buried valley valley appear to have been reactivated, formation and may explain the absence with a later, narrow and deeper of buried valley deposits over the subglacial channel scoured along part of Lower Chalk. the southern valley flank between Thetford and Diss. An interesting IMPLICATIONS feature of the Bytham buried valley is Mapping the 3D form of buried valleys that greater scouring appears to occur is not just of benefit to Quaternary where the buried valley crosses onto the geology - there is value for engineers Upper Chalk (stratigraphers please note and the water and aggregate industries. – we are employing these terms in their Our interest is the interaction of buried colloquial sense). The scouring is valleys with hydrological systems. linear in form, occurring at right Knowing the spatial distribution and angles to the main Bytham channel, form of buried valleys allows us to coincident with the modern day Black develop an idea of how these pre-glacial Bourn – a tributary of the Little Ouse and subglacial channel systems have near Thetford. shaped modern river networks and While the Black Bourn is a modest aquifer characteristics. river, with flow some 100 times smaller For example, we observe that than the Thames at London, its modern day rivers often follow the subglacial counterpart had enough same course as the buried channels. energy to scour hollows 80m deep. Buried-valley infills may themselves Though no faulting is indicated on the form viable aquifer units. Though geological map, it is highly likely, given spatially restricted, their depth makes the linear form of the scouring which them an inviting prospect for follows the same orientation as several groundwater resources, and countries other river channels locally, that the such as Denmark and USA are already subglacial valley follows the line of a exploiting them. fault or dominant fracture set within the Permeability of East Anglian buried underlying chalk. A zone of high valley infill deposits was calculated 3D visualisation transmissivity within the chalk using grain-size distribution. Although of sections of the Bytham beneath the valley offers further there is incomplete coverage across the buried valley evidence for this. network, there are higher permeability network

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deposits, associated with a basal sand heterogeneous both in form and nature and gravel unit within the Bytham of infill. It is the juxtaposition of River and River Stour valley deposits, higher permeability fill within buried occurring below a shallower, less valleys (particularly those of the Stour permeable fill. The distribution of and ancient Bytham river) with zones valley infill deposits is not unexpected of high transmissivity in the for a valley of polyphase origin, with underlying chalk that arouses interest. successive phases of pre-glacial, glacial While these zones provide a hotspot and post-glacial erosion and deposition for preferential groundwater recharge having given rise to a complex sequence and aquifer productivity, they also of both layered and unsorted deposits of provide potentially rapid pathways for varying permeability. contaminants, leaving the chalk In East Anglia, the superficial aquifer extremely vulnerable to deposits in the north and west of the polluting activities. region are largely underlain by the Delineating buried valleys in 3D Chalk Group - a principal aquifer does not by itself answer all questions supporting over 40% of public water with respect to the management of supply locally. Consequently there is a groundwater systems. It does however drive to understand the hydrological provide a focus for future research and characteristics of the chalk, including its is of benefit to other disciplines. resource potential and its vulnerability Whether the interest is engineering, to contamination. aggregates or offshore exploration, In mapping the buried valleys we see there is much to be gained from a potential control being exerted by the the 3D delineation of these buried channels on the underlying chalk. valley features. n Comparatively high transmissivity values appear to be associated with * Stephanie Bricker, Jonathan Lee, Vanessa several buried valleys, the highest of Banks, Anthony Morigi and Marieta Garcia-Bajo which being coincident with the Bytham British Geological Survey, Keyworth River valley and the modern day Black Bourn. With raised transmissivity provided initially by bedrock structure, REFERENCES chalk permeability is likely to have been enhanced by subglacial hydrostatic 1 Woodland, A W 1970: The buried tunnel- pressure and dissolution beneath the valleys of East Anglia Proceedings of the ancient river deposits. A zone of high Yorkshire Geological Society 37: 521-578 transmissivity is also observed along the 2 Rose, J , Moorlock, B S P and Hamblin, River Stour buried valley, which is also R J O 2001: Pre-Anglian fluvial and coastal thought to be part of the pre-glacial deposits in Eastern England: lithostratigraphy and palaeoenvironments Quaternary Bytham drainage network. International 79: 5-22 Where hydrostatic pressures were 3 Brenchley, P J and Rawson, P F (Eds) sufficient, subglacial meltwater could 2006: The Geology of England and Wales have eroded significant sections of the The Geological Society, London pre-glacially weathered chalk, before 4 Morris, D G and Flavin, R W 1990: the tunnel valleys were formed. The A digital terrain model for hydrology engineering properties of chalk beneath Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Spatial Data Handling: 1990, buried valleys tends to support this idea Zurich, Switzerland Publisher: [Zurich, – soft, more weathered chalk occurring Switzerland]: Dept of Geography, University of under the pre-glacial Bytham River, Zurich; ISBN: 3906254992; 250-262 River Stour and the pre-diversionary Thames; harder chalk occurring under the tunnel valleys of sub-glacial origin. In line with this argument we see the harder chalk hosting the more deeply eroded sections of the buried valleys where thicker buried valley deposits are recorded. The relationship between the buried valley and the underlying chalk and its influence on aquifer characteristics is not simple and would appear to depend not only on the chalk unit within which valley is eroded but also on the origin of the valley. Coupled Austin Woodland CBE 1914-90, Director of the Survey 1976-79 with this, the buried valleys are highly Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown Copyright and database rights 2011. Contains Centre for Ecology & Hydrology data © NERC 2011 MAY 2012 19 CRATONIC BASINS THE MISSING DATA Mike Daly* on a BP-underwritten basin analysis project that aims to improve our understanding of how cratonic sedimentary basins form

