Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group (WGCG)

Warwickshire Arden Sandstone Field Trip
2022-08-07 10:00 (Europe/London)
Leader: Stuart Burley

Stuart will take participants to 3 of 4 exposures of the Arden Sandstone to look at the sedimentary depositional setting of this locally important building stone – details to be announced. (An ice cream in Henley in Arden is very probable).

Contact: julieharrald@googlemail.com

Mendips Field Trip - Weekend Field Trip
2022-07-29 08:00 - 2022-07-31 17:00
The trip will be Led by Dr Martin Whiteley. The cost will include field notes, lunch and 2 days of mini bus travel around the study area. For more details email warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

To register contact: julieharrald@googlemail.com

Field Outing to Cleeve Hill. Leader - Nick Chidlaw
2022-07-16 10:00 - 16:00
Contact: julieharrald@googlemail.com

Field Outing: Cannock Chase - leader is Ian Stimpson - Keele University
2022-06-26 10:00 - 16:00

Llandrindod Wells, Builth inlier, Weekend Field Trip led by Dr Joe Botting & Dr lucy Wells
2022-05-13 08:00 - 2022-05-15 16:00
WGCG residential field trip to Llandrindod Wells led by Joe and Lucy, who are are independent researchers working on ‘Burgess-Shale-type’ discoveries in Mid-Wales.

Programme:

Friday eve. Introductory talk on the ‘Builth Inlier’ – palaeontological and geological importance

Saturday a.m. Visit to the Radnorshire Museum (in Llandrindod Wells) to see their substantial displays (much from Joe and Lucy’s own collections)

Saturday p.m. Visit to the nearby Llanfawr Quarries – a Konservat-Lagerstatte with historically important igneous intrusions [which I have heard referred to as “bun-laccoliths”]

Sunday a.m. / Geological tour around Llandrindod Wells – mineral springs, Silurian sediments,

early p.m. erratics, Ordovician volcanics and general scenery

For more information please contact warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

Field Outing Dudley Archives & Wrens Nest
2022-05-07 10:00 - 16:00

Geohazards - A Recipe for Disaster (Zoom & KMC)
2022-04-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Methodist Church, 60 Priory Rd,, Kenilworth, CV8 1LQ
Talk by Sekbal Hussain – BGS. Hybrid meeting held at KMC & via Zoom

Wine, Whisky and Beer – the role of geology (Zoom & KMC)
2022-03-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Methodist Church, 60 Priory Rd,, Kenilworth, CV8 1LQ
Alex Maltman. Hybrid meeting held at KMC & via Zoom. We read that the taste of wine is affected by the geology of the vineyard and that whisky is influenced by the rocks the water encountered on its way to the distillery….(Download Poster).

Geo Conservation, Rowington Canal Cutting
2022-02-26 09:30 - 16:00 | St Lawrence, Old Warwick Road, Rowington, CV35 7AB, United Kingdom
This pre clearance video gives an idea of the scope of the work to be undertaken. We will initially concentrate our efforts on a 20m section on the north side of the canal. This is a safe and easily accessable exposure. If we have time and sufficient volunteers we would like to get a start of clearing a section on the south side. Please wear suitable clothing and bring with you your own tools and refreshments. Meet in the car park opposite St Lawrence church between 09:45-10:00 hrs. All are welcome.

The Kilchrist Caldera, Skye (Zoom & KMC)
2022-02-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Methodist Church, 60 Priory Rd,, Kenilworth, CV8 1LQ
Talk by Simon Drake. Hybrid meeting at KMC and via Zoom

‘Catastrophic caldera forming eruptions spanning the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum at Kilchrist and Belig, Isle of Skye, NW Scotland’

Highly silicic Paleocene-Eocene ignimbrite deposits, and mafic lavas at Kilchrist and Belig, Isle of Skye, NW Scotland, form part of a ~800m thick extensive caldera fill which largely fringes the Eastern Red Hills on Skye. Magma was supplied to the growing caldera via the Moine-related Kishorn Thrust fault, and ponded against pre-existing Paleocene rocks of the Cuillin and Western Red Hills Centres. Silicic magma reservoirs which fed the Kilchrist Caldera were frequently replenished with basic magma. Such replenishment triggered eruptions. Later eruptions typically deposited extremely coarse ignimbrites, demonstrating catastrophic collapse of the caldera. Collapse was followed by caldera resurgence and formation of the Eastern Red Hills Granite Centre.

