Geology Group
Banner photos: Rosedale Iron Works, by Tom Mutton; Conesby Quarry, by John Lewis
In late 2016, inspired by the 2015 Geological Map project, a YPS group was formed for those with an interest in Geology, under the leadership of member Paul Thornley.
The group aims to promote an interest in geology among the wider membership, and the general public. In better times, it organises geological field trips and talks, some jointly with kindred organisations, and during the pandemic Paul is providing a virtual program. Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Paul, c/o The Lodge.
Geology in the time of Covid and beyond…
Monthly Suggestions
I am releasing some notes on geological activities on a monthly basis: Most will be online, sometimes a link to a self-guided geological walk, some may offer limited access to small groups out in the field. Eventually we may offer live Zoom meetings
Notes for April 2024 PST 29/3/24
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips.
Walk the streets of York and look for the variety of the blue brick paviours along the road edges and the alleys of the C19 and early C20 residential developments of the City.
These are scoria bricks, made from molten Middlesbrough slag, so are basaltic in nature but from a by-product of iron works in the North East. If you find any with names or other words on them, please let me know. Details courtesy of Susan Major of Clements Hall Local History Group
https://www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk/blog/the-story-of-the-scoria-brick-a-recycling-success/
https://www.clementshallhistorygroup.org.uk/about-us/test-map/
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person:
YPS
Tuesday 9th April 2.30pm Keith Emerick, Managing Thornborough Henges
Managing the Thornborough Henges: from community enterprise to community ownership.
Tuesday 23rd April 7pm Rachel Wood, Edinburgh: John Phillips and the Cambrian Explosion
A John Phillips 150th Anniversary Lecture
Tuesday 7th May 7pm. Helena Daffern, The Science of the Singing Voice
YGS
Wednesday 10th April, 7pm. Webinar, David Leather: The Great Orcadian Lake in the Island of Westray
Register at https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/great-orcadian-lake
Saturday 11th May, 1000-1700, Yorkshire Geology Day, National Coal Mining Museum
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/yorkshire-geology-day-2024
May 16th, 21st, 22nd, 24th. Yorkshire Geology Month Events
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
YFF
25th-27th May, Yorkshire Fossil Festival, Redcar
2. Women and Men in Geology: Ramsay Heatley Traquair FRSE FRS (1840 –1912)
Traquair had major posts in Natural History and Zoology at Cirencester, Dublin and Edinburgh.
He created a significant collection of fossil fish, particularly from the Old Red Sandstone at Dura Den in Fife, at what became The Royal Scottish Museum and was considered the leading expert in fossil fish, revising the work of Louis Agassiz.
https://www.taysidebiodiversity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/WW_Ramsay-Heatley-Traquair.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsay_Traquair
https://geologyglasgow.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/017_070__traquair_1484824606.pdf
His wife, Phoebe Traquair made many detailed illustrations of his work for publication.
She was a considerable artist, contributing to the Arts and Crafts Movement, creating murals, illuminated texts and textile panels.
Her most noted work is at The Mansfield Traquair, ‘Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel’
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/features/phoebe-anna-traquair
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mansfield-traquair-centre
3. Study and Resources: Anthropocene Epoch voted down
A meeting of the international Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy (SQS) was held in March this year.
It voted on whether to take the Anthropocene Working Group’s proposal for a new Epoch of the Anthropocene, and a golden spike for its start date, forward to the International Commission on Stratigraphy. It rejected the proposal by 12 to 4.
AWG wished to mark the global nature of human impact on Earth processes: atmosphere, seas, radiation, climate, biosphere and other ecospheres through population and farming, to focus attention while there was an opportunity to avoid a mass extinction event.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20530196221136422
4. Real Trips outside:
Hidden Horizons are offering York Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Guilded Walks.
https://visityork.org/business-directory/yorks-hidden-history
YGS have a field trip to Deepgrove Wyke on 27th April. Register at:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/deepgrove-ammonites-sgyre
Sunday 5th May. YGS Yorkshire Geology Month. Rocks in the City, tour of Hull by Mike Horne
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/yorkshire-geology-month-hull
5. Our UK Geopark of the Month:
The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark and Kent’s Cavern
Plenty to do in a holiday in the Torquay area. Mainly Devonian and Carboniferous sediments volcanics and intrusions, but also an amazing story of allochthonous (stratigraphically and structurally distinct) terranes that only came together as a result of the major Variscan orogeny of the late Carboniferous.
http://www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk/ https://ergeoparkmap.com/
https://www.kents-cavern.co.uk/unesco-global-geoparks
6. Books and Mags: Impossible Monsters: Michael Taylor, Bodley Head
Published this month and well reviewed. An account of the seeming conflict of scientific study of reptile and dinosaur fossils with the contemporary theory of a 6000year old Biblical creation. (I hope it does not make the confusion in AN Wilson’s review: Mary Anning’s reptiles and dinosaurs!)
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/443255/impossible-monsters-by-taylor-michael/9781847926784
Notes for March 2024 PST 1/3/24
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Skinningrove and Loftus.
Following the YPS trip to Skinningrove and The Land of Iron Museum, there is much to explore online and in the area for those who have not been there and those who want to return.
Use the Land of Iron site ‘Explore’ and ‘Skinningrove History Group’ links:
https://landofiron.org.uk/explore https://landofiron.org.uk/skinningrove-history-group
Also, a guide for heritage attractions and walking tours in the Skinningrove and Loftus area
https://nationaltrails.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/heritage-leaflet.pdf
https://www.walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com/self-guided-walks
The village hall provides breakfasts most days of the week (Not Monday and Tuesday?)
KasKane restaurant is open except Sunday. Parmo is the local Smoggie delicacy.
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person:
YPS
Tuesday 5th March 7pm. Yorkshire Museum. Anna-Marie Roos, Lincoln: The Lillies of the Sea: Martin Lister (1639-1712). Crinoid Fossils and Chemical Theories of Fossilisation.
Lilies of the Sea: Martin Lister (1639-1712), crinoid fossils and chemical theories of fossilisation
Tuesday 9th April 2.30pm Managing Thornborough Henges
Tuesday 23rd April 7pm Rachel Wood, Edinburgh: John Phillips and the Cambrian Explosion
A John Phillips 150th Anniversary Lecture
YGS
A Jewel in the Geological Crown of Lincolnshire. The Lower Cretaceous ‘East Lindsey Group’. Paul Hildreth.
Webinar is still available on the YGS YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg
Wednesday 10th April, 7pm. Webinar, David Leather: The Great Orcadian Lake in the Island of Westray
Register at https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/great-orcadian-lake
2. Women and Men in Geology: John Woodward FRS (1665-1728)
Although his main profession was a physician, Woodward had a fascination with pebbles, rocks and fossils. He amassed a large collection of samples and spent efforts on describing them and interpreting their nature and formation. He wrote ‘An Essay towards the Natural History of the Earth’ and ‘An Attempt towards the Natural History of the Fossils of England’.
He left money for lectures at Cambridge which became the Woodwardian Professorship of Geology. (John Michell, these notes December 2023, was third Woodwardian Professor. Adam Sedgwick was seventh). His collection has been transferred to the Sedgwick Museum.
Links to Wiki article, article in Nature 1965 by VA Eyles (click on download pdf), FRS notes (and archive) and Westminster Abbey memorial
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Woodward_(naturalist)
https://www.nature.com/articles/206868a0#preview
https://catalogues.royalsociety.org/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=NA6100
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/john-woodward
3. Study and Resources: Predicting Volcanoes in Iceland. Graeme Churchard’s Geology Blog
https://geologywestcountry.blogspot.com/2024/02/predicting.html
4. Real Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw, Simon Rogerson and Hidden Horizons are offering York Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Guilded Walks.
https://visityork.org/business-directory/yorks-hidden-history
YGS have a field trip to Deepgrove Wyke on 27th April. Register at:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/deepgrove-ammonites-sgyre
5. Our Museums of the Month: Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens, York
A new exhibition: Star Carr, Life after the ice. This opens on 22nd march.
The Mesolithic site in North Yorkshire is one of the most famous in the world, with its enigmatic deer antler headdresses.
6. Books and Mags: Dinosaurs of the British Isles. Dean Lomax and Nobu Tamura.
The classic text from 2014. Proc. Geol. Assoc. (2014) …a truly encyclopaedic coverage of all British dinosaur species.
Dinosaurs of the British Isles
7. Extra: Geology of the Settle-Carlisle Railway.
University of Leeds and the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line have created a 20-page booklet.
Read it thoroughly beforehand, otherwise you will miss what to look for by concentrating on reading the booklet. You have to try to work backwards if travelling Carlisle-Settle.
Notes for February 2024 PST 30/1/24
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Westminster Abbey and Cathedral
If in London, there is much to see in the Abbey, obviously.
There are building stones trails in the area and Dean’s Yard. If you are willing to spend £26 or more, you may go inside and wander round the Nave, Royal Tombs and Chapels. (If you pay online, you may find you can use it more than once, contrary to the advice on the website). Ruth Siddall, who spoke to the YPS last year, including her conservation of the Cosmati Pavement, has much you can download to inform your visit. Stones in Westminster Cathedral make a fascinating contrast.
https://ougs.org/london/event-reports/435/field-trip-building-stones-of-westminster-abbey/
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/walks/LOUGS-Westminster.pdf
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/history/explore-our-history/cosmati-pavement
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/learning/virtual-tours/building-westminster-abbey
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person:
YPS
Tuesday 6th February 7.30pm. Zoom Lecture. The Middlesborough Meteorite. Martin Lunn.
Tuesday 5th March 7pm. Yorkshire Museum. The Lillies of the Sea: Martin Lister (1639-1712). Crinoid Fossils and Chemical Theories of Fossilisation.
Lilies of the Sea: Martin Lister (1639-1712), crinoid fossils and chemical theories of fossilisation
YGS
Wednesday 7th February 7pm. Webinar. A Jewel in the Geological Crown of Lincolnshire. The Lower Cretaceous ‘East Lindsey Group’. Paul Hildreth.
Register online at https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/east-lindsey-group
Saturday 10th February 1pm. Indoor Meeting at Northumbria University.
New Developments in the Understanding of the Geology of Northern England and Adjacent Regions
Register: https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/newcastle-geology-of-north-england
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Dame Maria Gordon (née Ogilvie) 1864 – 1939 . ‘Probably the most productive woman field geologist of any country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries’.
Born in Aberdeenshire, studied at University College London and Munich. She produced a major study of the Dolomites and its thrust planes.
3. Study and Resources:
Recent dating of Precambrian organisms in South West Wales
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68005838
4. Real Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw and Hidden Horizons are offering York Air, Fire, Earth, Water and Guilded Walks.
Also, a special Ice Walk 10am Sunday 4th February.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/york-ice-walk-tickets-792173721927?aff=erelpanelorg
Other walks on 16th and 18th February.
Please note the YPS Skinningrove trip is fully booked.
5. Our Museums of the Month:
Having recommended the Tolson Museum in Huddersfield, I then received a reply from the Museum saying that Kirklees has a significant geology collection, but that there has been no substantial geology on display for some time and very little now. They do not have a natural historian on the staff. Shame.
Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF
The Museum has ‘one of the world’s finest collections of Jurassic marine reptiles’ on display.
Another gallery has a display of Ice Age material.
https://peterboroughmuseum.org.uk/our-galleries
6. Books and Mags: A companion to ‘The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs’
Steve Brusatte (Edinburgh), The Rise and Reign of the Mammals.
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-rise-and-reign-of-the-mammals/steve-brusatte/9781529034233
I’ve already recommended another work in the same field: Elsa Panciroli, Beasts Before Us
https://www.waterstones.com/book/beasts-before-us/elsa-panciroli/9781472983985
7. Extra:
A YGS webinar by Steve Brusatte on The Rise and Reign of the Mammals from last November is still available on the YGS YouTube site
Notes for January 2024 PST 1/1/24
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Wetherby
It may seem of uncertain interest, but Wetherby is on the Old Great North Road and sits on Magnesian Limestone, on the fringes of the Zechstein Sea, with pink Spofforth Millstone Grit close by. So, there are interesting building stones and two areas of outcrop: Riverside Cliffs and the railway cutting with the old Station Quarry.
Wetherby Civic Society has leaflets on a History Trail and Blue Plaque Trail.
Also, a booklet of walks in the area including the history and plaques.
Cliffs: 2010 link has good photographs. 2015 has correct description as Sprotborough Member.
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person:
Webinars are available on the YGS YouTube channel, including recent talk on Arabia
Mike Simmons UCL Arabia – it’s role in deciphering the last 600 million years of Earth history
York Centre for Lifelong Learning has a course on The Geography of York, Saturday 27th January
Tutor, Liam Herringshaw. Held at The University of York
York University CLL The Geography of York
2. Women and Men in Geology: Martin Lister (and his daughters)
In anticipation of the YPS talk on Martin Lister (1639-1712) by Dr Anna-Marie Roos, 5th March, you can study some of the ideas of this 17th Century scientific polymath. Part of the York Virtuosi after his move to York in 1670, his great study of molluscs led him to consider ‘fossil shells’ as representing extinct species to be found in distinct strata. He proposed the construction of geological maps. He trained his young daughters to illustrate the images of specimens he studied and they provided the drawings for his major work on the history of conchology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Lister
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_virtuosi
3. Study and Resources: Graeme Churchard Blog
Click on the links in red to read the following discussions:
How Do Moons Have Oceans?
Article: how-do-moons-have-oceans?
The Danger of Melting Permafrost
Article: the-danger-of-melting-permafrost
4. Real Trips outside: YPS trip to Land of Iron Museum and Skinningrove on 27th or 28th February.
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum visit and walk in Valley and Hummersea beach.
Look out for details of the trip soon. I’ll send out a flyer
5. Our Museums of the Month: Tolson Museum, Ravensknowle Park, Huddersfield
The Museum is planned to illustrate the geology, plant-life, animal-life and the history of man in that part of south-west Yorkshire. It has a collection of minerals, rocks and fossils , in particular, those connected to local industries.
Huddersfield Geology and Mining
6. Books and Mags:
Dr Roos captures the wide interests of Lister and the beautiful images in his studies.
Anna-Marie Roos. Martin Lister and his Remarkable Daughters.
Published by The Bodleian Library 2019.
Review
7. Extra: Wide-ranging talk on the work of Martin Lister by Dr Roos, for the Royal Society.
Notes for December 2023 PST 30/11/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Harlow Carr and Almscliff Crag
The next time you visit Harlow Carr, consider a meander round the back of the old Harrogate Arms to the mineral spring and finer grade Millstone Grit on Birk Crag. Then pop over the Harrogate Anticline to Almscliff Crag (visible for miles around) and the slump features in the coarse Millstone Grit. Go on a clear day and enjoy the great views of Wharfedale.
For some reason, the diagrams of the excursion are missing from the website, which is frustrating, but these can be found by searching “earthwise” the millstone grit of almscliff crag in google.
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person:
YGS AGM
2nd December, Leeds, Weetwood Hall, AGM and Address by Karen Hanghoj (BGS), 2pm-5.30pm
Details and registration on the YGS website: https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
Webinars should all be available on the YGS YouTube channel, including recent
Mike Simmons UCL Arabia – it’s role in deciphering the last 600 million years of Earth history
https://www.youtube.com/@yorkshiregeologicalsociety2697/streams
York Centre for Lifelong Learning has a course on The Geography of York, Saturday 27th January
Tutor, Liam Herringshaw. Held at The University of York
2. Women and Men in Geology: John Michell, BD. FRS. 1724-1793
The opening passages of Ken McNamara’s book (from last month) Unearthing the Underworld are an appreciation of the work of Rev. John Michell, Woodwardian Professor of Geology at Cambridge 1762 and rector of the beautiful church of St Michael and All Angels, Thornhill, near Dewsbury (1767-1793). Amongst many other scientific explorations, Michell developed ideas of sedimentary stratigraphy of the Earth’s crust (even before William Smith!) and discussed the role of offsets in the crust on earthquakes. Friend of Joseph Priestly, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Cavendish. Sir Archibald Geikie wrote a memoir on John Michell in 1918. This is available on abe books and elsewhere. There is also a blue plaque, pamphlet and lecture on the fourth link.
https://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/visiting-the-college/history/college-facts/john-michell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Michell
https://www.thornhillparishchurch.org.uk/previousrectors.htm
3. Study and Resources:
Following up the excellent YPS talk by Rebecca Williams on Volcanoes and Iceland, enjoy the Volcano Discovery website. Information on Iceland and the rest of the world.
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/iceland/reykjanes-peninsula/current-activity.html
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/home.html
https://www.visiticeland.com/eruption/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzGG-csNMpc&ab_channel=ShawnWillsey and other updates
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxjATcVp44g&ab_channel=ShawnWillsey on Tuyas
4. Real Trips outside: YPS trip to Land of Iron Museum and Skinningrove on 27th or 28th February.
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum visit and walk in Valley and Hummersea beach.
Look out for details of the trip soon. I’ll send out a flyer
5. Our Museums of the Month: Iceland
Use the link below, click on destinations and work your way through the museums on any of the eight areas.
Then click on the ‘See All …..’ link and work through the stunning photo galleries for each area.
6. Books and Mags:
Having heard Steve Brusatte talk to the YGS on The Rise and Reign of the Mammals, I don’t know why I have not recommended his book on dinosaurs before. He is a vertebrate palaeontologist and evolutionary biologist at The University of Edinburgh.
Steve Brusatte, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, Pan Macmillan.
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/steve-brusatte/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-dinosaurs/9781509830091
Be careful, his book The Age of the Dinosaurs is an introduction for young people.
7. Extra: Talk on the Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs
Hear Steve Brusatte talk about this on a recorded Zoom.
Notes for November 2023 PST 28/10/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Studley Royal/Fountains Abbey to Brimham Rocks
National Trust have a walk from Brimham to Fountains Abbey that can be walked in either direction. Plenty of geological interest at either end.
At Studley Royal, the Seven Bridges walk from the Lake passes from the red and grey Millstone Grit of Fountains Estate to the Magnesian Limestone of the Seven Bridges Valley, with the River Skell sometimes disappearing underground and the rock outcrops either side
At Brimham Rocks, the formation, glaciation and erosion of the rocky tors gives much to explore and admire. History and Geology links:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/brimham-rocks/history-of-brimham-rocks
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/517034/1/Brimham%20field%20guide.pdf
Map:
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YPS talk 21st November, 7pm in the Tempest Anderson Hall
Dr Rebecca Williams of the University of Hull on Volcanic activity In Iceland
A Memorial Lecture in thanksgiving for the life of David Rowe.