bsence of high quality, will combine deep crustal seismic conclusion that the flexural Above: Outcrops of regional, deep crustal the fluvial sediments reflection data, seismology and loading of a visco-elastic seismic reflection data of the Silurian geological fieldwork to study the lithosphere is the primary driving Jaicós Formation in is a significant the Capivara evolution and driving mechanism mechanism behind the wide constraint on our National Park on the of this classic cratonic basin. It (~100km) foreland basins that understanding of SE margin of the will also draw in partners from a develop adjacent to Phanerozoic Parnaiba basin. cratonicA sedimentary basins, and range of universities. mountain belts. In this case, (Famous Brazilian increasingly fuels a controversy geophysicist, Vander regional seismic reflection data around the subsidence mechanism Andrade, in the CONTEXT characteristically show a foreground) of these large basins, the tectonic There remains little doubt that sedimentary basin thickening processes driving their formation lithospheric extension followed by markedly towards a mountain and also the reasons for the mantle cooling is the primary range, with sedimentary remarkable variation in the scale driving mechanism of the world’s depocentres younging away from of the oil and gas resources they Phanerozoic rift basins. Regional the mountains. may contain. seismic reflection data showing Far less clear is the driving To inform this debate, BP rotated fault blocks and mechanism of the world’s cratonic Exploration Plc (through BP stratigraphic expansion into faults, basins. Characteristically these Energy do Brasil) is underwriting followed by relatively passive basins are large (0.5 – 1.5 x106km2) an integrated basin analysis thermal subsidence demonstrates with a present day sub-circular project on the Parnaiba cratonic this repeatedly. shape that does not necessarily basin of NE Brazil. The project Similarly convincing is the represent their original basin form.

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consequences and its subsequent understanding of their deep break-up, remains highly crustal structure. Such imaging speculative, but nonetheless could illuminate as yet unknown potentially a part of this complex rift structures, or show and subtle puzzle. conclusively that such rifting is absent. It would also improve our OIL & GAS understanding of the depth, From the perspective of resources, Above: Mike Daly stratigraphy and structural history there appears to be great variation FGS, Executive Vice of these basins and their resource in the oil and gas deposits President for potential. Exploration, BP developed in cratonic basins. In The Parnaiba basin project will North America, the Williston and comprise deep seismic profiling, Michigan basins can boast seismology and a geological thousands of wells and several research programme to address billion barrels of oil discovered. these issues. The programme will Recent developments in also utilise existing work by the horizontal drilling and hydraulic Brazilian Agência Nacional do fracturing have highlighted the oil Petroleo to elucidate the petroleum potential of the Late Devonian potential of the basin, and will Bakken Shale Formation of the draw on their new gravity and Williston basin. magnetic data as well as new In contrast, the cratonic basins geochemical work. of South America and sub- The Parnaiba basin analysis Saharan Africa generally have far project will comprise three fewer wells and much less oil elements: discovered. Does this difference n Acquisition of a ~800km seismic simply reflect their exploration reflection and refraction profile maturity, or something with the intent to image the fundamentally missing in their basin’s stratigraphic geology, such as a prolific source architecture and geometry, rock or insufficient heat flow for basement topography and deep maturation? The question crustal structure. Authorisation remains open. to acquire the line must be A number of driving granted by the Brazilian ANP mechanisms have been proposed (Agência Nacional do Petroleo); for the formation of these large n Examination of deep crustal and basins. Hartley and Allen1 mantle structure through identified nine postulated driving seismology and igneous mechanisms in the literature, petrology; pointing out the profusion of n Creation of an integrated hypotheses and the lack of clear geophysical and geological understanding of these basins. understanding of the dynamic Hypotheses range from structural and thermal evolution They are developed on relatively modifications of the lithospheric of the Parnaiba basin. thick, Precambrian lithosphere stretching and thermal contraction and typified by negative Bouger model to sub-aerial erosion due to SUBSIDENCE gravity anomalies. Sedimentary thermal uplift followed by The Parnaiba basin was chosen for fill varies considerably in sediment load driven subsidence. a number of reasons. First, the thickness (2-10km) and is typically In line with this history, recent basin has many of the features of shallow marine, paralic and publications focussed on the believed to be typical of a cratonic continental sediments deposited formation of the Congo basin, basin. It is sub-circular in present- over long periods. Subsidence have reached markedly different day outline; formed on relatively curves for these basins are poorly conclusions. Crosby et al.2 argue thick lithosphere with a negative constrained before the Mesozoic, for a protracted thermal free air gravity anomaly; but generally show slow and subsidence history based on a apparently has its origin in the continuous subsidence for several Cambrian rift event; in contrast Late Precambrian to Early hundred million years. Downey & Gurnis3 argue for Paleozoic, with long and slow More globally, the poor age- subsidence driven by a high- subsidence through to the Tertiary constraints on the initiation of density object deep within the (interspersed with periods of uplift cratonic basins allow their origins lithosphere. and erosion); and is poorly to be tied to the breakup of the The driving mechanism understood in terms of formation Late Precambrian supercontinent. controversy is fuelled by the poor and resource potential4. The linkage with a large seismic imaging of cratonic basins Second, it is relatively accessible

