Summer 2012 Field Meeting Programme of the Yorkshire Geological Society

Sunday 27th May 2012: Yorkshire Geology Month Excursion: Upper Permian Zechstein Group carbonates of Blackhall Rocks, County Durham:
Leader: Michael Mawson

Although lying outside the strict boundaries of Yorkshire this area, always within the focus area of the Yorkshire Geological Society, provides unique exposure for the interpretation of features fundamental to our understanding of important outcrops and resources of Yorkshire.

Meet:  Sunday 27th May 2012, 10.30 am at the car park (no charge) and picnic area at Blackhall Rocks (NZ 472.388).  The excursion will finish here at 3.30 – 4.00 pm. To get there: by car, from the A19 take the junction ~ 2 miles south of Peterlee, then on B1281 for 3.5 miles east towards Blackhall Colliery to intersection with A1086; turn south (right) for 0.5 mile to signs for Blackhall Rocks and a cross-roads turning east to the coast with signs for car park; follow under the railway bridge where, after ~ 100m, turn right. The nearest railway station is at Hartlepool (Northern Trains) from which there is an hourly bus service (Arriva service 24). Participants should bring a packed lunch and drinks as lunch will be taken al fresco at a convenient point on the coast section. There are shops in Blackhall Rocks near to the car park / meeting point.  It should be noted that there are no toilet facilities along the coast or at the car park. Most of the excursion will involve walking on shingle but there will be some slippery foreshore rocks to negotiate as well as steps up and down the ~ 20m high cliffs.  Total walking distance of approximately 3 miles.

Safety: Participants should wear suitable robust footwear and be equipped with weatherproof clothing suitable for the north-east coast at this time of year.  The group will be inspecting cliff sections and it strongly recommended that participants should bring hard hats and ensure they wear them if they wish to approach cliff sections.

Geological Features of the Excursion: The subject of this excursion comprises Zechstein Group cycle 1, 2 and 3 carbonates (Z1C, Z2C and Z3C respectively) which are well exposed on the Durham coast at Blackhall Rocks, about 5 miles north of Hartlepool.

The excursion will first examine the Z1C Ford Formation which formed an eastward facing barrier-type reef during the Upper Permian. The reef, which is up to ~ 100m thick, consists of a bryozoan framework although much of it is in fact microbial. It is overlain by the Boulder Conglomerate, a storm-beach deposit consisting of reef-derived cobbles and boulders that formed after a relative sea-level fall that occurred towards the end of Z1C times but prior to a major lowstand during which the ~ 100m thick Hartlepool Anhydrite was precipitated in more basinward (easterly) locations. The Z2C Roker Formation, which, at this locality, directly overlies the reworked top of the Boulder Conglomerate and consists entirely of shallow-water platform facies, marks a return to carbonate production following a relative sea-level rise. At its base is a ~ 20m thick interval consisting of pisoid shoal facies and subtidal stromatolites, the latter containing an unusual type of sedimentary structure produced by the interaction of microbial and physical processes. These microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) are well seen in the distinctive 1.4m thick Crinkly Bed which occurs near the base of the Z2C but are also found in overlying large domical stromatolites that are commonly over 10m wide (!) and have a synoptic relief of 1m. Oolites capping the Roker Formation succession are of economic significance as they form minor oil and gas reservoirs found onshore in the UK as well as larger deposits on the continent. The Z2C is succeeded by the second cycle evaporites of the Fordon Formation which are represented at outcrop by a 1.8m thick dissolution residue, the equivalent of very thick halite and polyhalite deposits found in the basin-centre. These rocks, which coincide with another major lowstand of sea-level, form the seals to many gas reservoirs in the Southern North Sea and also, more recently, have become of interest as a source of potash. The residue is sharply overlain by the Z3C Seaham Formation which is collapse brecciated and contains well developed concretionary fabrics: it was deposited following a major marine transgression and consists largely of offshore marine facies.

Maps:OS maps: 1: 50,000 Landranger Map 93 (Middlesbrough); 1: 25,000 Explorer Map 308 (Durham & Sunderland); British Geological Survey map: 1: 50,000 Sheet 27 (Durham and West Hartlepool).

Recommended reading: Smith, D.B. (1995). Marine Permian of England. Geological conservation review series no.8. Chapman & Hall. This book contains a description of the geology of Blackhall Rocks that can also be accessed using the following link: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/gcrdb/GCRsiteaccount3016.pdf

Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June 2012: Namurian sedimentary environments and processes on the northern margin of the Alston Block: Leaders: David Millward and Colin Waters (British Geological Survey)

Meet:

Saturday 23 June, 2012, 10:00, return by 1730:Locality 1 Sipton Cleugh: meet at Sipton Bridge [NT 8488 4992], near which there are lay-bys on the B6295 road.

Sunday 24 June, 2012, 10:00, return by approx 16:00: Locality 1 beside River South Tyne and the Sulphur Well: meet at the lay-by off the A69, about 1 mile east of Haydon Bridge [NY 859 647]; Locality 2 section in the upper part of Crossley Burn: park in the lay-by off the A686 [c. NY 848 639].

We will examine well exposed sections on the northern margin of the Alston Block within the Namurian Stainmore Formation succession and its transition to the Millstone Grit Group. The lower part of the Stainmore Formation is dominated by repeated cycles of limestone, claystone, siltstone and sandstone representing repeated marine transgressive events and progradation of deltas. Upwards we will see the increasing presence of erosive-based channel sandbodies with coarser grained sandstone. The Crossley Burn section shows the uppermost part of the Stainmore Formation with the Dipton Foot Shell Bed and the transition into the overlying fluvial pebbly coarse-grained sandstone of the Millstone Grit Group.

Clothing and safety: Footwear and clothing appropriate to spending the day on the Hexham fells in summer should be worn. Wellington boots are advised for the stream sections as there are no paths. Great care will be needed in parts because of slippery surfaces particularly beside the water’s edge. Some parts of the sections are overgrown. The walking distance on both days will be approximately 4 km.

Lunch: please bring a packed lunch and sufficient drinks each day ofor the days on the hills.

Contact details: if you have any queries please contact the leader Dave Millward dmill@bgs.ac.uk or 0131 650 0429. Please can all participants register by email for the excursion so that the leaders can plan the logistics appropriately. This will also enable the leaders to contact those wishing to attend, in the event that parts of the itinerary have to be changed.

Accommodation: For those staying in the Hexham area for the weekend, there are hotels and guest houses in the Tyne valley, but please book early as places can be in short supply at this time of year. Hotel information can be obtained from tourist information centres and through internet searches.

Sunday 22nd July: Middle Jurassic Succession at Grange Top Quarry, Ketton, Rutland: Leader: Dr Peter del Strother

Meet: 

Sunday 22nd July 2012, 10.30am at the Quarry Car Park (SK 973.030) at the end of Pit Lane which leads from the north end of Ketton Village; entrance to Pit Lane is from the A6121, turning west at some at some 200 m south-west of the main Hanson Works entrance.    The turning on to the A6121 from the A1 is sign-posted with a “brown truck” sign for Ketton. There should be ample parking and toilet facilities, which should also be accessible at the mid-point of the day.  Participants should bring a packed lunch and drinks as lunch will be taken at a safe and convenient point in the quarry.  Walking distance is no more than 3 miles on generally flat gradients.  There will be ample opportunities for collecting and the only limitations on hammering are those of safe practice.

