SUMMER FIELD PROGRAMME 2010 Each person attending field meetings does so on the understanding that they attend at their own risk. The NSGGA has public liability insurance through a GA insurance policy that also carries limited personal accident cover for members attending meetings or field trips. Non-members pay £2 to cover temporary membership giving them insurance cover.

A September Evening Trip to the Apedale Gallery Section of the Apedale Mine Tuesday 7th September 2010: Leader: Les Mason The NSGGA is delighted to be able to offer the exclusive opportunity of visiting this newly opened gallery within the mine. This gallery is not open to the general public. This new area of the mine is in some sections about 4ft high and so movement will be on your haunches at times. Warm and waterproof clothing is essential along with well shod footwear for the terrain. The area is steep befitting a mine with a descent ratio of 1:2 and there is a laddered section of around 30ft going back out of the gallery at the same ratio of descent. On view will be black band ironstone, bitumen coal and fire clay within the Apedale fault. The two hour visit will also include the on-site museum. All safety equipment is provided. Please note that there will be a £4 Field Fee charge to cover this single event. Those wishing to attend must contact the field secretary, Nick Hulley at either nicholas.hulley@btinternet.com or 01538 722017 and places will be allocated on a first come/first served basis. The field secretary must have confirmation from you before the 1st September 2010, but because places are limited to just 20, you are strongly advised to book as soon as possible. Please arrive promptly at 18:45 for a 19:00 start, finishing at approximately 21:00 There is a web site to view: www.apedale.co.uk for further details and directions. The Leader will be one of our very own members Les Mason. The address is: Apedale Heritage Centre, Loomer Road Chesterton, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 7JS.

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WINTER LECTURE PROGRAMME 2010/2011 Thursday 14th October The genesis and evolution of sulphate evaporites in the

Midlands by M. Noel Worley (Saint-Gobain) Thursday 18th November The Tenth Wolverson Cope Lecture: „Age of extinctions‟.

A comparison of the four mid Phanerozoic mass extinctions, including the end-Permian and end-Triassic events by Professor Paul Wignall (University of Leeds)

Thursday 13th January (Title to be confirmed) Dr Rebecca Bartlett (Birmingham University)

Thursday 10th February Coal bed methane by Professor Peter Styles (Keele University)

Thursday 10th March AGM and Chairman‟s Address. British Earthquakes by Dr Ian Stimpson (Keele University)

FIELD REPORTS Ecton Hill Saturday April 17th 2010: Leaders Peter Kennett and Peter Lane Ecton was the site of a major mining operation peaking in the 18th Century owned by the Duke of Devonshire and providing the family with much wealth. Ecton Hill is composed of rather impure thinly bedded Carboniferous Limestone, interpreted as “basin facies” with layers of shale and chert. They contrast with the more familiar thickly bedded “platform limestone” of Derbyshire to the east. The limestones at Ecton exhibit spectacular folds and faults. The Ecton copper mineralization in fissures and pipes also contrasts with the typical lead/zinc rakes of the Peak District. At the centre were displays of documents and maps, minerals and historical artefacts and we operated the “Alpine Simulator”, used in the Real World Science sessions at Stoke‟s Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, where layers of sediment slowly deform, modeling the variety of structures we hoped to see in the field. At Apes Tor we studied the various components of the basin facies limestones and traced the spectacular structures across the extensive outcrop, recently improved by clearance of undergrowth and work done stabilizing the cliffs. Fold structures, faults and thrusting are present and opportunity was taken to demonstrate parts of the ECHFSA field sessions with students, including the use of the Schmidt Hammer to investigate rock strength. Back at the centre the tour of Salts Level began with the necessary safety prompts. Fully equipped we headed underground. Salts level was dug in 1804 as an access to new dressing floors. The walk is mainly level at 240m OD and took us through 300m of diggings linking the Ida Alley, Deep Ecton Shaft, the Shack Vein, the Pipe Vein and other features. We saw and felt flowstone, slickensides, tension gashes, folding, mineralization identifying galena and malachite and wondered at the expertise of those miners who toiled away in the dark with candles and only rudimentary technical aids. In the afternoon the walk up the hill afforded spectacular views of the surrounding geology interspersed with snippets of mining history and inspection of the fossil fauna conveniently displayed in the dry stone walls! The weather stayed friendly allowing group photos at the

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summit before returning to the centre for even more tea made from the unadulterated natural spring water from the hill.

