Geology – East Lothian u3a

Different ground-water oxidation states of Iron minerals beautifully pick out the cross-bedding in greens and reds in this fluvial Carboniferous sandstone

Contact: geology@eastlothianu3a.org.uk

When:

1st, and 3rd Thursdays, 2 – 4 pm

Where:

Autumn and Winter:
Star room in the John Gray Centre,Haddington,

Programme of talks for 2024/5:

Date	Topic	Reference	Speaker
Oct 3	Glaciers Come and Go – Quaternary techniques and person	“Set in Stone” Chapter 5	John H
Oct 17	Glacial Landforms – Erosion & Deposition with ref to East Lothian		John H
Nov 7th	Sea Level Change – Causes and effects, raised beaches	“Set in Stone” P87	Peter W
Nov 21	David McAdam Memorial Lecture – The Caves of Assynt – Climate history in quaternary cave sediments	General Appeal	Tim Lawson
Dec 5th	The Anthropocene – Contemporary Debate	Current Debate	Tony E
Dec 19th	Christmas do – Icing on the cake		All
2025
Jan 16th	Peri-glacial processes – processes and landforms since the ice		Alan K
Jan 30th	Vegetation spreads north – how vegetation gradually developed after the ice	“Set in Stone” Chapter 5	Sandra G
Feb 6th	Cambrian Explosion of Life – the Burgess Shale	“Set in Stone” P50-51	Tony E
Feb 20th	Fossils and Rock Types – why fossils are preserved in certain situations: limestone, shales, fossil graveyards	“Set in Stone” P53-60	Tom S
Mar 6th	Climate change. past, present and future		?
Mar 20th	Oil & Gas – In North Sea and Oil shale in West Lothian		Ian W ?
April 3rd	The importance of fossils	Set in stone p89-92	Tom S
April 17th	Sands & Gravels – In East Lothian	Link to Field Trip	?

Link to October edition of Down to Earth Extra magazine:

https://mcusercontent.com/5e1ddb80db2745d7dda6fef1b/files/ef256267-2b7e-326e-e02b-ec85b7794586/DtoE_extra_October_2024.pdf

Important documents

Before a field trip

1. Personal risk assessment – u3a guidance for use before taking part in any interest group

If you suffer from a significant medical condition that might cause difficulties for yourself or others, take medical advice and consider discussing the issue with the group leader. It is not essential to disclose health details to the group leader or to anyone else.

People who fit within the higher at risk groups (or who are supporting such individuals) should take particular care when making decisions about attendance, with due consideration of the risks associated with Covid-19. It hasn’t gone away yet!
Do not attend if you have any symptoms of Covid-19, or if you, or anyone you have been in close contact with, or has tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 10 days. The main symptoms are a new continuous cough, a high temperature and/or a loss of smell or taste. Sore throat, a runny nose or diarrhoea can also indicate infection with covid-19.

The leader will have carried out a risk assessment and will highlight any particular issues in the details of the walk and /or at the briefing in advance and at the start.

2. u3aSafety disclaimer

The person responsible for your safety and happiness on a walk is yourself. The u3a leader will lead the walk and will carry a basic first aid kit but he/she may not have specific medical training. The walk leaders will show their group the route and will lead the way but it is up to the individual to take care and to know their own capabilities and limitations.

3. Activities and outings disclaimer

Members participating in group activities and outings do so at their own risk. As a

result members should be confident that they are fit enough to take part. If in any doubt

members should seek medical advice and discuss with the group leader.

Members must therefore take full personal responsibility for the decision to

participate.

Note that although u3a activities and outings are covered by third party Public Liability insurance, there is NO personal accident insurance cover. You may wish to check that your personal insurers cover you for these activities.

Declaration

I have read the above information regarding participation in U3A activities and

outings and understand that it is up to me to make sure that I can do the activity

and outing safely.

I am solely and fully responsible for my decision to take part.