continental mass, its thermal and a consequent lack of both for seismic acquisition and ▼

MAY 2012 21 ▼ geological fieldwork. Outcrops around the margin of the basin are excellent and offer a good chance to tie the regional seismic data to outcropping chronostratigraphic equivalents. Third, the basin has only been lightly explored with fewer than 30 exploration wells and 25,000 line-km of 2D reflection seismic. Recent gas discoveries have been announced, and both oil and gas shows have been recorded in the past. However, the basin remains far from an established Cratonic basins: petroleum province. petroleum Regionally, the Parnaiba basin resources and has potential linkages with the exploration maturity. Note other cratonic basins of Brazil and, the immaturity in the context of Gondwana, the of the South major African cratonic basins of American and African basins North Africa and the Congo. As compared to such, we believe that it represents those of North America and an excellent laboratory to examine Russia the fundamental driving mechanism of cratonic basins in Data care of Professor D. McKenzie, Cambridge University general and to deepen the understanding of the basin- forming process and the controls on petroleum resource potential. The project, expected to commence in early 2012, will conclude in 2015. It will involve collaboration with a number of universities from Brazil, Britain and the USA. The underlying philosophy will be to drive a truly Gravity and lithospheric integrated geological view of this thickness in accessible basin and use that to South America. further our understanding of its The Parnaiba basin is resource potential and the characterised fundamental driving mechanism of by a negative cratonic basins generally. n free air gravity anomaly and relatively thick lithosphere * Mike Daly is the Executive Vice President Palegeographic reconstruction care of BP Exploration Plc for Exploration in BP

Far left: An integrated REFERENCES gravity, magnetic and structural basement image, 1 Hartley, R & Allen P A 1994: Interior highlighting the cratonic basins of Africa: Relation to main cratonic continental break-up and role of mantle basins of Brazil convection, Basin Res., 6, 95-113

