GeologyRocks

Well I'm not a bit jealous and, just to prove it, I'm going to book a visit to Skegness for a long weekend.

 If you don't bring back some good piccies of the Troodos Ophiolite then you might not be allowed to post for another year!

'ello Gus, 'ello Leah,

Long time no speak.. Forgot me password, and been trying to remember it!

 The odd times I've come on here there seemed to be no activity, so I thought it was 'dead'.

Is Skeggy the best you can do Gus?  Mind you its quite an excursion from Cornwall isn't it?

 Leah, if you get to a place called Scuriatisa (and that spelling may well be very incorrect) - its an abandonded copper mine right on the Green Line.  There is probably still a UN outstation there. If you can go up the tailings, (and be very very careful) will you look for a canvas bag with specimens in that I left there in 1976 please. I was doing a UN tour and was waiting for transport back to Nicosia. So I went mineral hunting.  I was told NOT to show myself on the skyline (first rule of soldiering) but I got carried away.  Two shots came from the north (Turkish side) - and its true, you do hear the bullets before you hear the shot.  One each side of me.  I slid down the scree face very fast and ended up with no seat in my shorts and no skin on my hands.  The bag may still be up there.....but I didn't stay to take a grid reference!  Sorry.

Have a great time.

 I'm taking A level students up to Ardnamurcan for 10 days in April. 

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

'Elo John

 Well I shall certainly have a look if wer head that way. I think our supervisor said that the mines on the Northern border where a bit to far away, but I know we're going to an asbestos mine, and we'll mainly be looking at the ophiolite (which I find all very boring, but there is one day of sediments and fossils so I'm sure that'll keep me happy )

It's the MGeoler's last ever field trip together, so it's quite a sad time really :/

Oh well, I shall post some pics when I get back,

Have a great time with the undergrads in Ardnamurcan

Leah

When are you off?

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

I'm actually sitting here waiting for a mate now.  We're going to a few outcrops in the Vale of Pewsey.  There should be bivalves etc, which will keep Mick happy.  He really is a newbie! But one site - which I went to a few years ago - yielded a very nice pyritised ammonite.

I had planned a trip to a quarry inland from Lyme Bay for today, but only got one person who said they wanted to go.  I'm beginning to think that this organisation of field trips is a bit of an uphill struggle in trying to get people motivated for numbers.  Might be better to tag on to other people trips.  Less hassle.

I suggest a trip to a quarry near Fairford where I went with the GA last year. Lower Lias right up to Eocene.  Really good ammonites (mostly calcified) in nodules, and bison, hippo, mammoth bones have been found there as well as a very good Stone Age axe.  So far just one reply!

I also suggest a weekend around Builth Wells and the Welsh Borders on a hunt for trillobites. Not one reply.  Is it ever worth it?

 John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

I'm off on monday

If there's ever a trip close to e I'd be happy to come along, my proble at the moment is I' heavily reliant on public transport as well as trying to finish my m-level dissy. But hopefully soon I'll have more time to go fossil hunting

Leah 

You'd be very welcome.  When you get back get in touch to tell me what area you are in.  E-mail it if you don't want it public.

 By the way.  I hope you don't suffer with hay fever.  I got out there in March and the whole island is covered in mimosa bushes in full flower in March.

Have a great time. 

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

I am so glad you told me that, I suffer with horrific hayfever, so I'll be going to the docs on onday to get some super strength tablets to take with me, now do I have a giggle with the rest of them and not tell them or do I be nice and let them know......

I suppose I'll let them know,

Thanks very much, and will do

Leah 

 Bye

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Hi John

 Glad to see you appearing with more frequency.  The Skegness trip was pure fabrication and done for "comic" effect.  I can't afford the fuel to get out of the county so I'm reduced to scratting about in the china clay tips on my way home from work.  I've found a few bits and bobs - a couple of half-decent opals, amethyst, pigs eggs, etc.

'Ello mate,

 I was really beginning to think that this site really had died. Who is running it.  I haven't seen a post from Jon or Katie for ages.

