WINTER PROGRAMME
Copper Mineralisation
Tom Cotterell (NMW)
Saturday 15th December 2012, 11.00 am
Joint Meeting with the Russell Society
Department of School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University
Refreshments from 10.15
ALL WELCOME
Holiday Geology
BOOK ESSENTIAL
National Museum Cardiff
Saturday 12th January 2013, 11.00 am
Fossil starfish - evolution and origin of the modern species
Andy Gale (Portsmouth)
Saturday 26th January 2013, 11.00 am
In the Wallace Lecture Theatre, Department of Geography, Swansea University
Refreshments from 10.15
ALL WELCOME
Seismic Faults and Sacred Sanctuaries
[Joint Meeting with the Geological Society, South Wales Group]
Ian Stewart
School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University
Saturday 23rd February 2013, 11.00 am
Refreshments from 10.15
ALL WELCOME
AGM & Geology of Antarctica
Tom Sharpe (NMW)
In the Wallace Lecture Theatre, Department of Geography, Swansea University
Saturday 23rd March 2013, 11.00 am
Refreshments from 10.00
ALL WELCOME
Sunday 25 November 2012
Monday 28 November 2011
Winter Programme 2011/12
Saturday 22nd/Sunday 23rd October: Geofest; National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Saturday 19th November: Brian Williams (Aberdeen): Triassic Basins, North Atlantic Borderlands: Understanding the break-up of Pangea in the search for oil and gas: Cardiff University
Saturday 10th December (NOT AS PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED): The 1st Douglas Bassett Memorial Lecture. Michael Bassett (National Museum of Wales). Adam to Douglas: a geo-historical journey through North Wales. Swansea University
Saturday 14th January: Holiday Geology National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Saturday 28th January: Jonathan Lee (BGS) Cool Britannia: From Milankopvitch wobbles to Ice Ages. Swansea University
Saturday 18th February:[Joint Meeting with the geological Society, South Wales Group] Alex Maltman; Wine, whisky and beer: the role of geology. Cardiff University
Saturday 17th March: AGM and Presidential Address: Malcolm Shaw: Where Plates Meet: Danger and Delight. Swansea University
Please see newsletter for more information about our meetings.
(http://www.swga.org.uk/pdf/newsletter.pdf)
Saturday 19th November: Brian Williams (Aberdeen): Triassic Basins, North Atlantic Borderlands: Understanding the break-up of Pangea in the search for oil and gas: Cardiff University
Saturday 10th December (NOT AS PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED): The 1st Douglas Bassett Memorial Lecture. Michael Bassett (National Museum of Wales). Adam to Douglas: a geo-historical journey through North Wales. Swansea University
Saturday 14th January: Holiday Geology National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
Saturday 28th January: Jonathan Lee (BGS) Cool Britannia: From Milankopvitch wobbles to Ice Ages. Swansea University
Saturday 18th February:[Joint Meeting with the geological Society, South Wales Group] Alex Maltman; Wine, whisky and beer: the role of geology. Cardiff University
Saturday 17th March: AGM and Presidential Address: Malcolm Shaw: Where Plates Meet: Danger and Delight. Swansea University
Please see newsletter for more information about our meetings.
(http://www.swga.org.uk/pdf/newsletter.pdf)
Change of Meeting Date
Due to an unforeseen clash of our speaker’s commitments the December meeting in Swansea University, the Douglas Bassett Memorial Lecture by Prof. Mike Bassett, has had to be moved a week earlier than that advertised in the programme. The meeting will now take place on Saturday 10th December and not Saturday 17th December as originally planned.
Saturday 5 November 2011
Geofest 2011 - Local Groups and Organizations
The event was as usual hosted at and supported by the National Museum of Wales which is a superb location for such events and an institution with a fine heritage for geological research and exhibitions. It almost seemed a pity to be inside on such a nice day as you can see from this rare picture of Wales in the sunshine
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
The museum provided not just a location, but a great deal of support to the event including behind the scene tours such as the ones to look at the fossil collections being led by Tom Sharpe as you can see below
And this one to look at the mineral collections and the equipment used to identify such and research them being led by Tom Cotterell
The event was also supported well by many local geological groups. The South Wales Geologists Association were the hosting group and had a stand with many bargains to be had in the form of books and specimens for sale
The Russell Society were well represeted with a display of local minerals and information about them
Others including the Severnside OUGS group were also present, but i failed to get a good picture of their stand - sorry !