Safety: 

Grange Top (Ketton) is a working quarry and it is essential that participants follow all safety instructions.  All participants must be equipped with suitable footwear which must be robust boots with ankle protection; trainers are not acceptable.  Entry without suitable footwear will not be allowed.  Wearing of hard hats, high visibility jackets or waistcoats and eye protection is compulsory throughout the Ketton site.  In the quarry local management may lift the requirement for eye protection provided the conditions are not too dry and dusty.  However, eye protection is required when using a hammer.  Everyone must have eye protection available. All participants are requested to bring their own hard hats, high visibility jackets and safety glasses if they have them; only a limited amount of such equipment will be available at the site.The jointing in the Lincolnshire Limestone, Blisworth Limestone and Cornbrash together with the presence of jointed limestones on top of plastic clays creates a significant hazard from rock falls. Quarry faces must therefore be assumed to be unstable, and should not be approached closely. Ground conditions are likely to be uneven with tripping hazards, so due care must be taken when moving about.

Geological Features of the Excursion:

The excursion will begin by visiting a pit in the quarry floor in which is exposed the Northampton Sand Ironstone (marine), the Grantham Formation (non-marine with fossil rootlets) and the lowest 3m or so of the Lincolnshire Limestone. The unconformity between the Upper Lias and the Northampton Sand Ironstone is not normally exposed but it can be seen very clearly in loose blocks.

The sedimentary features which we will see in this succession include Thalassinoides isp. burrows associated with the unconformity, other forms of burrowing and graded bedding, for example. The lowest part of the Lincolnshire Limestone is a puzzle. It consists of about half a metre of uncemented quartz sand overlain by about 3m of what looks like quite pure limestone. It isn’t pure; it contains about 20% by weight of small clear quartz crystals disseminated within it. We shall discuss how this may have come to pass.
The party will then walk northwards through the quarry to examine the rest of the Lincolnshire Limestone succession in a quarry face.  For safety reasons we will not get too close but the dramatic change in facies in the face is clear to see, as is the position of the most prominent hardground.  We will then examine the famous Ketton freestone, an oolitic limestone, in blocks set aside for us. There are also spectacular examples of the hardground to be seen in blocks set aside by the quarry operator.  Two classic indicators of a hardground, borings and encrustation by bivalves, are clear to see.

The party will then walk up the main quarry road to examine the Rutland Formation (marginal non-marine), Blisworth Limestone (marine), Blisworth Clay (at least partly non-marine), Cornbrash (marine) and Kellaways Formation (marine). We will have lunch here (bring your own lunch and drinks - this quarry can get very dry!). The succession is highly fossiliferous and displays a wide range of sedimentary structures.  There is a small outcrop of boulder clay at the ground surface and some spectacular faulting, the causes of which will also be discussed.
We will then return to the cars and those with energy left will walk south to observe a ‘fresh’ face in the Rutland Formation. This is well worth the effort as the colour contrast seen prior to weathering shows the succession to best advantage.

Recommended reading:

Ashton M. 1980. The stratigraphy of the Lincolnshire Limestone Formation (Bajocian) in Lincolnshire and Rutland (Leicestershire). Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 91, 203-23.
Emery D., Hudson J.D., Marshall J.D. & Dickson A.D. 1988. The origin of the late spar cements in the Lincolnshire Limestone, Jurassic of central England. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 145, 621-33.
Hudson J. D. & Clements R. G. 2007. The Middle Jurassic succession at Ketton, Rutland.  Proceedings of Geologists’ Association 118 p239-264.

Contact details:

There is no formal limit to numbers attending this excursion but the need for safe management of a party in the quarry means that in principle it is the intent to keep numbers to a manageable size.  Therefore intending participants are asked to inform John Knight (YGS Programme Secretary) at the earliest opportunity of their intent to attend.  Confirmation by e-mail (jaknightuk@btinternet.com) is preferred, as due to the demands of work it may not be possible to respond to telephone calls (01773 836253).

Saturday and Sunday 1st and 2nd September 2012: The Rookhope Borehole – 50 years on: Leaders:  Stuart Clarke, University of Keele, Elizabeth Pickett, North Pennine AONB Partnership and Brian Young, University of Durham

Following the highly successful indoor meeting in Newcastle in January 2012 (see YGS Circular no. ), the Yorkshire Geological Society is once more joining with the Natural History Society of Northumbria and the Friends of Killhope, this time to explore some aspects of the geology and mineralisation of the Northern Pennines in the field.  A variety of features will be visited to highlight the important contributions made by the borehole, but will also focus upon current research ,including evolving models of mineral emplacement within the orefield which owe much to the outcome of the borehole.  Innovative approaches to the interpretation of geology and landscape currently being undertaken by the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in this, Great Britain’s first European Geopark, will also be a theme of the meeting.

Although the Rookhope Borehole and its findings will form the overall theme of the two day meeting, each day’s itinerary will be free-standing.

Saturday 1st September: Meeting point:  10.00 am at the Village Hall Car Park, Rookhope village (NY937 429)
Beginning  at the Rookhope Borehole site in Rookhope village, the morning will be spent examining  a number of sites within and close to the Rookhope valley, before moving on to lunch at Killhope Museum. The Friends of Killhope have kindly invited participants to join them for an informal lunch on Saturday 1st September.  In view of this, and also because  it is intended to include an underground visit to Park Level Mine at Killhope Museum, it will be necessary to restrict the size of the party to a maximum of 30.*
During the afternoon, recent interpretation initiatives at sites within Weardale will be visited.

Sunday 2nd September: Meeting point: 10.00 am at the village Car Park, Nenthead  (NY781 436)
Starting from Nenthead village, a variety of geological and mineralisation features will be visited in the context of on-going research into the stratigraphical and structural relationships of mineral deposits within the outer zones of the orefield. A packed lunch will be required for this day.

Link to site map with meeting places

Travel on both days will be by private cars though, as parking is restricted at a few stops, it is planned to arrange car sharing at the beginning of each day. As it will be necessary to restrict the party to a maximum of 30 for  both days,  those wishing to attend should advise the Natural History Society of Northumbria office  - 0191 232 6386 -  by 30th August. There will be a charge, payable on the day, of £4.75 per person, for entry to Killhope Museum to include the cost of the underground visit. This is a very substantial reduction on the normal entry charge.

Yorkshire Geology Month, May 2012 and other geological events

A number of geological events, including field trips and guided walks are arranged each year by organisations within Yorkshire and adjacent areas, including the corresponding societies of the Yorkshire Geological Society.  These are listed on the Yorkshire Geological Society website, with some included within the YGS Field Circular.  Details and any last minute changes to arrangements may be available from the organisations leading these events. During May and early June, many of the public events are highlighted by being included within Yorkshire Geology Month.