YGS has a webinars:
1st November Professor Colin Reeves on Godwana’s Demise, 7pm
22nd November Professor Steve Brusatte on The Rise and Reign of the Mammals, 4pm
Also two meetings:
4th November, Sheffield Hallam University, Perception of Pangaea, 2pm-5.30pm
2nd December, Leeds, Weetwood Hall, AGM and Address by Karen Hanghoj (BGS), 2pm-5.30pm
Details and registration on the YGS website: https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
Webinars should all be available on the YGS YouTube channel, including recent
Mike Simmons UCL Arabia – it’s role in deciphering the last 600 million years of Earth history
https://www.youtube.com/@yorkshiregeologicalsociety2697/streams
The Yorkshire Museum talks: Mary Anning Rocks!
The most recent talks by Liam Herringshaw on where to find fossils on the Yorkshire Coast
and Tori Herridge on other female fossilists and palaeontologists who had links to Mary Anning are still available to see on the Yorkshire Museum YouTube channel.,
https://www.youtube.com/@YorkMuseumsTrust/streams
York Centre for Lifelong Learning has an online course on Fossils and Palaeoenvironments
11th and 15th November with Liam Herringshaw. https://fossilhub.org/fossils-palaeoenvironments/
2. Women and Men in Geology: Barbara Hastings (1810-1858).
Barbara Marchioness of Hastings. Another palaeontologist mentioned by Tori Herridge in her talk.
Something to read on the Trowelblazer website and on Wiki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Rawdon-Hastings,_Marchioness_of_Hastings
There is also an article by Martina Kolbl-Ebert on her work and contacts with other geologists
https://www.jstor.org/stable/24137300
It is quite easy to register with JSTOR as an independent researcher to read these articles for free.
3. Study and Resources: Trowelblazers
Tori Herridge championed the Trowelblazers website in her recent talk. Women archaeologists, geologists and palaeontologists, highlighting their contributions with a view to encouraging wider participation. She said that archaeologists were most numerous and encouraged submissions on geologists. Much to explore, time disappears…
Read a discussion about the possible causes of the disappearance of the dinosaurs.
https://www.wired.com/story/what-killed-the-dinosaurs/
4. Real Trips outside: YPS trip to Land of Iron Museum and Skinningrove in February
Look out for details of the trip soon.
5. Our Museums of the Month: Land of Iron, Skinningrove.
Plenty to read on the history of Ironstone mining and iron foundry working in the area
https://landofiron.org.uk/explore/story
6. Books and Mags: Ken McNamara: Unearthing the Underworld: A Natural History of Rocks (2023)
‘A history of the Earth as told through rocks – the secret-keepers of past environments, of changing climates and the pulse of life’. Ken McNamara is the former director of the Sedgwick Museum.
https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/unearthing-the-underworld
https://www.waterstones.com/book/unearthing-the-underworld/ken-mcnamara/9781789147186
https://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/people/dr-ken-mcnamara
7. Extra
Tori Herridge has narrated a recent series on BBC Radio 4: Hoax
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001psq9
Notes for October 2023 PST 28/9/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Ravenscar Walk
Plenty to see at Ravenscar. Great Alum quarries, railway and brickworks/silica works.
Alum processing remains with information boards. Peak Fault. National Trust Café with details on the sea side resort that never grew.
(I cannot find a National Trust site with their information boards, but there are photos)
https://www.discoveringbritain.org/content/discoveringbritain/trail%20booklets/Ravenscar%20trail.pdf
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/yorkshire-coast/ravens-view-easy-walk
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/yorkshire-coast/history-on-the-yorkshire-coast
https://www.thetownthatneverwas.co.uk/
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4383221 (two images)
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
The Yorkshire Museum talks: Mary Anning Rocks!
Talks are still available to see on the Yorkshire Museum website. The most recent talks were by Liam Herringshaw on where to find fossils on the Yorkshire Coast
Tori Herridge on other female fossilists and palaeontologists who worked alongside Mary Anning or collaborated with others. She is one of the directors of the Trowelblazer website highlighting women’s achievements in geology, palaeontology and archaeology.
https://www.youtube.com/@YorkMuseumsTrust/streams
YGS has a webinar on 5th October 4pm Mike Simmons UCL
Arabia – it’s role in deciphering the last 600 million years of Earth history
And other events:
A conference at the University of Hull, Saturday 14th October
Role of Geology in Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Postgraduate Showcase hybrid meeting, 18th October
Register at: https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
2. Women and Men in Geology: Dorothea Bate
Tori Herridge discusses Dorothea Bate in her Mary Anning talk
She was one of the first women to work at the Natural Science Museum in 1898, and was still there 50 years later. She first studied fossils in the caves above the River Wye, later finding extinct species in Cyprus, Crete and the Balearics.
Dwarf elephants and changes in climate over time were two of her great discoveries.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dorothea-bate-natural-history-museum-pioneer.html
3. Study and Resources: 8200 years ago
Changes in sea level caused by global warming may not have the effect on Northern Europe that might be expected. A lesson from 8200 years ago.
There are links to several other articles about Atlantic Circulation and concerns about contemporary changes. There are also references to Doggerland and the effect of the Storegga Slides on Europe.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/doggerland/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.767460/full
4. Real Trips outside:
Saturday 7th October: York Unlocked at the YPS Lodge
7th and 8th October. The rest of York Unlocked: https://york-unlocked.org.uk/
Liam Herringshaw and Simon Rogerson are running walks in York on 7th and 8th October.
And coastal trips on 14th and 29th October
5. Our Museums of the Month:
Having visited Madeira recently with its 25Ma geological history, one place to visit is the Museum of Natural History in Funchal, though with limited online presence. Madeira is a sea mount with its base 4000m below sea level. Volcanic activity produced bombs, tuffs, lava flowas and basalt.
https://cultura.madeira.gov.pt/en/funchal-s-natural-history-museum.html
There is more to see on other sites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_Madeira
https://www.madeira-a-z.com/facts-and-essentials/geography/geology.html
https://geologyglasgow.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/017_070__madeirasuppl_2_1527087088.pdf
http://media.nhbs.com/errata/225175.pdf
6. Books and Mags:
On Dorothea Bate: Tori Herridge recommended ‘Discovering Dorothea’ by Karolyn Shindler
…book serves to illuminate not only the travails of fieldwork a century ago, but also the problems faced by women trying to carve out their own intellectual space…. (Richard Fortey)
No longer in print. It has been on sale at The Works.
7. Extra: Ed Conway mentioned in September
Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future by Ed Conway
This has been featured on BBC radio 4 as Book of the Week. Now on BBC Sounds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/m001qm3h
Notes for September 2023 PST 28/8/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Grassington Lead Mining Trail from Yarnbury
A number of explanatory boards have been installed by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. One account of the walk is at:
https://www.walkingenglishman.com/dales55.html
An audio trail guide to this and other Dales mining is at
Other walks in the National Park are at
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
The Yorkshire Museum has a temporary exhibition: Mary Anning Rocks!
This celebrates the Jurassic fossil hunter (1799-1847) from Lyme Regis and runs to 20th September
Family activities, self-led trails and events, and a chance to see the maquette of the recent statue.
There are also four free, online, expert lectures. 7th and 14th September
YGS has a webinar on 5th October 4pm Mike Simmons UCL
Arabia – it’s role in deciphering the last 600 million years of Earth history
And other events including a Postgraduate Showcase hybrid meeting, 18th October
Register at: https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
2. Women and Men in Geology: Charlotte Murchison née Hugonin (1788-1869)
Charlotte Murchison studied geology and collected and studied fossils. She is credited with eventually turning her husband, Roderick Impey Murchison, to take up geology. They toured and collected together until complications with malaria forced her to stay at home.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Murchison
3. Study and Resources: Vulcanology
Volcano Discovery: https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcanoes.html
The website has news, photos and articles about volcanoes and earthquakes all over the world.
4. Real Trips outside:
YPS have a day trip coming up to Sledmere (21st September)
16th September, Skinningrove, Yorkshire Coast: Cleveland Ironstone and associated Jurassic Strata
1st October Castleton Treak Cliff and Mam Tor
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
5. Our Museums of the Month: Grassington Folk Museum
The Museum has exhibits connected with the lead mining tradition of Upper Wharfedale
6. Books and Mags:
Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future by Ed Conway
Although I have not yet seen this, it is “A FINANCIAL TIMES and NEW STATESMAN Best Summer Book of 2023”
How the planet we live on is so utterly dependent on just six raw materials. A serious read.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/446267/material-world-by-con9780753559154
way-ed/7. Extra: Dancing Rocks Death Valley
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dancing-rocks-69609654/
The internet does contain everything under heaven and earth!
Notes for August 2023 PST 28/7/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Scottish Geology Trust
The Trust website has a huge amount of information about so many aspects.
The section of 51 best places to see Scotland’s geology has links to each site with further details to be followed up. Something to cover any visit to Scotland
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
The Yorkshire Museum has recently opened a temporary exhibition: Mary Anning Rocks!
This celebrates the Jurassic fossil hunter (1799-1847) from Lyme Regis and runs to 20th September
Family activities, self-led trails and events, and a chance to see the maquette of the recent statue.
There are also four free, online, expert lectures. 26th July, 10th August, 7th and 14th September
Kirkleatham Museum has a temporary exhibition over the summer celebrating the coastal area, including the unique geological landscape: Lemon Tops and Lobster Pots.
2. Women and Men in Geology: Percy Fry Kendall (!856-1936)
Kendall was an early proponent of the land-ice theory of glaciation in Britain. Teaching in Manchester and then Leeds, he investigated the probable glacial landscape of Yorkshire and mapped the effects on NE Yorkshire, developing the idea of glacial Lake Pickering.
David Rowe has written an excellent article for the YPS website
The Bradford Museum digitisation project on Kendall and Wroot is at
There is much recent work on the nature of any glacial Lake Pickering and its extent in the mis to late Pleistocene. Laura Eddey and Bill Fairburn have undertaken extensive research on the area, some in connection with Mark Bateman at University of Sheffield. One article is at:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jqs.2833#jqs2833-bib-0037
Wikipedia article on Lake Pickering has some links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pickering#cite_note-2
3. Study and Resources:
The Vale of Pickering has been subject to recent research projects.
The Landscape Research Centre http://www.landscaperesearchcentre.org/
English Heritage: Vale of Pickering Statement of Significance, Two versions: short and long
https://lucooke.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/vop-sos_final_may2012.pdf
Following The recent YPS Lecture by Bryony Caswell on Muddy Bottoms: Early Jurassic sea floor fauna collapse and implications for extinction, read:
https://fossilhub.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Caswell_Herringshaw2023_accepted_ms.pdf
4. Real Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw runs trips in York on 1st August: Many Rocking Annies, Great York Fossil Hunt
and events at Kirkleatham Museum on 9th and 23rd August,
Rebel Show Nails and Chalking with Dinosaurs
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/redcar/kirkleatham-museum-grounds
YPS have a day trip coming up to Sledmere (21st September)
Yorkshire Geological Society have field excursions. Register using the links below:
5th August, Deepgrove Wyke, Sandsend, Yorkshire Coast: Ammonites and Aptychi
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/deepgrove-ammonites
16th September, Skinningrove, Yorkshire Coast: Cleveland Ironstone and associated Jurassic Strata
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/skinningrove-ironstone
5. Our Museums of the Month:
The Yorkshire Museum Mary Anning Rocks exhibition
Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar Lemon Tops and Lobster Pots
6. Books and Mags:
Chris King (!949-2022) was a founder member of the International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO). He published the recent major online textbook to accompany the IGEO international syllabus: Exploring Geoscience across the Globe – England
This may be used for free by teachers and students of Geoscience
7. Extra BBC Geology Quiz:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zvkspg8
Notes for July 2023 PST 28/6/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Cayton Bay near Scarborough.
Excellent field guide from the YGS Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape, through Earthwise
You can start with coffee at the beach shack at the Cayton Bay car park. If rounding Yons Nab take care on crossing the boulder field and start on a falling tide. Look for the palaeo-river channel at the East end of Gristhorpe Bay, both channel and underlying strata from the Middle Jurassic.
This area is also covered by #9 in Rawson and Wright, GA guide 34, Geology of the Yorkshire Coast.
(Edition 2019)
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
Tuesday 18th July 2.30pm. YPS talk and presentation of the Phillips Prize.
Bryony Caswell, Hull University, Muddy Bottoms: connecting geological and modern extinctions.
Members of the Geologists Association may attend/access GA talks online
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/lectures/
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Professor Cathy Hollis, University of Manchester
She was presented with Yorkshire Geological Society’s highest honour, the Sorby Medal for 2022.
Awarded for distinguished contribution to geological knowledge of Yorkshire and the North of England. Her research interests are in Carbonates and Sedimentary Basins. This may seem dry but her field trips in Yorkshire and the North of England are said to be entertaining and informative.
https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/cathy.hollis
http://www.narg.org.uk/people-and-partners/staff-spotlights/cathy-hollis/
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/August-2020/Feature-1
3. Study and Resources:
British Geological Society (BGS) have various apps and resources:
iGeology and Geology of Britain Viewer have been retired, but the BGS Geology Viewer works for iphones and Android.
Using 2D or 3D models and GPS, you can identify the superficial and bedrock geology of the ground under your feet.
BGS Geo-Index is also available
The BGS Map Portal now includes all publicly available maps, including 1:10000 geological maps for the first time.
https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/MapsPortal/
4. Real Trips outside:
Yorkshire Fossil Festival was held in Whitby 10th-11th June.
Online talks still available at
YGS Field Excursion to the North Swaledale Mineral Belt
30th July 2023 10:30 – 16:30
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/swaledale-mineral-belt
YPS have trips coming up to Farnley Hall and Shibden Hall (6th July) and Sledmere (21st September)
5. Our Museums of the Month:
Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley
The museum has been recommended for its collection of rocks and minerals, exceptional for such a small site.
6. Books and Mags:
The Dunedin Series, INTRODUCING [Earth & environmental sciences] has an excellent reputation
One of the latest is the second edition of ‘Introducing Geomorphology’. There are many others.
https://www.dunedinacademicpress.co.uk/page/series/
Review: https://geoscientist.online/sections/books-and-arts/introducing-geomorphology-a-guide-to-landforms-and-processes/
Notes for June 2023
F0r technical reasons, June’s notes are currently only available on the website as a PDF
To download a copy, click below
YPS geology notes website June 2023
Notes for May 2023 PST 29/4/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips.
Sheffield Area Geology Trust has a website with a number of geology trails in Barnsley and Sheffield areas. It has a section on the geology of South Yorkshire and an excellent section on the building stones of the area.
https://www.sagt.org.uk/geology_walks
The BGS/Historic England Strategic Stone Study Survey Stone Atlas for the area is at
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YPS talks.
Tuesday 23rd May, 7pm Yorkshire Museum. Ruth Siddall, UCL,
Pavement, Pots and Pigments.
Pavement, Pots and Pigments: Applied Geology in Cultural Heritage
Her website on Urban Geology, Pavement and Pigments:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/rhome.html
Wednesday 14th June, 7pm Yorkshire Museum. Nina Morgan.
“A Story in Stone” From York to Oxford
Her new book “A Story in Stone” explores the fabric of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Geologist John Phillips came to Oxford from the Yorkshire Museum and was involved in choosing every stone carefully to illustrate the variety of rocks across the UK and Ireland.
Her Gravestone Geology website is at https://www.gravestonegeology.uk/index.php
Yorkshire Geological Society. (Register for talks online)
Thursday 25th May, Richard Thompson, Plymouth, Webinar 4pm
Marine Litter: Are There Solutions To This Global Environmental Challenge?
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/marine-litter
Yorkshire Fossil Festival is being held in Whitby 10th-11th June.
Keep checking the website for updates of activities
2. Women and Men in Geology:
An intriguing couple: Jessica Duncan Piazzi Smyth and Charles Piazzi Smyth
Jessica Duncan (1812-1896) studied geology in Edinburgh, probably in her early thirties, and went on many geological expeditions in Britain and Europe. Details of these activities appear to have been marginalised as in 1855 she married Charles Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Scotland from 1846 and formerly of Cape Town Observatory.
Most of the subsequent accounts of her life are of her contributions to the work she shared with her husband, expedition (honeymoon) to Mount Teide in Tenerife/Teneriffe to investigate improved astronomical observations at altitude. Anther expedition was to Egypt to measure the Great Pyramid. She became the photographer, making stereoscopic prints.
They are both buried at St John’s Sharow, just outside Ripon with a remarkable Pyramidal memorial.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Duncan_Piazzi_Smyth
A contemporary account of their wedding is at:
https://www.geni.com/people/Jessica-Smyth/6000000021403162691
http://tenerifeprivatetours.com/honeymoon-on-mount-teide/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Piazzi_Smyth
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27152597/jessie-piazzi-smyth
3. Study and Resources:
View past talks from Yorkshire Geological Society on their YouTube site
https://www.youtube.com/@yorkshiregeologicalsociety2697/streams
And the vast resource of material, virtual field trips, courses and talks on the Geologists’ Association site ‘Geology from your Sofa’
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/sofageology/
4. Real Trips outside:
May is Yorkshire Geology Month with events at
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/community-events
This includes these YGS events
Saturday 20th May, Trip to North Lincolnshire Museum and Conesby Quarry
Jurassic Ironstone Field Trip:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/jurassic-ironstone-fieldtrip
Wednesday 24th May, Trip, Flamborough North Landing
Using chalk marker bands to find formation boundaries.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/findingyourlimits
5. Our Museums of the Month:
The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Hanley. This has galleries on Natural Science, Coal, Fossils and Minerals. (As well as the extraordinary exhibits of the Staffordshire Hoard)
6. Books and Mags:
Cumbria Rocks by Ian Jackson and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. 60 Rocky places
https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/cumbria-rocks-60-extraordinary-rocky-places
This can also be bought from Geo Supplies as a special offer with Ina Jacksons book Northumberland Rocks
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Down-To-Earth–Recommended-Titles-p1.html
Notes for April 2023 PST 29/3/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips.
A website and resources for geo-walks in the Peak District has just been unveiled.
A guide to the rocks and landforms on a long-distance walk in 14 sections or 214km.
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YPS talk. Tuesday 23rd May, 7pm Yorkshire Museum. Ruth Siddall, UCL,
Pavement, Pots and Pigments.
Her website on Urban Geology, Pavement and Pigments:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/rhome.html
Yorkshire Geological Society. (Register for talks online)
Thursday 27th April. Elsa Panciroli, OUMNH. Webinar, 4pm.