Salts Level at Ecton

Copper Mineralisation at Ecton (Photos Ian Stimpson)

Peter Lane

Photographic Highlights of the Field North Wales Weekend Saturday & Sunday May 15-16 2010: Leader Richard Waller.

Darwin's Moraine and Cwm Idwal

Glacial Striations, Llyn Llydaw

Chalcopyrite copper ore, Llyn Llydaw

Team Photo at the Glacial Sediments, Glanllynnau

More photos at www.flickr.com/photos/hypocentre/sets/72157623958117383/

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Photographic Highlights of the Field Day to Longcliffe Quarry / National Stone Centre Saturday 5th June 2010: Leaders: Nigel Weedon (Longcliffe) & Geoff Selby-Sly (National Stone Centre)

The group pass the ‘sugar cubes’, Longliffe Quarry. One of the many uses of limestone is in sugar refining.

Aldwark Quarry, part of the Longcliffe Quarry complex

Normal fault in quarry face

Transition from intact, solid limestone (left) to uncommercial dolomite (right). Longcliffe Quarry.

Crinoidal limestone, National Stone Centre

Shark dermal denticles, near National Stone Centre

More photos at www.flickr.com/photos/hypocentre/sets/72157624216875710/

Ian Stimpson

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NSGGA NEWS

John Myers’ Awards 2010 The following students we presented with their John Myers‟ Awards by Ann Myatt, John‟s daughter at the Keele graduation ceremony on July 7th: 3-year Single/Dual Honours Winner: To be awarded the John Myers Medal and a cheque for £150

Emma Naden for her aquifer-to-river geophysical analysis in Shropshire Runner up: To be awarded a cheque for £50

Sarah Day 4-year MGeoscience Winner: To be awarded the John Myers Medal and a cheque for £150

David Moseley for a structure and geophysical project in North Wales Runner up: To be awarded a cheque for £50

Adam Jeffrey

From left to right: Dr Ian Stimpson (NSGGA Chair), Vicky Tunstall (Myers Award Committee Chair), Ann Myatt (John Myers’ daughter), Adam Jeffrey (4th Year Runner-Up), David Moseley (4th Year Winner), Emma Naden (3rd Year Winner) and Sarah Day (3rd Year Runner-Up)

Vicky Tunstall

Chair of the John Myers Awards Committee

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Coal Bed Methane Extraction at Keele University Keele University is currently having a pilot coal bed methane drilling programme operating on its campus. At the southern end of the new campus development drilling has already reached a depth of about a kilometre.

Coal bed methane drilling rig

Schematic of drilling operation

The main borehole (in blue in the diagram) is drilled using directional drilling in an „S‟ shape, shallowing through the target coal seam, and then steeping downwards to form a sump. The drill bit will next be withdrawn back up the hole to the level of the target seam (in this case the Great Row Coal) and a spur drilled along the coal seam itself, slightly dipping upwards (in red on the diagram). Water then drains from the coal seam to the sump where it is pumped out. The draining of the water decreases pressure in the seam and stimulates the release of methane from the coal. If this proves successful, and the main bore is already showing promising signs of methane, then the next stage will be to drill a number of other bores through a variety of seams, extract the methane which will then be piped to the University‟s boiler house.