Sunday 29 April 2012, 2.00pm – 4.00pm  Building Stones in the centre of Halifax

Organised by Calderdale Council
Halifax Parish Church (Minster), Kirkgate by the main porch (SE 097 252) finishing at the Piece Hall
Meet Alison Tymon, for a gentle walk of less than 1 mile around the centre of Halifax to see the variety of local and imported decorative rocks used in the buildings.  Bring a lens if you have one, so that you can look closely at some of the rocks we will see. Details from West Yorkshire Geology Trust

    Wednesday 2 May 2012 at 11.00am Variations in the Wooley Edge Rock
Meet Rick Ramsdale at St Peter’s and St Leonard’s Church, Horbury, near Wakefield   WF4 6LT (GR295184). Roadside parking available at the top of New Street, Horbury, adjacent to church   Best approached from the B6128 (Horbury High Street) via Bank St or New St. (Note: the lower part of Queen Street is one-way against you).
Please be prepared to car share since other sites we will visit during the day have very tight parking limits.  Walking is easy but bring the usual outdoor gear and hard hats if you have them (some will be available). Bring packed lunch.
The trip will end close to J36 on the M1 around 3.30-4.00 pm. Organised by the Mid-Week Geology Group. Details provided by WYGT.

Thursday 3 May 2012 “The Middle Jurassic at Ketton Quarry, Rutland”. Lecture by Mr. Peter del Strother, M.B.E., Consultant. Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, Michael Sadler Building, Leeds University at 19.15. No charge. LEEDS GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Web-site: www.leedsga.org.uk Contact details: Anthea Brigstocke (General Secretary) Tel: 01904 626013 Email: lga@brigstocke.myzen.co.uk

Thursday 3 May 2012 10 - 3 Guided Walk Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook’s Monument: a beautiful walk through an industrial landscape.
10km/ 6.2 miles  Bring a packed lunch
£2 Outside Tourist Info Office in  Great Ayton  NZ 564 107 NEYGT (North East Yorkshire Geological Trust)

Wednesday 9 May 2012 10 - 1 Guided Walk Forge Valley – In a walk with Mike Windle, explore the geology, peak at the history and wander by the river Derwent.
Short climb at the start, then easy 7km/4.4 miles
£2 Green Gate Car Park, Raincliffe Woods TA 984 875 NEYGT

Wednesday 9 May 2012 2 – 4 Guided Walk Filey Brigg – Explore the History and Geology of one of Yorkshire coast’s most famous landmarks.
Easy £2 Coble Landing, Filey TA 121 810  NEYGT

Saturday 12 May 2012 1.15pm – 4.00pm  Roundhay Park, Leeds
Organised by Leeds Geological Association / Friends of Roundhay Park
Meet Bill Fraser outside the Mansion House Visitors Centre, LS8 2JL, (SE 330 383) in Roundhay Park. 
A guided walk of approximately 2.5 miles around a marked Geological Trail taking about 3 hours, with stops for discussion.   Features seen are shales and several different types of sandstone (some of which contain fossils), as well as sedimentary and tectonic structures. 
Footpaths are graded for easy walking but can be muddy in wet weather. 

Sunday 13 May 2012 2.00pm to 4.00pm
Building Stones of the Centre of Bradford
Meet Richard Butcher at Centenary Square (SE 163 329) by the pond on the side of the shops. 
The walk of about 1 mile will explore the building stones used in Bradford, including the excellent local sandstones and the decorative stones used on shop fronts and open spaces. 
Bring a lens if you have one, so that you can look closely at some of the rocks we will see.

Sunday 13th May 2012 Urban geology walk in Hull city centre led by Mike Horne, Hull Geological Society (booking required). telephone 01482 346784 or e-mail secretary@hullgeolsoc.org.uk

Sunday 13 May 2012  2 – 5 Guided Walk Staithes – A pleasant walk with Mike Windle around the village and cliff tops with a break at the Ship Inn (if open).
Easy with one steep climb £2 Staithes, car park NZ 782 183 NEYGT

Monday 14 May 2012 at 7.15
Talk on the new BGS Glossop 1:50,000 Geological Map Sheet 86
Given by Colin Waters of BGS
Greenhead College, Huddersfield HD1 4ES
£2 charge includes refreshments.  Visitors welcome. Huddesfield Geology Group

Thursday 15 May 2012, 6.00pm until about 7.30pm Reading the Landscape at Banner Cross. An evening walk for Natural Environment Weeks to explore a suburb of Sheffield, led by Peter Kennett, Friends of Porter Valley.  Meeting point: The junction of Ecclesall Road and Bannerdale Road at Banner Cross, opposite Banner Cross Methodist Church (Grid Ref SK 329849). Buses 30, 83, 85, 88, 272.  End point: Hunters Bar/Endcliffe Park  Bring: Umbrella!  Limitations: None, although it’s a bit hilly for pushing wheelchairs. Parking in the immediate vicinity is mainly for residents.  Booking: None needed – just turn up. Leader: Peter Kennett (Tel: 0114 2361271 for any queries)

Thursday 17th May: Field Meeting - The Upper Carboniferous and Permian rocks at Upton Railway Cutting & South Elmsall Quarry. Leaders: Alison Tymon, West YorkshireGeology Trust and Rick Ramsdale. A short walk with Alison over level ground around Upton Country Park to see the Permo-Carboniferous unconformity, recently excavated in the disused railway cutting. We then move on to examine, with Rick, stromatolites of the Permian Cadeby Formation at South Elmsall, now a SSSI. Meet: 18.30pm at the car park next to the library, Upton (SE483 137). Finish: Approx 21.00pm. Fee for Non-Members: £2. LEEDS GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Web-site: www.leedsga.org.ukContact details: Anthea Brigstocke (General Secretary) Tel: 01904 626013Email: lga@brigstocke.myzen.co.uk

Saturday 19 May 2012 and Sunday 20 May 2012 Weekend 
Staithes and Port Mulgrave
Weekend trip with Bob Appleyard of Huddersfield Geology Group
Visit to two world famous fossil sites to see exposures of early Jurassic sandstone and marine mudstones at Staithes, with excellent faulting and sedimentary features.   Further details from Bob Appleyard rajaappleyard@hotmail.com

Saturday 19 May 2012 and Sunday 20 May 2012 Weekend 
Staithes and Port Mulgrave
Weekend trip with Bob Appleyard of Huddersfield Geology Group
Visit to two world famous fossil sites to see exposures of early Jurassic sandstone and marine mudstones at Staithes, with excellent faulting and sedimentary features.   Further details from Bob Appleyard rajaappleyard@hotmail.com 

Saturday 19 May 2012. Carboniferous geology of the Slaidburn Anticline. Guide: Paul Kabrna,  Cost: None.  Start time: 10:30 at the pay and display car park in Slaidburn [SD 713 523]
Terrain: Relatively level ground, fields, and tracks, with some stiles and gentle slopes for the first four localities. The last two optional localities involve walking over uneven ground, fields, lanes, tracks and roads, with some moderate slopes. Please bring walking boots or strong footwear, and wet weather clothing. Carry a packed lunch.
Description: The walk will explore Mississippian (Tournaisian / Viséan stages) limestones and mudstones in the upper Hodder Valley around Hammerton Hall. The localities visited include Hammerton Crag [SD 7180 5320], Hammerton Ford, [SD 717 535], Barn Gill [SD 723 538], Rain Gill [SD 728 542], Higher High Field [SD 726 525] and Langcliff Cross Brook [SD 728 517].
 