British Mesozoic Fossils and the Emergence of Mammal Traits.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/elsa-panciroli-british-mesozoic-fossils
Thursday 25th May, Richard Thompson, Plymouth, Webinar 4pm
Marine Litter: Are There Solutions To This Global Environmental Challenge?
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/marine-litter
Rotunda Geology Group in Scarborough run a programme of talks and field trips for members
Membership is inexpensive: https://www.rotundageologygroup.org/membership
Duncan Hawley has sent links to a podcast by Dr Rebecca Jarman on the Godgrey Bingley archive of photograhs at Leeds Universityhttps://soundcloud.com/user-123416549/the-bingley-archive
2. Women and Men in Geology:
The Yorkshire Museum is to hold an exhibition on Mary Anning, along with the maquette used for the recent statue at Lyme Regis. July/August
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/maryanning/
There is a very large number of links to the work of Mary Anning.
A couple of years ago I wrote:
Several of the Early Jurassic marine fossils at the Natural History Museum and elsewhere were her finds, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, pterosaurs as well as ammonites, belemnites and brachiopods. The Deep Oceans section of the Yorkshire’s Jurassic World exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum has on display the Yorkshire examples of this era.
Many of the noted geologists and palaeontologists of the C19th examined her discoveries and discussed anatomy with her. They often presented results to societies and in papers without acknowledging the collector, as often happened at the time. Henry De La Beche sold copies of his painting of Jurassic time, Duria Antiquior, to raise funds to support Mary Anning.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mary-anning-unsung-hero.html
3. Study and Resources:
Heather Stewart recently talked to YPS about how the Five Deeps Mission was transformed from a personal challenge of Victor Vescovo to a scientific expedition to study the ecology and geology of the deepest places in the ocean. Animals living at 1000 atmospheres of pressure. Active subduction trenches producing landslides and tsunamis affecting many coastal regions. Much to explore at:
4. Real Trips outside:
Please Note: The YPS walk at Flamborough on 10th May is now fully booked.
YGS events
Saturday 29th April, Yorkshire Geology Day at the National Coal Mining Museum, nr Wakefield
Details of family activities and short talks in the afternoon:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/yorkshire-geology-day-2023
Saturday 20th May, Trip to North Lincolnshire Museum and Conesby Quarry
Jurassic Ironstone Fieled Trip:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/jurassic-ironstone-fieldtrip
Wednesday 24th May, Trip, Flamborough North Landing
Using chalk marker bands to find formation boundaries.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/findingyourlimits
5. Our Museums of the Month: Sheffield
Weston Park Museum, part of Sheffield Museums, has an extensive collection of fossil Coal Measure plants of South Yorkshire along with other geology and natural history exhibits.
https://www.sheffieldmuseums.org.uk/visit-us/weston-park-museum/
A new Natural History Museum opened in Hillsborough, Sheffield in August 2022:
The Yorkshire Natural History Museum. But look carefully at opening times.
https://www.geocurator.org/news/574-brand-new-natural-history-museum-opening-in-sheffield
6. Books and Mags:
THE FOSSIL WOMAN A Life of Mary Anning by Tom Sharpe
https://www.dovecotepress.com/shop/biographies/the-fossil-woman-a-life-of-mary-anning-by-tom-sharpe/
The book most often said to be scientific and well researched, not falling into myths or sensationalism. Forget ‘Ammonite’.
Notes for March 2023 PST 1/3/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips.
A walk between Spofforth and Follifoot, between Wetherby and Harrogate allows exploration of outcrops and buildings of the reddened Millstone Grit of the area. Spofforth houses, Castle, Church, outcrops and tors along the Crimple Beck.
Conservation reports of Spofforth and Follifoot:
https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/downloads/file/856/conservation-area-spofforth
https://www.harrogate.gov.uk/downloads/file/818/conservation-area-follifoot
A couple of versions of the walk are open access on the internet:
https://www.yorkshirewalks.org/diary06/diary184.html Frank Forth
https://www.yorkshirewalks.org/diary06/maps/map184.html
https://www.walkingenglishman.com/leedsharrogate24.htm Walking Englishman
Plumpton Rocks, with its dramatic Millstone Grit formations, is nearby and occasionally open.
https://www.plumptonrocks.com/
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YPS talk
Tuesday 14th March 7pm, Yorkshire Museum
Exploring Hades: geomorphology and sediments of the deepest places on Earth
Dr Heather Stewart, British Geological Survey, Edinburgh. The Five Deeps project
Exploring Hades: geomorphology and sediments of the deepest places on Earth
Yorkshire Geological Society events:
Saturday 25th March, Yorkshire’s natural resources and their contribution to energy transition.
Meeting at Standedge Visitor Centre, Marsden.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/energy-transition-in-yorkshire
Thursday 27th April. Elsa Panciroli. Webinar, 4pm. British Mesozoic Fossils and the Emergence of Mammal Traits.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/elsa-panciroli-british-mesozoic-fossils
Saturday 29th April, Yorkshire Geology Day at the National Coal Mining Museum, nr Wakefield.
More details of family activities and short talks in the afternoon to follow next month.
Duncan Hawley at the History of Geology Group has offered to make one of the HOGG online talks available to YPS members without charge. Please do not share this link with non-members.
Thurs 16th March 2023 (lunchtime) Geology, Photography and Institutional History in the Godfrey Bingley Archives – an intimate relationship between geology and scenery with Dr Rebecca Jarman, University of Leeds.
2. Women and Men in Geology:
I have written about Heather Stewart and Elsa Panciroli previously:
Heather Stewart, BGS was the geologist on The Five Deeps Mission: ‘The greatest technical challenge since the Apollo missions’: The world’s first successful manned expedition to the deepest point in each of the five oceans.
The following website gives access to the aims, science and blogs/film of the dives.
https://fivedeeps.com/home/team/crew/heather/
Elsa Panciroli. Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow.
Recent work on early mammals and trackways in Isle of Skye.
https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-elsa-panciroli#/
Account of interests, research and publications with several YouTube films:
https://elsapanciroli.wordpress.com/about-me/
She wrote the ‘Lost Worlds Revisited’ pages for The Guardian from July 15 to August 18
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/elsa-panciroli
She has most recently written on enigmatic trackways of the Yorkshire Coast
Her book, Beasts Before Us, https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/beasts-before-us-9781472983824/
3. Study and Resources:
There are still places on Liam Herringshaw’s York University Lifelong Learning Course:
Fossils of the Yorkshire Coast Saturday 25 March 2023, 2.00pm to 5.00pm
Geology of the South and West Yorkshire Coalfields
http://www.j31.co.uk/geology.htm
4. Real Trips outside:
Wednesday 10th May, YPS Trip to Flamborough with Paul Hildreth of YGS
Rocks, Fossils and Ice Ages at Flamborough. A walk from Danes Dyke to Sewerby
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Yorkshire Geology Day in April brings us to:
The National Coal Mining Museum, Caphouse Colliery, Near Wakefield.
Surface visits include galleries and colliery buildings and walks around the estate.
Underground tours go down the shaft to one of the coal faces. Guides are usually former miners.
6. Books and Mags:
The Field Studies Council publish several fold-out guides. Rocks, Common Fossils, Common Minerals
Notes for February 2023 PST 31/1/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips.
A trip along the Great Wold Valley, The Prehistoric Gypsey Race Trail. A Leaflet is available from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. ‘The Valley of the Kings’. Geology and Archaeology.
https://www.sewerbyhall.co.uk/outdoor-walks/
Derek Gobbett’s article on the last 65 million years of the Yorkshire Wolds is at
http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/hg1521.htm
And if you don’t want to leave the house, there is a YouTube tour of the area at:
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
Yorkshire Geological Society events:
YGS Presidential Address is still available to watch on YGS YouTube. Nick Riley brings the Carboniferous environment to life, discussing the development of species after the great death at the end of the Devonian period, with a special mention of insects and dragonflies in particular.
The Carboniferous: a very special time on Earth.
Saturday 25th March, Yorkshire’s natural resources and their contribution to energy transitio
Meeting at Standedge Visitor Centre, Marsden
Saturday 29th April, Yorkshire Geology Day at the National Coal Mining Museum, nr Wakefield.
Elsa Panciroli talk on British Mesozoic fossils and the emergence of mammal traits is postponed
Duncan Hawley at the History of Geology Group has offered to make the HOGG online talks available to YPS members. (Admission would otherwise be through Eventbrite for a small fee).
He believed the talk on the Leeds University Bingley Archive would be locally relevant.
I will forward links, when I receive them.
Thurs 16th February 2023 (lunchtime) Arthur Young and the first geological maps of Norfolk and Suffolk with Dr Peter Riches
Thurs 16th March 2023 (lunchtime) Geology, Photography and Institutional History in the Godfrey Bingley Archives – an intimate relationship between geology and scenery with Dr Rebecca Jarman, University of Leeds
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Dr Ruth Siddall, UCL, Geologist and Pigment Scientist.
We hope Ruth Siddall will be giving a YPS lecture later in the year. I mentioned one of her sites last month, but I thought it would be useful to see a wider range. As well as lecturing in the Department of Earth Sciences at UCL, she researches minerals and pigments and studies urban building stone in London and around the country.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucfbrxs/Homepage/rhome.html
https://wildpigmentproject.org/ruth-siddall
A talk at:https://c-a-s-t.org.uk/projects/water-and-stone/dr-ruth-siddall-keynote-talk/
3. Online Study and Resources:
All three episodes of the BBC programme ‘The Island’ The story of Ireland’s epic geological journey, spanning 1.8 billion years, presented by Liz Bronnin, is on BBC iplayer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001cd9m
Issue 58 of Earth Heritage, the geological and landscape conservation magazine, is available at:
https://www.earthheritage.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/EH-58_final_web.pdf
This has a wide range of topics from a review of Natural Nature Reserves, a review of The Lake District, Landscape and Geology book I mentioned some months ago and a discussion of UNESCO and the important role geodiversity has in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
4. Real Trips outside:
Tuesday 28th February. A YPS trip to Kirkleatham, led by Liam Herringshaw.
Earthleatham: A geologically flavoured day-trip to Kirkleatham Museum and village.
Details are on the YPS website
I’ll attach a flyer and a booking form to emails.
Wednesday 10th May. A YPS walk from Danes Dyke to Sewerby and back, led by Paul Hildreth of YGS.
Details next month. This is already on the YPS Events page of the website.
5. Our Museum of the Month:
The National Stone Centre, Wirksworth is set within six former limestone quarries in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales, on the edge of the Peak District National Park, and close to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, the National Stone Centre (NSC) is a 40 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), for its geological formations, offering outdoor and indoor activities for all.
This has plans for a major new building.
6. Books and Mags:
The Rocks of Wales – Their Story – by Dyfed Elis-Gruffydd. Publisher and review:
https://carreg-gwalch.cymru/rocks-of-wales-the—their-story-2239-p.asp
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/books-arts/2019-reviews/Elis-Rocks-of-Wales
7. Extra
YoCo (York Central Co-Owned) have free monthly talks at St Barnabus Church, Leeman Road, about the York Central development and what YoCo is doing to shape its future.
Saturday 25th February, Andrew Morrison of York Civic Trust is talking on the history and pre-history of the central area and landscape.
Notes for January 2023 PST 1/1/23
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips.
A winter excursion to Knaresborough visits a glacial diversion channel and allows examination of Permian strata and their unconformable relationship with the underlying Carboniferous rocks. With coffee shops and lunch nearby, as well as the castle and parish church, this may take a couple of visits to complete the trail below. Avoid Mother Shipton until March/April.
An alternative version by the same author is at
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/4567/1/OR08044.pdf
BGS geology map and memoir at
https://largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1001543
https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/Memoirs/docs/B01530.html
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YGS have two webinars planned. Register to join live or simply watch live on the YGS YouTube website. The details say that a recording will not be made available after the meeting is closed.
(I will add catch up details next month if a recording is available)
Thursday 19th January 7pm, Nick Riley, YGS Presidential Address,
The Carboniferous: a very special time on Earth.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/the-carboniferous-what-a-special-time
Thursday 9th February 4pm, Elsa Panciroli, Oxford MNH
British Mesozoic fossils and the emergence of mammal traits
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/elsa-panciroli-british-mesozoic-fossils
Leeds Geological Association:
Thursday, January 19th at 7.15 pm. in G.02 of the Maurice Keyworth Building, University of Leeds, Dr Ian Williamson, Interacting volcanism and sedimentation on the islands of Canna and Sanday, Inner Hebrides, NW Scotland. No charge for visitors.
Venue details at: https://leedsga.org.uk/lecture-venue/
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Janet Watson (1923 – 1985)
Watson was an English geologist, technical author, and professor of earth sciences in Imperial College London; the first female president of the Geological Society during the year 1982. She studied the Precambrian geological formations and basement complexes that makeup Scotland and other areas of the United Kingdom.
3. Online Study and Resources:
Coursera offer free online learning. University of Manchester is currently offering
Our Earth: Its Climate, History, and Processes
https://www.coursera.org/learn/our-earth
Ruth Siddalls’ London Pavement Geology website offers information on the pavement and building stones around you in many parts of the country, including York.
Be warned, you will always be looking at the pavement, kerbs and driveways wherever you go.
4. Real Trips outside:
A plan is being laid for a YPS trip to Kirkleatham towards the end of February. A walking tour of the natural and geological history and a visit to the museum. Watch out for details.
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Leeds City Museum, The Life on Earth Gallery has a ‘new look’. (The exhibition has been a bit of a fossil for a few years). There is a lot to see in the Museum other than this gallery.
If going for lunch though, try the Tiled Gallery Café in the Art Gallery nearby and count the number of different building stones in the entrance and the Café: It is a geo-trail in itself.
6. Books and Mags:
Nina Morgan and Philip Powell have recently written:
A Story in Stone. The Geology of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History Building
The stones in the building were selected by the Professor of Geology at the University at the time, YPS member and former Keeper, John Phillips
The Gravestone Geology website also has many other features, information and videos
https://www.gravestonegeology.uk/index.php
7. Extra
For information on current events, talks, courses and much more, visit Graeme Churchard’s Geology in the West Country monthly blog. Or better still, subscribe to it for free and receive it every month.
http://geologywestcountry.blogspot.com/
Notes for December 2022 PST 1/12/22
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Barnard Castle and Egglestone Abbey
An enjoyable day by the River Tees. Castle, Abbey, River and riverside quarries of Egglestone Marble by the water’s edge. Egglestone Marble is a polishable crinoidal limestone used for monuments and effigies from 14th to 18th centuries. The Castle has dramatic views of the river
Earthwise geological field guide to a long route from Barnard Castle to Piercebridge:
A short return route from BC to Egglestone Abbey (RGS): Click on the written guide
https://www.discoveringbritain.org/activities/north-east-england/trails/barnard-castle-trail.html
l route to Whorlton along the River Tees, visiting the Abbey: Click on the written guide
https://www.discoveringbritain.org/activities/north-east-england/walks/barnard-castle.html
Two sources of information on Egglestone and York and elsewhere
https://www.durhamnature.co.uk/countydurhamfossilpage.html
click the Frost. Marble advert
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
· 3rd December, YGS AGM and Presidential address, Weetwood Hall, Leeds, afternoon.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/ygs-agm-2022
· YGS talk Geology of the Moroccan High Atlas and Atlantic Margin, Prof Jonathan Redfern, from 10th November 2022 in on the YGS YouTube site
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3eZ2bs62Kc&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
· Leeds Geological Association have their AGM and Conversazione on 8th December
https://leedsga.org.uk/event/2022-agm-sgm-and-conversazione/
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Charles Lapworth was headmaster at Galashiels from 1864 to 1875 when he researched the Moffat Series, using index fossils to show that rocks were repeatedly faulted and folded.
He then undertook formal study in Madras College, St Andrew’s and went on to teach at what became University of Birmingham until retirement in 1913.
He proposed the geological period of the Ordovician to settle the controversy between Murchison (Silurian) and Sedgwick (Cambrian).
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/about/lapworth.aspx
https://www.ogg.rocks/charles-lapworth
Birmingham University’s geological museum is The Lapworth Museum, recently transformed.
It contains the Lapworth Archive which contains one of the most complete records of the work of a scientist of that period.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/about/index.aspx
The Lapworth Medal is the most prestigious honour bestowed by the Palaeontological Association
3. Online Study and Resources:
A remarkable resource of information about minerals and rocks worldwide is at
This is an online database, claiming to be the largest mineral database and mineralogical reference website on the Internet. It is used by professionals and amateurs alike.
And for all those Minecraft players, there is a special section of the website for them to follow
https://www.mindat.org/a/minecraft
4. Real Trips outside:
Plans being made for YPS trips in the Spring to
· Cleveland area, Museum and building stones
· Flamborough, Danes Dyke to Sewerby.
Watch the website and newsletter
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Lapworth Museum University of Birmingham has to have a repeat. See #2
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/collections/index.aspx
6. Books and Mags:
Bedrock and Building Stones of the City of Sunderland by Andy Lane
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Bedrock-and-Building-Stones-Sunderland-3931.html#SID=124
Make sure it is the second edition, 2022. Spiral bound. (Not 2014). Limited supply.
7. Extra
For those interested in York Archaeology, The York Archaeology Conference 2022 took place in November in hybrid form. Organised by City of York Council and York Archaeological Forum.
https://www.york.gov.uk/ArchaeologyConference
All six plus hours is available on the City of York Council YouTube site
And the talks from the 2021 online conference are also available.
Notes for November2022 PST 31/10/22
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Otley Chevin
Otley Chevin looks good in Autumn. West Yorkshire Geology Trust has resources for the Trail
https://www.wyorksgeologytrust.org/chevin.html
Download both the walk page and the geology page to obtain the full trail leaflet.
https://www.wyorksgeologytrust.org/walksleaflets/leeds/Chevin%20Geology%20Trail.pdf
https://www.wyorksgeologytrust.org/walksleaflets/leeds/Chevin%20Geology%20Route.pdf
The interpretation board and the audio trail may are also available.
