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Newsletter - September 2009PDF version (2 Mb) of this newsletter
EditorialWell, I hope that you all enjoyed your BBQ summer! We certainly had some good outings despite the rain, which played a part in our Styal Day but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of participants.Before we start on Jim’s mouth-watering programme of lectures, we have one more field trip to enjoy. On Saturday, 10th October, Norma Rothwell is guiding us round the Building Stones of Manchester University Campus. This a Low-Mobility trip and a joint trip with the North West OUGS. There is Blue Badge free parking in the Quadrangle. We really get going on our indoor activities with a Conversazione, to which we have invited students from SEAES, and a lecture on Wednesday 14th October. So come along at 6.00 pm and catch up with the summer’s gossip over a glass of something and then enjoy John Nudds' lecture on Feathered Dinosaurs at 7.00 pm. After that we have Spiders on 28th October and a Darwin Day of 5 lectures in November, with Volcanoes to follow in December. If you are coming to the Darwin Day please let Jim Spencer know. There is no charge but space is limited. There are five lectures that day with a break of two hours for lunch (bring your own or go to a café). Quite a few people have expressed an interest in going to Newfoundland next year, so Jane will go ahead and make enquiries about accommodation and travel. With best wishes to all Mary Howie, MGA Newsletter Editor Mobility Problems?
Greater Manchester RIGS GroupAt the July meeting of the North West Geological Partnership, held at Natural England’s office in Manchester, it was agreed to provide funds for the restoration of the Rochdale Cemetery Geological Trail.Additional research is being carried out into the provenance of the specimens used in the trail. The projected survey of Healey Dell is in progress as is the assessment of a number of other sites. Marjorie E. Mosley, Secretary, Greater Manchester RIGS Group email: gmrigs@hotmail.com Field trip to Rochdale Cemetery - August 2009Jane Michael has written a report about the field trip to Rochdale CemeteryField trip to Frodsham - June 2009On a clear morning in June, seven of us gathered on Overton Hill for a field trip led by Duncan Woodcock. The sandstone escarpment is clearly visible from the M56, and so it was interesting to get up close. During the nineteenth century the sandstones were quarried extensively for building stone and together with the natural outcrops we have the opportunity today to inspect the rock faces and see what conclusions we can draw regarding the environment of deposition.The first location displayed rounded grains and cross bedding which indicate that the sand had been deposited in a shallow river channel. The red colout is due to a thin coating of haematite. Further along the path, mud flakes were found in coarser grained sandstone. Perhaps these were deposited by flash floods. The Cheshire Basin sandstones were deposited in the Triassic period, 248 to 213 Ma, when Britain lay at about 15 degrees north of the equator. A large river system carried sediments and these form the basis of the sandstones we see today. Finally we drove down to Frodsham station and inspected the dune bedded sandstone there, which had many bee holes in it. Duncan's interpretation of the rocks was helpful and sometimes thought provoking. A good morning out was had by all. Marjorie Mosley |