References:Arthurton, R. S., Johnson, E. W. & Mundy, D. J. C. (1988):  Geology of the country around Settle. British Geological Survey Memoir, England and Wales, Sheet 60.
Kabrna, P. Ed. (2011): Carboniferous Geology: Bowland Fells to Pendle Hill. Craven & Pendle Geological Society
Parkinson, D. (1936): The Carboniferous succession in the Slaidburn district, Yorkshire. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, London,92, pp. 294-331.
Riley, N. J. (1990b):  Stratigraphy of the Worston Shale Group (Dinantian) Craven Basin, north-west England. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society, Vol. 48, pp. 163-187.

 Wednesday 23 May 2012 10 - 12 Guided Walk Whitby - Join Mike Windle for a walk around the Whitby Conundrum. Easy £2 Capt Cook’s Monument next to whale bones, West Cliff Whitby NZ 898 115

Sunday 27 May 2012 Yorkshire Geological Society Upper Permian Zechstein Group carbonates of Blackhall Rocks, County Durham: Leader: Michael Mawson (See main YGS Field Meeting Programme above)

Sunday 27 May 2012  1 – 5 Field Excursion  Filey Brigg – A Field Trip through the Corallian, exploring with Stuart Swann the Upper Jurassic and Quaternary Geology and reviewing its associated history and exploitation.  Strenuous in parts (boulders) – Please book – Hard hats required £5 (Mbs £3)
Coble Landing, Filey TA 121 810 NEYGT

Thursday 31 May 2012. 10.30 – 12.30
Guided Walk Nunnington and the River Rye – An easy walk with Mike Windle to enjoy
limestone scenery and panoramic views. We may even visit the Village Café.
Easy - 6km/3.75 miles £2 Memorial at crossroads next to Nunnington village
SE 669 791  NEYGT

Sunday  3 June 2012  12 - 4 Guided Walk May Beck – A pleasant walk with Mike Styles through a working woodland area to visit the Cleveland Dyke and return via Falling Foss to enjoy coffee & scones at the Tearooms.
Fairly strenuous £2 May Beck car park NZ 891 024  NEYGT

Saturday 9th June 2012. Roseberry Topping field meeting, led by Chris Hall and Peter Rawson.  This is a joint meeting of Rotunda Geology Group with the Scarborough Archaeological and Historical Society.  Chris will explain the industrial archaeology and Peter the geology.
Meet at 10.30am at the car park at Newton-under-Roseberry (NZ 570 128).  The finish time will be about 4 pm.  The walk is about 3.5 miles including a steep ascent and descent.
Non-members £2.  Packed lunch needed, stout footwear, and if last year is anything to go by, waterproofs!  More information from Sue Rawson: Tel 01723 506502 or suerawson@yahoo.co.uk

Summary Programme of the Yorkshire Geological Society for the remainder of 2012

Friday 5th - Sunday 7th October - 3 day programme including provisional field meeting: "Sediments and Ecosystems - a celebration of continuing geology at Hull University", joint meeting with Hull Geological Society

Saturday 3rd or Saturday 10 November, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts.: Provisional topic: "Mountains - all mountain chains are different, some examples"; joint meeting with East Midlands Geological Society

Saturday 1st December, Woolley Hall, Wakefield (the Grade II* country house of YGS Founder-Member Hon. Godfrey Wentworth): Celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the first meeting of the Society, including Annual General Meeting, 2nd Presidential Address of Dr Noel Worley and President's Reception

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Proceedings now fully digitised from vol. 1 (1839) to vol. 58 Pt.3 (May 2011) with free online access to individual YGS members

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Latest part of Proceedings of Yorkshire Geological Society (vol. 58 Pt. 4 November 2011) has now been published in both print form
and on line on the Lyell Collection at: http://pygs.lyellcollection.org/content/current

Contents and Abstracts

A. Snelling, D. Bates and J. Zalasiewicz: Graptolite studies in honour of Barrie Rickards (1938-2009): an introduction

ABSTRACT: Barrie Rickards was a fisherman, biographer and, most pertinently in this context, a teacher of geology and palaeontology. As a fisherman, especially of pike, he was almost legendary, writing many books on the subject including some regarded as classics within the angling community. As a teacher of geology and palaeontology, he was known for his inspirational qualities in the field (and could, almost to the end, outpace his young protégés across hill and valley). In the narrower world of palaeontology, he was one of the world's leading researchers on those graceful, useful, but equally bizarre and baffling fossils, the graptolites.

D. Bates, A. Kozlowska, D. Chmielarz and A. Lenz: Excessive thickening of the cortical layer in graptolites

ABSTRACT: A number of graptolites with thickened periderm, both dendroids and graptoloids, have been examined with the SEM. The thickening is by the deposition of layers of ectocortical tissue, clearly as bandages in the graptoloids. In Colonograptus colonus and some ‘diplograptids’, the thickening is most pronounced in the proximal regions of the rhabdosome, and can lead to the partial or complete occlusion of the aperture of the sicula and proximal thecae, as well as thickening the virgella. This thickening is interpreted as an adaptation connected with an extra gerontic production of cortex, which might have served as a reinforcement of the rhabdosome, or as an adaptation to modify or retain, the centre of gravity in the water column, or both. In Amphigraptus sp. the thickening appears to be common, and is concentrated on the dorsal side of the stipes. In Dendrograptus sp. thickening is also common: the main branches become excessively thickened, uniformly around the stipes, the side branches less thickened. In Cyrtograptus, thickening is rare, and appears to be gerontic, with the exception of a new form tentatively identified as Cyrtograptus in which thickening is uniform throughout the rhabdosome, and may have been formed initially. In Colonograptus and several ‘diplograptids’, the thickened proximal part shows it is much heavier than the distal part, suggesting a downwards vertical direction of the proximal end. In Amphigraptus the asymmetrical thickening suggests an orientation with the ventral side uppermost.

R. A. Fortey: A critical graptolite correlation into the Lower Ordovician of Gondwana

ABSTRACT: The early Ordovician was a time of maximum faunal provinciality. Correlation between strata deposited at low palaeolatitudes and those deposited close to the Ordovician pole in Gondwana is accordingly particularly difficult. The graptolite used to define the base of the internationally accepted Floian Stage, Tetragraptus approximatus, is essentially a lower latitude species. The discovery of a closely related and coeval species, T. akzharensis, in the early Ordovician of the Montagne Noire is reported. It occurs at the same level as the acme of the trilobite Taihungshania miqueli. The new record permits a direct tie with the earliest part of the Floian Stage and the shelly faunas typical of much of western Gondwana.