Within the caldera sequence, ignimbrites at Kilchrist have been dated at 56.15 Ma. This date is precisely coincident with the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). We suggest that the North Atlantic atmospheric temperature increases during the PETM were intimately linked to consumption of surrounding dolostone country rock by the Kilchrist caldera. We calculate such consumption released between ~5.32 – 8.52 Gt of CO2 into the Paleocene atmosphere. Our study provides the first unequivocal evidence of large-scale eruptions within the North Atlantic Igneous Province on the PETM.

Biography: Simon Drake is a research associate (and former associate lecturer) at Birkbeck College, University of London and was recently appointed North Downs Way Ambassador leading Geo walks on the North Downs Way and advising re Geopark status. Previously, Simon was part of the Metropolitan Police working on the Diplomatic Protection Group at Downing Street during the Major and Blair Premierships.

LLPS: Ethiopian volcanics
2022-02-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Video Talk
Dr Ben Clarke

Mining on the Iberian Peninsula (Zoom & KMC)
2022-01-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Methodist Church, 60 Priory Rd,, Kenilworth, CV8 1LQ
Talk by: Rob Vernon.

Hybrid meeting held at KMC & Via Zoom:

LLPS: The secret life of the starfish/crinoid
2022-01-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Video Talk
LLPS Zoom Lecture by Dr Aaron Hunter

Evening Lecture in Kenilworth and online via Zoom
2021-12-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Kenilworth Methodist Church, 60 Priory Rd,, Kenilworth, CV8 1LQ
Emeritus Professor Stuart Burley, Keele University – A very British summer in the late Triassic: torrential rain, the Arden Sandstone and the dawn of the dinosaurs.

To participate via Zoom please register in advance for this meeting:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkceytpjwrHtMmd_OWisTQFk5ldHA-66TI

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Social Evening (Kenilworth)
2021-12-08 07:00 - 09:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
Christmas Social. Venue: St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Road (Kenilworth main street), Kenilworth CV8 1HL

LLPS: Volcanic Tsunamis: Krakatau, 1883 and 2018.
2021-11-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Video Talk
LLPS Zoom talk by Dr Seb Watt

Evening Lecture (Kenilworth)
2021-11-17 19:00 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
Emeritus Professor Stuart Burley, Keele University – A very British summer in the late Triassic: torrential rain, the Arden Sandstone and the dawn of the dinosaurs

7.00pm for a 7.30 pm start. Venue: St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Road (Kenilworth main street), Kenilworth CV8 1HL

LLPS Lecture (Zoom)
2021-10-27 07:00 - 21:00
WGCG Members are invited to a talk by Dr Katie Strang,Scottish Geology Trust. Celebrating Scotland’s geological heritage with the Scottish Geology Trust.

The Scottish Geology Trust was launched in 2020 with the key objective of inspiring people everywhere to understand, love and care for Scotland’s incredible geological heritage, and its role in creating a sustainable future. From the 1st of September to the 17th October the Trust and partners will deliver a packed programme of activities as part of the Scottish Geology Festival from Stranraer to Shetland that will showcase and celebrate Scotland’s geology. Join the Trust’s Secretary Dr Katie Strang for a virtual tour around Scotland’s most loved geological sites and the fantastic festival events that are taking place around the country, and to hear more about the work the Trust has been doing to inspire and engage people with the rocks beneath their feet, and how important these are for exploring our future

AGM (Kenilworth)
2021-10-20 19:00 - 21:00 | St Francis, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1HL
AGM followed by a short talk on ten years of the Holloway Bequest by Ian Fenwick and Brian Ellis

7.00pm for a 7.30 pm start. Venue: St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Road (Kenilworth main street), Kenilworth CV8 1HL

Birmingham City Centre Building Stones walk - Trail 1
2021-10-03 14:30 - 16:30
Birmingham City Centre has some of the finest and most exotic building stones adorning its buildings from the UK and around the world. This tour was conceived by Julie Schroder of the BCGS and constructed by Ruth Siddall of University College London, a recognised expert in this field. This event is free to attend for members and guests. Trail Guide download

To register for this walk, please email Julie Harrald at JulieHarrald@gmail.com by Sunday 26th September, stating your name and any mobile phone number you will use on the day. Participants should gather at the statue of Queen Victoria, Victoria Square, Birmingham at 2.15pm to allow the walk to start at 2.30pm

LPS Zoom Lecture: Dinosaurs and Deserts in South Wales - presented by Cindy Howells National Museum Wales
2021-09-29 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Video Talk
Leicester geology group invite WGCG members to a talk on “Dinosaurs and Deserts in South Wales” – presented by Cindy Howells National Museum Wales. To register for this talk use the following link

Geoconservation Henley in Arden
2021-09-21 10:00 - 15:00
WGCG volunteers will be clearing the Arden Sandstone exposure along the A4189 Warwick Road, (Blackford Hill), in Henley in Arden. If you would like to be involved please get in touch with Max Down or send an email to warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

Visit to Bockley Quarry
2021-09-18 10:00 - 15:00
Blockley Quarry visit led by Jon Radley. This was rescheduled from 31 July 2021.