Left: L. Pal. S. 2 Crosby, A C et al. 2010: Structure and America/Africa evolution of the intracratonic Congo reconstruction, Basin, Geochem Geophys Geosyst , showing potential 11, Q06010, 20pp Frasnian coastline and 3 Downey, N J , & Gurnis M 2009: associated Instantaneous dynamics of the cratonic depositional Congo Basin, J Geophys Res , 114, environments. B06401, 29pp Note implied 4 Milani, E J & Milani P V extension of 1999: An implied marine outline of the geology and petroleum basin beyond systems of the Paleozoic interior basins present basin of South America, Episodes, 22.03 outlines Geoscientist welcomes readers’ letters. These are published as promptly as possible in Geoscientist Online and a selection READERS’ printed each month. Please submit your letter (300 words or fewer, by email only please) to [email protected]. LETTERS Letters will be edited. For references cited in these letters, please see the full versions at www.geolsoc.org.uk/letters 3D MAP DATA - TIME TO CATCH THE WIND? DRUDGE DREAD Sir, I was delighted to see Alan Lord Wind power – footings making the case for the for wind turbines could ‘disappearing’ micropalaeontologist generate a wealth of (Geoscientist 22.02 March 2012). geological information The importance of operational micropalaeo to drilling operations has long been recognised and with directional drilling a prominent feature of modern drilling practice, it has become even more important. I suspect that the oil majors have some of their own in-house expertise in this field. But smaller companies probably rely on consultants for this service. Alan’s plea to restore teaching of this subject in the UK is timely, and one hopes that the Birmingham University initiative will be a resounding success and that industry will contribute to making it so. However, I would urge those eager to raise enthusiasm among the young not to follow our Fellowship magazine’s choice of terminology. Father: “Well son, what are you going to do when you graduate?” Son: “I’m going to be a harmless bug-picking drudge!” Griff Cordey A CYCLEPATH WRITES... Sir, Reading Julian Vearncombe’s review of Ian Plimer’s How to get expelled from school (Geoscientist Sir, The brave new 3D world envisaged by the material can be reviewed where appropriate. 22.02, March 2012), I found myself British Geological Survey (Geoscientist 22.02 Data recorded on GI borehole logs are checking the cover to see that I March 2012, p. 19) is a tremendous initiative based on standards designed for hadn’t picked up The Spectator or with many obvious benefits to academic, geotechnical purposes, and can often fail to some other political magazine. governmental and commercial interests. provide critical information relevant to With support from such political 'Traditional' geological mapping relied largely stratigraphic classification. leaders as John Howard and Vaclav on data from the land surface and excavations A key example is the current explosion in Klaus, Plimer doesn’t need to worry or mines, with limited subsurface input from wind farm projects, both onshore and offshore. about the science. In quality other sources. Three-dimensional modelling is Why is there no integrated scheme to ensure journals, polemics are debated by dependent on the accurate recording and that the geological data resulting from these is both sides so I expected to find a interpretation of large quantities of subsurface adequately assessed and recorded? It's a dissenting, view here. But no, ‘get data, much of which is derived from one-time opportunity in many areas. When the expelled’ came across as an commercial Ground Investigation (GI) reports. GI reports finally get into the public domain it's everyday book on geoscience, Unless a proactive approach to acquisition of likely too late to ask to see a critical core! without any hint of a challenge. data from these sources is adopted, in Modelling needs modellers, but modellers Is this now policy? And if so, may collaboration with the geotechnical industry, need data. To adapt Thomas Huxley’s famous we soon expect reviews of books on much relevant information will be lost or remain dictum: 'it only takes one ugly borehole to creation science or astrology? inaccessible. This needs to be carried out in destroy a beautiful model'. John Veevers 'real time' so that relevant sample/core Chris King Editor writes: We have in the past run many reviews of books purporting to be geoscientific in content, including those Sir, While the developments by the BGS ‘black holes’ that still exist on the espousing "creation science". We think of online map resources as described by 1:50,000 index sheet are filled! Give us that in this case, as in those others, Smith and Howard were most interesting these first, and let the electronic Geoscientist readers will be well able to to read about, Fellows using the Society’s wizardry follow. judge for themselves whether they wish to purchase a copy of the book under Library will not be satisfied until all the Wendy Cawthorne review, irrespective of the position taken by the reviewer.

MAY 2012 23 GEOSCIENTIST PEOPLE

Geoscientists in the news and on the move in the UK, PEOPLE Europe and worldwide CAROUSEL IN MEMORIAM WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/OBITUARIES All fellows of the Society are entitled to entires in this column. Please email [email protected], quoting your THE SOCIETY NOTES WITH SADNESS THE PASSING OF: Fellowship number. Allen, Anthony William* Humphreys, Adrian * Cockett, Alan Stanley* Kwolek, Julian Kenneth* Edwards, Wilfrid Thomas* Oates, Francis * Egerton, Robert* Price, Ivor C* Hepworth, Barrie* Uko, Suzuki* Hey, Richard * Young, Roger Andrew* Howie, Robert A*

In the interests of recording its Fellows' work for posterity, the Society publishes obituaries online, and in Geoscientist. The most recent additions to the list are shown in bold. Fellows for whom no obituarist has yet been commissioned are marked with an asterisk (*). The n STEVE MATTHEWS AND DANIEL SENKANS symbol § indicates that biographical material has been lodged with Steve Matthews and Daniel Senkans have entered the Sheffield the Society. Half Marathon to raise money for Sheffield’s only hospice. Their If you would like to contribute an obituary, please email company, Silkstone Environmental, specialises in coalfield geology; [email protected] to be commissioned. You can read the so a training circuit that takes in several former deep and opencast guidance for authors at www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. To save mining sites in the Middle Coal Measures north of the city makes yourself unnecessary work, please do not write anything until you an interesting field trip as well as a good run. Company have received a commissioning letter. representative Lisa Hart told Geoscientist: “They are running for St Deceased Fellows for whom no obituary is forthcoming have their Luke’s because we know it’s a very worthy cause, doing fantastic names and dates recorded in a Roll of Honour at things for people in our community. It’s a great local charity with a www.geolsoc.org.uk/obituaries. shop in Chapeltown very near our office so it seemed like the ideal choice for us to support.” You can find out how the training is going and make a donation by visiting the team’s Justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/silkstoneenvironmentalltd n PAUL YOUNGER Paul Younger has been appointed to the Rankine Chair of Energy Engineering at the University of Glasgow, after 30 years at Newcastle University. There he was, until his present move, Director of the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability.

