Geologist and society based in Barnoldswick

[CPGS]

Hi to all Members,

For some time now Craven & Pendle Geological Society have been holding monthly meetings (October to April) in the Rainhall Centre. The society initially based at Barden High School but following the implemenation of 'Building Schools for the Future', we moved to Barnoldswick. Members have a multitude of interests with geology being just one. In the Summer months (May to September) our programme moves outdoors with varied walks to see points of geological interest. We have a web site (though somewhat 'long in the tooth' from a technological point of view) which depicts all of what we get up to - http://www.cpgs.org.uk

At our next meeting on Friday 9 March we welcome Professor Jamie Gilmore from University of Manchester who will give an illustrated talk covering prehistory, formation and evolution of the solar system and the bodies within it. For guests it costs £2.00 to attend.

When I have spent time looking at the forum in more detail I will post up other things of local geological interest.

[Sunray10]

Hi CPGS and a warm welcome. Sounds interesting this geological stuff.

[Stanley]

A welcome addition to the site. I have always had a hankering to know more about geology but other matters have always taken precedence. Bit late now for a full-blown study but I shall watch the topic with interest and support it.

[Julie in Norfolk]

Never too late Stanley, I am surprised at you! Depends on the full blown study however. Geology of popular dog walks in the Barlick area sound just up your street / footpath / route.

[Tizer]

I'd be a member of Craven & Pendle Geological Society if I lived in Barlick - but I'm a couple of hundred miles away! Geology is great fun as well as being intellectually satisfying and is a good way to improve powers of observation. Mrs Tiz has long been an amateur geologist and I got interested in minerals more recently and now have a collection of specimens (mostly purchased because I can't travel to collect them `in the wild'). But you don't have to go out to wild places to learn and practice geology, there's a lot to observe in our villages, towns and cities. You can often get rock guides to the materials used in buildings in our bigger towns and the cities, not just old buildings but some of the new ones use interesting paving and cladding materials. Serpentine from the Lizard peninsula was once used to clad posh shop fronts, not just in Britain but further afield such as in Paris. There are also now geoparks, like mini national parks, where you can follow routes with notice boards along the way. And for the braver, fitter, souls out there you can travel abroad to visit active volcanoes, geysers and glaciers!

[Julie in Norfolk]

Norfolk: Flint and chalk, flint and chalk, flint and chalk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/funstuff/3 ... aves.shtml

When you look at the interior, you would be forgiven for thinking that it was constructed of chalk bricks, but this is the way chalk looks in the bottom of a flint mine.

[CPGS]

Geoparks are a good way to get into geology. Anglesey has recently gained European GeoPark status. There information centre is in Amlwch and for anyone who enjoys a visit to Anglesey head off to Newborough and walk along the sand to Llanddwyn Island armed with one of the GeoPark Trail Guides. Make sure the tide is out when you reach the end where the colourful rocks are quite spectacular. For youngsters in scholl learning about things like Plate Tectonics, Llanddwyn Island is in fact a mini-example of what happens to plates - magic stuff. See the Anglesey info on our web site. For a local walk try along the Hodder at Slaidburn (mind you you would need a copy of my book as our geology is far more interesting than the high ground around Settle and Malham!

[Wendyf]

I think my bit of land is on Black Bowland Shale. Stanley put up a link on the old website to a geological survey from many years ago where it actually named the farm. The Lothersdale anticline passes very close too. We have a bit of topsoil then solid shale, which must be why the soil turns to mush very quickly when it rains.

[Stanley]

Jules, there are only so many hours in the day. Last two days spent writing text for a book My mate is doing about our pics 1970-1980. I shall be famous one of these days! (But not for geological knowledge I'm afraid....)

[Tizer]

Wendy, you might have your own gas supply!

[Wendyf]

I'm off to the Hire Centre for some fracking equipment

[CPGS]

WendyF

Lower Burnt Hill near Hawshaw Moor sits on Pendle Grit. Just below the grit there are Bowland Shales. The Pendle Grit outcrops in our region are important for new recruits into the Oil industry to come and see for themselves before they are let loose on Oil Rigs! (its an excellent reservoir rock for hydrocarbons (oil) whilst the Bowland Shales below are source rocks for the oil).

[Wendyf]

Drilling going ahead.......

[Stanley]

Wendy, if the earth moves for me I'll let you know...

[Tizer]

Just remember not to sub-contract drilling to BP, Wendy!

[Wendyf]