Evening Lecture (Zoom)
2021-09-15 19:00 - 20:30
Dr Jonathan Paul of Royal Holloway University of London – Subsurface engineering and water resources of Greater London

Register in advance for this meeting:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYscuuorj4rHNzT-FnYm-O_VQQNoZVGXib5

WGCG 3-Night Residential Field Trip to North Lincolnshire
2021-08-20 12:00 - 2021-08-23 15:00
This is a WGCG residential field trip to North Lincolnshire in August 2021. We are fortunate to have obtained the services of Paul Hildreth, sitting President of the Yorkshire Geological Society, who lives in the area and knows the geology (especially the Chalk) well, with a background in oil exploration and teaching.

DurationFormal leadership will commence on the Friday afternoon (20th August) and end around lunchtime on the Monday (23rd August). RegistrationThere will be an upper limit of 20 participants and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. A minimum number of 6 participants will be required to make the trip viable.WGCG membership is open to all and is free for those in full-time education.

Itinerary / Geology

Itinerary / GeologyPaul has suggested the following provisional itinerary, subject to receiving access permissions where required.

Friday p.m. Claxby (complete, but attenuated, patchy hillside succession of Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy with emphasis on the former Claxby Ironstone industry – including industrial archaeology)

Saturday a.m. South Ferriby Quarry (Cretaceous L/M Chalk, Red Chalk and Carstone unconformable on late Jurassic Oxfordian & Kimmeridgian Clay……highly fosiliferous…..site of a 2018 Pliosaur discovery)Saturday p.m. Conesby Quarry (last exposure of the L. Jurassic Frodingham Ironstone…..former important local steel industry…….“everyone guaranteed a fossil”!)

Sunday a.m. Kirton in Lindsey (M. Jurassic Lincolnshire Limestone – ‘Inferior Oolite’ equivalent)Sunday p.m. Ulceby Vale (‘Middle Chalk’…..Turonian Flint Maximum……detailed stratigraphy of part of the Chalk)

Monday a.m. Welton-le-Wold (Pleistocene Sites of importance: Devensian and older tills (?Wolstonian) on Hoxnian gravels)

Fuller notes will be provided as a handout closer to the occasion. Paul may also be able to engage local specialists for particular locations we visit.

The info. shown here is a summary. For more details, members should contact Julie Harrald. The e-mail for WGCG is: warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

WGCG Members' Field Visit to Blockley Quarry
2021-07-31 10:00 - 15:00 | Northcot Brick Blockley, Moreton-in-the-Marsh GL56 9LH
Blockley Brickpit (now re-named Wellacre Quarry) is owned by Northcot Brick Ltd., who allowparties to visit the site under supervision. Dale Moss will be our guide for the day.The location is near Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucestershire about a mile NE of Blockley village on the B4479.WGCG Member, Jon Radley, has agreed to lead the trip, and is familiar with the geology and history of thesite.Geology: It is a well known and much celebrated SSSI site, exposing a small part of the Lower Lias clay,which is especially well developed at this location. It has been of much scientific importance inestablishing ammonite evolutionary trends, helping to construct a detailed zonal sequence for theJurassic Period.It is particularly fossiliferous at Blockley, with many other invertebrate groups also preserved,offering good possibilities for specimen collecting.However, be warned that the site is muddy (especially if wet). Minimum safety wear requiredby the operators is hi-vis vests, hard hats and strong protective boots (preferably steel-cappedsafety boots). You should also bring clothing appropriate for the weather expected.Pre-booked WGCG members are asked to assemble at 10.00 a.m. at the entrance to the site. They will need to make their own travel arrangements in accordance with whatever Covid arrangements are in force at the time of our visit. We hope to be able to spend up to around 4-5 hours on the site….until “mid afternoon” (? 3 p.m. max).Members will need to provide their own picnic lunch / drinks and collecting paraphernalia! For once, theuse of hammers on loose material is permitted.