D. Goldman, C. E. Mitchell, M. J. Melchin, J. Fan, S.-E. Wu and H. D. Sheets: Biogeography and Mass Extinction: Extirpation and re-invasion of Normalograptus species (Graptolithina) in the Late Ordovician Palaeotropics

ABSTRACT: Normalograptids constitute a distinctive but not easily identified group of derived axonophorans. A new study of Normalograptus morphology indicates that many Late Ordovician taxa previously identified as Normalograptus are actually referable to Styracograptus and related climacograptoids. These re-identifications have led to the recognition of a complex biogeographic history among normalograptids and their descendants, including an interesting pattern that had previously been overlooked – a late Katian disappearance of Normalograptus from the palaeotropics. Normalograptid palaeogeographic distribution in the Ordovician appears to comprise 5 main phases: (1) evolutionary origin probably in relatively high palaeolatitudes in the early to mid Darriwilian; (2) spread to global distribution in later Darriwilian time; (3) retreat from most low palaeolatitude regions during the early Katian, with perhaps a slightly delayed retreat from Laurentia; (4) a complete extirpation from the low palaeolatitudes by the mid Katian (Ea4); (5) reinvasion of the low palaeolatitudes that accompanies the remarkable ecological and evolutionary replacement of the Diplograptina by species of Normalograptus and their descendants during the latest Katian–early Hirnantian. We propose two sets of hypotheses to explain Late Ordovician Normalograptus distribution. First, given the low species diversity of Normalograptus, we suggest as a null hypothesis that the disappearance of normalograptids from low palaeolatitudes during the late Sandbian and early Katian as simply a stochastic outcome – a small clade simply went extinct by chance alone. The alternative is that the loss of Normalograptus species reflects some form of extinction for cause, either: (1) competitive exclusion; or (2) an inability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. In the case of the competitive exclusion hypothesis, the most likely competitors are species of the Diplograptina.

M. P. Howe: GrapEl - a simple spreadsheet application for managing and disseminating graptolite biozonal range chart data

ABSTRACT: Biostratigraphical data frequently consist of tables indicating the presence, absence or relative abundance of taxa in a sequence of rock units or time units such as biozones or various chronostratigraphic units. Spreadsheet programs provide a simple means for managing this data and can be used for archiving and disseminating it, in addition to manipulating it. A simple spreadsheet (‘GrapEl’) is used to link the biozonal ranges of graptolite taxa to illustrations of representative or type specimens. Use of the filtering function enables the rapid selection of species from particular biozones, or species belonging to particular genera, and is intended to assist workers with a limited working knowledge of the faunas concerned. This approach is briefly compared to other uses of spreadsheets and databases in the management, analysis and distribution of graptolite biostratigraphical data.

J. Loxton, M. J. Melchin, C. E. Mitchell and S. J. H. Senior: Ontogeny and Astogeny of the Graptolite Genus Appendispinograptus (Li and Li, 1985)

ABSTRACT: Graptolites of the genus Appendispinograptus feature prominently in Late Ordovician biostratigraphy and studies of biodiversity. Well-documented, but enigmatic, secondary structures extend along the basal spines in mature specimens of three of the four common late Katian species of the genus: A. supernus, A. longispinus, and A. venustus. Using SEM imaging of isolated, three-dimensional specimens of A. supernus, we provide a detailed description of its early growth, as well as confirm that its secondary structures are composed of hollow tubes extending from the sicular and thecal apertures (‘parasiculae’ and ‘parathecae’, respectively). We also describe a collection of Canadian (northern Yukon) appendispinograptids that possess a large heart-shaped, sheet-like basal structure. Detailed comparison (width, thecal length and thecal inclination) with immature specimens from our collection, as well as collections from Russia, China, and Nevada, identifies these specimens as A. leptothecalis, a species not previously known to exhibit any secondary spine modification. The observation of spine modification in A. leptothecalis allows previously unclassified specimens from China, Siberia, and Nevada to be assigned to this species, clarifying our understanding of appendispinograptid biogeography and diversity. However, these structures are difficult to explain functionally. Unlike structures found in other Appendispinograptus species, those in A. leptothecalis decrease usable thecal space, shift drag proximally, and provide no obvious feeding advantage.

A. A. Cullum and D. K. Loydel: The Rhuddanian/Aeronian transition in the Rheidol Gorge, mid Wales

ABSTRACT: Logs are presented through the upper Rhuddanian and lower Aeronian (Llandovery, Silurian) of the internationally important Rheidol Gorge section in Ceredigion, mid Wales. It is hoped that these will be of value to those engaged in future research on the section.

J. Maletz: Scandinavian Isograptids (Graptolithina, Isograptidae): Biostratigraphy and Taxonomy

ABSTRACT: The Lower–Middle Ordovician of Scandinavia is largely dominated by endemic Atlantic Province graptolite faunas, which are useful only for local biostratigraphy and paleoecology, but are difficult for correlation on an inter-continental scale. Isograptids, regarded as essential for inter-continental biostratigraphic correlations in the Lower–Middle Ordovician due to their wide palaeobiogeographic distribution, have rarely been recorded from the region. The Scandinavian Tøyen Shale and Bogo Shale formations bear a number of isograptids that range in age from the late Floian to the early Darriwilian, and these provide a good tool for inter-continental correlations of this interval. Isograptus caduceus norvegicus Monsen and Isograptus spinosus Spjeldnaes are interpreted as possible tetragraptid species. The following biostratigraphically important Isograptus species from Scandinavia are described as new: Isograptus spjeldnaesi n. sp., Isograptus rigidus n. sp. Isograptus mobergi n. sp. and Scandinavian zonal names in the Dapingian are revised accordingly.

M. J. Melchin, C. E. Mitchell, A. Naczk-Cameron, J. X. Fan and J. Loxton: Phylogeny and Adaptive Radiation of the Neograptina (Graptoloida) During the Hirnantian Mass Extinction and Silurian Recovery

ABSTRACT: Cladistic analysis of some Hirnantian (latest Ordovician) and Rhuddanian–Aeronian (early Silurian) biserial graptolites and basal monograptids has been undertaken in order to test hypotheses of the relationships among the Neograptina (‘normalograptids’ and their descendents) and to provide a phylogenetic framework for understanding the early Silurian adaptive radiation of graptoloids. It is clear that Silurian graptolite faunas are dominated by two major clades, here named the superfamilies Retiolitoidea and Monograptoidea. Several other lineages whose basal relationships are unresolved, including Normalograptus and Metaclimacograptus, persisted through much of the Llandovery. The Retiolitoidea includes some taxa previously assigned to the Normalograptidae, as well as petalolithids and retiolitids. The Monograptoidea includes akidograptids, dimorphograptids, the uniserial monograptids, as well as stem taxa previously regarded as normalograptids. Both of these major clades had their origins in Late Ordovician time and began their diversification within the Hirnantian–early Rhuddanian, in step with the two main phases of the Hirnantian Mass Extinction. The Neograptina also exhibit an additional interval of accelerated turnover in the Rhuddanian during which the characteristic Silurian fauna largely replaced the Hirnantian Neograptina. One new family, Neodiplograptidae, and four new genera are described: Avitograptus, Rickardsograptus, Korenograptus and Paramplexograptus.

L. A. Muir: An unusual specimen of Glyptograptus from Dob's Linn (Southern Uplands, Scotland), and a discussion of graptolite teratomorphies

ABSTRACT: A specimen of Glyptograptus from the Silurian of Dob's Linn is described that possessed a bifurcating virgula, with a biserial stipe along each virgula. The colony lived for some considerable time with this morphology, showing that at least some graptoloids could survive and grow with major modifications to the rhabdosome. The specimen is left under open nomenclature, but if further material is discovered it may be appropriate to name a new species. Growth abnormalities in graptolites are not common, but many examples of repaired damage, rhabdosome malformations, and abnormal growth of thecae, virgellae and virgulae are known. Growth abnormalities can provide important evidence about graptolite ecology, biology and evolution, and so should be described and illustrated whenever possible.