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
10th November, YGS Webinar, Dr Jonathan Redfern, University of Manchester
· Geology of the Moroccan High Atlas and Atlantic Margin. Register for the talk at:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/geology-of-moroccan-high-atlas
19th November, YGS Indoor Meeting, University of Leeds, 2 pm to 5 pm
· Origins: Major Innovations in the Evolution of Life and Our Planet
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/origins
3rd December, YPS AGM and Presidential address, Weetwood Hall, Leeds, afternoon.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/ygs-agm-2022
Pocklington District Heritage Trust Conference 16th November 9am to 4pm
· Recent developments in archaeology and geology within Eastern Yorkshire.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/recent-developments-in-archaeology-in-eastern-yorkshire-tickets-401118224407 https://pocklingtonhistory.com/
Yorkshire Fossil Festival, 17th-18th September, now passed. Talks from recent festivals are available: https://yorkshirefossilfestival.co.uk/explore/
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Louis Depuch and Charles Bailly were the geologists on the French expedition of 1800 by the two ships – the “Geographe” and the “Naturaliste” under Captain Nicolas Baudin. It reached Australia in June 1802 where they were the first to classify the rocks.
http://historyofgeology.fieldofscience.com/2010/12/kangaroos-and-geologists-first.html
3. Online Study and Resources:
The Anthropocene, A new Geological Epoch. YPS/YGS joint conference, now passed
There are excellent online resources on the AWG Anthropocene project:
http://quaternary.stratigraphy.org/working-groups/anthropocene/
https://www.anthropocene-curriculum.org/contributors/anthropocene-working-group#
The latter has a wealth of articles. Also use menu, projects, Anthropocene Lectures.
York Centre for Lifelong Learning has a Saturday course with Liam Herringshaw
The Fossils of the Yorkshire Coast. Saturday 19th November. On Zoom
YGS recently held an online evening of postgraduate research presentations
Five talks on a variety of topics. Now on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ-n_KBvV94&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
4. Real Trips outside:
None at present. Information to follow
5. Our Museum of the Month:
The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum in Skinningrove will reopen during the next few months as ‘The Land of Iron’ after a long closure and expansion.
https://landofiron.org.uk/visit
6. Books and Mags:
Herefordshire Rocks and Scenery: A Geology of the County (2017)
The majority of the rock in Herefordshire is Devonian Old Red Sandstone. This contrasts with the generally younger and more varied rocks of Yorkshire, but there are yet great differences in landscape and structure to be found in Herefordshire. Silurian rocks rise up the ORS.
The book is written by John Payne and the Geology section of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club.
Notes for September and October 2022 PST 1/9/22
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Filey Brigg
Aim to explore the Brigg starting at a falling tide. Erratics, fossils, quarrying of Birdsall Calcareous Grit, karstic limestone pavement, cryoturbated sandstone and Hambleton Oolitic Limestone under tills on the South side. Boulder fields of large Thalassinoides burrow casts from crustaceans on the East, imbricated by storms or tsunamis. Regular rows of cannonball size ‘ball beds’ in the Saintoft member on the North side.
Best guide available is the GA Guide ‘Geology of the Yorkshire Coast’ Excursion 10. Not on line:
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/gashopnewlayout/ga-guide-34_yorkshire-coast/#contents
Online try: https://ukfossils.co.uk/2010/03/18/filey/. Stratigraphy and map at
https://sites.google.com/site/seaanglingeastcoast/home/maps-and-guides/map-4-filey-brigg
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
Geologists Association Conference 2022, Fantastic Fossils on our Doorsteps, is taking place at the University of Hull, 10th-11th September. Saturday is talks, Sunday is field trips for delegates.
Great value and local. https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/conferences/#2022
Yorkshire Fossil Festival, 17th-18th September, Scarborough Spa and throughout the town.
Family activities and dinosaurs on the move.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/yorkshire-fossil-festival-2022
More details and talks from last year’s event: https://yorkshirefossilfestival.co.uk/
Festival Director Liam Herringshaw. Friday 16th is a programme for schools.
YGS Webinar, 29th September 4pm. Dr Briony Caswell, University of Hull. Register or YouTube
· Muddy Bottoms. Jurassic seafloors and environmental change
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/muddy-bottoms-jurassic-seafloor
The Anthropocene, A new Geological Epoch. 1.30pm Saturday 15th October. YPS/YGS joint conference, Yorkshire Museum.
What does the Anthropocene look like?: Evidence for its formalisation as an Epoch
Pocklington District Heritage Trust Conference 16th November
· Recent developments in archaeology and geology within Eastern Yorkshire.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/recent-developments-in-archaeology-in-eastern-yorkshire-tickets-401118224407 https://pocklingtonhistory.com/
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Inge Lehmann ForMemRS (13 May 1888 – 21 February 1993) was a Danish seismologist and geophysicist. In 1936, she discovered that the Earth has a solid inner core inside a molten outer core. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inge_Lehmann
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/rosetta-stones/inge-lehmann-8220-a-small-solid-core-in-the-innermost-part-of-the-earth-8221/# https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-collections/earth-inside-and-out/inge-lehmann-discoverer-of-the-earth-s-inner-core
And some mathematics:
https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/upload_library/2/Rousseau-CMJ-2014.pdf
And if you have forgotten about P waves, watch
3. Online Study and Resources:
York Centre for Lifelong Learning has two Saturday sessions in the Autumn:
The Geology of the Yorkshire Coast. Saturday 22nd October. Classroom based
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/dates/202223/non-accreditedcourses/scienceandearthscience/autumn/geologyoftheyorkshirecoast/
The Fossils of the Yorkshire Coast. Saturday 14th November. On Zoom
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/dates/202223/non-accreditedcourses/scienceandearthscience/autumn/fossilsoftheyorkshirecoast/
Both are with Liam Herringshaw
4. Real Trips outside:
Flamborough Chalk Tower Heritage Open Days, Sundays 11th and 18th September
https://www.facebook.com/ChalkTower/
YGS have a rescheduled two days of field trips, 24th-25th September, Lincoln Cathedral and Limestone. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/lincolnshire-limestone
The East Yorkshire Walking Festival is 10th-23rd September. Brochure available online. https://www.walkingeastyorkshirefestival.co.uk/
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Elgin Museum (in Elgin, Moray) has an excellent collection of Permo-Triassic reptile fossils as well as other geology. https://elginmuseum.org.uk/museum/collections-fossils/
And there is an online talk on ‘The Elgin Reptiles’ on 5th September.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-elgin-reptiles-tickets-409316014217
6. Books and Mags:
Riches of the Earth. Three volunteer survey teams across three South Pennine moorland areas recorded the surviving mining and extraction industrial remains and researched available historical evidence. Watershed Landscape Project https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Riches+of+the+earth%3A+interpreting+mining+and+mineral+and+stone+…-a0352495448
Geosupplies say they have secured the final copies of the book. 2 copies for £7.95 available
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Riches-Of-The-Earth-3906.html
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Riches-of-the-Earth-3907.html
7. Extra
Don’t forget to view the YPS YouTube website and subscribe! Subscriptions help the site become more visible and allow it to have a simpler web address.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQv7l8oVKCRgdzv8WeabBw/featured
Notes for August 2022 PST 2/8/22
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips. Ilkley Moor
Leeds GA have an excellent guide to the geology of Ilkley Moor, starting at the Cow and Calf
https://leedsga.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ilkley-Moor-Geology-and-History-Walk-Guide.pdf
Wharfedale Naturalists Society also have a leaflet for an Ilkley Moor Geology Trail available from Tourist Office, Ilkley, but not online. (Used successfully with groups.)
Or a simple non-technical walk on Ilkley Moor just enjoying the landscape
Check out the WNS list of talks over the past two years, all on YouTube, including three parts of ‘The Nature of Lockdown in Burley in Wharfedale’ https://www.wharfedale-nats.org.uk/
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YGS: YouTube. Talk from 30th June. Dame Jane Francis, Director British Antarctic Survey.
· Greenhouse to Icehouse and Back? Antarctica’s future in a 400ppm world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoDIwqZgTEU&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
Café Sci talk: Wednesday 3rd August Time 7pm Council Chamber, Guildhall. Liam Herringshaw
· York: 2 billion years of Earth History
York: 2 billion years of Earth history: Cafe Scientifique York at the Guildhall
Geologists Association Conference 2022, Fantastic Fossils on our Doorsteps, is taking place at the University of Hull, 10th-11th September. Saturday is talks, Sunday is field trips for delegates.
Great value and local. https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/conferences/#2022
Yorkshire Fossil Festival, 17th-18th September, Scarborough Spa and throughout the town.
Family activities and dinosaurs on the move. More details and talks from last year’s event:
https://yorkshirefossilfestival.co.uk/
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/yorkshire-fossil-festival-2022
Festival Director Liam Herringshaw. Friday 16th is a programme for schools.
YGS Webinar, 29th September 4pm. Dr Briony Caswell, University of Hull. Register or YouTube
· Muddy Bottoms. Jurassic seafloors and environmental change
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/muddy-bottoms-jurassic-seafloor
The Anthropocene, A new Geological Epoch. 1.30pm Saturday 15th October. YPS/YGS joint conference, Yorkshire Museum.
What does the Anthropocene look like?: Evidence for its formalisation as an Epoch
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Ben Peach and John Horne
In her recent YPS talk about the geology of the Lonely Isles and ancient orogenies/mountain-building, Anna Bird spoke of the extraordinary insight into the mountain-building of Northern Scotland and the links to metamorphism of the Geological Survey’s 1907 Memoir, ‘The Geological Structure of the North-West Highlands of Scotland’, from the field work of Peach and Horne. They had written on the Moine Thrust Belt in 1888. https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/January-2007/Peach-and-Horne-the-memoir-at-100
And an illustrated version of the paper is at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272576341_Peach_and_Horne_-_the_Memoir_at_100 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Peach
The North West Highlands Geopark has an excellent section on the controversy:
https://www.nwhgeopark.com/the-highlands-controversy-understanding-the-geology-5/
Video talk on the Moine Thrust Belt:
Knockan Crag is a place to put hands on the thrust:
https://www.nature.scot/doc/knockan-crag-nnr-visiting-reserve-leaflet
3. Online Study and Resources:
York Centre for Lifelong Learning has two Saturday sessions in the Autumn:
The Geology of the Yorkshire Coast. Saturday 22nd October. Classroom based
The Fossils of the Yorkshire Coast. Saturday 14th November. On Zoom
Both are with Liam Herringshaw
4. Real Trips outside:
Flamborough Chalk Tower Heritage Open Days, Sundays 11th and 18th September
https://www.facebook.com/ChalkTower/
YGS have a rescheduled two days of field trips, 24th-25th September, Lincoln Cathedral and Limestone. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/lincolnshire-limestone
The East Yorkshire Walking Festival is 10th-23rd September. Brochure available online.https://www.walkingeastyorkshirefestival.co.uk/
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Leicester City Museum (New Walk) has a dinosaur gallery and a geology gallery
https://www.leicestermuseums.org/leicester-museum-art-gallery/plan-your-visit/
6. Books and Mags:
James Hutton, The Founder of Modern Geology. 2022 edition for 2026 Tercentenary
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/James-Hutton-by-Alan-McKirdy-D-B-McIntyre-National-Museums-of-Scotland/9781910682449
7. Oddity.
Nunnington Hall currently has an exhibition of creative work with local schoolchildren based on ideas from the Kirkdale Cave fossil discoveries in 1821. Creatures of Curiosity.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/2c724711-75d1-48b8-8895-e0ccfe697a6f/pages/details
Notes for July 2022 PST 2/7/22
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips
Touring Yorkshire’s limestone country? Settle, Crummackdale, Ingleborough, Ingleton…
Look up the Stories in Stone website and their geo trail publications. Five trails and other material
Access online (difficult to print) or order the leaflets for the cost of postage. A Yorkshire bargain!
https://www.storiesinstone.org.uk/Resources/Publications
Another source for geology trip round Crummackdale and the Norber Erratics is at
https://ougs.org/yorkshire/event-reports/289/norber-and-crummack-dale/
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YGS: excellent talk from 30th June on the evidence for where the Earth is heading is now on YouTube for a limited period (two weeks?)
Dame Jane Francis, Director British Antarctic Survey. Climate change over 100 million years.
· Greenhouse to Icehouse and Back? Antarctica’s future in a 400ppm world
YPS Talk: Wednesday 20th July 2.30 pm. Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum
· From Garnets to Gannets, exploring the Lonely Isles Dr Anna Bird, University of Hull
A unique and previously unknown insight into the ancient geology of northern Scotland.
https://www.ypsyork.org/events/from-garnets-to-gannets-exploring-the-lonely-isles/
This will include the announcement/presentation of the YPS sponsored 2022 John and Anne Phillips prize to a third-year geologist from the University of Hull.
Café Sci talk: Wednesday 3rd August Time TBC. Council Chamber, Guildhall. Liam Herringshaw
· Palaeontology and the Streets of York
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Anne Phillips 1803-1862. Geologist and companion to her brother John
A few sources of interest to YPS members will be found through Liam Herringshaw’s links
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Phillips_(geologist)
3. Online Study and Resources:
The Stories in Stone website has online learning Resources
Archaeology and history of Ingleborough. Six YouTube video talks on Ingleborough and its stones
4. Real Trips outside:
The East Yorkshire Walking Festival is 10th-23rd September. https://www.walkingeastyorkshirefestival.co.uk/
At present there are just three multi-day walks available, Chalkland, Wolds Ranger and Yorkshire Wolds Ways, but many single day events will be added soon. Book in advance to ensure places.
The Wolds Ranger Way has its own website and explores the chalkland of the Wolds. A series of geotrails along this route is planned. As well as the main 44-mile circular route, there are five shorter routes.
https://woldrangersway.org/index.php
https://woldrangersway.org/woldrangersway.php
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Skipton Museum in the Town Hall has a wide variety of exhibits of the millions of years of Craven history including rocks and fossils. This links with #1 and #3 in the Yorkshire Dales.
https://skiptontownhall.co.uk/craven-museum/
6. Books and Mags:
An oddity
The shop for the Stories in Stone site belongs to the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
One book in the shop is: An 1844 Pennine Way, From Tees to Ribble.
Janet Rawlins discovered this account of a trip by five botanists written by Silvanus Thompson (ST).
His companions were James Backhouse Sr, James Backhouse Jr, John Tatham of Settle and George Stacey of Saffron Walden, Essex. All Quakers. The Backhouses hardly need an introduction in York.
ST is the Quaker schoolmaster at Bootham School who was the father of the Quaker Silvanus Phillips Thompson FRS (SPT) born in 1851 and a significant York figure. SPT studied at Bootham School and taught physics there before becoming professor of Physics at Bristol and then Director of Finsbury Technical College. He made major contributions to electric lighting, transatlantic cabling, optical production, X-rays and education. He was also the author of ‘Calculus Made Easy’, still in print today. He attended the 1881 BAAS meeting in York. Was he a YPS member?
http://www.engineerswalk.co.uk/st_walk.html
John Tatham assisted Henry Baines with his Flora of Yorkshire (1840) and was ST’s father in law.
http://www.northcravenheritage.org.uk/NCHTJ2017/2017/Tatham/Tatham.html
Notes for June 2022 PST 4/6/22
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips
Building Stones of Birmingham
Black Country Geological Society has produced three leaflets on the building stones, which can be downloaded.
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person
YGS talk online
30th June 7pm. Jane Francis, British Antarctic Survey. Climate change over 100 million years.
· Greenhouse to Icehouse and Back? Antarctica’s future in a 400ppm world
Zoom webinar. Register at:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/greenhouse-to-icehouse-and-back
Many talks in previous months are still available on the YGS YouTube channel.
A significant recent major discovery of exceptional preservation of international significance:
· Crinoids on the National News: Preliminary observations and implications of a new Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) lagerstätte in Wiltshire, UK. Dr Tim Ewin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW8w1Gvww8c&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
2. Women and Men in Geology: Next month
3. Online Study and Resources:
EdX offer free geology courses online:
https://www.edx.org/learn/geology
4. Real Trips outside:
If visiting the South West of England have a look at Kent’s cavern and the English Riviera UNESCO Geopark
http://www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk/
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Keighley
Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley has been recommended as having an excellent presentation of its collection of rocks, fossils and minerals
6. Books and Mags:
To accompany the trip to the English Riviera
The Geology and Landscape of South West England (Paperback)
Robert Westwood
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-geology-and-landscape-of-south-west-england/robert-westwood/9780992807351
Notes for May 2022
1. a) Online material for self-guided trips
Edinburgh. A recent trip showed me how much can be seen throughout the city. Remains of volcanoes, good exhibitions at the National Museum of Scotland and Dynamic Earth and a variety of local building stones to seen in the Old and New Towns.
Edinburgh Geological Society, GeoConservation leaflets on the City and the area.
Carlton Hill, Castle Hill, Arthurs Seat and building stones and quarries. Try:
https://edinburghgeolsoc.org/downloads/lbgcleaflet_southside.pdf
https://edinburghgeolsoc.org/downloads/lbgc-leaflet-around-castle-rock.pdf
https://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/egs/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/discovering-edinburghs-volcano.pdf
b) Events and Talks: Online and in person.
- May is Yorkshire Geological Society ‘Yorkshire Geology Month’
10th May 7pm. YGS Zoom webinar on a significant recent discovery of exceptional preservation.
Crinoids on the National News: Preliminary observations and implications of a new Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) lagerstätte in Wiltshire, UK. Dr Tim Ewin. Register at
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/crinoids-in-the-national-news
- Saturday 14th May is ‘Yorkshire Geology Day’ at The National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/yorkshire-geology-day-2022
All day there will be Exhibitions, Underground and Surface Walks and Activities for all the family.
Afternoon is also a programme of talks at the venue. Not online.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, GEOLOGY: Rocks and landscape in popular film and TV – a series of talks looking at the famous geology of Yorkshire
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ebc647c0446723b32229119/t/62548d05ca7e0972e09ca229/1649708293864/YORKSHIRE+GEOLOGY+DAY+2022+%28provisional+schedule%29.pdf
Wednesday 11th May. York Pints of Science has a talk in Fulford with geology theme
The World As We Know It: Learning From The Past
https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/the-world-as-we-know-it-what-can-we-learn-from-the-past
Wednesday 18th May. 7pm. YPS Lecture at the Yorkshire Museum. Nick Shaw.
IS IT TIME TO RETHINK OUR APPROACH TO NATURAL RESOURCES IN YORKSHIRE? WHAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS POSSIBLE?
30th June 7pm. Jane Francis, British Antarctic Survey. Climate change over 100 million years.
Greenhouse to Icehouse and Back? Antarctica’s future in a 400ppm world
Zoom webinar. Register at:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/greenhouse-to-icehouse-and-back
- Many talks in previous months are still available on the YGS YouTube channel
Climate change, sea level rise and ocean acidification are now inevitable; is there a role for geoengineering? Nick Riley YGS president. Thurs 14th April 2022, 7.30 pm. Webinar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ae4Z-dJKuA&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Dame Jane Francis, Director of The British Antarctic Survey
https://www.bas.ac.uk/profile/janefr/#about
See her biography, and projects. Her current work focuses on understanding past climate change during both greenhouse and icehouse periods, particularly in the polar regions, the areas on Earth most sensitive to climate change. From 1991-2013, she was linked to Earth Sciences and the Faculty of Environment at the University of Leeds.