Please note that places are limited to 20 overall, and we have also invited BCGS members to attend. Initially the first 15 places will be offered to WGCG members in strict order of application. Please indicate if you wish to be placed on a waiting list if further places become available. For insurance purposes, you must be a fully paid up member of WGCG or BCGS.WGCG membership is open to all and is free for those in full-time education.The info. shown here is a summary. For more details, members should contact Julie Harrald. The e-mail for WGCG is: warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

Talk: Mary Anning, The Fossil Woman by Tom Sharpe
2021-06-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual (Zoom or YouTube), Zoom as if from - St Francis of Assisi R C Church, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1HL, United Kingdom
Mary Anning, Courtesy of The Geological Society.

Mary Anning collecting with her father (An1869 image)

Introduction: It has been said that more has been written about Mary Anning, the fossil dealer of Lyme Regis, than about any other geologist, apart from Charles Darwin. But how much do we really know? How much is speculation? And how much is myth that has developed through the uncritical telling and retelling of her tale over the course of two centuries? Are we seeing a new Anning myth in the making, thanks to a recent film? Separating the facts from the fictions about Mary Anning can be challenging, but her story is a remarkable tale in its own right. This talk will examine what we know of the life of this extraordinary woman, her famous – and less well-known – discoveries, and her part within the wider network of the developing science of palaeontology in the early nineteenth century, and will seek to dispel at least a few of the Mary myths.

Picture by Mary Anning in 1823 of her plesiosaur. Courtesy: Wellcome Collection

Tom Sharpe’s biography of Mary Anning

A virtual Zoom talk.

Registration: Please click link

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrc-CpqTMsE9Acd11C4VbONNMR2971cvBl

It’s is free. No charge. Open to all. When you click the link you will be asked for your name and e-mail address and you will receive a link to join the talk from 7:00 pm. The talk will start promptly at 7:30 pm and conclude with an audience question session.A video recording of the talk will be available to WGCG members or named contacts with an access code for up to one month after the talk,Membership is open to all at £12/year and free to those in full-time education. See more

Tom Sharpe, Author: The Fossil Woman. A Life of Mary Anning

Tom Sharpe is a geologist who now works as an expedition travel geology lecturer and guide, mainly in the polar regions. A graduate of the universities of Glasgow and Leicester, he was formerly Curator of Palaeontology and Archives at the National Museum of Wales and taught geology in the lifelong learning departments of both Cardiff and Bristol universities. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, the Royal Geographical Society and the Museums Association, and is a former Chair of the Geological Curators’ Group and History of Geology Group. He has long had an interest in the history of geology, and has published on the work of the geologists Henry De la Beche and William Smith and on the history of the geological exploration of Antarctica. He is the author of The Fossil Woman. A Life of Mary Anning, published by The Dovecote Press in November 2020.

See more of Tom Sharpe ion Twitter: Twitter @tomsharperocks

More about WGCGWGCG programmes include talks, currently virtual, field walks and residential field visits. WGCG creates and publishes trail guides and interpretation panels. We survey local geological sites (LGS) and works to conserve some of them. We can provide bursaries via the Holloway Award. We invite you to take a look at the geology, geodiversity, iceage history revealed in the Brandon Wall. We hope you will find great interest in The Geology of Warwickshire provided by the Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group (WGCG) including Meriden Shafts, Stratford Trail Guide, Solihull, Rugby, Guides to Building Stones in many towns, Corley Rocks and The Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. Come and see the Warwickshire’s Jurassic rocks and fossils including ammonites and belemnites.

Although this is a talk on Zoom, we normally meet in the church hall of: St Francis Of Assisi R C Church, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth CV8 1HL

Event URL: https://www.wgcg.co.uk/event/talk-mary-anning-the-fossil-woman-by-tom-sharpe

Talk: Iapetus No More – The continental collision that shaped Scotland by Angus Miller
2021-05-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Video Talk
Iapetus No More – The continental collision that shaped Scotland by Angus Miller

Talk Outline: Five hundred million years ago, the Iapetus Ocean lay between three continents in the southern hemisphere. The tectonics of the next 100 million years brought different segments of continent together, formed the grain of the land and created the building blocks of much of Scotland’s landscape. This talk will explore the closure of the Iapetus Ocean, the formation of most of the metamorphic and igneous rocks of the Highlands and Southern Uplands, and the complex events that together make the most significant event in Scotland’s geological history.More at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iapetus_Ocean

More at: EarthWisehttp://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Early_Palaeozoic_Iapetus_Ocean,_South_of_Scotland

Our speaker: Dr Angus MillerAngus has been leading Geowalks since 1998, including day walks, walking holidays and group excursions exploring Scotland’s geology and its influence on landscape & people. He teaches adult education courses for the Centre for Open Learning at the University of Edinburgh and is the Promotion Coordinator for the Edinburgh Geological Society. He’s also been involved as a volunteer for Lothian and Borders GeoConservation, particularly in public outreach events and leaflets. He was chair of the Scottish Geodiversity Forum from 2011-2020, responsible for publishing and promoting Scotland’s Geodiversity Charter, and is now a trustee of the new Scottish Geology Trust.