24 MAY 2012 PEOPLE GEOSCIENTIST

HELP YOUR OBITUARIST The Society operates a scheme for Fellows to deposit biographical material. The object is to assist obituarists by providing contacts, dates and other information, and thus ensure that Fellows’ lives are accorded appropriate and accurate commemoration. Please send your CV and a photograph to Ted Nield at the Society. DISTANT THUNDER Losing the plot Geologist and science writer, Nina Morgan, discovers an unfortunate error

Robert Plot (1640-96) – describe as having: unfortunate mistake resulted from historians may still have a naturalist, first Keeper of the “…exactly the Figure of the a combination of sloppy case. Even though Plot may Ashmolean Museum and first lowermost part of the Thigh- scholarship and printers’ errors. have lost the plot so far as the Professor of Chemistry at the Bone of a Man, or at least of Brookes took his information bone identification goes, it University of Oxford – is perhaps some other Animal … shewing from the second (1705) edition of could be argued that he beat best known today for two books: the Marrow within of a shining Plot’s book (picture) where William Buckland to the The Natural History of Spar-like Substance” inclusion of an expanded text discovery of dinosaurs. Oxfordshire, published in 1677, Although Plot’s meant that paragraphs were re- and The Natural History of characterisation of the bone as numbered, but the Plates were ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Staffordshire, published in 1686. human was incorrect, his not – leading to some confusion The idea for this vignette comes Both include descriptions of a speculation that it was “at least when it came to captions. from a lecture entitled ‘Plot and range of ‘curiosities’ with often of some other Animal” was spot Palaeontologists have been the Big Bone’, given by Philip fanciful descriptions of what are on. The bone, which Plot noted having fun with this printing error Powell of the Oxford University now recognised to be fossils, had come from a quarry at ever since. In the late 20th Museum of Natural History in many illustrated for the first time. Cornwell, near Chipping Norton Century geologists Bill Sarjeant November 2010, as part of an However, there was one in Oxfordshire, was later and Beverly Halstead suggested afternoon of talks about Robert specimen Plot was adamant recognised to be the lower part that Brookes’s epithet Scrotum Plot held at the Museum of the should not be pictured. This he of a thigh bone of the dinosaur humanum should be given History of Science in Oxford to describes as: Megalosaurus. priority over Megalosaurus, the mark the 350th anniversary of “…having upon it both the name assigned in 1824 by the Royal Society. Other Rugosity and the suture of the MODEST William Buckland, first Reader in sources include: When Scrotum Scrotum, and Phalloides … A seemingly modest man, Plot Geology at Oxford and the first to Humanum walked on Earth by perfectly representing the Glans would probably have been publish a name for a dinosaur. Patrick Wyse Jackson, Lost and Praeputium penis humani; horrified to learn that in 1763, When the suggested name- magazine, May 2007 – No 15 but without any Frenum fastened Richard Brookes, an English change was overruled by the [www.lostmag.com/issue15/ to the Urethra: of which out of physician and author, labelled International Commission for paleontology.php?] and A brief Modesty I have given no this same illustration as Scrotum Zoological Nomenclature, history of dinosaur paleobiology, Sculptures.” humanum when he included it in palaeontological pornographers by Michael J Benton in Paul, But he did include an his own six- volume opus: A might have been a bit G.S. (ed) The Scientific illustration of another specimen System of Natural History. This disappointed. But revisionist American book of dinosaurs, St Martin’s Press, New York, 2000, pp. 10-14 [http://palaeo.gly.br Femoral portion, probably from is.ac.uk/Essays/dinohist.html] Megalosaurus. Robert Plot, 1677 (turned upside If the past is the key to your down by Richard present interests, why not join Brookes, 1763) the History of Geology Group (HOGG)? For more information and to read the latest HOGG newsletter, visit the website at www.geolsoc.org. uk/hogg where the programme and abstracts from the Conference on Geological Collectors and Collecting are available as a pdf file free to download.

* Nina Morgan is a geologist and science writer based near Oxford.