A.W.A.Rushton: Deflexed didymograptids from the Lower Ordovician Skiddaw Group of northern England

ABSTRACT: The type species of Corymbograptus, Didymograptus v-fractus, is discussed and a neotype is proposed. The zonal graptolites Didymograptus varicosus and D. deflexus, mainly from the Loweswater Formation of the Skiddaw Group succession, are discussed and illustrated as species of Baltograptus. Study of their proximal structure shows that the identification of D. varicosus in the Loweswater Formation is not correct, and the English specimens are here assigned to Baltograptus jacksoni sp. nov.

P. M. Sadler, R. A. Cooper and M. J. Melchin: Sequencing the graptoloid clade: building a global diversity curve from local range charts, regional composites and global time-lines

ABSTRACT: Even range charts from the best graptoloid-bearing sections can be improved by adding information from nearby sections. Traditionally this is achieved on a scale of discrete biozones. Zonal composites improve upon the taxon richness of individual sections but lose resolving power; they artificially cluster range-end events at zone boundaries. Graphical and numerical methods allow composite sections to be constructed on continuous scales that match or exceed the resolving power of individual sections. Using a database of 582 graptoloid-bearing sections that together preserve 2214 distinct graptoloid taxa, we show that constrained optimization algorithms can construct objective, reproducible, global time-lines for the entire Ordovician to early Devonian graptoloid clade. The underlying database of locally observed ranges allows standardization for sampling unevenness. The quality and geographic origins of support for composite taxon ranges are explicitly revealed. A high precision, interval-free, standing species richness curve derived by this approach reveals the diversity trajectory of the graptoloid clade and of the families of which it is composed. Major reorganizations of the clade at the family level took place after diversity minima in the late Darriwilian and Hirnantian. Glacial events recognized on sedimentological evidence coincide with diversity minima.

A. Snelling and J. Zalasiewicz: The evolutionary lineage of Petalolithus to Cephalograptus: evidence from Coalpit Bay, Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT: The evolution of graptolites is the basis upon which much of the Lower Palaeozoic is subdivided. Amongst the clearest evolutionary lineages within graptolites are those that show seemingly unidirectional trends in morphology, such as the sequence of stratigraphically successive taxa of Petalolithus and Cephalograptus, discussed here. Graptolite specimens collected in the 1960s from Coalpit Bay, Northern Ireland are consistent with the succession established in the Czech Republic by Boucek & Pribyl (1941) and Štorch (1998), and include the first UK records of P. aff. krizi. We recognise other intermediate forms within this lineage that may enable further subdivision of the convolutus Biozone.

J. Zalasiewicz, C. Russell, A. Snelling and M. Williams: The systematic relationship of the monograptid species acinaces Tornquist, 1899 and rheidolensis Jones, 1909

ABSTRACT: The relationship between the early Silurian (Rhuddanian) monograptid species rheidolensis Jones, 1909 and acinaces Törnquist, 1899 has been contentious, with debate as regards both their possible synonymy and their generic assignation. We have re-examined the type and associated material of rheidolensis, and conclude that this taxon is almost certainly a junior synonym of acinaces. Lacking ventral apertural processes, acinaces does not belong within Lagarograptus, as previously thought, but may be placed within Huttagraptus, as proposed by Koren' & Bjerreskov (1997). The confusion between these two taxa arose because the material that Jones assigned to rheidolensis includes two taxa, one representing non-topotype (and probably mis-localized) specimens of an undoubted Neolagarograptus. This is morphologically very similar to, and probably referable to, the late Aeronian species Neolagarograptus tenuis, the type material of which we show here to be tectonically distorted.

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  Quaternary Research Association/British Cave Research Association Joint Field Meeting: Cave archaeology and karst geomorphology in NW England: 21st to 24th June 2012, Dalesbridge Centre, Austwick, North Yorkshire

This field meeting is jointly organised by the Quaternary Research Association and the British Cave Research Association, including the newly-formed BCRA Cave Archaeology Special Interest Group. It will consider recent research into cave archaeology and aspects of karst geomorphology in Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales, where the latest results are informing us about glaciations since MIS15 or earlier, the later stages of the Devensian glaciation, and human influences since the Late Glacial.  

Preliminary programme

Three field days are planned, preceded by introductory talks on Thursday evening. Additionally, other visits and talks will be arranged each evening.

Thursday 21st June - evening:

Registration and introductory talks

Friday 22nd June:

The Quaternary development of Kingsdale. Leader: Tony Waltham

Drumlins at Ribblehead and the Whernside glacier. Leader: Wishart Mitchell

Archaeology, sediments and speleogenesis at Jubilee Cave and Victoria Cave. Leaders: Tom Lord and Phil Murphy

Friday evening - exhibition about Victoria Cave at the Museum of North Craven Life, Settle. Leader: Tom Lord

Saturday 23rd June

Archaeology of caves at Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria. Leaders: Hannah O'Regan and Ian Smith

Lowland limestone pavements and grike erratics in the Arnside and Silverdale AONB: Hale pavement and Gait Barrow. Leaders: Peter Standing and Helen Goldie

Sunday 24th June

Cosmogenic dates and pedestal studies from Norber and OSL dates from loess at Winskill. Leaders: Peter Wilson and Helen Goldie  

Recent palaeoecological and archaeological work in the Settle area.   

Accommodation: The meeting will be based at the Dalesbridge Centre, Austwick, near Settle, North Yorkshire. 

Further information from: Trevor Faulkner  (trevor[at]marblecaves.org.uk or Hannah O'Regan   H.J.O'Regan@ljmu.ac.uk

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University of Hull Centre for Lifelong Learning: Geology Courses 2012

Collecting Rocks, Minerals and Fossils Course, starts Wednesday 18th April 2012

Collecting rocks, minerals and fossils is an exciting way to study the history of our world and is a rewarding hobby in itself. This course will show you - what to look for - where to go - how to collect safely - how to take care of your collection - where you can get help and advice on identifications Four Wednesday evenings from 7-30pm until 9-30pm at the University of Hull, Department of Geography and three half day field trips at weekends. Rocks and Fossils of the Yorkshire Coast The course will include four half days of fieldwork to study the rocks of the Early Jurassic, Middle Jurassic, Cretaceous and the Quaternary. We will see how changes to sea level and climate have produced the diversity of rocks and fossils we now see on our coastline. Course starts on Wednesday 18th July 2012 and is followed by four half day field trips at weekends.

For more information and a registration form please contact: Centre for Lifelong Learning, The University of Hull, 49 Salmon Grove, Hull, HU6 7SZ. Tel. 01482 465415; e-mail Cll@Hull.ac.uk

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Some British Geological Survey Memoirs for Yorkshire to download

In a major new development for the Society, the British Geological Survey (BGS) had made available to the Society's website full facsimile copies (in PDF format, including all illustrations) of some earlier Geological Survey Memoirs, listed below. These are now available for downloading for personal, academic, educational, non-commercial research and other non-commercial use, from the Yorkshire Geological Society website http://www.yorksgeolsoc.org.uk/ only. All users must agree to the BGS terms and conditions before downloading each Memoir.

