This month's Lecture: Spectacular Geology: A personal top ten, by Gerald Lucy

Firstly, an apology that this month's report is not as comprehensive as normal. Our guest speaker, also our very own Gerald Lucy, gave a brilliant illustrated talk on his favorite top ten Geological Topics.

He started with his favourite No1, Plate Tectonics:

The mechanism which drove the breakup of Pangaea, a single large continent that is used to explain the world wide occurrence for certain species of terrestrial fossils including some dinosaurs.

An explanation for the same rock types and ages either side of the Atlantic, notably parts of the west coast of Scotland and North America.

The cause of the Mid-Atalantic Ridge, the Pacific Ring of Fire and the raising of the Himalayas.

No 2, Folds

The bending of rock from small scale structures like the folds that can be seen in the Lewisian Gneiss of Scotland. The large arched rock features at Lulworth Cove and other coastal spots in the South West of England. Not forgetting the grand features such as the Moine thrust and Tay Nappe complex in Scotland.

Folds sort of triggered me off into thinking about my own experiences as the pictures where of British locations and brought back many happy memories. I can remember other topics like erosion, fossils, crystals, volcanoes & meteorites, but not in enough detail to write a report. Hopefully, the newsletter will have someone else's views. My mind I'm afraid was concentrating on compiling an article about the Society's field trip to Croft Quarry on the Saturday before the meeting. If any member wishes to added their notes of the talk please feel free to e-mail me.

Member's Finds on Display:

Fish Vertebrae in chalk from
Beachy Head.

Each vertebra is about 2 - 3 cm in length. The surrounding matrix has been carved away carefully as the fossil remains are extremely fragile. It is not usual to find and example like this!

Found by Ursula Deith.

There may be an account of this trip later, as I understand one is in preparation! Whatever, there should be a report in July's Newsletter.

Minerals from "Croft Quarry" collected by John & Wendy Lacy. Calcites and Analcime

Pictured Left: More minerals from Croft Quarry collected by Alan Smart.

Click here for a report on the trip

Notes on previous meetings see Report Archive

RC 26/06/2002