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.
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February 2019
A Look at the Microscopic Fossil Record of the Jurassic Coast
Talk by Richard Hallett. It will give an introduction to Mesozoic microfossils, discuss their distribution in the local fossil record and contribution to understanding the stratigraphy of the Wessex Basin. This is the second of a series of Earth Science-based lectures organised by DGAG in collaboration with other groups. As the Dorset County Museum is closed for refurbishment, 'til summer 2020, the lectures will take place in Committee Room 1 at County Hall. They will follow the familiar pattern of being…
Find out more »March 2019
The end of the Cretaceous: global and local perspectives
Talk by Professor Andy Gale. The Cretaceous-Paleogene unconformity in England. Uplift and erosion related to the Icelandic mantle plume. During the late Cretaceous to early Paleogene, the present-day area of Britain and Ireland emerged from nearly total submergence by the chalk sea. What mechanism was responsible for this major marine regression? This is the third of a series of Earth Science-based lectures organised by DGAG in collaboration with other groups. As the Dorset County Museum is closed for refurbishment, 'til summer 2020, the lectures will…
Find out more »Purbeck Field-trip
Includes a visit to Lander's Quarry for 10.30 a.m. We'll be shown round by Trev Haysom, a leading authority on the Purbeck Beds. We will visit both the quarry and the mine. Therefore participants should have a torch, hard hat, waterproofs and wellies. We will then go to the Square and Compass for lunch before a circular walk to Winspit and Seacombe Cliff and Quarry and then returning to Worth Matravers. Alan Holiday is leading the second half of the…
Find out more »April 2019
The deep structure beneath the Dorset region
Using seismic lines, gravity, magnetics, boreholes and pure conjecture to re-construct the history from the Lower Paleozoic to the Triassic. Talk by Dr Malcolm Butler. This continues the series of Earth Science-based lectures organised by DGAG in collaboration with other groups. As the Dorset County Museum is closed for refurbishment, 'til summer 2020, the lectures will take place in Committee Room 1 at County Hall. They will follow the familiar pattern of being on the second Wednesday of the month starting at…
Find out more »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 »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 »DGAG AGM
Saturday January 11th: DGAG AGM, Broadmayne Village Hall. 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
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)
As the National restrictions begin to relax, we hope to restart many of our planned events, including field trips. All events will be compliant with the relevant COVID-guidelines. Geologists' Association Coronavirus Action Plan
Find out more »April 2020
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…
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