MAY 2012 25 GEOSCIENTIST BOOKS & ARTS

with hydrogeology, the editor has clearly make up our own minds, explaining had a difficult task deciding how much both myth and science with the help unfamiliar science to include, and more of Harry Harrison’s quirky drawings. detail could have been omitted without Some might see this as a confusing detracting from the important discussion way to introduce children to geology, of water-related themes in this dry but analogy is a powerful tool in county. The final chapter treats the built communicating science. Stories about environment and mineral resources. the formation of a landscape, some of Here we find the highest density of which have been passed down over photographs, which bring the subject centuries, not only help the memory, alive. The book is rounded off with but remind us that landscapes have a 35 pages of references and a twelve- human, as well as a geological past. page index. The book takes us on a tour of the HERTFORDSHIRE GEOLOGY Hertfordshire Geology and Landscape geology of Anglesey, with sketch maps will complement A Geological pointing out the geological features as AND LANDSCAPE Conservation Strategy for Hertfordshire, well as local places of interest. The This is the most important book ever (Herts RIGS Group, 2003). Its foreword encourages readers to take written on Hertfordshire’s Earth heritage multidisciplinary approach will assist the book with them when exploring - an elegant summary of geology and partnership work between heritage the landscape, and the parallel stories physical landscape, attractively interest groups. It represents good value are intended to be viewed in front of presented. It stands as a testament to for money, and deserves to find a the features described. John Catt’s editorial and writing skills as permanent place on the shelf of anyone The mythological stories all refer to well as his deep personal knowledge, interested in understanding a family of giants, along with their and to his determination that Percy and Hertfordshire’s natural and cultural pets, and are presented alongside a Enid Evans’s original idea (of a book ‘for environment geological explanation of the feature. naturalists who are not geologists’) These can be a bit high-level at times – should be realised. Reviewed by Tim Holt-Wilson terms like ‘cleavage’, ‘fold axis’ and With few exceptions, the book ‘percolated’ could do with some successfully treads the narrow line Editor writes: See the Online version of simplification; but there are plenty of between detail and generality. The this issue for an extended article by John sketch diagrams, photographs and elements of geology are briefly but Catt on the writing of this book. cartoons alongside the text to help. succinctly explained before These are a great combination of the Hertfordshire’s geological history, which HERTFORDSHIRE GEOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE technical and artistic, and are a useful occupies almost half the book, is JOHN CATT (ED), Published by: Hertfordshire introduction to the idea of interpreting Natural History Society, 2010. ISBN 978-0- recounted. Chapter two deals with 9521685-9-1 (hbk). 374pp landscape through diagrams. bedrock geology, from borehole data and List price: £39.50 inc. p&p. £34.00 if collected Mythological explanations are a remote sensing to the earliest at HGS meetings or from HNHS good way to remind us that outcropping strata. Chapter three is www.hnhs.org interpretations of the geology around devoted to the Chalk, and Chapter four us have changed over time, but I to the Palaeogene, including a valuable would have liked to know more about treatment of the Hertfordshire the origin of these stories, and Puddingstone and allied silcretes. whether they were the work of the The strength of chapters five and six author, established mythology, or a lies in the way they explain landscape mixture of both. Similarly, there is no development in the Neogene and clear target age-group for the book – Quaternary. The erosion surfaces and although, if it is intended as a tool for drainage network of the Chilterns, the holidaying families this might be an influence of buried structural features, advantage. There is something for the story of the proto-Thames and its every age here, children as well suite of river terraces, and the profound as adults. impact of the Anglian glaciations are all At times the layout can be detailed - with interesting diversions confusing, as is the use of italics to upon Devensian periglacial features and differentiate between the stories; but the cultural uses of puddingstone and this is clearly a book to be read aloud sarsenstone. This book is likely to ROCK TALES outdoors rather than pored over at a become a nationally important Are upright pinnacles of rock strewn desk. It is a great concept, which I reference on the subject of Neogene across an Anglesey beach the remains of hope we will see more of in the future. landscape development. a giant game of skittles, or were they The next two chapters explore soils left behind after ice, wind, rain and Reviewed by Sarah Day and their links with ecology and waves had eroded the surrounding agriculture (Chapter seven), prehistoric rock? Do patterns covering rock ROCK TALES archaeology and human settlement surfaces along a beach represent ancient CHRIS FLETCHER, Published by Y Lolfa, 2011; ISBN 978-1-84771-380-3 (pbk) 71pp (Chapter eight) and hydrogeology mudflats, or the skin of a dragon? In List price: £6.95 (Chapter nine). In places, most notably Rock Tales, Chris Fletcher leaves us to www.ylolfa.com

26 MAY 2012 CALENDAR GEOSCIENTIST Can’t find your meeting? VISIT s www.geolsoc.org.uk/listing] [full, accurate, up-to-date

ENDORSED TRAINING/CPD Course Date Venue and details

Geotechnical and 2 May Fugro House. Free. Theory and application of the latest geophysical survey methods for Geo-environmental Geophysics engineering and environmental purposes. See website for other dates. Contact: Steve Poulter E: [email protected] W: www.fes.co.uk

Cone Penetration Testing 4 May Fugro House. Free. Introductory course and technology update on Cone Penetration Testing theory and application. See website for other dates. Contact: Steve Poulter E: [email protected] W: www.fes.co.uk

Lapworth’s Logs n/a ‘Lapworth’s Logs’ are a series of e-courses involving practical exercises of increasing complexity. ‘Lapworth’s Logs’ provide training in applied geology for civil engineers, engineering geologists, environmental engineers, hydrogeologists, and anyone interested in ground modelling. Contact: [email protected]. Lapworth’s Lgs is produced by Michael de Freitas and Andrew Thompson. Price dependent on number of users/duration of licence.