Go to Geological Survey Memoirs index page

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Searchable Indexes to 138 years of the Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society (1837-1995) now available on line!

The Society has been publishing its Proceedings since 1837, and its many thousands of pages contain a great deal of original research and other unique material relating to the earth sciences, especially in respect of Yorshire and adjacent regions, both also nationally and internationally.  Complete reference sets of the PYGS are held by many leading regional and national libraries including the British Library, the Geological Society LIbrary, and the Society's own library, now part of the University of Leeds Library (which members of the Society can apply to use as a benefit of membership via the General Secretary of the Society).

Over the years the Society has published three cumulative indexes to the Proceedings, but it has been an aim of the Society's Council to make these indexes available on line via this website to help members and others to search and explore the rich resources available in the Proceedings. 

We are delighted announce that thanks to the generous help of Pinpoint Digital of Winsford, Cheshire, which has undertaken the necessary scanning of the published indexes free of charge, these are now available as searchable PDF files as follows:

Index to PYGS volumes 1 to 25 (1837-1946)

Index to PYGS volumes 26 to 37 (1947-1970)

Index to PYGS volumes 38 to 50 (1970-1995

To access each index click on the appropriate link above to open or download the file. (Each is very large - over 2Mb - so unless you have a fast broadband connection it is advisable to download the files onto your own hard disk, and then search from there.  Whether using an index on line or from a downloaded file simply open the file in  Adobe Acrobat and then use the normal Acrobat "Search" (or "Find") facility.  Any geological term, placename or author name can be used to search each index: Acrobat will then give you a list of occurences in the subject or author indexes, and each occurence is highlighted in colour within ePDF (facsimile) image of the index page. 

Very many thanks to Pinpoint Digital Document Management and Storage Systems for their sponsorship,and particularly John Hatton for his advice and practical assistance.

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Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape – the popular YGS Field Guide, Third Edition, is now available

Yorkshire, famed for its scenic beauty and its rich industrial heritage, contains some of the most interesting geology and scenery in England , from the moors to the coast, including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national parks. The influence of the geology on the landscape and on the industrial development in the region is profound.  

This book is a stimulating field guide to twenty-one locations selected to give comprehensive coverage of the geology, minerals, rocks, fossils and landforms of the area. Excursions vary from easy half–day walks to longer outings. Some are in moorland areas such as the Craven Inliers and the Pennines; others cover the Dinosaur Coast, famous for its rugged beauty and natural history, and coalfields adjacent to the major cities.

  Aimed at beginners and more experienced geologists, the book includes a general introduction to the area’s geological history, detailed location maps, a full glossary of terms, and details of local museums.

  Yorkshire Rocks and Landscape will be used and enjoyed by all those interested in the geology and natural heritage of this exciting and diverse region, especially the links between landscape and the underlying geology,

 About the Authors: The field guide, edited by Drs. Colin Scrutton and John Powell, has contributions from knowledgeable academics, professional geologists and dedicated amateurs, many of them members of the Yorkshire Geological Society. Together in this book they provide the most up-to-date and authoritative guide to the geology of Yorkshire and surrounding areas currently available.  

Published: September 2006; 224 pp, 22 figures.  Price £9.99, plus postage and packing (£2.00); cheques should be made payable to "Yorkshire Geological Society".  Please send your order form to: Dr J H Powell, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG

  Also available at indoor meetings of the Yorkshire Geological Society (no p&p) and from selected bookshops.

Click here for more details, including the full Contents List

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A major Yorkshire Geological Society Publication!

Carboniferous Hydrocarbon Geology: the southern North Sea and surrounding onshore areas

edited by

John Collinson, David Evans, Doug Holliday & Neil Jones, 2005

Click here for full details and samples
of the full colour illustrations!

Price now reduced to £10 plus £5 p. & p. Cheques should be made payable to Yorkshire Geological Society. Please send your order form to: Dr J H Powell, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG

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Important Notice to Members and others:Short Communications: Proceedings and Circular/Web Site

Rapid publication of short papers is common amongst journals, particularly those published weekly, monthly or bi-monthly, as a way of disseminating information quickly on topical or contentious issues, exceptional new discoveries or major developments.   Given its publication schedule, the adoption of such a publication strategy is not appropriate for the Proceedings.  Nevertheless, as a way of encouraging the membership to make more use of the Proceedings, and for that matter the Society’s other vehicles for publication, the Circular and web site, Council would welcome more short communications. Short communications submitted to the Proceedings might include anything for which it would be worth having a permanent published record, for example descriptions of new and/or temporary exposures.  Those intended for the Circular or web site could include more topical or newsworthy items, including brief reports of field meetings, new fossil/mineral occurrences, photographs of interesting geological features with a brief description or the work of RIGS groups. Short communications to the Proceedings should not exceed two published pages, approximately 2,000 words (or equivalents including figures) and will be subject to the normal review and editorial procedures, although a Summary will not be necessary. Please send your contributions in the usual manner to the Editors (see ‘Instructions to Authors’ in the PYGS as a general guideline).

For the A5 format of the Circular (and web site), contributions should be 300-400 words, but can include colour photographs and figures; these will also be subject to editorial review. These items should be sent to the Circular Editor in the first instance (see back page of the Circular for details).

Stewart Molyneux, Principal Editor PYGS
Keith Park, YGS Circular Editor
Patrick Boylan, YGS Web Editor

New Edition 2004 with minor revisions: price £9.99 plus £2.00 postage and packing Click here for further details

Field Trip Safety Issues

1.   The YGS takes the safety of its members extremely seriously. However, attendees of field meetings must also take responsibility for their own and other participants’ safety. In order to ensure the safety of all participants the YGS reserves the right to limit or refuse attendance at field meetings.

2. You must declare to the field trip leader, at the start of the field trip, any disabilities or medical conditions that may affect your ability to safely attend a field meeting.3. Inform the leader if you leave the meeting early.

4. The Leader is not expected to provide First Aid – ensure that you have adequate supplies for your own needs.

5. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the locality and time of year. Anticipate potential changes in weather conditions.

6. Children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult at all times.

7. The Leader’s decision is final on any matters relating to each field meeting.

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Corresponding Societies

(Please contact the society representatives and/or websites shown for the latest information)

CRAVEN & PENDLE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Contact: Paul Kabrna e-mail: paul_kabrna@hotmail.com or http://www.cpgs.org.uk/ (usual meeting place for indoor lectures: The Rainhall Centre, Barnoldswick)

CUMBERLAND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Secretary: Rosemary Vidler, 11 Blencathra View, Threlkeld, Cumbria, phone no 017687 79326, e-mail: rosevidler@freeuk.com; http://www.cumberland-geol-soc.org.uk/, For details of excursions please contact Alan Smith on 01768-771.068

EAST MIDLANDS GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Janet Slatter, tel. 01509-843.297; e-mail: sec@emgs.org.uk or http://www.emgs.org.uk (usual meeting place for indoor lectures: Lecture Theatre B3, Biological Sciences Building, University of Nottingham)

EAST MIDLANDS REGIONAL GROUP OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Secretary: David Boon, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham, daba@bgs.ac.uk

Thursday 24th May 2012, 6.30 fore 7pm at BGS Keyworth: John Beswick, Marriott Drilling: "Drilling in the 21st Century"