I know what you mean about the fuel costs. I've had to put my Volvo off the road, and we just use 'Er Indoors's puddle jumper, and the van (driven slowly) for shows.

Mind you I gave up doing the Essex Mineral & Fossil Show this year because of the cost of fuel getting there and not taking enough money to make it viable. Shame because I used to enjoy it.

Even with my job (and I get paid mileage) we are being asked to be careful.  In many cases its actually cheaper for the company to pay B&B rather than going back and forth.  I've found some really good and very reasonable B&Bs.

I thought that going near the china clay pits - more correctly kaolinite deposits - was 'verbotten'.  Mind you worth the risk I suppose for pigs eggs.  Got to catch your own food now eh?

I'm hoping to get a brace or three of haggii when I'm up in Scottyland.  I'm told that they are easily caught by putting salt on their tails.  But do you happen to know which end their tail is?

Had plans to bring a trip down the west side of Dartmoor to Gunnislake in the autumn, but quite honestly I can't get the numbers to make it viable.  Not one reply to the trilobite hunting w/end around Builth Wells except a young lad who lives there.

Only one for a quarry near Fairford which is crammed with fossils, again for the autumn.

Who cares about apathy?

Talk again soon.

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

The clay pits aren't all "verboten" and it helps to have a few contacts within the industry.  They let me go to a few pits to do wildlife surveys  (there's quite a lot of peregrine falcons in residence) and they have to "restore" the landscape and create nature-friendly habitats when the pits close.

 If you do find yourself down at Gunnislake let me know as I know a few choice locations there.  If you can get hold of a couple of lamps and helmets even better. 

To be honest I might just come down on my own and not bother telling any of the rest of these people.

So I'm looking at the autumn perhaps.  Got shows right through the summer.

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Ok if you do manage to get down here send me a PM and we'll connect somewhere.

 I'm sure this site went off-line for a while and then reappeared.  It doesn't appear to get much traffic apart from a few "regulars" like thee and me and people who pop up for a while but I don't have a problem with that. 

Yes. I'll do that.

Who is running this site now?  - open question!

 Mind you I'm going to be going away (work) on and off, then this trip to Ardnamuchan, so if things get spasmodic don't worry.  I will be back!

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Hey Leah and Gus - you two fallen off the edge of the world????  Too many Pratchett books and you will believe the world is a flat disc (makes sense to me!!!!!) 

 How was Cyprus Leah?  Come on - tell all!

 And 'ow wuz Cleeeethorps Gus?

John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant

Cleethorpes didn't happen.  Me and my better half are going to Kent in May for a couple of weeks but it's going to be birdwatching rather than geology. 

Hey Guys, 

 sorry for the no-reply

 I came back from Cyprus and was straight into finishing my thesis and revising for exams. I have exactly 1 week and 7 hours until my entire degree is over! (It's quite a scary thought!)

 Cyprus was amazing, I had a fantastic time, not just looking at the geology but the archaeology as well. I will upload some pictures in a bit (just finishing off some work). Although if I never see a dyke again it will be to soon!

 I'm heading of to Llandudno in a couple of weeks (I have an internship as a biostratigrapher with Fugro that will hopefully turn into a full time job) and the geology up there looks pretty interesting so I'll be wandering about having a look at that. 

 Ooo what part of Kent are you heading too? my parents live ont he North Kent Coast so I know the area and the Geology pretty well 

Take care guys

Leah x 

Gus, I can understand you bird watchin'...but not your wife.  Oh you mean twitching!  Oops. 

I know the North Kent Coast as well - All 'Allows through Shepey and round to Dover having been dragged up in Sowf Eas' Lundin!  Del Boy Country to be precise.  Yuk!

Leah, please leave uploading photos until you've finished your thesis.  We don't want to hear from you for the next week and then a 'Yipeeeeeeeeeeee' will be most acceptable.

 Actually after Ardnamurcham I am  also overloaded with dykes.  More on that later

 Best of luck Geogirl!

 John

“Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.” -  Will Durant