Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a talk on the Tuesday 10th December 2024.
Title: The Complex Geology of the Somerset Coalfield
Speaker: Andy Gordon: Born in Inverness, Scotland, gained a geology degree at Edinburgh University in 1982. Spent a few years working on oil drilling rigs, mostly in the Norwegian Arctic Circle in the glamorous role of mud-logger. In 1988 started a career in IT Networks and Data Communications in the Midlands before moving to Yeovil in 2021 and retiring in 2022. Joined the Somerset Geology Group and tagging along with Dorset Building Stones group, he has rediscovered his love of geology in this wonderful part of the world.
Time: Talk will start at 7pm; finish approximately 8pm
Venue: Activity Meeting Room: Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RR
Lecture Entry Cost: £6 (£5 for DGAG members) collected on room entry
Booking a seat: Contact DGAG events at email: cwebb48578@aol.com
Talk Description: The talk is a summary of the speakers observations on the geology of the Somerset coalfield covering the last 300 plus years of interpretations/story crammed into 45 minute talk. The Somerset Coalfield is a bit of a secret to the rest of the country when we think about coal in the UK. The last coal pit closed in 1973. Starting with a ten-thousand-foot view of the geology of Somerset / the geology of the Somerset Coalfield, we will then drill down into the fossils found in the Somerset Coalfield (the largest collection of Carboniferous insects in Britain and the largest insect ever to fly). We will then get into the geological history of the Coalfield and debate why the Somerset Coalfield is the birthplace and home of English geology; and where the father of English strata geology did not give credit to a past Somerset geologist! Finally, we will get to the coalface and delve into the Variscan and later faulting, looking at early and contemporary maps and cross-sections. From the talk, you should have hopefully found it entertaining and come away with a good understanding of the history and geology of the Somerset Coalfield and an appreciation of the geology of Somerset. There will be an opportunity to challenge Andy with any questions throughout the talk.
Photo: Courtesy of the speaker: Section of Coal Country: John Strachey 1727
Additional Links:
- British Upper Carboniferous Stratigraphy : https://data.jncc.gov.uk/data/93992edc-4f36-403a-af95-fe8d2927d6ae/gcr-v11-british-upper-carboniferous-stratigraphy-c6.pdf
2. A useful starter explanation: https://kids.kiddle.co/Somerset_Coalfield
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a talk on the Tuesday 19th November 2024.
Title: Revisiting the Stone Circles of Dorset: An Archaeologist’s Perspective of Sarsen Stones
Speaker: Dr. Anne Teather
Time: Talk will start at 7pm; finish approximately 8pm
Venue: Activity Meeting Room: Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RR Lecture
Entry Cost: £6 (£5 for DGAG members) collected on room entry
Booking a seat: Contact DGAG events at email: cwebb48578@aol.com
Talk Description: A summary provided by the speaker: In prehistory, sarsen was a popular material used by people to construct monuments and stone circles. Until our recent work, the stone circles of Dorset were last examined in depth by Stuart and Peggy Piggott in 1939. In this presentation we will start with the Kingston Russell Stone Circle, the largest preserved stone circle in Dorset, and what we have learned about it. We will also provide an introduction to a new catalogue of stone circles across the county, that occur in historic accounts but are no longer preserved, demonstrating the importance of Dorset in the late Neolithic and Bronze Age (c.2500-1500 BC). We will also look at what else sarsen stone was used for in prehistory within the South Dorset landscape, and briefly discuss ways in which people can become involved in helping us to learn more.
Past Participate are a community archaeology company who have been researching the use of sarsen stones in the South Dorset Landscape. We are passionate about making archaeology accessible and providing volunteers with high quality engagement in high quality archaeological practice. Since 2018 we have been working with local volunteers to undertake a programme of excavation and survey on Tenants Hill (near Abbotsbury) and the surrounding landscape. Thanks to National Lottery Players we have recently received a grant to enable us to undertake a new 4 year project Living amongst the Sarsens: Revealing the Hidden Heritage of the Valley of Stones.
Photo: A Stone Circle (KR) : Courtesy of the speaker : KR stone circle Copyright Jim Rylatt
Additional Links:
1. Archaeology website
https://www.pastparticipate.co.uk/
2. Archaeology blog site
https://www.pastparticipate.co.uk/blog
Dorset Geologist’s Association Group (DGAG) will host a talk on the Tuesday 20 February 2024.
Title: A Geological Tour of Namibia
Speaker: Alan Driscole (DGAG member) – forty years in the oil & gas business including the Atlantic margin from the Barents Sea south to …… Namibia
Time: Talk will start at 7pm; finish approximately 8pm
Venue: Activity Meeting Room: Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, DT1 1RR
Lecture Entry Cost: £6 (£5 for DGAG members) collected on room entry
Booking a seat: Contact DGAG events at email: cwebb48578@aol.com
Talk Description: From some of the oldest fossils and highest dunes in the world to the largest meteorite, Namibia is a geological treasure house. In this talk we’ll explore the history of Namibia; from the Precambrian to the present day, making a diversion offshore to see how this history has been controlled by the formation and dismemberment of Gondwanaland. We’ll also discuss Namibia’s emerging important for both “old” energy and the energy transition.
Photos A & B: Courtesy of the speaker
A: Dunes at Sossusvlei
B: The Hoba meteorite (with the speaker for scale)