EDINBURGH GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: e-mail: secretary@edinburghgeolsoc.org;   http://edinburghgeolsoc.org/ Excursions Secretary: Richard Smith, 13 Burnside Park, Balerno, Midlothian EH14 7LY, tel. 0131-449.4290, e-mail: richard13burnside@gmail.com

Summer 2012 Excursions (Saturday and weekend excursions are whole days, Wednesday excursions are 7pm to 9pm in the evening):

Wed 25 April The Water ofLeith at Colinton: Leaders: Beverly Bergman and Andrew McMillan
Sat 28 April North Berwick Shore: Leader: Fiona McGibbon
Sat 12 May Callander and the Lower Keltie Water: Leader: Mike Browne
Wed 16 May North Bridge and Scotsman Steps: Leader: Andrew McMillan
26 May - 2 June Long Excursion to Mull
Sat 9 June Limestones in Lothian and Fife with High Tea: Leader: Al McGowan
Wed 13 June East Kirkton Quarry: Leader: Bob Reekie
Wed 20 June Holyrood Park - Whinny Hill: Leader: Angus Miller
Sat 23 June Fossil Fish in Angus and Tayside: Leader: Bob Davidson
Wed 4 July Torphin and Warklaw Hill: Leader: Richard Smith
Wed 25 July Stone Conservation in Edinburgh Graveyards: Leader: Susan Buckham
Sat 1 Sept Tomnadashan Copper and Tyndrum Deposits: Leader: Ben Harte
14 -17 Sept Weekend Excusion to Arran
Sat 6 Oct Greenburn Surface Mine, Ayrshire: Leader: Giles Hemmings

THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION: http://www.geologistsassociation.org.uk/: The schedule of field meetings for 2012 includes the following in the wider YGS region: 
(For further details and to book places please e-mail or telephone Sarah Stafford at the GA Office: geol.assoc@btinternet.com, tel. 020 7434 9298)

HUDDERSFIELD GEOLOGY GROUP: Julie Earnshaw (Secretary). Telephone: 01484 311 662 or e-mail: earniehome@ntlworld.com

HULL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Mike Horne. Tel: 01482 346 784 or e-mail: secretary@Hullgeolsoc.org.uk web: http://www.hullgeolsoc.org.uk (Usual meeting place for indoor lectures: Department of Geography, University of Hull, at 7.30 pm. N.B.   for security reasons the door is locked at 7.40pm). Please contact the Society if you wish to come to a field meeting so that the leaders will know how many people to expect. The Society reserves the right to exclude people who are not wearing the necessary protective clothing/equipment. For further information 'phone 01482 346784. Hull Geological Society Website - http://www.hullgeolsoc.org.uk

Thursday 22nd March 2012 - (evening lecture and AGM) Dr Cath Neal of the University of York on "People and the environment: a geoarchaeological approach to the Yorkshire Wolds landscape"

LANCASHIRE GROUP OF THE GEOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION: Secretary: Jennifer Rhodes, e-mail: sjrhodes@hotmail.com

LEEDS GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: Anthea Brigstocke (General Secretary). Tel: 01904 626 013:  E-mail:  lga@brigstocke.myzen.co.uk Field Meetings: Judith Dawson Tel. 0113 270 1069 
e-mail: dawsonemail@tiscali.co.uk or http://www.leedsgeolassoc.freeserve.co.uk (usual meeting place for indoor lectures: Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, Michael Sadler Building,
 Leeds University at 7pm. 

LEICESTER LITERARY & PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY -   SECTION C GEOLOGY: Chairman Mark Evans, 0116 225 4904, mark.evans@leicester.gov.uk Publicity Officer: 
Dr. Joanne E. Norris, 0116 283 3127, j.e.norris @ ntlworld.com; Website: http://www.charnia.org.uk/ (usual meeting place for indoor  lectures unless otherwise stated: 
Lecture Theatre 3, Ken Edwards Building, University of Leicester at 7.30pm.

Summer Field Meetings Programme:

Saturday 5th May: Churches and Building Stones (Leader: Maurice Rogers): meet at Baddesley Clinton at 10.30am
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd June: Weekend field meeting: Penbrokshire and St Davids (Leader: Charlie bendell, Aberystwyth University)
Saturday 7th July: Bantycock Quarry (Leader: Andrew Swift)
Saturday 11th August: British Geological Survey, Keyworth: Viewing Charnia material
Saturday 8th September (provisional - please check): Derbyshire Volcanics (Leader Mike Allen)  

MANCHESTER GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: Jane Michael. Tel: 0161 366 0595, e-mail: jane.michael1[at]tesco.net or http://www.mangeolassoc.org.uk (usual meeting place for indoor lectures: Williamson Building, Department of Geology, University of Manchester)

NORTH EASTERN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Prof. Gillian FG Foulger, University of Durham, tel. 0191-334.2314, e-mail: g.r.foulger@durham.ac.uk. Lectures are at 7.30pm in the Arthur Holmes Lecture Room, Science Laboratories Site, University of Durham. See website for more details: http://www.northeast-geolsoc.50megs.com

 NORTH EAST YORKSHIRE GEOLOGY TRUST: contact@neyorksgeologytrust.com;   website: http://www.neyorksgeologytrust.com/: Kathryn Brown,North East Yorkshire Geology Trust, 5 Station Workshops, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby, N. Yorks. YO22 4TG Tel. 01947 881000

NORTHERN REGIONAL GROUP OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON: Secretary: Dr Mark Allen, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, e-mail: m.b.allen@durham.ac.uk

NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE GROUP OF THE GEOLOGISTS ASSOCATION: Eileen Fraser Tel: 01260 271505 email: fraser@fraserco.co.uk http://www.esci.keele.ac.uk/nsgga/ (usual meeting place for indoor meetings: William Smith Building, University of Keele at 7.30pm

ROTUNDA GEOLOGY GROUP (SCARBOROUGH): contact Sue Rawson, tel. 01723-506.502, email: suerawson@yahoo.co.uk (usual meeting place Room CG7, Scarborough Campus of the University of Hull, Filey Road, Scarborough)

SORBY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY: Ken J Dorning, Geologists Group Secretary,  e-mail: geology@sorby.org.uk; website:  http://www.sorby.org.uk/

WESTMORLAND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: contact:  E-mail: mail@westmorlandgeolsoc.org.uk http://westmorlandgeolsoc.org.uk/ Meetings start at 8 pm (unless otherwise stated) and are held in the Abbot Hall Social Centre, Kendal.

YORKSHIRE REGIONAL GROUP OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY: Contact: Marina Kirkpatrick <yorkshireregionalgroup@gmail.com>

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© 2012: Yorkshire Geological Society c/o Patrick Boylan, 2a Compass Road, Leicester LE5 2HF, UK.  E-mail: P.Boylan @ city.ac.uk Last updated: 3rd May 2012

Web Editor: Patrick Boylan, 2a Compass Road, Leicester LE5 2HF, e-mail: P.Boylan @ city.ac.uk

(With thanks to Paul Kabrna, the YGS's first Web Editor, for photographs, and the present banner heading and other images, and to Clare Gordon, Librarian, Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, for assistance in maintaining the YGS archive site on the Leeds University server from 1999 to 2007).

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