4. Data protection – Sharing personal information

I agree to my contact details (name, email address, emergency contact phone number, and mobile number,)

being recorded by the Group Leader, Deputies + trip organisers for the purpose of organising excursions. I also agree to my contact details being shared between

other members of the group for the purpose of arranging outings.

After the walk

If you develop symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days of an indoor geology meeting or a field trip inform Helen Horn at 07980742384 or 0136864331

Down to Earth Extra

An easy to read monthly magazine covering current geological events and news as well as details of new books and holidays with a geological interest.

https://mcusercontent.com/5e1ddb80db2745d7dda6fef1b/files/da6764d8-da16-7ef1-eb78-fa1ff7a2d6bd/DtoE_extra_August_2024.pdf

Recommended geology books:

Alan McKirdy Set In Stone. The geology and landscapes of Scotland.

The group uses this as a course book to support our talks.

Emeleus, C.H. Tertiary Igneous Activity. 357-397 in Craig, G.Y. (Editor) 1983. Geology of Scotland (second edition). Scottish Academic Press Ltd: Edinburgh ISBN 0 7073 0316 8

Lamb, S. and Sington, D. 1998. Earth Story, the shaping of our world. BBC Books: London ISBN 0 563 38799 8

McAdam, AD & Clarkson, ENK. (Editors) 1996 Lothian Geology, An Excursion Guide. Edinburgh Geological Society c/o British Geological Survey. ISBN 0 904440 06 0

Muir Wood, R. 1978. On the Rocks, a Geology of Britain. British Broadcasting Corporation: London ISBN 0 563 16211

Additional books and maps you might like to consider:

Eicher, D.L. 1976. Geologic Time. Prentice-Hall International, Inc: London ISBN0-13-352500-7

Bishop A.C., Woolley AR, Hamilton W.R., & 1999. Philip’s Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils. Published by Philips in association with the Natural History museum. ISBN978-0-540-07429-7 (Previously published as the Hamlyn Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils)

Institute of Geological Sciences (NERC). 1978. Haddington Scotland Sheet 33W & Part of 41.

Solid Edition. 1:50 000 Series

Jerram, D. 2011. Introducing Volcanology A Guide to Hot Rocks. Dunedin Academic Press Ltd: Edinburgh. ISBN 978-1-906716-22-6

Jones, S. 2014. Introducing Sedimentology. Dunedin Academic Press Ltd: Edinburgh. ISBN 978-1-780-46017-8

Park, G. 2006 (third edition 2019). Introducing Geology. A guide to the world of rocks. Dunedin Academic Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 978-1-78046-075-8

Peacock, S. 2021. Geology for Walkers. ISBN 9798595445238

Wyse Jackson, P. N. 2010. Introducing Palaeontology – A Guide to Ancient Life. Dunedin Academic Press Ltd: Edinburgh. ISBN 978-1-90671-615-8

Sanders, I. 2018. Introducing Metamorphism. Dunedin Academic Press Ltd: Edinburgh. ISBN 978-1-780460-64-2

Collecting and Conservation (sites and the all-important codes)

Scottish fossil code:https://www.nature.scot/landforms-and-geology/protecting-our-geodiversity/codes-researchers-and-collectors/scottish-fossil-code

Selected References
BM(NH). 1975. British Palaeozoic Fossils. British Museum (Natural History): London ISBN 0 565 05624 7
Conserving Scotland’s rocks, fossils and landforms [leaflet]. Scottish Natural Heritage Crofts, R. and 8 others. 2020. Guidelines for geoconservation in protected and conserved areas. Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 31. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN
Digne Declaration. 1991. https://www.bing.com/search?q=DIGNE+DECLARATION&form=ANNNB1&refig=9b75902c92224fa7a5aeb032e6d8bdd2
Geological Conservation Review Series. Joint Nature Conservation Committee: Perterborough Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve [leaflet]. Scottish Natural HeritageNorth West Highlands Rock Route [leaflet]. Scottish Natural Heritage
Lothian and borders geoconservation leaflets (previously RIGS) : https://www.scottishgeology.com/find-out-more/geoconservation
Scottish Fossil Code [leaflet] Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Fossil Code. 2008. Scottish Natural Heritage https://www.nature.scot/landforms-and-geology/protecting-our-geodiversity/codes-researchers-and-collectors/scottish-fossil-code