A list of polar expeditions is included. A recent project is outlined at
3. Online Study and Resources:
York CLL have nothing relevant
As a link to the talk on 30th June, there is a free 5 week MOOC from The University of Wellington.
Antarctica: From Geology to Human History
https://www.edx.org/course/antarctica-from-geology-to-human-history?index=product&queryID=792c90fdaa207733b45a590b2347e406&position=9
4. Real Trips outside:
YPS Events:
19th May Trip. In The Footsteps of John Phillips.
Bill Fraser of Leeds Geological Association will lead a small group on an energetic tour of sites identified as Yoredale Cyclotherms by John Phillips at Mill Gill, Askrigg.
Paths are steep and uneven. Email Paul Thornley, ypsgeology@gmail.com
25th May Trip. Rosedale Kilns and Railway.
Chris Hall will lead this tour of Rosedale Top, organised by Margaret Leonard.
Booking form available on the YPS website
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Edinburgh has
The National Museum of Scotland, Beginnings Gallery.
Great little gallery on the geological history of Scotland. Very little online presence.
Dynamic Earth
Family attraction/activity centre. Excellent rock samples outside and a wide range of online materials and resources. Earth and Space Science explored. Planetarium,
https://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/
https://www.dynamicearthonline.co.uk/
https://www.dynamicearthonline.co.uk/planet-earth
I’ve no idea whether the exhibitions inside match the hype.
6. Books and Mags:
Scotland’s Beginnings
An illustrated guide to Scotland’s earliest geological history. From great mountains and subtropical rainforests to volcanos and howling deserts. From NMS. Cheap!
https://shop.nms.ac.uk/collections/books/products/scotlands-beginnings
PST 30/04/22
Notes for April 2022
1.a) Virtual Trips and Field Guides
Shetland is a UNESCO Global Geopark, an area with internationally important rocks and landscapes, all of which are managed responsibly for tourism, conservation and education. Shetland Amenity Trust is the manager of the Shetland Geopark.
The link gives an account of Shetland geology and tours of geosites.
https://www.shetlandamenity.org/geopark-shetland
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
Climate change, sea level rise and ocean acidification are now inevitable; is there a role for geoengineering? Nick Riley YGS president. Thurs 14th April 2022, 7.30 pm. Webinar
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/climate-change-ygs-president-address
The Earth Heritage Trust and Herefordshire Wildlife Trust have been running a project on Ice Age Ponds, linking ice age geology and modern biodiversity. A recent conference was recorded and is available online. I recommend
· Beth Andrews on Ice ages in Herefordshire
· Tim Holt-Wilson on the structure of ice age ponds in East Anglia.
https://www.herefordshirewt.org/ice-age-ponds-conference-2nd-march-2022
Talks still available:
· Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste. The role of Geoscience. RWM
· Yorkshire Fossil Festival September 2021, five talks. Now on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_f6YWPvDUF4K2JMfjbcG_Q
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
Geology was one of Darwin’s main occupations on the five-year journey of ‘The Beagle’. He had been tutored and supervised by John Stevens Henslow and Adam Sedgwick and wrote three geological books based on his ‘Beagle’ observations’
Darwin’s geological experiences imbued him with a grasp the immensity of geologic time and a realization of the contribution of both gradual and abrupt geological processes in shaping the physical environment, processes that affect the adaptation and survival of species.
https://darwin200.christs.cam.ac.uk/geology
https://theconversation.com/revealed-the-great-geologist-behind-the-origin-of-species-42783
3. Online Study and Resources: Darwin
The Darwin Correspondence Project has a number of relevant sections on Darwin and Geology
https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/commentary/geology/darwin-geology
4.Real Events and Trips outside:
·Sedgwick-Phillips-Smith Bicentennial Meeting – Developments in N England Geology
YGS in-person meeting. Saturday 9th April 2022, 2pm University of Durham. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/sedgwick-phillips-smith
YPS Events:
18th May Talk Geology and natural resources in Yorkshire Nick shaw
19th May Trip. In The Footsteps of John Phillips.
Bill Fraser of Leeds Geological Association will lead a small group on an energetic tour of sites identified as Yoredale Cyclotherms by John Phillips at Mill Gill, Askrigg.
Paths are steep and uneven.
Transport will be by own vehicles and the party will be a maximum of twelve.
Good boots and protection from the weather is advised.
Please email Paul Thornley on ypsgeology@gmail.com
25th May Trip. Rosedale Kilns and Railway.
Chris Hall will lead this tour of Rosedale Top, organised by Margaret Leonard.
Booking form available on the YPS website
5.Our Museum of the Month:
Shetland Museum and Archives In Lerwick.
https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk/
https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/wildlife/geology
6.Books and Mags:
Orkney and Shetland by Scottish Nature Heritage. Alan McKirdy
Notes for March 2022
1.a) Virtual Trips and Field Guides
Cumbria Geoconservation records and looks after 280 important geological sites.
They have a section of their website with trails in the ‘Westmoreland Dales, Kendal, Arnside and St Bees. Also many other resources and links
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/cumbrialgs_home-new-test/cumbria-geology-geotrails/
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
Climate change, sea level rise and ocean acidification are now inevitable; is there a role for geoengineering? Nick Riley YGS president. Thurs 14th April 2022, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Talks still available:
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs. Steve Brusatte of University of Edinburgh. YGS YouTube
Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste. The role of Geoscience. RWM
YGS Webinar: Sustainable Geoscience in Northern England on YouTube
Yorkshire Fossil Festival September 2021, five talks. Now on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_f6YWPvDUF4K2JMfjbcG_Q
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Edward and Annie Greenly, Catherin Raisin. The geological map of Anglesey.
Edward Greenly moved to Anglesey after retiring from the Geological Survey in Scotland. His mapping of the island was published in 1919. The Geopark on Anglesey is Geomon. It has resources on Greenly including and two leaflets on his work and the contribution of his wife.
https://www.geomon.co.uk/geomon-unesco-global-geopark/history-of-geoconservation-on-anglesey/
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/April-2010/Greenlys-geological-map-of-Anglesey
His ‘Short Summary of the Geological History of Anglesey’ is available to view online:
https://archive.org/details/cu31924004614560/mode/2up
And his two volume Geology of Anglesey can be viewed on google books.
3. Online Study and Resources:
Tim Holt-Wilson of the Norfolk Geodiversity Partnership has written on Norfolk’s Earth Heritage
https://www.academia.edu/822867/Norfolks_Earth_Heritage_-_valuing_our_geodiversity
(Download pdf and stay on free tier)
Read about Ice Age ponds and pingos in the Brecks
https://brecks.org/bfer/projects/restoring-the-water/1-5-lost-ponds-reinstating-ghost-pingos/
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw and Hidden Horizons have a programme of events and an additional Ice Tour of York in the York Ice Trail event. 5th March.
https://fossilhub.org/2022events/ https://www.visityork.org/events/an-ice-tour-of-york
Lost Beasts of the North. YPS, YFF, YGS Symposium (Saturday), Field Trip (Sunday). Part of the YPS Bicentenary Programme. Saturday and Sunday 12th/13th March. Ryedale School and Kirkdale.
Both events now full.
5. Our Museum of the Month:
To accompany the Cumbrian Geoconservation field trips, the Kendal Museum has a geological collection
6. Books and Mags:
In the same Landscape and Geology series as Tony Waltham’s Yorkshire Dales and The Peak District arrives:
The Lake District Landscape and Geology by Ian Francis, Stuart Holmes & Bruce Yardley
7. Extras
East Yorkshire Geopark project https://eygeopark.wordpress.com/
PST 28/02/22
Notes for February 2022
PST 27/01/22
1. a) Virtual Trips and Field Guides
Following my January recommendation for Northumberland Field Guides:
Try The Northumberland Wildlife Trust Festival of Rocks. Up to 50 Geological sites, some with walking trail guides and videos.
https://www.nwt.org.uk/rock-festival-sites
The Northumberland Coast AONB stretches from The Coquet Valley up to Berwick on Tweed
https://www.northumberlandcoastaonb.org/landscape-character/
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
Several talks from January Notes still available on the YPS website:
Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste. The role of Geoscience. RWM
YGS Webinar: Sustainable Geoscience in Northern England on YouTube
Yorkshire Fossil Festival September 2021
Five talks. Now on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_f6YWPvDUF4K2JMfjbcG_Q
YGS have a webinar: 4pm Thursday 17th February. Steve Brusette of University of Edinburgh
The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs. Registration is required to join in. Or watch on YouTube.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-dinosaurs
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Moses B Cotsworth. Born in the East Riding 1859. Died in Vancouver 1943. ‘His determination alone propelled him from the Blue Coat School for orphans and destitute boys in York to the League of Nations in Geneva.’ He promoted theories of Continental Drift before Alfred Weneger and his writings on climate change look prescient today. A member of the BAAS and the Geological Society, his main writings were on calendar reform.
An excellent piece by Anna Cook on the YPS website
3. Online Study and Resources:
York University CLL have two courses in Spring 2022 with Liam Herringshaw
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/non-accredited-courses/science-earth/
Saturday 19 February: Exploring the Landscape of York
Saturday 26 March: Geology of the Yorkshire Dales
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw is offering a York Hidden History Walks to YPS members.
16th February Fire Walk. Repeated 17th February. Information on the YPS website and emails.
YPS, YFF, YGS Symposium (Saturday), Field Trip (Sunday). Part of the YPS Bicentenary Programme
Saturday and Sunday 12th/13th March. Lost Beasts of the North. Ryedale School and Kirkdale.
5. Our Museum of the Month:
To accompany the Northumberland Wildlife Trust Festival, visit the Great North Museum, Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne. https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/fossil-stories
https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/collections/paleontology-and-geology
6. Books and Mags:
Cambridge Stone by Donovan Purcell, 1967, Faber and Faber. Cambridge Buildings: ‘The story of the stone of which they are built, of the quarries from which it came and of the ways by which it was bought to Cambridge.’ Second hand copies available. (Janette Ray in Bootham is specialist.)
It contains strong sections on the Lincolnshire Limestones and visits to quarries now long closed.
For more recent work, an article in Geoheritage 2021 by Nigel Woodcock and Euan Furness is available to view online.
And a booklet for a self-guided geology walking trail round Cambridge is available to buy from the Sedgwick Museum shop, University of Cambridge.
http://www.sedgwickmuseum.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=2&cntnt01returnid=85
7. Extras
East Yorkshire Geopark project https://eygeopark.wordpress.com/
Notes for January 2022
Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste. The role of Geoscience
1. Virtual Events and Talks:
An important and most stimulating joint meeting of Yorkshire Geological Society, BGS and RWM took place at the end of September
This was a major international two-day meeting. And now all the talks are available on YouTube.
RWM is Radioactive Waste Management UK; the public organisation established by the Government responsible for planning and geological disposal of radioactive waste in the UK.
The handling of the past, present and future radioactive waste has been waiting a solution for over 50 years. Nick Riley, President of YGS, describes this as a most important environmental issue where geology will play a key part, second only to climate change.
A selection process is active for host areas for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), onshore or offshore. In common with almost all other countries, UK Government favours deep geological disposal for containing and isolating the waste safely for people and the environment into the far distant future.
The talks cover: The need to protect the planet; How to predict geological and climate changes over immense timeframe; What is a GDF, design, safety and the geoscience community; How to characterise the subsurface; Comparisons with disposal schemes in Sweden and Germany, The Human conversation. There were also panel discussions at the end of each day.
The agenda for each day can be found at
https://ygsbgsgeoscienceevent.rwmevents.co.uk/home
All the talks may be found on the RWM YouTube site, though not in the order on the days:
It will take the whole month (and more?) to work through these.
The RWM website is at
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/radioactive-waste-management
Extras:
Still on YouTube, repeated from December 2021:
YGS Webinar: Sustainable Geoscience in Northern England is on YouTube
Showcasing ground-breaking geoscience research from across the region, focusing on sustainable geoscience in Northern England.
Yorkshire Fossil Festival at Scarborough, in September 2021, had five talks as part of the festival. Now on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_f6YWPvDUF4K2JMfjbcG_Q
How to talk about rocks and influence people with Dr Anjana Khatwa
Beasts Before and After Us with Dr Elsa Panciroli
A Beginners Guide to Mass Extinctions with Professor Dave Bond
When Mammoths Roamed: The Ice Age Beasts Of Britain with Dr Neil Adams
2. Women and Men in Geology: Next month
3. Online Study and Resources:
The History of the Earth, Algol, YouTube. This can be watched at slow speed to take in the details
From its formation to present day, covering major events throughout its 4-billion-year history. Estimates of average temperature, atmospheric composition, and day length are given.
York University CLL have two courses in Spring 2022 with Liam Herringshaw
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/non-accredited-courses/science-earth/
Saturday 19 February: Exploring the Landscape of York
Saturday 26 March: Geology of the Yorkshire Dales
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw is offering a York Hidden History Walks to YPS members.
20th January Water Walk, 16th February Fire Walk. Information on the YPS website and emails.
YPS, YFF, YGS Symposium (Saturday), Field Trip (Sunday). Part of the YPS Bicentenary Programme
Saturday and Sunday 12th/13th March. Lost Beasts of the North. Ryedale School and Kirkdale.
5. Our Museum of the Month: Next month
6. Books and Mags: Northumberland Geology, field guides
Northumberland Rocks, Ian Jackson, Northumberland Wildlife Trust. NEW.
Blackwells, Smiths, Amazon.
Northumberland Geology and Landscape, Colin Scrutton, available through YGS,
Also available in full online trough Earthwise at: http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Category:Northumbrian_rocks_and_landscape:_a_field_guide
Northumberland Coast Rocks, Helen Page, Alnwick U3A
Explore the Geology and Landscape of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by Tom Cadwallender. Available at World of Books and Amazon
7. East Yorkshire Geopark project is holding talks with both North Yorkshire County Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, also with Natural England about the plan for The Wolds AONB. https://eygeopark.wordpress.com/
A presentation on the project is at: https://eygeopark.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/towards-a-unesco-global-geopark-for-east-yorkshire-v2-1-2.pdf
PST 01/01/22
Notes for December 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips and field guides, East Yorkshire
For those not attending the YPS Skipsea trip, some of the following information was offered:
Mr Moo’s ice cream parlour. https://www.mrmoos.co.uk/
There are links to Skipsea Withow Mere with Urbanrim and Hull Geological Society
https://urbanrim.org.uk/Skipsea%20Withow.htm
http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/hg1509.htm
There are some details of the Skipsea Castle site and its Norman history at English Heritage
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/skipsea-castle/history/
The recent work has been The Round Mounds project by Jim Leary and Elaine Jamieson at Reading University. Jim is now teaching at York University https://roundmoundsproject.wordpress.com/2016/10/03/hiding-in-plain-sight-skipsea-castle-east-yorkshire/#more-450
An article on dating the mound at Skipsea may be downloaded at
https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/168848/
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
YGS Webinar Sustainable Geoscience in Northern England is on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68gRxAkX_q0&t=9276s&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety Showcasing ground-breaking geoscience research from across the region, focusing on sustainable geoscience in Northern England.
Yorkshire Fossil Festival in September 2021 had five talks as part of the festival. Now on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_f6YWPvDUF4K2JMfjbcG_Q
How to talk about rocks and influence people with Dr Anjana Khatwa
Beasts Before and After Us with Dr Elsa Panciroli
A Beginners Guide to Mass Extinctions with Professor Dave Bond
When Mammoths Roamed: The Ice Age Beasts Of Britain with Dr Neil Adams
YGS online talk: The Mystery of the Ammonoid Aptychus, Richard Maddra on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4t-cf-ejZA&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Elizabeth Knipe Cobbold Pioneer Geologist 1764-1824. She sent fossil shells from the Red Crag in Suffolk, from pits on Holywells estate, to James Sowerby in London, for the Mineral Conchology.
James Sowerby naturalist, illustrator and mineralogist also published British Mineralogy.
https://geosuffolk.co.uk/images/Notes/GSnotes70.pdf
https://www.gia.edu/UK-EN/sowerby-proby-summary
3. Online Study and Resources:
York University CLL have two courses in Spring 2022 with Liam Herringshaw
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/non-accredited-courses/science-earth/
Saturday 19 February: Exploring the Landscape of York
Saturday 26 March: Geology of the Yorkshire Dales
East Yorkshire Geology:
The physical and human landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds: The Chalk and Field trips
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/15096/1/OR08047.pdf
A summary Cenozoic history of the Yorkshire Wolds, Derek Gobbett. After the Chalk
http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/hg1521.htm
The origins of the geomorphology of the Yorkshire Wolds. Nachlass paper from Derek Gobbett
http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/Gobbett2.pdf
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw is offering a York Hidden History Walks to YPS members in January and February look out for information on the YPS website and emails.
YPS and Café Sci Zoom lectures on related topics:
Wednesday 5th January, Salt marsh ‘blue carbon’ in a changing environment†
Lucy McMahon, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York
Saturday and Sunday 12th/13th March. Lost Beasts of the North. Ryedale School and Kirkdale.
Rifle Butts Quarry near Goodmanham shows evidence of the Market Weighton Block
http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/riflebutts.htm
Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape guide to the Market Weighton area is at
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Hull and East Riding Museum. The geology gallery is small after much material destroyed by bombing in WW2. The archaeology gallery is outstanding with material from throughout ER including the Mortimer Collection, reproductions of the Folkton Drums and the Hasholme Boat.
http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/stone/folkton.htm
http://museumcollections.hullcc.gov.uk/collections/subtheme.php?irn=148
https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/assemblage/html/3/3mel.html
https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?i=15610
6. Books and Mags:
Geology of the Yorkshire Coast. GA Guide 34. Rawson and Wright. New edition 2018.
The geological and industrial story with 17 excursions.
I cannot believe I have not recommended this invaluable Geologists’ Association Guide.