Ian Stimpson

Geology PGCE at Keele The Geology PGCE course at Keele has been under threat of closure due to low student numbers and lack of places for qualified graduates. Chris King is delighted to report that following a recent review Keele University has reopened its geology teacher training course for 2010/11. This is subject to the provisos that there will be a transitional period covering the 2010/11 students, who will be taught alongside the Subject Knowledge Enhancement course students and geology trainee teachers joining Keele for courses from 2011/12 onwards will be taught through an electronic distance learning module. The new distance learning module will cover the training in geology teaching of Keele science/geology students and will be open to all PGCE science and geography students in England and PGDE trainee teachers in Scotland who have a geology degree, practising teachers in the UK and teachers overseas, with a geology degree, who want to widen their teaching portfolios and undergraduates studying for geology degrees who are planning to train as science or geography teachers in the future. Chris would like to thank all those who have offered huge support during the recent difficult weeks. He asks colleagues to publicise the plans for the development of the new Keele science/ geology course in the future, with a view to encouraging students and teachers from far and wide to undertake the new course and ensure its continuation in the future.

Ian Stimpson

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OTHER SOCIETIES

Black Country Geological Society Fieldtrips: Saturday 19th June Buxton Area Volcanics led by Chris Arkwright. Saturday 24th July Martley area led by Dr. Paul Olver More details at www.bcgs.info

East Midlands Geological Society Fieldtrips: Sunday 5th September Afternoon Visit to Chatsworth House led by Ian Thomas Sat/Sun 17/18th Sept. Charnwood led by Keith Ambrose and John Carney Sunday 17 October Coal Mining Museum at Wakefield Lectures: (6.30 in B3, Biology Building of the University of Nottingham) Saturday 23rd October Going Underground: In search of the coal forests by

Howard Falcon-Lang Saturday 20th November The Jurassic Coast: a walk through time by Sam Scriven Saturday 11th December The Earth After Us by Jan Zalasiewicz More details at www.emgs.org.uk East Midlands Regional Group of the Geological Society More details at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/groups/regional/emrg

Liverpool Geological Society More details at liverpoolgeologicalsociety.org.uk

Manchester Geological Association Fieldtrips: Saturday 17th July Park Bridge led by Chantal Johnson. Saturday 14th August Goodluck Lead mine, Matlock led by Paul Chandler. Saturday 4th September Dovedale - The Fred Broadhurst Memorial Walk led by

Jane Michael. Sunday 17th October Farndon led by Cynthia Burek. Lectures: (Variable start times in the Williamson Buildiing, Oxford Road, Manchester) Wednesday 13th October Meteorites by Jane Gilmour Saturday 13th November The Broadhurst Lectures: Jurassic Seas, Jurassic

Skies The Blue Lias by Dr. Peter Hardy Plesiosaurs by Dr. Leslie Noè, Ichthyosaurs by Dr. John Pollard Archaeopteryx by Dr. Derek Yalden

Saturday 11th December The Quaternary of the North West. Cheshire/Shropshire by Professor Peter Worsley Glacial Lakes North of Manchester by Dr. Cathy Delaney Pennine Uplands by Dr. Dick Crofts North/Mid Wales by Dr. Phil Hughes

More Details at www.mangeolassoc.org.uk

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North West Regional Group of the Geological Society More details at www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/groups/regional/nwrg

Shropshire Geological Society Fieldtrips:

Saturday 10 July (all day meeting): Brymbo Fossil Forest, to be led by Dr.

Jacqui Malpas (Geodiversity Officer, Clwydian Range AOB). Numbers limited to 20.

Monday 19 July (evening Rockhop meeting, commencing 18.30 pm): All

Stretton (Batch Volcanics), to be led by Keith Hotchkiss Monday 16th August (evening Rockhop meeting, commencing 18.30 pm): Fossil

hunting at Lea Quarry, to be led by Chris Rayner. Tuesday 21 September (morning Rockhop meeting, commencing 10.00 am): Caer

Caradoc, to be led by Peter Toghill Saturday 16 October (morning Rockhop meeting, commencing 10.00 am):

Stiperstones, to be led by Andrew Jenkinson Saturday 20 November (morning Rockhop meeting, commencing 10.00 am):