DIARY OF MEETINGS MAY 2012 Meeting Date Venue and details

Darwin’s Lost World 8 May The Bird in Hand pub, Knowl Hill, Reading, 1830 for 1900. Speaker: Martin Brasier. Thames Valley regional Free buffet.

Unconventional Gas 9 May Burlington House. A Shell London Lecture. Speaker: Dr Melvyn Giles. Geological Society See p.11 for details. Shell

Collection and Management of 15 May S H Reynolds Lecture Theatre (Room G25), Department of Earth Sciences, Environmental Monitoring Data – University of Bristol. 1800 for 1830. Speaker: Kevin Wilson (CIMEX) a strategic long-term approach, Western Regional

Joint Meeting 15 May Time, venue and speaker tbc. See website for details. Contact: Ron Williams SE Regional E: [email protected] CIWEM

Thames Tideway Tunnel 15 May Burlington House, Janet Watson LT. Speaker: Phil Stride - Head of London Tideway A Burlington House Lecture Tunnels at Thames Water. 1730 for 1800. Reception 1900. Free, but by ticket only. Contact: Laura Hayward, Conference Office E: [email protected]

Development of coal bed 16 May Room 1.25, School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, Main Building, Cardiff University. methane resources 1730 for 1800. Speaker: Andrew Gunning (Centrica). South Wales Regional IOM3 Society of Economic Geologists

High Fidelity: The Quest for Precision in 16-17 May Burlington House. See online for registration. Fees apply, with special Fellows’ Stratigraphy and its Applications rate. Office contact: Steve Whalley, E: [email protected] Petroleum Group Stratigraphy Commission

Anomalies in Tunnelling Joint Meeting 23 May Burlington House. Evening meeting, time: tba. Please check website. Geological Society Contact: Paul Emerson, EM Drilling Limited T: +44 1225 855002 British Tunnelling Society F: +44 1225 852795 E: [email protected]

Shale Gas in the UK: What, Where, 24 May Birchwood Park 1800 for 1830. Speaker: Ed Hough (BGS). Check website. Why, How? C: Chris Berryman T: 01925 291111 E: [email protected] North West Regional

Rock Deformation from Field, Experiments 30-31 May Burlington House. See online for registration. Fees apply, with special Fellows’ and Theory: a meeting in honour of rate. Office contact: Naomi Newbold, E: [email protected] Professor E H Rutter Geological Society

MAY 2012 27 GEOSCIENTIST OBITUARY

OBITUARY‘

BANGALORE PUTTAIYA RADHAKRISHNA 1918-2012 Doyen of 20th Century Indian geology who devoted his life to raising public awareness of geology

fter a BSc metalliferous, non- mines, notably one hosted by importance of geology in geology degree metalliferous and Neoarchaean metabasalts at India’s past and future from Central groundwater resources, Chitradurga itself. BPR was development. College, besides keynote contributions also sometime director of A Bangalore, in to the physiographic Hutti Gold Mines (now the HONOURS 1937, BPR, as he was widely evolution of the Western only gold producer in India) BPR’s talents were known at home and abroad, Ghats and the Peninsular and Kolar Gold Fields (now recognised by his election to joined the Mysore Shield of southern India. flooded to a depth of three the Indian National Science Geological Department, His study of the 400km- kilometres). Academy (1972) and which after Independence in long, linear NW-SE belt of the honorary fellowships of the 1947 became the Neoarchaen Closepet Granite FOUNDER geological societies of Department of Mines and led to his doctorate from As a founder of the London (1986) and America Geology, Government of Mysore University in 1954. As Geological Society of India in (1987). Among his awards Karnataka. BPR was its chairman and managing 1958, BPR was Secretary for were the National Mineral director (1967-74). He director of Chitradurga the first 15 years, Editor of Award, Government of became widely respected for Copper Company, BPR was the Journal (1974-92), and India (1971), P N Bose his work on the Archaean responsible for the President (1993-2007). Medal of the Asiatic Society, Dharwar craton and its development of three copper Inspired by the distinguished Kolkata (1990), DSc degree, public service of his father, Indian School of Mines, BPR devoted the rest of his Dhanbad (1992), and D N life to promoting Indian Wadia Gold Medal, geology on the national and National Science Academy international stage. He (1993). In 1993, the President expanded the journal from a of India conferred “Padma yearly to a monthly Shree” on BPR for his publication, and his high service to science. editorial standards also held BPR was busy almost sway in a long series of until the day he died at his memoirs, of which the first, home in Bangalore on 26 on the gold industry in India, January. A week earlier he was published in 1963. His finished an obituary for P K enthusiasm and drive also Iyengar, a noted Indian led to textbooks on the nuclear physicist, and on 23 geology and mineral January he was visited by resources of India’s the organising committee of provinces, and an economic the tenth international geology series (diamonds, kimberlite conference. His gold, tin, radioactive obituary of Augusto minerals). Gansser, who died on 9 BPR wrote several popular January 2012 aged 101, biographies in the Kannada remained unfinished. language, for example, C V Raman and Charles Darwin. As president, BPR instigated By Brian Chadwick and field workshops and annual V N Vasudev meetings of the Society in the different provinces of India Editor’s note: We publish our as a means of encouraging obituary of Gansser, by Mike Searle, young talent and drawing next month. A longer version of public attention to the this obituary can be read online.