Don’t go to the coast without it. Available from the GA shop
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/guidesales/
7. East Yorkshire Geopark project now has a website: https://eygeopark.wordpress.com/
A presentation on the project is at: https://eygeopark.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/towards-a-unesco-global-geopark-for-east-yorkshire-v2-1-2.pdf
Have a look! Let me know what you think. PST 05/12/21
Notes for November 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips and field guides:
If it is still too far to visit North Wales, try looking round Anglesey with the GeoMon Geopark
You can visit the Geopark Centre, read the geological history of the island with its extensive Precambrian strata, and follow the many geological trails round Anglesey.
https://www.geomon.co.uk/activities/
A virtual walk round the island coastal path can be followed:
https://www.visitanglesey.co.uk/en/about-anglesey/isle-of-anglesey-coastal-path/
And for other parts of North and North East Wales, there are several geology trails
https://www.geomon.co.uk/activities/newrigs-geological-trail-leaflets/
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
In connection with a three-day Geological Society conference: William Smith Virtual Meeting 2021 in October, there is an excellent YouTube talk in three parts with Mike Searle (see #2)
A Short History of Geological Mapping: from William Smith to present
The Geological Society have also released a recent talk on The Anthropocene: A new geological epoch driven by human impacts, by Colin Summerhayes of the Scott Polar Research Institute.
The Anthropocene is the most recent period in Earth’s history when human activity started to have a significant impact on the planet’s climate and ecosystems.
YGS online events, register for the session or watch live or recorded on YGS YouTube
Saturday, 6 November, Sustainable Geoscience in Northern England (webinar) 1-4.30pm
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/sustainable-geoscience-in-northern-england
Showcasing ground-breaking geoscience research from across the region, focusing on sustainable geoscience in Northern England.
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Mike Searle, Professor of Earth Sciences at Oxford University has been described as one of the most experienced field geologist of today. His long-standing work on the plate tectonics of The Karakorum, Himalaya and Tibet has taken him to high and remote mountains in the area as mountaineer and geologist. This boundary has up to 2500 km of crustal shortening. This He has also worked on the Oman Mountains. He is also currently working on the connection between the Himalayas and the much earlier Caledonian Orogeny in North West Scotland.
University profile: https://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/people/searle/
Geology Bites has a podcast with his discussion of plate tectonics and mountain building
https://www.geologybites.com/mikesearle
Mike Searle has a beautifully illustrated book about how mountains form when two continents collide. Along with the geology, it is packed with engaging accounts of a lifetime of exploration and adventure in places such as Nepal, Oman, and Myanmar.
Colliding Continents: now available in a new paperback edition.
https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/colliding-continents-9780198798514?cc=gb&lang=en&
3. Online Study and Resources:
A free three-week Future Learn course on Climate Change from University of Bergen
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/causes-of-climate-change
Learn the physical processes behind climate variation around the world to better understand the causes of climate change.
Geosupplies of Sheffield are offering three Zoom courses and five one-day schools. These are advertised in their free monthly Down to Earth Extra update.
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Educational-Courses.html (21 products)
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Liam Herringshaw is offering a York Hidden History Earth Walk to YPS members in early November, look out for information on the YPS website and emails.
Paul Hildreth and Paul Thornley are offering a geology and archaeology trip to Skipsea on 25th November. Glaciation and more at Withow Mere and the surprising age of Skipsea Castle.
Information in the Newsletter, website and emails.
YPS Lectures. Zoom, 7.30pm Tuesdays
9th November, The Science of Medieval Glass
23rd November, African Urbanism and the Swahili Coast
30th November, How did COVID-19 change the air pollutants we emit?
5. Our Museum of the Month:
On Anglesey, the Geopark has its own visitor centre with displays relating the changing geology to climate change throughout geological time
https://www.geomon.co.uk/activities/visit-the-geopark-centre/
There is also a family run Museum, Stone Science
6. Books and Mags: Two books
An updated version of the Scarborough Archaeological and Historical Society’s
Rosedale Mines and Railways.
With updated research, maps, photographs, illustrations and track plans, this book documents the dramatic growth, heyday and decline of the Rosedale Mines and Railway and its nationally important contribution to the Industrial Revolution.
https://www.sahs.org.uk/Publications-of-the-Scarborough-Archaeological-and-Historical-Society.html
See Also Mike Searle’s Colliding Continents in #2.
PST 19/10/21
Notes for October 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips and field guides:
Geology of The Lake District. This outstanding website has been recently created by Clive Boulter with the aim of speeding up the cascade from researchers to interested others. Seven chapters of geological interpretation and nine field itineraries. Beautiful, clear images.
http://englishlakedistrictgeology.org.uk/?Welcome
A review of this website is on the YGS pages at
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/ygs-blog/website-review-geology-of-the-english-lake-district
With the comment that the material requires some introductory knowledge, I can repeat the recommendation from June as an introductory course on the geology of UK.
Steve Peacock: Geology for Walkers.
(Self-published so only available at Amazon at present)
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
YGS online events, register for the session or watch live or recorded on YGS YouTube
Thursday 28th October, 4pm, Professor Cynthia Burek, The history of Geoconservation: the Cinderella conservation science. Including a discussion of Geoparks, what they are and what they represent featuring GeoMon Geopark.
Early notice for November: https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
Saturday, 6 November, Sustainable Geoscience in Northern England (webinar) 1-4.30pm
Showcasing ground-breaking geoscience research from across the region, focusing on sustainable geoscience in Northern England.
Still available or soon to be available on the YGS YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg/videos
Dr Heather Stewart, Exploring the Underworld: subduction trenches. The Five Deeps Mission.
Joint YGS/BGS/Radioactive Waste Management UK virtual meeting: Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste, The Role of Geoscience.
This meeting filled two afternoons with the geoscience of this proposed 100-year project.
Lucid and informative throughout, I can strongly recommend the talks by Jonathan Turner, Jon Gluyas, Fiona McEvoy and David Schofield, and Neil Chapman, if you cannot manage it all.
Agenda: https://ygsbgsgeoscienceevent.rwmevents.co.uk/home
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Professor Jon Gluyas, Executive Director Durham Energy Institute, Dean of Knowledge Exchange University of Durham. He spent the first part of his career as a geoscientist in the oil industry and has written the book on petroleum geoscience. In more recent years he has confirmed a major discovery of helium in Tanzania’s East African Rift Valley, worked on geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage. His talk on ‘No Planet B’ at the YGS Radioactive Waste Management conference gave a full account of the coming effects of climate change and the range of engineering methods for mitigation and adaptation.
It is easy just to blame the fossil fuel industries for present and future problems, but without geoscientists of his knowledge and experience, we would be in a weak position to identify and tackle this crisis. A recent article on geothermal energy and two films of talks below:
https://www.intentionalendowments.org/jon_gluyas
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Geoscientist/Archive/October-2018/Feature-1 (Geothermal)
3. Online Study and Resources:
Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of York some Earth Science courses this term. The Landscapes of Yorkshire course is full but the other two day-courses have places
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/non-accredited-courses/science-earth/
Geosupplies of Sheffield are offering three Zoom courses starting from 18th October and five one-day schools. These are advertised in their free monthly Down to Earth Extra update.
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Virtiual-Day-Schools.html (21 products)
Liam Herringshaw is running a three-part online course for Hidden Horizons,
An Introduction to Fossils. 4th, 11th, 18th October.
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Hidden Horizons are running several Fossil Hunting trips and York Hidden History Walks in October. https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/fossil-hunting-trips
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/york-hidden-history-walks
YPS Lectures. Yorkshire Museum, Wednesdays 2.30 pm
6th October, Colin Speakman on John Phillips -Yorkshire’s Traveller Through Time
20th October, Louisa Hood, Looking After York’s City Walls
5. Our Museum of the Month:
If visiting the Lake District, inspired by the Geology of the Lake District website (as 1 a) consider a visit to The Keswick Museum with its collections from geological study, mining and industry.
6. Books and Mags: Two books
Exploring Lakeland Rocks & Landscape, Cumberland Geological Society
Rock Trails Lakeland: A Hillwalker’s Guide to the Geology and Scenery, Paul Gannon
https://www.pesdapress.com/index.php/product/rock-trails-lakeland/
Amazon price appears to be much lower than other sellers. Abe books have used copies.
PST 01/10/21
Geology Notes for September 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips:
Take a trip to the Isle of Arran. Wonderful coast and mountains. Scotland in minature.
Some general notes from the Arran Heritage Museum and two YouTube videos on what to see and why it is there: Northumbria University and Warwickshire Geo Conservation Group
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
The Yorkshire Geological Society
16th September 4pm and on YouTube, Dr Heather Stewart, Exploring the Underworld: The geomorphology and sediments of subduction trenches. Registration is required to join live.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/exploring-the-underworld
27th/28th September. Joint YGS/BGS/Radioactive Waste Management UK virtual meeting :
Deep Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste, The Role of Geoscience.
Registration is required. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/radioactive-waste-meeting
2. Women and Men in Geology:
In anticipation of Dr Heather Stewart’s talk on 16th (see no 1), view ‘the greatest technical challenge since the Apollo missions’: The Five Deeps Mission and her role as geologist
The world’s first successful manned expedition to the deepest point in each of the five oceans,
The site gives access to the aims, science and blogs/film of the dives.
There is also a five-part documentary on the five dives on discovery plus, for subscribers
https://www.discoveryplus.co.uk/show/expedition-deep-ocean
3. Online Study and Resources:
Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of York some Earth Science courses this term. The Landscapes of Yorkshire course is full but the other two day-courses have places
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/non-accredited-courses/science-earth/
Geosupplies of Sheffield are offering three Zoom courses starting from 18th October and five one-day schools. These are advertised in their free monthly Down to Earth Extra update.
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Virtiual-Day-Schools.html (21 products)
Liam Herringshaw is running a three-part online course for Hidden Horizons,
An Introduction to Fossils. 4th, 11th, 18th October.
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/online-events/products/an-introduction-to-fossils-online-course-autumn-2021
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Yorkshire Fossil Festival is in Scarborough 11th and 12th September.
Online lectures, beach fossil hunts, films, real and online exhibitors. Fun for all the family.
YGS have a field meeting on geology and poetry, Widdop Moor, Hebden Bridge
Saturday 11th September. Preregistration is required.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/field-excursion-geology-poetry
YPS Lectures. Yorkshire Museum, Wednesdays 2.30 pm
6th October, Colin Speakman on John Phillips -Yorkshire’s Traveller Through Time
20th October, Louisa Hood, Looking After York’s City Walls
5. Our Museum of the Month:
While attending the Yorkshire Fossil Festival, remember the Rotunda Museum at Scarborough
Built to a design suggested by William Smith with the geology of the local coastline designed by Smith’s nephew, YPS’s own John Phillips.
https://www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com/rotunda-museum/
If not attending in person, you can view a virtual tour
https://www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com/rotunda-museum/rotunda-museum-virtual-tour/
6. Books and Mags:
If you have sufficient interest to read this far in the notes, why not consider a subscription to Down to Earth magazine, produced by Geosupplies of Sheffield.
You can send for a free sample copy, if you have not seen one before.
And subscribe to their free monthly electronic update, Down to Earth Extra
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/down-to-earth-magazine.php
PST 01/09/21
Covid Notes for August
Further notes on geology in the time of Covid.
1.a) Virtual Trips:
In preparation for the Yorkshire Geological Society (YGS) trip to Widdop Moor (see no.4), their virtual geology tour of Widdop Moor using Google Earth is still available.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/virtualfieldtrips/virtualgeologytours
1.b) Virtual Events and Talks:
Three recent talks from YGS are still available on their YouTube channel
Simon Mitchell – The Cretaceous history of Jamaica
Chris Jackson – Hot Rocks Beneath Our Feet
Nick Shaw – A new (exciting) opportunity for future geothermal energy in Yorkshire
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg/videos
2.Women and Men in Geology:
Elsa Panciroli. Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow.
Recent work on early mammals and trackways in Isle of Skye. https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/people/dr-elsa-panciroli#/
Account of interests, research and publications with several YouTube films:
https://elsapanciroli.wordpress.com/about-me/
She has written the’ Lost Worlds Revisited’ pages for The Guardian from July 15 to August 18
https://www.theguardian.com/profile/elsa-panciroli
She has most recently written on enigmatic trackways of the Yorkshire Coast – And has written a book, Beasts Before Us, See no.6
3.Online Study and Resources:
Future Learn has a free four-week course, Climate Change: The Science. Start now.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/climate-change-the-science
Liam Herringshaw is running a three-part online course for Hidden Horizons, An Introduction to Fossils. 4th, 11th, 18th October.
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/online-events/products/an-introduction-to-fossils-online-course-autumn-2021
4.Real Events and Trips outside:
Hidden Horizons are running the Great York Fossil Hunt on 1st August, starting at Queen’s Staith. https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/york-hidden-history-walks/products/the-great-york-fossil-hunt. Booking required.
By the time you read this it may have passed, but Hidden Horizon have four more walks on several days in August. There is a charge for each walk, which should be booked
The Rotunda Geology Group have a field trip to Spiker’s Hill on 7th August. Not yet on the website: http://www.rotundageologygroup.org/
YGS have a field meeting on geology and poetry, Widdop Moor
Saturday 11th September. Preregistration is required.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/field-excursion-geology-poetry
5.Our Museum of the Month:
Following the May recommendation of Ross Barnett’s book, The Missing Link, and his talk to YPS in July, try a trip to Cresswell Crags and the Museum, for those missing the earlier YPS trip.
https://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/
Reminder: The Yorkshire Museum reopened on 9th July
6.Books and Mags:
Elsa Panciroli: Beasts Before Us: The Untold Story of Mammal Origins and Evolution.
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/beasts-before-us-9781472983824
PST 20/07/21
Covid Notes for July 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips:
Trips round the Isle of Skye.
Two short OU films and a drone trip round the Isle
Earthwise: An excursion guide to the geology of Isle of Skye. Account and trips.
http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Excursion_guide_to_the_geology_of_the_Isle_of_Skye
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
The Geologists Association has still kept all its recent video lectures freely available for all
Try February 2021 Tectonic plates, mantle plumes, and the importance of keeping good time.
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/galecturesforall/
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Ida Slater (1881-1969): A geologist ahead of her time.
Ida Slater was one of the first women palaeontologists in London. She made significant contributions to the male dominated world of geology, paving the way for future women scientists. Natural History Museum article and research paper:
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/ida-slater-a-geologist-ahead-of-her-time.html
3. Online Study and Resources: Yorkshire-based.
East Riding Coastline, Glacial Tills, Erosion and lost places:
https://urbanrim.org.uk/Holderness.htm
Liam Herringshaw is running a three-part online course for Hidden Horizons,
An Introduction to Fossils. 4th, 11th, 18th October.
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/online-events/products/an-introduction-to-fossils-online-course-autumn-2021
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Wednesday 21st July. YPS Lecture 2.30 pm Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum
Dr Ross Barnett, The Missing Lynx: the Past and Future of Britain’s Lost Mammals
https://www.ypsyork.org/events/the-missing-lynx-the-past-and-future-of-britains-lost-mammals/
Booking is essential. Form on the link. Post or email chair@ypsyork.org
Yorkshire Geological Society’s President’s Day on 26th June was postponed.
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th July. Two-day meeting in East Yorkshire
Geology & Archaeology – ‘Ever the Twain Shall Meet’. Booking required both days.
Day one Sewerby coastline trip and indoor meeting at Sewerby Hall
Day two Skipsea coast and archaeology of Skipsea Castle.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
5. Our Museum of the Month:
The Yorkshire Museum will reopen on 9th July. Yorkshire’s Jurassic World continues and a new exhibition on Richard III based on his portrait on loan.
Open Wed-Sun 11 am to 4 pm. Entry free to YPS members.
6. Books and Mags:
Tony Waltham, who produced the excellent book on The Yorkshire Dales, Landscape and Geology has now produced:
The Peak District, Landscape and Geology, The Crowood Press
https://www.crowood.com/details.asp?isbn=9781785008740
Another publication covering a wide range of topics and richly illustrated, with his deep knowledge of stones and their uses, caves and mineral extraction.
Covid Notes for June 2021
Further notes on geology in the time of covid.
1. a) Virtual Trips:
The Black Country Geopark gained UNESCO Global Geopark status in 2020. With its geology underlying and often hidden by its industrial heritage, there is much to see in the area.
There are two clips to watch: ‘Black Country Geopark’ and Crystal Mile Walk’
https://blackcountrygeopark.dudley.gov.uk/about/
One of the main sites to see is The Wren’s Nest and the geology trail leaflet. See the Dudley Bug
https://blackcountrygeopark.dudley.gov.uk/sites-to-see/wrens-nest-national-nature-reserve/
And much more available on the Black Country Geological Society website, under local geology
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
The Yorkshire Geological Society
17th June online and YouTube. Simon Mitchell of Kingston Jamaica: The Cretaceous History of Jamaica: a time of volcanoes & carbonate platforms with rudist bivalves.
The links for registering or watching on line are:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/webinar-the-cretaceous-rocks-of-jamaica
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg
The Geological Society continue talks for 2021: The Year of Space.
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/space21/lectures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzhX_LOB1xUwIDmckTrPOqw
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Mary Morland (1797-1857) was already a collector and student of fossils and minerals, as well as a scientific illustrator, when she met (and married) William Buckland (see my notes for May 2021 for William Buckland).
She had illustrated some of George Cuvier’s work and later made models of fossils for the Oxford Museum and repaired broken fossils. She assisted her husband by taking notes of his observations and illustrating his work. After the death of her husband, she continued working on marine zoophytes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Buckland
3. Online Study: Yorkshire-based.
Liam Herringshaw is also running CLL course on 19th June, Exploring the Landscape of Yorkshire
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/saturday/
Liam is also running an online course for Hidden Horizons, 7 to 9pm – 30 June 2021
An Introduction to the fossils of the Yorkshire Dales
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/online-events/products/an-introduction-to-the-fossils-of-the-yorkshire-dales-online-course-7-to-9pm-30-june-2021
The Open University has a free Open Learn course on Geological Processes in the UK
4. Real Events and Trips outside:
Yorkshire Geological Society has its President’s Day on 26th June at North Lincs Museum
There is an optional Annual Dinner afterwards. (Booking required for dinner only)
Meet from 1pm. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/presidents-day-annual-dinner
1:30pm – Tour of museum displays (including the ‘Scunthorpe Pliosaur’)
2:30pm – 5:00pm – Afternoon Lecture series
· Presidential Address 2 (Paul Hildreth) “The Lower Cretaceous ‘East Lindsey Group’ – a jewel in the geological crown of Lincolnshire”
· Support Lecture 1 (Mike Oates) – “A Cretaceous Conundrum — the last days of the Market Weighton High’’
· Support Lecture 2 (John Green) – “Early Cretaceous ichthyosaurs from Lincolnshire: their local and national significance”
Sunday 27th June 10.15am-1.30pm. YGS Field Trip. Booking required.