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (nature.scot)

Stone, P. and 4 others. 2012. British Regional Geology: South of Scotland (4th edition). BGS: Keyworth, Nottingham

Some further links:

Down to Earth Extra: https://geosupplies.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5e1ddb80db2745d7dda6fef1b&id=a4e9426bb7&e=8b962304ae

British Geological Survey: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/

Helping to safeguard Skye’s fossil heritage https://www.nature.scot/landforms-and-geology/protecting-our-geodiversity/codes-researchers-and-collectors/helping-safeguard-skyes-fossil-heritage-faqs

Lothian and Borders geoconservation (previously Riggs group) https://www.scottishgeology.com/find-out-more/geoconservation

Geoconservation leaflets: https://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/home/geoconservation/

National Nature Reserves in Scotland https://www.nnr.scot

Scottish Geoparks https://www.scottishgeology.com/geopark

Scottish natural heritage “East Lothian and the Borders a landscape fashioned by geology”

https://www.nature.scot/doc/landscape-fashioned-geology-east-lothian-and-borders#:~:text=Landscape%20fashioned%20by%20geology%20-%20East%20Lothian%20and,varied%20landscape%20was%20formed%20over%20500%20million%20years.

NatureScot https://www.nature.scot
UNESCO https://www.unesco.org

The following books can be borrowed by asking Helen Horn (helen.m.horn@gmail.com):

Title	Author / Editor	Publisher	Edition	Date
Arthur’s Seat Journeys and Evocations	Stuart McHardy and Donald Smith	Luath Press	1st	2012
Edinburgh Geology : An excursion guide	G.H. Mitchell, E.K. Walton and Douglas Grant	Edinburgh Geological Society	1st	1960
Edinburgh Rock : The Geology of Lothian	Euan Clarkson and Brian Upton	Dunedin Academic Press	1st	2006
The Epochs of Nature	Georges-Louis Leclerc	The University of Chicago Press	1st	2018	edited and translated by Jan Zalasiewicz, Anne-Sophie Milon and Mateusz Zalasiewicz
Excursion Guide to the Geology of Arran	Murray MacGregor	Geological Society of Glasgow	2nd	1972
The Geology of Britain An Introduction	Peter Toghill	Airlife publishing	1st	2013
The Geology of The Lothians and South East Scotland : An excursion guide	G.Y. Craig and P. McL. D. Duff	Scottish Academic Press	1st	1975
Geology and Landscapes of Scotland	Conn Gillen	Terra	1st	2003
The Geology of Scotland	Nigel H. Trewin	The Geological Society	4th	2002
Geology of Scotland	G.Y. Craig	Scottish Academic Press	2nd	1983
Great Geologists	M.D. Simmons	Halliburton	1st	2018
James Hutton – Present and Future	G.Y. Craig and J.H. Hull	Geological Society, London	1st	1999	Special publication no. 150
James Hutton The Founder of modern Geology	Donald B. McIntyre and Alan McKirdy	The Stat ionery Office	1st	1997
On The Map	Simon Garfield	Profile Books Ltd		2013
Revolutions in the Earth : James Hutton and the true age of the World	Stephen Baxter	Widenfeld and Nicholson	1st	2003
The Man who found Time	Jack Repcheck	Pocket Books	1st	2004
The Map that changed the World	Simon Winchester	Penguin Books	1st	2002

We are about to start year 2 of a three year Rolling Curriculum especially for those with little geological knowledge. Anyone with the knowledge will be asked to help with the sessions!