28 MAY 2012 CROSSWORD GEOSCIENTIST

CROSSWORD NO. 157 SET BY PLATYPUS WIN A SPECIAL PUBLICATION

The winner of the March Crossword puzzle prize draw was Dr David Rimmer of Bromham, Beds.

All correct solutions will be placed in the draw, and the winner’s name printed in the July issue. The Editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Closing date - May 18.

The competition is open to all Fellows, Candidate Fellows and Friends of the Geological Society who are not current Society employees, officers or trustees. This exclusion does not apply to officers of joint associations, specialist or regional groups.

Please return your completed crossword to Burlington House, marking your envelope “Crossword”. Do not enclose any other matter with your solution. Overseas Fellows are encouraged to scan the signed form and email it as a PDF to [email protected]

Name ...... ACROSS DOWN Membership number ...... Address for correspondence ...... 6 Oxbow lake - and famous 1 Joint originator of so-called 'law' of London brewery (8) planetary orbital distances (4) ...... 8 Regressive sedimentary 2 Ear stirrup (6) ...... sequence outcrop pattern (6) 3 Fibrous structural protein, sometimes ...... 10 Place of worship (6) preserved intact in fossils (7) ...... 11 No earthquakes please (8) 4 Middle epoch of the Paleogene (6) 12 Preserve (usually) by 5 Indonesian volcanic island (Mt Agung) just ...... replacement (9) west of the Wallace Line (4) ...... 13 International joint programme 7 Sandstone (7) run by IUGS and UNESCO ...... 9 Splits easily (7) (1,1,1,1) 12 Orchestral instrument often cast in turbid ...... 15 Soil sampler predicted future? current (5) (7) Postcode ...... 14 Crinoidal cup (5) 17 Metamorphic zones surrounding intrusion (7) 16 Relatively risen side of fault (7) SOLUTIONS MARCH 20 Preserved vegetable matter 18 Structurally not overturned (7) (4) 19 Even Dr Beeching couldn't reduce the ACROSS: 21 The exact antithesis of 28a (9) Cross's even dozen (7) 6 Mesozoic 8 Urania 10 Mammal 11 Psephite 12 Formalism 13 Ajax 15 Eclipse 17 Abyssal 23 Deviant fossils (8) 21 Gupta or Dawson, for example (6) 20 Step 21 Aragonite 23 Vertebra 25 Erupts 25 Seismosaurus, Titanites and 22 Microscopic unicellular, occasionally 27 Bunsen 28 Ammonite co.are all these of their kind (6) colonial phytoplankton (6) 27 Graze bookishly (6) 24 Inhume (4) DOWN: 1 Mesa 2 Boomer 3 Sceptic 4 Museum 5 Silt 26 Maker of mark where the flutes play (12d) 28 Conforming to traditional 7 Orleans 9 Ashlars 12 Facet 14 Agate tenets (8) (4) 16 Iapetus 18 Bioherm 19 Bahaman 21 Albany 22 Iguana 24 Emus 26 Tutu

MAY 2012 29 Online First PUBLISH-AHEAD-OF-PRINT SYSTEM RECRUITMENT Online First is a feature offered through the Geological Society’s electronic content platform, the Lyell Collection. It enables Special Publication articles to appear online soon after they have been accepted for publication and ahead of the printed volume. Online First will allow subscribers to access PDF versions of Special Publication articles that have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication prior to their inclusion in the completed volume. • Reduced lead time between submission and publication • Access to the very latest articles in the field • Greater usage and exposure of articles, including earlier citation opportunities by related works For more information visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/onlinefirst

What is the Lyell Collection? Launched in 2007 the Lyell Collection is an online collection comprising the Society’s Special Publications and other key book series and journals. With 240 000 peer-reviewed pages, 25 000 articles and 1000 volumes the Lyell Collection is an invaluable tool for the researcher and student alike.

30 MAY 2012