The Lower Cretaceous rocks of Claxby, Lincolnshire and the site of the Claxby Ironstone Mines
Hidden Horizons are running Hidden Geology Walks with Liam Herringshaw on 14th and 28th June at Staithes and Filey.
5. Our Museum of the Month:
The YGS event on 26th June is to be held in North Lincolnshire Museum in Scunthorpe. See my notes from May 2021.
The Natural History Museum, London. So much to look at, ignoring all the dinosaurs for the moment. See the section on the Wold Cottage meteorite, from Wold Newton, East Riding.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-wold-cottage-meteorite.html
Browse the collections and read about ammonites.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-an-ammonite.html
6. Books and Mags:
Steve Peacock: Geology for Walkers.
Self-published so only available at Amazon at present.
7. News: Volcanic eruptions
La Soufriere, St Vincent from 9th April
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_eruption_of_La_Soufri%C3%A8re
Fagradalsfjall volcano, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. Started mid-March.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-56512554
Mt. Nyiragongo volcano in DR Congo. 22nd May
The eruption near the large DRC city of Goma is threatening to repeat the partial destruction of the city in 2002 from a previous eruption.
Covid Notes for May 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips:
Try the North Pennines AONB. This is also a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The Whin Sill is particularly dramatic
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
Leeds Geological Society Thursday 6th May, starting at 7.15 p.m. Dr Jed Atkinson of Leeds
‘Shifting Sands and Devil’s Toenails: Jurassic stratigraphy at Redcar’
If you wish to join, please Email the LGA Secretary lga.sec@btinternet.com
Café Sci Online Wednesday 5th May 7.30 pm. Paul Thornley on ‘Towards UNESCO Geopark Status for East Yorkshire’.
YPS Online talk Tuesday 11th May 7.30 pm. Professor John Marshall of Southampton on the Devonian-Carboniferous Extinction event.
The Yorkshire Geological Society has a Yorkshire Geology Weekend. All online.
7th, 8th, 9th May. 4 pm Talks on Dorothy Rayner, Yorkshire dinosaurs and Horton Quarry.
20th May 4 pm Chris Jackson of Manchester. ‘Hot Rocks Beneath Our Feet’
Register at (or watch live on YGS YouTube channel) https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
The Geological Society run talks for each year on a theme. 2021 is the Year of Space.
A few of the talks have passed and some are sold out. But all are or will be available on their YouTube channel. They also run public lectures online and YouTube
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/space21/lectures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzhX_LOB1xUwIDmckTrPOqw
2. Women and Men in Geology:
With the 200th Anniversary of Kirkland Cave and then YPS, it is time to start looking at –
William Buckland (1784-1856). He investigated the fossil bones and coprolites, identifying some of them and experimented with the effects of hyena gnawing on bones and their faeces. Buckland’s views developed, over a few years, from a great flood theory of a deluge of water sweeping bones into a cave to an appreciation that bones represented ancient communities of hyenas from a time when life and climate were very different.
He wrote Reliquiae Diluvianae (1823; “Relics of the Deluge”) and Geology and Mineralogy Considered with Reference to Natural Theology (1836), published as one of the Bridgewater Treatises.
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/learning/htmls/buckland.htm
https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/s/rs/people/fst00048325
https://whitbymuseum.org.uk/whats-here/collections/fossils/kirkdale-cave/
https://www.bshs.org.uk/travel-guide-kirkdale-cave
http://nymcc.org.uk/kirkdale-cave/
https://www.ypsyork.org/about-yps/yps-history/1822-2/
3. Online Study: Yorkshire-based. The following carry over from Last month:
York University CLL and Liam Herringshaw. York University CLL course
The Geology of the Yorkshire Dales is being repeated on 22nd May.
https://store.york.ac.uk/short-courses/centre-for-lifelong-learning/short-courses/the-geology-of-the-yorkshire-dales-second-cohort
Liam is also running CLL courses on 7th and 19th June, Exploring the Landscape of York and Exploring the Landscape of Yorkshire
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/saturday/
4. Trips outside: Yorkshire-based. (North Pennines within reach, see #1.)
To accompany the Geopark talk on 5th May, look at:
Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks of the Market Weighton area – an excursion
http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Jurassic_and_Cretaceous_rocks_of_the_Market_Weighton_area_-_an_excursion.
Rifle Butts is the site of late Cretaceous Northern Province Chalk sitting unconformably on Lower Jurassic mudstones, demonstrating the effect of the geologically-important Market Weighton Block; a putative granitic batholith. Walk on a meltwater spillway now a disused railway. On a sunny day, the chalk flowers flourish and the birds sing.
Hidden Horizons are running Hidden Geology Walks with Liam Herringshaw on 31st May, 14th and 28th June at Burniston Bay, Staithes and Filey.
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/expert-geology-walks
5. Our Museum of the Month:
North Lincolnshire Museum in Scunthorpe. This has an excellent display on the Jurassic Seas, including the Frodingham Ironstone (which created the iron and steel town of Scunthorpe) and a recent discovery of the Jurassic Scunthorpe Pliosaur. Not much online, better to visit when open, though there is a 3-D virtual tour available.
https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/assets/downloads/IS_geology_1_the_jurassic_sea.pdf
6. Books and Mags:
Deborah Cadbury: The Dinosaur Hunters.
Buckland gave the first description of a dinosaur, Megalosaurus, though Robert Owen named Dinosauria. Buckland was the midwife of the rivalry between Gideon Mantell and Robert Owen.
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=1857029631&cm_sp=mbc-_-ISBN-_-all
Ross Barnett: The Missing Lynx, The Past and Future of Britain’s Lost Mammals.
From last month. We hope the author will talk to YPS about Kirkdale Cave.
https://www.bloomsbury.com/author/ross-barnett
Paul Thornley 30/04/21
Covid Notes for April 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips:
Arran Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark.
Touring Britain may still not be possible, but Arran Geopark website will take you for many walks round this remarkable island with its dramatic scenery. https://www.arrangeopark.co.uk/
Look though the ‘Our Landscape’ links, then look for the ‘Arran Geopark Map’ and work your way through the six walk leaflets.
https://www.arrangeopark.co.uk/arran-geopark-map/
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
Leeds Geological Association has an online talk on:
‘A re-evaluation of glacial Lake Pickering’
Thursday 15th April, starting at 7.15 p.m. Dr Laura Eddey of Sheffield University.
https://www.leedsga.org.uk/abstract.html
If you wish to join, please Email the LGA Secretary lga.sec@btinternet.com
The Yorkshire Geological Society has an online talk on the Whin Sill, 22nd April 4pm
Doug Robinson, The Whin Sill and its Contact Metamorphism in the Cow Green Boreholes, Upper Teesdale
Register at (or watch live on YGS YouTube channel)
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/the-whin-sill-and-its-contact-metamorphism-in-the-cow-green-boreholes-upper-teesdale
Looking ahead to May, Yorkshire Geology Day has morphed into three webinars on successive days 7th, 8th, 9th May. Dorothy Rayner, Yorkshire dinosaurs and Horton Quarry.
Register at (or watch live on YGS YouTube channel) https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Dr Dorothy Rayner (1912-2003) The First Female President of the Yorkshire Geological Soc.
She was one of the first women to be appointed to a tenured academic post in any English university geology department, joining university of Leeds in 1939 and serving for 38 years.
She attended Cambridge University before it awarded degrees to female students but it did award her PhD in 1938.
https://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/506/1/201
The second 1981 edition of her ‘The Stratigraphy of the British Isles’ is still available from Cambridge as a reprint and from other second hand sources. https://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/earth-and-environmental-science/sedimentology-and-stratigraphy/stratigraphy-british-isles-2nd-edition?format=PB&isbn=9780521299619
Patrick Boylan will give the YGS webinar on her life and work, Friday 7th May
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events-list/webinar-dr-dorothy-rayner-the-first-female-president-of-the-yorkshire-geological-society
3. Online Study: Yorkshire-based.
York University CLL and Liam Herringshaw. York University CLL course
The Geology of the Yorkshire Dales is being repeated on 22nd May.
https://store.york.ac.uk/short-courses/centre-for-lifelong-learning/short-courses/the-geology-of-the-yorkshire-dales-second-cohort
Liam is also running CLL courses on 7th and 19th June, Exploring the Landscape of York and Exploring the Landscape of Yorkshire
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/saturday/
4. Trips outside: Yorkshire-based. (Arran too far at present)
Roundhay Park, NE of Leeds, has an excellent geology trail covering a fault in the Carboniferous succession. The guide may be downloaded at the friends of Roundhay Park website https://forp.org/explore-the-park/
Or bought from their shop at £1, including postage! https://forp.org/product/t2/
Nearby, try a trip to middle Carboniferous exposures of the Millstone Grit on opposite sides of the Harrogate Anticline:
Millstone Grit of Almscliff Crag and Harlow Car, near Harrogate – an excursion
From Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape, YGS
http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Millstone_Grit_of_Almscliff_Crag_and_Harlow_Car,_near_Harrogate_-_an_excursion
Hidden Horizons are running Hidden Geology Walks with Liam Herringshaw on 31st May, 14th and 28th June at Burniston Bay, Staithes and Filey.
Hidden Geology Walks
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Lyme Regis Museum celebrates its centenary in 2021. Lyme Regis was the home of Mary Anning, who featured in the February notes. And the museum is on the site of her Fossil Shop. Their website has a section on Mary Anning
https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/visit-us/the-mary-anning-experts/
And their section on ‘Collections & Research’ is worth exploring.
https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/collections-research/
6. Books and Mags:
Ross Barnett: The Missing Lynx, The Past and Future of Britain’s Lost Mammals.
Palaeontologist Ross Barnett looks at fossil discoveries and other evidence to explore lost species and the ecological significance of their disappearance. Strongly recommended.
https://www.bloomsbury.com/author/ross-barnett
Paul Thornley 07/04/21
Covid Notes for March 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips:
Roger Suthren, University of Derby, has a website virtual-geology.info with some virtual field trips for students at Derby in 2020. Staithes, North Yorkshire
A description of the Middle Lias (Lower Jurassic) of Staithes (NW of Whitby) is at https://wessexcoastgeology.soton.ac.uk/staithes.htm
And the field trip at http://www.virtual-geology.info/VFT-GeoEnergy/Staithes.html
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
The Yorkshire Geological Society has an online talk 4pm 25th March.
Prof. Chris Greenwell— Lead in the way: developing low-cost passive remediation methods for legacy metal mine pollution Register at (or watch on YGS YouTube channel)
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/registrationgreenwell
Also, still available on YouTube is a YGS talk from 25th February (watch by 11th march)
Nick Shaw – A new (exciting) opportunity for future geothermal energy in Yorkshire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICxbTQnhWRA&ab_channel=YorkshireGeologicalSociety
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Lewis (also Louis) Hunton 1814-1838. English Pioneer in Ammonite Biostratigraphy.
In any discussion of the historical development of what was later to be named Biostratigraphy it is often assumed that a modern basis for the subject had already been reached by the cumulative work in the subject up to 1815; culminating in that of William Smith (1769-1839) and Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847). But to this time fossils had only been used to identify (and discriminate between) often repetitive lithological units or to establish a relationship between rock units in different areas. The practical demonstration that particular lithological units could be regularly subdivided with significant consequences, on the basis of their contained fossils was a later achievement over several generations. One of the first to free stratigraphical palaeontology from such a lithological control was the forgotten Englishman Louis Hunton. (Hugh Torrens 1984).
Lewis was from a family of Alum Works managers in Loftus, on the NE Yorkshire Coast. Alum is found in the Upper Lias (Lower Jurassic) along with many fossil reptiles and ammonites. He wrote his-later influential-paper on the limited vertical range of specific fossils and use for geological tests at the age of 21 and died from tuberculosis 2 years later. The following article is from the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
https://www.teeswildlife.org/what-we-do/past-projects/alum-alchemy-and-ammonites/alum/lewis-hunton/
Read more at
https://www.nyma.org.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/Voice%20of%20the%20Moors/VOICE-115.pdf
(pages 6-7)
https://www.nyma.org.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/History%20Tree/2%3A%20Louis%20Hunton%2C%20a%20Scientist%20who%20Changed%20the%20World.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Hunton
3. Online Study: Yorkshire-based.
York University CLL and Liam Herringshaw. Saturday York University CLL course
The Geology of the Yorkshire Dales Saturday 20 March 2021, 2.00pm to 5:00 PM https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/dates/202021/spring/saturdaycourses/thegeologyoftheyorkshiredales/
If the course is full, it is being repeated on 22nd May.
https://store.york.ac.uk/short-courses/centre-for-lifelong-learning/short-courses/the-geology-of-the-yorkshire-dales-second-cohort
4. Trips outside: Yorkshire-based.
To accompany the virtual trip to Staithes, when travel is permitted, try
Lower Jurassic rocks between Staithes and Port Mulgrave – an excursion
From Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape, YGS
http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Lower_Jurassic_rocks_between_Staithes_and_Port_Mulgrave_-_an_excursion
And to accompany the notes in 2. is the 4-mile Lewis Hunton walking trail from Loftus
https://www.walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com/self-guided-walks
Hidden Horizons are running Hidden Geology Walks with Liam Herringshaw on 31st March and 1st April at Ravenscar and Burniston Bay
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/expert-geology-walks
5. Our Museum of the Month:
To accompany the notes on the North East Yorkshire Coast, Lower Jurassic, Hunton and Alum I shall allow The Whitby Museum and its collection to have a repeat mention (from November)
6. Books and Mags:
Roger Osborne has two books on the NE Yorkshire Coast. From Hightide publishing. £5 each.
The Dinosaur Coast, Yorkshire Rocks, Fossils and Landscape.
Pocket edition 2015, but a larger format version from 2001 can also be found.
Yorkshire’s Jurassic Fossils. Pocket edition 2019
Paul Thornley 02/03/21
Late January and into February Extra!
Stones in Museum Gardens
Click on this link to learn about the geology on your doorstep.
The article describes an ongoing project to demonstrate the wealth of geological material to be found in the beautiful surroundings of Museum Gardens.
Covid Notes for February 2021
1. a) Virtual Trips:
The Yorkshire Geological Society have added a Field Guide to the Geology of Graves Park, Sheffield to their website
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/virtualfieldtrips/onlinefieldguides
(The advertised Google Earth tour of Graves Park is not yet available)
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
The Yorkshire Geological Society has an online talk on New Light on the Neanderthals: Music, Art, Rope-Making, and now a possible link to COVID-19. Professor Patrick Boylan
Wednesday, 3 February 2021 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Register beforehand on the link;
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events/new-light-on-the-neanderthals-music-art-rope-making-and-now-a-possible-link-to-covid-19
This will be available afterwards on the Yorkshire Geological Society YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg
The YGS talk on the Geology of Islay by David Webster on 21st January is also now available on the same channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Mary Anning. A statue is to be erected at Lyme Regis, Dorset, to Mary Anning, the fossil collector and discoverer of fossil marine reptiles and fish from the cliffs around Lyme. The costs were crowd-funded from an appeal by 13-year-old Evie Swire.
Several of the Early Jurassic marine fossils at the Natural History Museum and elsewhere were her finds, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, pterosaurs as well as ammonites, belemnites and brachiopods. The Deep Oceans section of the Yorkshire’s Jurassic World exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum has on display the Yorkshire examples of this era. (When it reopens)
Many of the noted geologists and palaeontologists of the C19th examined her discoveries and discussed anatomy with her. They often presented results to societies and in papers without acknowledging the collector, as often happened at the time. Henry De La Beche sold copies of his painting of Jurassic time, Duria Antiquior, to raise funds to support Mary Anning.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mary-anning-unsung-hero.html
https://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk/collection/mary-anning/
3. Online Study: Yorkshire-based.
York University CLL and Liam Herringshaw. Saturday York University CLL courses
Jurassic Beasts of the Dinosaur Coast Saturday 27 February 2021, 2.00pm to 5:00 PM
The Geology of the Yorkshire Dales Saturday 20 March 2021, 2.00pm to 5:00 PM
https://www.york.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/dates/202021/spring/saturdaycourses/thegeologyoftheyorkshiredales/
Both courses appear to be full, but a waiting list often produces a repeat to the session.
4. Trips outside: Yorkshire-based.
Healaugh Church West Riding, St John the Baptist. York Wetherby back road.
The Church is often open to visitors, even at this difficult time.
The Church is mainly 12th century, of beautiful magnesium limestone with a magnificent south doorway and corbels, chancel arch with interlaced carving on the pillars and a remarkable alabaster altar tomb bearing effigies of Lord Wharton in full armour, and his 2 wives. The sides of the tomb show the children.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1316655
https://ecclesiarum.wordpress.com/yorkshire/healaugh-st-john-the-baptist/
https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6ImhlYWxhdWdoIiwib3BlcmF0b3IiOjEsImZ1enp5UHJlZml4TGVuZ3RoIjozLCJmdXp6eU1pblNpbWlsYXJpdHkiOjAuNSwibWF4U3VnZ2VzdGlvbnMiOjUsImFsd2F5c1N1Z2dlc3QiOm51bGx9LCJGIjoiZXlKMElqcGJObDE5In0&WINID=1612029246303#y_liP-4sqksAAAF06bKhcg/13125
The church was originally dedicated to St Helen; an early Saxon cross/grave marker discovered in the churchyard in the 19th century suggests a long-term use of the site. The building is on Church Hill on the edge of a steep slope overlooking a former glacial lake.
https://chacklepie.com/ascorpus/catvol8.php?pageNum_urls=96
One story is that the pock marks in the stone on the South wall of the chancel were from musket balls as prisoners were executed after the Battle of Marston Moor (about 4 kilometres away).
Nearby Healaugh Priory was founded towards the end of the 12th century. Wighill and Walton churches are both nearby and 12th century.
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/ARY/Healaugh
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Oxford Museum of Natural History
The museum has a collection of dinosaurs found in the county, marine reptiles, minerals and petrology. Try a virtual tour.
https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/
The columns surrounding the main hall inside are made decorative rocks from the British Isles and were planned by John Phillips.
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/learning/pdfs/columns.pdf
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/learning/museum.htm
6. Books and Mags:
Books on the work of Mary Anning:
Mary Anning 1799-1847 A Life on the Rocks. Nigel J Clarke
https://www.nigelclarkepublications.co.uk/index.php?page=books
The Fossil Woman. The Life of Mary Anning. Tom Sharpe
https://www.dovecotepress.com/shop/new-books/the-fossil-woman-a-life-of-mary-anning-by-tom-sharpe/
Other books by Tracy Chevalier, Patricia Pierce and Shelley Emling are available
Paul Thornley 30/01/21
Covid Notes for January 2021
Further notes on geology in the time of covid. Hogmanay edition, with a Scottish theme.