This is a ‘virtual’ Zoom talk. Here is the Registration Link:-

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvf–hrz0pGNz9zDF0GzMIDvFjpw71AHL_

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

More about WGCGWGCG programmes include talks, currently virtual, field walks and residential field visits. WGCG creates and publishes trail guides and interpretation panels. We survey local geological sites (LGS) and works to conserve some of them. We can provide bursaries via the Holloway Award. We invite you to take a look at the geology, geodiversity, iceage history revealed in the Brandon Wall. We hope you will find great interest in The Geology of Warwickshire provided by the Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group (WGCG) including Meriden Shafts, Stratford Trail Guide, Solihull, Rugby, Guides to Building Stones in many towns, Corley Rocks and The Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. Come and see the Warwickshire’s Jurassic rocks and fossils including ammonites and belemnites.

Although this is a talk on Zoom, we normally meet in the church hall of: St Francis Of Assisi R C Church, 110 Warwick Rd, Kenilworth CV8 1HL

Event URL: https://www.wgcg.co.uk/event/iapetus-no-more-the-continental-collision-that-shaped-scotland-by-angus-miller/

Talk: ‘Henry Clifton Sorby – Sheffield’s Greatest Scientist’ by Noel Worley
2021-04-21 19:30 - 21:00 | Online Via Zoom or YouTube
Wed 21 April 2021: ‘Henry Clifton Sorby, Microscopist & Geologist – Sheffield’s Greatest Scientist’ by Noel Worley

Introduction

Henry Clifton Sorby, Microscopist & Geologist. ‘Outside Sheffield, and outside geology and metallurgy the name Henry Clifton Sorby is little known and even within these circles all that is known by many is the name. This is not surprising but it is regrettable for apart from his outstanding achievements in a wide variety of scientific fields the life of the man is interesting from a number of viewpoints.’ wrote Norman Higham in 1961 in his biography. Sorby’s geological accomplishments have since undergone a reprise with international scientific recognition in the fields sedimentology, fluid inclusion geochemistry, structural geology and cosmology. R L Folk, the famous American sedimentologist and holder of the International Association of Sedimentologists Sorby Medal when listing the variety of scientific topics that were fathered by Sorby remarked ‘… a truly imposing patrimony for a life-long bachelor.’

Sorby was a gentleman of independent means, and whilst well educated had no formal training. He devoted the whole of his life to scientific enquiry working solidly until his death in 1908. He was motivated by the spirit of original investigation and never sought the attention that his achievements merited. His averseness to specialisation led to criticism by some of his contemporaries in the scientific establishment. They suggested that he merely ‘showed the way’ rather than exhausting the possibilities of a discovery.

Sorby, Microscopist & Geologist

Samples re Henry Clifton Sorby

Samples re Henry Clifton Sorby

The purpose of the talk is to review his principle successes, to examine the circumstances surrounding Henry Clifton Sorby’s life in Sheffield between 1826 to his death in 1908; and to explain the key influences that led him along the path of scientific discovery. His greatest triumphs were undoubtedly in the development and application of microscopic techniques and he is regarded throughout the world as the father of petrography, metallography and sedimentology. He unleashed the power of the microscope in the investigation of meteorites and his work in this area has never been bettered. He was the first to use the microscope in forensic science and the first to study inclusions in crystals.

Sorby devoted the whole of his life to scientific enquiry working solidly until his death. He was motivated by the spirit of original investigation and never sought the attention that his achievements merited. He was a powerful force in the development of higher education in Sheffield whose university he helped to establish and was a pioneer in the promotion of the provision of facilities for original scientific research.

Our speaker: Noel Worley

Noel Worley is a geologist having worked within the industrial minerals sector at British Gypsum until retirement in 2012. He has been president of the Yorkshire Geological Society and deputy chairman of the CBI Minerals Group. His main interests and publications concern the geology of the north of England including mineralization and karst in the South Pennines, evaporites, microscopy, and the work of H.C.Sorby.