In addition to the groups a number of local professional geological and conservation groups were present such as the Forest Fawr Geopark (foreground) and Countryside Council for Wales (background) which you can see here, and the BGS Cardiff Office who you can't
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
The museum provided not just a location, but a great deal of support to the event including behind the scene tours such as the ones to look at the fossil collections being led by Tom Sharpe as you can see below
And this one to look at the mineral collections and the equipment used to identify such and research them being led by Tom Cotterell
The event was also supported well by many local geological groups. The South Wales Geologists Association were the hosting group and had a stand with many bargains to be had in the form of books and specimens for sale
The Russell Society were well represeted with a display of local minerals and information about them
Others including the Severnside OUGS group were also present, but i failed to get a good picture of their stand - sorry !
In addition to the groups a number of local professional geological and conservation groups were present such as the Forest Fawr Geopark (foreground) and Countryside Council for Wales (background) which you can see here, and the BGS Cardiff Office who you can't
Sunday 23 October 2011
Geofest 2011 - Lectures
At the Geofest 2011 hosted by the National Museum of Wales and the South Wales Geologists Association we were treated to a pair of excellent speakers.
First up was Dr John Nudds from Manchester University who took us through the history and biology of the famous fossil Archaeopteryx lithographica from the discovery of the first specimen that is now housed in the Natural History Museum in London to the very latest specimen which has only just been announced
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
In taking us through the history John explained how each specimen found has added to our knowledge of this important evolutionary "link" between dinosaurs and birds with features of both present
With the annopuncement of some brand new science that is about to be published and some interesting qurestions John brought the first session to a close
In the later afternoon we were entertained by Dr Dave Martill of Portsmouth University who explained to us the biology and history of discovery of Pterosaurs and how by looking at the features of the bones and using comparative anatomy we can come to learn how they lived.
Despite this being an excellent presentation in its intended content, probably the highlight of the talk for many came when Dave decided to demonstrate how they could work as quadrupedal land animals and not bipedal as suggested by some authors
This started with a demonstration of how amphibians and early reptiles have a very sprawling gate, but this is very energy inefficient
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
As things developed the legs were brought under the body which is more effective, but still requires a lot of energy to support the body
Until with Dinosaurs the legs are brought under the body which allows for long periods of standing with virtually no energy expended. He described them as coffee table animals
And finally how some of them achieved a bipedal gate
Pterosaurs on the other hand have a bent leg gate for their rear legs
Which works well as you lean forwards into a quadrupedal stance
He told us how the animals developed a fantastic structure in their bones such that when they were wanting to take off they could crouch with all four limbs
And then quite literally throw themselves into the air. As you can see from this picture Dave is quite an inexperienced Pterosaur as he's only managed to get his rear end into flight
First up was Dr John Nudds from Manchester University who took us through the history and biology of the famous fossil Archaeopteryx lithographica from the discovery of the first specimen that is now housed in the Natural History Museum in London to the very latest specimen which has only just been announced
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
In taking us through the history John explained how each specimen found has added to our knowledge of this important evolutionary "link" between dinosaurs and birds with features of both present
With the annopuncement of some brand new science that is about to be published and some interesting qurestions John brought the first session to a close
In the later afternoon we were entertained by Dr Dave Martill of Portsmouth University who explained to us the biology and history of discovery of Pterosaurs and how by looking at the features of the bones and using comparative anatomy we can come to learn how they lived.
Despite this being an excellent presentation in its intended content, probably the highlight of the talk for many came when Dave decided to demonstrate how they could work as quadrupedal land animals and not bipedal as suggested by some authors
This started with a demonstration of how amphibians and early reptiles have a very sprawling gate, but this is very energy inefficient
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
As things developed the legs were brought under the body which is more effective, but still requires a lot of energy to support the body
Until with Dinosaurs the legs are brought under the body which allows for long periods of standing with virtually no energy expended. He described them as coffee table animals
And finally how some of them achieved a bipedal gate
Pterosaurs on the other hand have a bent leg gate for their rear legs
Which works well as you lean forwards into a quadrupedal stance
But not so well if you try and stand upright
He told us how the animals developed a fantastic structure in their bones such that when they were wanting to take off they could crouch with all four limbs
And then quite literally throw themselves into the air. As you can see from this picture Dave is quite an inexperienced Pterosaur as he's only managed to get his rear end into flight
[Click any picture for slideshow format]
Friday 17 June 2011
Sully Island Field Trip Cancelled
Sully Island Field Trip Cancelled
Due to the weather forecast for Saturday 18th June 2011 (Sharp thundery/hale showers and high winds!), and the fact that there is no-where to shelter we have decided to cancel the Sully Island field trip.Apologies for any inconvenience.
Saturday 11 June 2011
Building Stones of Cardiff Bay - Thursday 11th August 2011
An evening stroll around Cardiff Bay looking at building stones and their geology led by Lynda Garfield and Dave Wellings on behalf of the Cardiff Naturalists Society . Meet at the Junction of Bute Street and St James Street
The walk will take about 2 hours and finish around the Scott Harbour area
The walk will take about 2 hours and finish around the Scott Harbour area
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