Shrewsbury Abbey, to be led by David Pannett Saturday 18 December (morning Rockhop meeting, commencing 10.00 am):

Haughmond Hill, to be led by Mary Steer Lectures: (7.30 Shire Hall, Shrewsbury) Wednesday 1 September Geology for Beginners: The Icing on the Cake -

Shropshire's landscape influenced by recent geological activity by Prof Michael Rosenbaum

Wednesday 8 September Geology for Beginners: Geology of Shropshire - 700 million years of Earth History by Dr Peter Toghill

Wednesday 15 September Geology for Beginners: Fossils Alive - palaeoecology of

fossil creatures by Andrew Jenkinson Wednesday 22 September Geology for Beginners: Shropshire rocks by Chris Rayner Wednesday 29 September Geology for Beginners: Geological mapping (speaker: Prof

Michael Rosenbaum) Wednesday 13 October Robert Townson (1766-1826): an all too long forgotten

Salopian by Prof. Hugh Torrens Wednesday 10 November Glacial geology by Dr Simon Cook Wednesday 8 December AGM and lecture (7.00pm start) tbc More details at www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/SGS/SGSintro.html

Warwickshire Geological Conservation Group Wednesday 21st July Building stones of Atherstone. Led by Hugh Jones & Alan

Cook. Wednesday 18th August Rock Mill & Coton End Quarries. Led by John Crossling &

Ian Fenwick. More details at www.wgcg.co.uk

West Midlands Regional Group of the Geological Society More details at www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/groups/regional/wmrg

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NSGGA - Next Committee Meeting Thursday 23rd September, at 7.00pm in the William Smith Building, Keele University

Contacts List: NSGGA Committee 2010-11 Chairman: Dr Ian Stimpson

24 Sorrell Gardens, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 3FA Tel. 077790 83243 e-mail; i.g.stimpson@esci.keele.ac.uk

Vice-chairman: David Osborn Stretton, 2 Croyde Place, Meir Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST3 7XD. Tel 01782 336692 email: david.d.osborn@talktalk.net

General Secretary: Eileen Fraser, 47 Longdown Road, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4QH Tel. 01260 271505 email: frasers@netfraser.me.uk

Treasurer: Brenda Kay, 9 Copthorne Drive, Audlem, Crewe, Cheshire, CW3 0EQ Tel. 01270 811650 email: r.peter.k@googlemail.com

Membership Sec.: Mike Brown, 6 Spring Close, Rode Heath, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 3TQ Tel. 01270 878130 email: michael.a.brown@lineone.net

Speakers Sec: Dr Bob Fletcher, 40 Oaklands, Guilden Sutton, Chester, CH3 7HE Tel. 01244 300705 email: fletcher@barryknoll.freeserve.co.uk

Field Sec.: Nick Hulley 3 Honeysuckle Close, Upper Tean, Staffs, ST10 4LZ Tel. 01538 722017 email: nicholas.hulley@btinternet.com

RIGS Liaison Officer: Dr Richard Waller, 2 Bunts Lane, Stockton Brook, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9PR Tel. 01782 505282 email: r.i.waller@esci.keele.ac.uk

Bulletin Sec.: Dr Ian Stimpson, 24 Sorrell Gardens, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 3FA Tel. 077790 83243 e-mail; i.g.stimpson@esci.keele.ac.uk

Executive Committee (honorary): Dr. Colin Exley; Terry Jones; David Thompson; Ted Watkin.

Honorary Life Member: Ann Myatt Executive Committee (elected):

Dr Lloyd Boardman; Dr Peter Floyd; Janet Osborn (Minutes Secretary); Gerald Ford; Vicky Tunstall (John Myers Awards); Elizabeth Hallam, Carol Fereday; Mike Fereday

Executive Committee (co-opted): Don Steward, John Reynolds

Why not visit the NSGGA web pages: www.esci.keele.ac.uk/nsgga

Produced for the NSGGA by Ian G. Stimpson, Earth Sciences & Geography, Keele University, Staffs, ST5 5BG