SCIENTIST GEO VOLUME 24 NO 2 u MARCH 2014 u WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST The Fellowship Magazine of the Geological Society of London UK / Overseas where sold to individuals: £3.95 society on facebook] [www.facebook.com/geolsoc Her dark materials Kathryn Goodenough hunts for rare metals in Greenland CRACKING UP VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! CLIMATE CHANGE How adverse soil conditions Time to make your choice Society publishes affect the local roads of Britain in the Council elections addendum to 2010 report GEOSCIENTIST CONTENTS 24 26 14 20 FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE... 14 Lincolnshire cracking How soil science can help the long-term repair and maintenance of our essential local roads network REGULARS 05 Welcome Ted Nield hails the refurbishment of the Council Room at Burlington House 06 Society news What your Society is doing at home and abroad, in London and the regions 09 Council elections Exercise your democratic right 13 Soapbox Ben Topley wonders why university Earth ON THE COVER: science departments don’t show more support for 20 Hunting critical metals Geology A-Level Kathryn Goodenough uses a Society fieldwork 23 Calendar Society activities this month grant to find new sources of rare elements vital 24 Books and arts Ted Nield reviews the remodelling of to new and emerging technologies the Geological Society’s Council Room, Burlington House 26 People Geoscientists in the news and on the move ONLINE SPECIAL Geikie request: Help Haslemere Educational Museum identify 28 Obituary Richard Allen Downing 1928-2013 the subjects in Sir Archibald Geikie’s amazing field sketch archive! 29 Crossword Win a special publication of your choice WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MARCH 2014 | 03 04 | MARCH 2014 | WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST GEOSCIENTIST WELCOME Geoscientist is the ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE ~ Fellowship magazine of Jonathan Knight MOUNTAINS BEHIND NUUK, GREENLAND, CLOSE the Geological Society T 01727 739 193 of London E jonathan@centuryone TO THE BOUNDARY OF THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET publishing.ltd.uk Cover: Anders Peter Photography / Shutterstock.com The Geological Society, ~ Burlington House, Piccadilly, ART EDITOR London W1J 0BG Heena Gudka T +44 (0)20 7434 9944 F +44 (0)20 7439 8975 DESIGN & PRODUCTION E [email protected] Sarah Astington (Not for Editorial - Please contact the Editor) PRINTED BY Century One Publishing House Publishing Ltd. The Geological Society Publishing House, Unit 7, Copyright Brassmill Enterprise Centre, The Geological Society of Brassmill Lane, Bath London is a Registered BA1 3JN Charity, number 210161. T 01225 445046 ISSN (print) 0961-5628 FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: F 01225 442836 ISSN (online) 2045-1784 Library The Geological Society of London T +44 (0)20 7432 0999 accepts no responsibility for the F +44 (0)20 7439 3470 views expressed in any article in Done proud E [email protected] this publication. All views expressed, except where explicitly EDITOR-IN-CHIEF stated otherwise, represent those Professor Peter Styles of the author, and not The Geological Society of London. ack in 2006, when the five of the new seating on day one after the All rights reserved. No paragraph EDITOR of this publication may be Courtyard Societies Lecture Theatre’s first major (1999) Dr Ted Nield reproduced, copied or transmitted collectively fought the refurb, but later, the Lower Library’s E [email protected] save with written permission. Users registered with Copyright Government in the High new carpet imposed its gentle EDITORIAL BOARD Clearance Center: the Journal is registered with CCC, 27 Congress Court of Chancery over their discipline on the bone-chuckers. Dr Sue Bowler Street, Salem, MA 01970, USA. B rights of occupancy at Burlington Visitors realised that Burlington House Mr Steve Branch 0961-5628/02/$15.00. Every Dr Robin Cocks effort has been made to trace House, a debate opened up in was not to be treated as though it were Prof. Tony Harris copyright holders of material in Geoscientist’s letters column over some 1960s lavatory of learning. Dr Howard Falcon-Lang this publication. If any rights have Dr Jonathan Turner been omitted, the publishers offer whether we should bother to keep our Organisations wishing to be taken their apologies. Dr Jan Zalasiewicz Mayfair palace at all. Wouldn’t seriously in the wider world have to No responsibility is assumed by Trustees of the the Publisher for any injury and/or something functional, closer to the behave properly. This is a serious Geological Society damage to persons or property as geographical heart of Britain be more point. Maintaining the interiors of a of London a matter of products liability, Mr D T Shilston negligence or otherwise, or from appropriate ‘in our modern age’? Grade II* listed building, to an (President); any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or This argument – dubbed the ‘Arthur appropriate standard is an unequivocal Mrs N K Ala; Dr M G ideas contained in the material Scargill Gambit’, in honour of the stipulation of our lease. Yes, it’s Armitage; Prof R A Butler; herein. Although all advertising Prof N A Chapman; material is expected to conform to NUM leader who moved the Union’s expensive; but over and Dr A L Coe; Mr J Coppard; ethical (medical) standards, HQ away from London’s fleshpots to above our need to generate income Mr D J Cragg (Vice inclusion in this publication does president); Mrs N J not constitute a guarantee or wholesome oblivion in Barnsley - as a conference venue, it is worth it endorsement of the quality or Dottridge; Mr C S Eccles; value of such product or of the proved moot when the Trustees solely for the inestimable status-boost Dr M Edmonds; claims made by its manufacturer. Prof A J Fraser discovered that the cost of relocating we get from occupying a nationally (Secretary, Science); Subscriptions: All anywhere would bankrupt us. So we important home, on the ‘world’s most Mrs M P Henton (Secretary, correspondence relating to non- Professional Matters); member subscriptions should be fought on, and after mediation settled famous street’. addresses to the Journals Mr D A Jones (Vice Subscription Department, on an affordable rent. Years of With the refitting of the Council president); Dr A Law Geological Society Publishing planning blight were lifted and the Room (see review, p. 24) Phase Four of (Treasurer); Prof R J House, Unit 7 Brassmill Enterprise Lisle; Prof A R Lord Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath, BA1 Bicentenary refurbishments followed. the refurbishments is finally complete. (Secretary, Foreign & 3JN, UK. Tel: 01225 445046. Fax: I harboured doubts of a different It is a tribute to the Trustees – and External Affairs); 01225 442836. Email: Prof D A C Manning [email protected]. The sort. As well as general neglect, I saw above all the Executive Secretary, who subscription price for Volume 24, (President designate); 2014 (11 issues) to institutions drawing pins being stuck in oak has brought continuity and personal Dr B R Marker; and non-members is £125 (UK) or Dr G Nichols; Dr L £143 / US$286 (Rest of World). doorcases, maps fixed to oil paintings commitment to this long-term Slater; Dr J P Turner with Blu-tack, gnawed chicken bones project - that the Society has been (Secretary, Publications); © 2014 The Geological Society Mr M E Young of London dropped onto the Lower Library’s prepared to budget for, and spend, grubby lino; and in my darker the sums made available by our Published on behalf of the moments wondered whether these improved finances on maintaining the Geological Society of London by ragamuffins really deserved a building national heritage - despite other Century One Publishing so evidently wasted on them. demands that might, superficially, Alban Row, 27–31 Verulam Road, St Albans, Herts, But enhancing the environment seem closer to home. AL3 4DG really does improve people, and Not so. Outsiders may finally T 01727 893 894 F 01727 893 895 behaviour slowly improved. Yes, I did conclude that geologists are not the E enquiries@centuryone find chewing gum stuck to the backs oiks they might once have taken us for. publishing.ltd.uk W www.centuryone DR TED NIELD, EDITOR - [email protected] publishing.ltd.uk WWW.GEOLSOC.ORG.UK/GEOSCIENTIST | MARCH 2014 | 05 GEOSCIENTIST SOCIETY NEWS What your society is doing SOCIETYNEWS at home and abroad, in London and the regions Fellowship renewals, Council elections COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OGMS Every year at this time we remind Fellows to can call Burlington House and ask for the The dates for meetings of Council renew or face being struck off – with the Fellowship Department. and Ordinary General Meetings subsequent inconvenience of having to re- until June 2015 will be as follows: apply, writes Edmund Nickless. Vote! Vote! Vote! u For the Society, late payment results each year May I also encourage you to cast your votes for 2014: 2 April (Council), in additional costs and administration. In this Council (see p.09). The total number of Fellows 9 April (OGM), economic climate we ensure that optimum use is voting in 2013 was 1092, from an electorate of 18 June, made of Society resources and we rely on the around 10,500. Candidates running for Council 25 September, support of Fellows to achieve this. Time is have committed to give considerable their time to 26 November; u running out for you to renew your Fellowship. serve the Society if elected – so please, give a 2015: To ensure that you continue to support and very little of your time to vote. Unless there is a 4 February, belong to your professional body, please renew reasonable turnout, it will be difficult to 8 April. today, preferably online via the web site; or you encourage people to stand in future.