1. a) Virtual Trips: The Scottish Geological Trust have talks, both live and on YouTube
https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/whats-on/
Mull and Iona, a geological journey
Geological Tour of Glasgow Necropolis
b) Virtual Events and Talks:
The BBC Series from 2010, Men of Rock with Professor Iain Stewart
is available on YouTube. Just search YouTube for each title and choose a link to play.
Men of Rock Deep time
Men of Rock Moving Mountains
Men of Rock The Big Freeze
The Yorkshire Geological Society has an online talk on the Geology of Islay by David Webster
January 21st 4pm. To register for free, go to:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events/online-lecture-islay
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Arthur Holmes made important contributions to radiometric dating of rocks and the Earth and to the study of continental drift through convection currents in the Earth’s mantle. His book. The Principles of Physical Geology from 1944 was still being published in 1993.
https://geologyglasgow.org.uk/archive/arthur-holmes/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Holmes
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/earth520/node/1808
3. Online Study: Yorkshire-based.
Liam Herringshaw and Hidden Horizons are offering two courses in January on fossils:
An Introduction to Fossils and Yorkshire Coast Fossils, see
York University CLL eight-week course taught by Laura Eddey is still available
Introduction to the Physical Environment. Starting 20th January. 7 pm. ‘climate, soils, hydrology, geomorphology, glaciation, geology and biogeography’
4. Trips outside: Yorkshire-based.
Liam Herringshaw and Hidden Horizons are hoping to run outdoor Expert Group Walks starting in February with Jurassic Ravenscar and Tracking Yorkshire’s Dinosaurs:
5. Our Museum of the Month:
National Museum of Scotland, in Edinburgh.
Although currently closed, The Beginnings Gallery, very informatively includes the geological story of Scotland, rather confusingly under the title of History and Archaeological Galleries.
Available is a series of articles and films on a joint research project, Closing Romer’s Gap:
The recent discovery of the earliest Carboniferous fossil vertebrate tetrapods that emerged onto land, the ecology of the land they inhabited and an account of the latest analytical methods for non-destructive examination and recording of these fossils
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/natural-world/closing-romers-gap/
https://www.nms.ac.uk/collections-research/our-research/highlights-of-previous-projects/the-tweed-project-evolution-s-missing-chapter/
6. Books and Mags:
Arthur Holmes. The Principles of Physical Geology
Although he died in 1965, this work has introduced many students to geology. The 1993 edition is updated and edited by Donald Duff.
7. Mad Extra:
The Amoeba People, dressed as Nasa scientists from the 1960’s, relate accounts of Earth’s geological science back to their home planet, through song.
Paul Thornley
28/12/20
Covid Notes for December 2020
Where there is a huge amount of choice on a website, I have chosen only one or two activities.
1. a) Virtual Trips: The Geological History of Yorkshire from Yorkshire Branch of OUGS
https://ougs.org/files/yor/reports/The-Geology-of-Yorkshire.pdf
b) Virtual Events and Talks
Geologists’ Association had a free Festival of Geology set of four talks on 7th Nov 2020.
These talks are available to view on their website.
Volcanoes and drones, Tideway tunnel and geology under London, Extinctions at Devonian/Carboniferous boundary and The Day the Dinosaurs Died (Cretaceous/Paleogene)
https://festivalofgeology.org.uk/lectures-and-break-out-rooms/
The Yorkshire Geological Society has 4 Christmas Lectures, 1st, 3rd, 8th, 10th December
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/ygs-xmas-lectures
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Dr Emma Liu of UCL Earth Sciences gave the talk on Volcanoes and drones at the GA festival mentioned in 1b) above. See her profile, links and blog. Her mastery of geo-chemistry, physics, technology and geology is outstanding.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/earth-sciences/people/academic/dr-emma-liu
https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/gmpv/2020/03/04/five-hundred-miles-from-civilisation-exploring-active-volcanism-in-the-south-sandwich-islands/
https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/activevolcano
3. Online Study:
York University CLL has an eight-week course taught by Laura Eddey
Introduction to the Physical Environment. Starting 20th January. 7 pm.
‘climate, soils, hydrology, geomorphology, glaciation, geology and biogeography’
The Open University have a six-part course on YouTube, Geological Time
4. Trips outside (self-guided) Part Two
In these days when so much is closed, it is still possible to examine a wide range of building stones by examining the outside of churches.
Church towers often contain the oldest stones (in terms of quarrying, if not deposition) and several such towers locally contain Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Modern stones.
St Mary Bishophill Junior (York). The lower part of the tower has herringbone work, probably just pre-conquest, with reclaimed stone and rubble from Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking buildings. The full YAT fasicule is included for extra study. The Corpus of Anglo-Saxon sculpture has eleven entries for the church.
http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/anglo-scandinavian-york/church-of-st-marys-bishophill-junior
http://www.ascorpus.ac.uk/catvol3.php?pageNum_urls=239&totalRows_urls=288
St Helen’s Church Skipwith. The C11th tower clearly has good Roman gritstones, probably taken from a near-by villa site. Archaeology has shown an even earlier church underneath. Several features appear to be Roman details in tower arch and ground floor windows. The interior of the tower contains the Ragnarok graffito.
Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture identifies many features
Other photos at
http://www.greatenglishchurches.co.uk/html/skipwith.html
Brief archaeology at first link. Comprehensive one at second:
5. Our Museum of the Month: Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
You can get lost for hours inside the Museum, whether visiting in person or online:
http://www.sedgwickmuseum.org/index.php?page=the-galleries
6. Books and Mags
Kieran D. O’Hara’s A Brief History of Geology is sitting on my table for when I have some moments free.
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30683287890&cm_sp=Searchmod-_-NullResults-_-BDP
Paul Thornley 7/11/20
November 2020
1. a) Virtual Trips:
The Yorkshire Geological Society YouTube channel has a set of drone footage of nine sites in Yorkshire of geological interest. Look at the Playlist option. It starts at Brimham Rocks.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzBPkcmYZbbLnaez7_tuohg/playlists
b) Virtual Events and Talks
Geologists’ Association has a free Festival of Geology set of four talks on 7th November.
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/festival/#vfogtalks
The Yorkshire Geological Society has an online lecture on Tuesday 10th November 4pm.Other future talks are also listed
Geology of the Cononish Gold Deposit and Exploring for Gold in Scotland
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events.
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/events/online-lecture-cononish-gold
The Geological Society has its past public lectures available to view at any time. I suggest Public Lecture Jan 2020: How and why the Earth is different, Nick Rogers
2. Women and Men in Geology: (See Paul Hildreth’s four talks on the chalk of Flamborough)
George Lamplugh (1859-1926) was an East Riding boy who became one of the most eminent British geologists and palaeontologists of his age. Born in Driffield and grew up in Bridlington. He examined the glacial deposits and cretaceous strata before taking a professional role with the Geological Survey in 1892.
YPS have biographic notes and references on the website. George Lamplugh
Hull Geological Society have notes on a talk about Lamplugh’s study of the Quaternary of East Yorkshire by John Catt http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/workof.htm
3. Online Study:
Liam Herringshaw reports the new website of Hidden Horizons and the Fossil Shop in Scarborough. They are offering a course on An Introduction to Fossils, over three Tuesday nights in November. £35 including a set of quality replica fossils.
https://hiddenhorizons.co.uk/collections/online-events/products/an-introduction-to-fossils-online-course-autumn-2020
Liam and HH also offer fossil-hunting trips.
4. Trips outside (self-guided)
In these days when so much is closed, it is still possible to examine a wide range of building stones by examining the outside of churches. A trip towards Boroughbridge is rewarding.
Church towers often contain the oldest stones (in terms of quarrying, if not deposition) and several such towers locally contain Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Modern stones.
· Holy Trinity Little Ouseburn (WR, now North Yorkshire) south of Boroughbridge, with its Anne Bronte connections and extraordinary C18th rotunda mausoleum to the Thompson family. The tower contains a band of bright red local Triassic sandstones.
https://www.crsbi.ac.uk/quick-search?q=little%20ouseburn&WINID=1603731069027
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10920957.visiting-a-north-yorkshire-church-attended-by-anne-bronte/
http://www.english-church-architecture.net/n%20york%20l/little%20ouseburn/little_ouseburn.htm
All Saints’ Kirby Hill (or Kirby on the Moor) (NR) just north of Boroughbridge.
The base of the tower has a large gritstone block with a rather eroded Latin inscription. The porch has a number of early carved blocks embedded in the walls.
The door contains ancient ironwork, possibly C12. If you are lucky enough to find the church open, the tower contains four magnificent Anglo-Saxon carvings. The strong suggestion is of an ancient church rebuilt from an even older stone one.
http://www.ascorpus.ac.uk/catvol6.php?pageNum_urls=141
http://www.allsaintskirbyhill.org.uk/heritage/heritage.htm
5. Our Museum of the Month:
Whitby Museum in Pannett Park is open at present. It has an important collection of marine fossils, land fossils from Kirkdale Cave as well as jet and other pieces.
6. Books and Mags
John Phillips, The Rivers, Mountains and Sea-Coast of Yorkshire, published 1853. Recommended by Colin Speakman as a never-bettered description of the county.
Available as a Google ebook or as a reproduction of the text from Amazon or elsewhere
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=f96BAAAAMAAJ&hl=en_GB&pg=GBS.PP8
Paul Thornley, 26/10/20
Covid Notes for October 2020
Where there is a huge amount of choice on a website, I have chosen only one or two activities.
1. a) Virtual Trips:
The Yorkshire Geological Society have a geological excursion of Staithes to Port Mulgrave on the North Yorkshire coast. This uses Google Earth. This shows the coast and rock strata very beautifully with extra information linked to each page. The link to this and to Ian West’s website on the geology of the Staithes area:https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/virtualfieldtrips/virtualgeologytours
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~imw/staithes.htm
The Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape Field Guide chapter on The Lower Jurassic rocks between Staithes and Port Mulgrave, on which the excursion is based, is available at
b) Virtual Talks
Liam Herringshaw has a lively and informative Centre for Lifelong Learning talk about York and the rocks that make the city on Youtube. This was recorded in 2015. Not a lot has changed! York: A Rocky History
A reminder of Liam’s other talk about the life of John Phillips, the first keeper of the Yorkshire Museum and later Professor of geology at Oxford. On Youtube.
The Time Lord of York. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhyrad1yLx8
The Geological Society has its past public lectures available. I suggest September 2019. The Big Antarctic Freeze about Antarctic ice over the past 34 million years https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/antarcticfreeze
The Geologists’ Association has a wealth of material available on its Geology from your Sofa. Lectures, courses, field trips….. https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/sofageology/#latest
Try the extraordinary photographic tour of the geology of the Colorado River by raft https://www.usgs.gov/science-support/osqi/yes/national-parks/colorado-river-raft-tour
2. Women and Men in Geology:
In 2019, The Geological Society celebrated the centenary of the (belated) admission of the first female fellows to the Society. At the bottom of the link to Margaret Crosfield are links to the other six fellows. The details give accounts of the geological interests and research of each of the seven.
3. Online Study:
Manchester University offers an online course on Our Earth: Its Climate, History, and Processes. https://www.coursera.org/learn/our-earth
4. Trips outside (self-guided)
If it is not too morbid at this time, there are two outstanding guides to geology walks in cemeteries.
Hull, Spring Bank Cemetery from Anne and Mike Horne for Hull Geological Society https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ebc647c0446723b32229119/t/5f33cd569a3f19454e96cea8/1597230463357/HullCemeteryWalkV1
and York Cemetery, by the Friends of York Cemetery. (Other guides are on their website) https://www.yorkcemetery.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/York-Cemetery-Geology-Trail-Dec-2017.pdf
5. Our Museum of the Month:
The Lapworth Museum at the University of Birmingham reopened in the past couple of years after an extensive reorganisation. (Currently closed, hoping to open soon.) The collection is outstanding and the there is much to see on the website and the archive of the geologist Charles Lapworth, who named the Ordovician System. https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/index.aspx
6. Books and Mags
Yorkshire Geology by Paul Ensom is the indispensable guide to the county/counties.
Paul Ensom is a former Keeper of Geology at the Yorkshire Museum before moving to Natural History Museum. The guide wears its scholarship lightly, welcoming the reader into the natural forces that have shaped the varied landscapes of the historic county. It places the study of geological methods and current debates in the context of the important sites that can be visited. The illustrations are excellent. Review and book (available second hand) https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4301123.yorkshire-geology-paul-ensom-dovecote-press-22-50/
https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=9781904349648&cm_sp=mbc-_-ISBN-_-all
Paul Thornley 2/10/20
Covid Notes for September 2020
Where there is a huge amount of choice on a website, I have chosen only one or two activities as a focus.
1 a) Virtual Trips:
The Yorkshire Geological Society have a geology and poetry virtual trip to Widdup Moor above Hebden Bridge. Google Earth and Ted Hughes. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/virtualfieldtrips/virtualgeologytours
For those who viewed last month’s four geological walks around Flamborough Head, they may wish to read:
The Stratigraphy of the Chalk Group in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, MG.Sumbler http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/509937/1/WA99002.pdf
A history of the Yorkshire Wolds since the chalk was formed, Derek Gobbett http://www.hullgeolsoc.co.uk/hg1521.htm
b) Virtual Talks
Liam Herringshaw has some family talks with academic links on his Fossilhub site, Chalking with Dinosaurs parts 1-4. https://fossilhub.org/chalking-with-dinosaurs-part-2/ Liam has a York University Public talk on John Phillips on YouTube, The Time Lord of York. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhyrad1yLx8
The Geological Society has its past public lectures available. I suggest:- November 2019: Volcanoes and past climate – Tamsin Mather
June 2020: Strategies in times of crisis – lessons from past marine ecosystems – Daniela Schmidt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQZrW_ZodI0&t=321s
The Geologists’ Society has made its lectures available at present. I suggest:- October 2019: Searching for an impact crater in Scotland – Mike Simms
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/galecturesforall/#oct19
July 2020: The weird and wonderful world of sedimentology – Jon Noad
https://geologistsassociation.org.uk/galecturesforall/#jul20
2. Women and Men in Geology:
Marie Tharp and Bruce Heezen. Marie Tharp developed the maps of the Atlantic Ocean floor that generated plate tectonic theory and underpinned continental drift in the 1950’s.
https://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/27/6/pdf/i1052-5173-27-6-32.pdf
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/02/marie-tharp-map-ocean-floor/
The last has a nice little cartoon of her discoveries.
Extra: Watch the Royal Ballet School pupils perform Plate Tectonics!
3. Online Study:
This OpenLearn (Open University) course may be started any time and is free: Geological Processes in the British Isles (9 hours) https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/geology/geological-processes-the-british-isles/content-section-0?active-tab=description-tab
Geosupplies of Sheffield has an educational arm, Down to Earth. They offer paid-for courses that may be taken online or with material through the post. Where there’s Muck – an economic geology of Britain. (other courses are available)
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Educational-Courses.html
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/learning-zone.php#online
4. Trips outside (self-guided)
If you are heading up to Hadrian’s Wall and the Great Whin Sill, YGS features a prize-winning introductory field guide by an undergraduate at University of Newcastle, Caitlin Leverett. This may be printed and taken with you. https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/whinsillguide
YGS Field Guide, Yorkshire Rocks and Landscapes, chapter 5 has a tour of Upper Nidderdale available on the BGS Earthwise site. (I have walked there several times recently.) Carboniferous rocks of upper Nidderdale – an excursion. http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Carboniferous_rocks_of_upper_Nidderdale_-_an_excursion
5. Our Museum of the Month (two of them this time, both rather folksy!)
Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge has a small collection on minerals, quarrying and lead mining. http://www.nidderdalemuseum.com/
Swaledale Museum in Reeth has a strong focus on minerals and lead mining and has much to see. http://www.swaledalemuseum.org/collection.html
6. Books and Mags
Tony Waltham was to speak in York this Spring on The Yorkshire Dales, his The Yorkshire Dales, Landscape and Geology, The Crowood Press, ISBN 978-1861269720, is a wonderful account of how the landscape of caves, moors and valleys come to look as it does.
Richard Bell’s Yorkshire Rock: A Journey Through Time is elementary but very clear, with excellent illustrations. ISBN 978-0852722695. Published by the British Geological Society.
Geosupplies produces a quarterly magazine, Down to Earth. Read by many amateur geologists and earth studies students. A subscription is not expensive. A free trial is available. https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/down-to-earth-magazine.php
https://www.geosupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Down-to-Earth.html
Paul Thornley
28/08/20
For August:
1. Virtual Trips:
The Yorkshire Geological Society have four virtual geological walks on the chalk at the coast from Speeton to Sewerby. Find the You Tube site via:
https://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/virtualfieldtrips/videogeologyguides
Paul Hildreth, the current President of YGS, narrates four films about the geology at or near Flamborough Head.
We recommend that you subscribe to the channel so that you can go back to it more easily. A subscription to the YGS is also very good value, but not necessary for viewing the films.
The BGS geology map of the area, giving the different chalk strata is at:
http://www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk/iip/mapsportal.html?id=1001536
2. Women in Geology:
Etheldred Benett was a great collector and student of UK fossils in the early nineteenth century, at ease with sharing ideas and opinions valued by other renowned geologists. She was honoured with a Doctorate in Civil Law of the University of St Petersburg by Tsar Nicholas I.
The YPS and Yorkshire Museum hosted Emily Markham, an MA student and some of her research on Etheldred Benett may be seen on the YPS website:
3. Online Study:
For anyone wanting to undertake a short course in geology, there are two available this month, free to join. The OpenLearn course may be started any time. The FutureLearn is a live course starting this month but can be joined soon after the start.
OpenLearn (from the Open University) Introduction to Geology https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/free-courses?filter=date/grid/672/all/all/all/
Other subjects are available!
FutureLearn, on the past five mass extinction events
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/extinctions-past-present
4. Trips outside:
If anyone wants to get out and look at some fossils, Hidden Horizons are offering guided trips at the coast, through Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/hidden-horizons-5979675763
(Liam Herringshaw says he will be assisting on 7th and 21st August and 3rd September.)
5. Our Museum of the Month
The Rotunda Museum of Scarborough. Built with advice from William Smith and John Phillips as a Geology Museum. View aspects of the geology and archaeology collections online and the Museum will reopen on 8th August
https://www.scarboroughmuseumstrust.com/rotunda-museum/
Please note: The Fossil Festival planned for Scarborough in September has been cancelled.
Paul Thornley
31/07/20
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