Welcome to the official website of the Dorset Geologists’ Association Group (DGAG).
Upcoming events of general geological interest in Dorset, and the surrounding region, are listed below.
For a more specific listing, use the search bar, below, or select one of the following categories:
Dorset Geologists’ Association Group (DGAG), Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire.
Get involved! For geoconservation work parties, see the Dorset’s Important Geological Sites (DIGS) events list.
Events Search and Views Navigation
May 2019
Glamorgan Heritage Coast: DGAG Residential weekend
DGAG Residential weekend 2019 This year we are visiting the Glamorgan Heritage Coast (south-east Wales). Dates: Fri.3rd May to Sunday 5th May. Some may want to stay over Sunday night and do more on Monday. Leaders: John Scott and Kelvin Huff Come and view the results of Dinantian storms (Lower Carboniferous), the effects of the Variscan and later orogenies, Triassic desert wadis and lakes where early dinosaurs roamed. See the Triassic/Jurassic boundary and unconformities, a rare Jurassic rocky shoreline and…
Find out more »June 2019
Hay Tor and other Dartmoor locations
Igneous rocks and weathering. The trip will cover locations such as Hay Tor, looking at the geological and geomorphological features of the granite. There will also be visits to localities looking at the evolution of tors and a chance to view the metamorphic aureole and contact zone. If you wish to attend please contact Alan or Kelvin and we'll add you to the list and provide further details.
Find out more »July 2019
Fossil Fayre at the Square and Compass
Unfortunately, the Fossil Fayre has been cancelled. It is hoped to reschedule at a later date. When this happens, we would anticipate that both the Dorset Geologists' Association Group (DGAG) and Dorset's Important Geological Sites (DIGS) will be still be represented.
Find out more »August 2019
Portishead – Postponed until further notice
POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE We will keep you updated as soon as new arrangements are put into place. The original plan is outlined below: Meet at 10.30 am at the western end of the esplanade at Portishead (café and toilets, see map. Nearest postcode to meet location: BS20 7HU. Then walk SW along the Severn Estuary foreshore looking at Devonian Old Red Sandstone sediments with interesting sedimentary structures before seeing a fine example of an unconformity with Triassic breccia…
Find out more »September 2019
Ferruginous upwelling and phosphate availability in the Roper Basin, Australia
Our first Autumn 2019 Lecture. It is by Brooke Johnson (University of Oxford) on: Ferruginous upwelling and phosphate availability in the Roper Basin, Australia. Wednesday September 11 Dorset County Hall 7 pm
Find out more »October 2019
When did the Moroccan High Atlas get high?
Lecture by Dr Sarah Boulton (University of Plymouth) Wednesday October 9 Dorset County Hall 7 pm
Find out more »Holiday Rocks
Broadmayne Village Hall. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Please consider telling us about your 'geology on holiday' memories. Let Kelvin or Alan know if you can help.
Find out more »November 2019
Dangerous Minerals!
Dangerous Minerals! Lecture: Dr Giles Droop (University of Manchester, Rtd.) Wednesday 13 November 7 p.m. Dorset County Hall, Admission £5 Please note that this is a change to the original lecture programme. We hope to reschedule 'Sarsens: Troublesome Stones of Dubious Origin' by Dr Stewart Ullyott (University of Brighton, Rtd.) to a later date.
Find out more »DGAG Annual Dinner
DGAG Annual Dinner at the Rembrandt Hotel, Weymouth. Guest Speaker: Dr. Jon Murden of Dorset County Museum. 7.00 p.m. Booking forms in the Newsletter or contact Kelvin
Find out more »December 2019
Telling the Stories of the Jurassic Coast
Talk by Sam Scriven, Head of Heritage and Conservation at the Jurassic Coast Trust. Effective engagement is a cornerstone of environmental conservation but the geological stories that can be derived from the Jurassic Coast are seemingly endless in number. Making sense of such a vast and varied repository is a significant challenge - we can't include everything and we certainly can't satisfy all audiences. The Jurassic Coast Trust publication 'Fossils of the Jurassic Coast' and the interpretation framework for the…
Find out more »Xmas workshop
Saturday December 14th: Xmas workshop at Broadmayne Village Hall, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Find out more »January 2020
Offshore wind farms: the importance of geology for renewable energy
Offshore wind farms: the importance of geology for renewable energy Talk by David Shiston (Atkins) Welcome to the next decade of the Anthropocene and the first DGAG lecture of the year.
Find out more »February 2020
From South Georgia to the South Downs
From South Georgia to the South Downs. Lecture by Professor Rory Mortimore (University of Brighton, retired). The geology of Chalk is likely to feature at some point!
Find out more »March 2020
The surface of Mars: ancient and modern processes on the Red Planet
The surface of Mars: ancient and modern processes on the Red Planet. Lecture by Dr Joel Davis (ExoMars, Natural History Museum)
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DGAG Events and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In view of current Government advice concerning the Coronavirus pandemic we must regrettably postpone or cancel our planned events, including evening lectures and field trips. The following events are postponed until further notice: Wednesday April 8th: DGAG Lecture: ‘Carbonate concretions in the Dorset Jurassic’. Saturday April 25th: Field-trip to Portishead. Wednesday 20th May: Field-trip to Vale of Wardour. May's GeoWeek activities are also likely to be severely affected. This year's Lyme Regis Fossil Festival has been provisionally rescheduled for the…
Find out more »April 2020
CANCELLED Carbonate concretions in the Jurassic Coast
Carbonate concretions in the Jurassic Coast. Lecture by Professor Jim Marshall, Liverpool University.
Find out more »CANCELLED Portishead
DGAG Field Trip to Portishead. Leader Alan Holiday. Meet at 10.30 am at the western end of the esplanade at Portishead. Nearest postcode to rendezvous: BS20 7HU. Then walk SW along the Severn Estuary foreshore looking at Devonian Old Red Sandstone (ORS) sediments with interesting sedimentary structures before seeing a fine example of an unconformity with Triassic breccia over the ORS sediments. Later, look at the eastern end of the section (Woodhill Bay) where Lower Carboniferous sediments show…
Find out more »May 2020
CANCELLED The Vale of Wardour and Chicksgrove Quarry
This field trip was originally scheduled for Wednesday 25 March. However, due to flooding in the area, has been postponed to Wednesday 20 May. DGAG Field Trip: Steve Hannath is taking us on a 5 mile walk in the Vale of Wardour, then after lunch at the Wyndham Arms in Dinton, the manager of Chicksgrove Quarry will take us on a tour. As we need to order our food before the day members should book their place with Val Fogarty…
Find out more »June 2020
Dartmoor
DGAG Field Trip. Leader Alan Holiday. Includes visits to Haytor, Two Bridges Quarry, Burrator Reservoir and Merivale Quarry. Detailed itinerary: Take A35 to Exeter then follow M5 around Exeter. Take A38 (signposted for Plymouth) at end of motorway section. Take A382 Bovey Tracey road. Then follow B3344 and look for Haytor sign. Park at third car park nearest to Haytor. There are toilets at the first car park. Locality 1: Haytor. GR SX 7587 73. Granite varieties - Tor Granite…
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