More about WGCGWGCG programmes include talks, currently virtual, field walks and residential field visits. WGCG creates and publishes trail guides and interpretation panels. We survey local geological sites (LGS) and works to conserve some of them. We can provide bursaries via the Holloway Award. We invite you to take a look at the geology, geodiversity, iceage history revealed in the Brandon Wall. We hope you will find great interest in The Geology of Warwickshire provided by the Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group (WGCG) including Meriden Shafts, Stratford Trail Guide, Solihull, Rugby, Guides to Building Stones in many towns, Corley Rocks and The Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. Come and see the Warwickshire’s Jurassic rocks and fossils including ammonites and belemnites.

Zoom Talk

You are invited to a Zoom meeting. You can join the meeting on Wed 21 April 2021 from 7:00 pm i.e., up to 30 minutes beforehand.

Talk starts promptly at 7:30 pm

Please register well in advance of the evening of Wed 21 April 2021 with this Registration Link

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvd–prT0tGdGCtfWEjTC13MRLNFhjtqjR

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting with a link to be used on the night.

– Queries and Enquiries to: warwickshiregcg@gmail.com

Venue: Virtual (Zoom or YouTube) Zoom as if from – St Francis of Assisi R C Church, Kenilworth

March 2021: Stuart Blake: An introduction to The Geology of Iceland
2021-03-17 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Video Talk
Wed 17 March 2021: Stuart Blake: “An Introduction to the Geology of Iceland”

IntroductionThe geology of Iceland is unique. Situated on the divergent boundary between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate, it also lies above a hotspot, the Iceland plume. The plume is believed to have caused the formation of Iceland itself, the island first appearing over the ocean surface about 16 to 18 million years ago. Upwelling commenced in the early Tertiary and sea bed core evidences 55 million year old rock. The result is an island characterized by repeated volcanism – Surtsey, a new volcanic island was formed in 1967. Geothermal phenomena such as geysers are a great natural resource

Our speaker: Stuart Blake Stuart Blake is an Instructor and the Director at the Lochranza Centre https://www.lochranzacentre.co.uk. He arrived on Arran some 38 years ago as a graduate and teacher of geology to take on the role of an instructor. He has taught geology and acted as a mountain leader, both on Arran and overseas in Iceland for most of that time. He also enjoys visiting and sampling geology from other areas – his most recent excursions having been to the Azores, the Caribbean and Ireland.

The Lochranza Centre employs six staff as instructors and the Geopark has a coordinator, all sadly furloughed at the moment.Since the Geopark and the Lochranza Centre are not in receipt of any government or Council funding they have try to raise the money to keep going. The Centre provides accommodation and/ or tuition to people of all ages, from primary school age to those in the U3A. Teaching covers the geology, geography and biology of this island home. Activity courses are run offering gorge walking, mountain biking and abseiling, to name but a few of the activities available. The centre offers accommodation for people attending courses or just wanting to visit the island.

Link to Arran Geopark http://www.arrangeopark.co.uk

An Introduction to the Geology of Iceland, Stuart Blake for WGCG, 17 March 2021

An Introduction to the Geology of Iceland, Stuart Blake for WGCG, 17 March 2021

An Introduction to the Geology of Iceland, Stuart Blake for WGCG, 17 March 2021

An Introduction to the Geology of Iceland, Stuart Blake for WGCG, 17 March 2021

An Introduction to the Geology of Iceland, Stuart Blake for WGCG, 17 March 2021

Short promo video on YouTube

More about WGCGWGCG programmes include talks, currently virtual, field walks and residential field visits. WGCG creates and publishes trail guides and interpretation panels. We survey local geological sites (LGS) and works to conserve some of them. We can provide bursaries via the Holloway Award. We invite you to take a look at the geology, geodiversity, iceage history revealed in the Brandon Wall. We hope you will find great interest in The Geology of Warwickshire provided by the Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group (WGCG) including Meriden Shafts, Stratford Trail Guide, Solihull, Rugby, Guides to Building Stones in many towns, Corley Rocks and The Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. Come and see the Warwickshire’s Jurassic rocks and fossils including ammonites and belemnites.

Zoom Talk

You are invited to a Zoom meeting. You can join the meeting on Wed 17 March 2021 from 7:00 pm i.e., up to 30 minutes beforehand.

Talk starts promptly at 7:30 pm

– Queries and Enquiries to: warwickshiregcg@gmail.com
