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Branch Organiser Cliff Probert 21 Dunscore Brae Hamilton ML3 9DH Tel 01698 828209

Email: west.scotland@ougs.orgUU

Day Field Trip to

Kinghorn

Leader Dr Andrew McLeish

Sunday 28th April 2013 Contact: west.scotland@ougs.org

Treasurer

Hammy Corrance

36 Bensley Avenue Girdle Toll

Ayrshire KA11 1AJ 01294 212801

Branch Web Site:

http://ougs.org.

ERRATIx

OPEN UNIVERSITY GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ~ WEST OF SCOTLAND BRANCH ~ NEWSLETTER

February 2013

West is Best

Ed’s ramblings

Happy New Year to all Those of you who didn’t make the AGM weekend missed two days of geology field trip, talk and discussion as well as a great social occasion. We made a list of possible field trips for 2013 to complement the week-long trip to NorthWest Scotland. I would be happy to hear from anyone with a few words to fill a page in the Newsletter. I’m sure some will be going out in the field to see things that others might like to read about. Similarly, Cliff would appreciate any help in organising the trips or even making a suggestion for an extra day out.

See you on a rock or a hard place sometime

Joyce

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……Saturday morning field trip This was a DIY trip with Stuart Swales taking us to the famous A9 road cutting at Birnam (NO 0395 4105) visited by generations of S339 Summer School students. In the past, the Earth Sciences Department has asked that the Society does not take field trips to the outcrop at Birnam so that its secrets are not let out to prospective students. In fact all of the

BRANCH ORGANISER’S NOTE Hello Everyone A Happy New Year to you all and I hope 2013 will be a good one. At the beginning of February we had a very successful AGM and Burns Supper weekend in Pitlochry. We were fortunate with the weather and had a cold and sunny morning for the field trip to a roadside outcrop on the A9 near Birnam to study metasediments and structures in the Southern Highland Group of the Dalradian, which were explained to us by Stuart Swales. After the AGM, Roger Anderton gave us a very interesting presentation on many aspects of the Dalradian. An excellent Burns Supper was followed by some very entertaining readings and recitals with including music on the small pipes from Ian Darroch. The evening was completed with a good-natured quiz run by Phyllis Tulkington. This is the last year Phyllis will run the quiz so the organisers will be looking for a volunteer put on a quiz next year. This year the Lindsay Hamilton trophy was awarded to Hammy Corrance. So many thanks to everyone for helping with the weekend and making it so enjoyable. No one has come forward to replace Stuart Fairley as Events Officer for the Branch and so for this year I will have to take on this role but I would be interested to hear from anybody who would be prepared to help with organising field trips. The other members of the committee are Hammy Corrance, Treasurer, Joyce Rammell, Newsletter Editor and Branch Website Co-ordinator and Julian Overnall, Librarian. The main field trip this year will be the week to the North West Highlands with Ian Allison and based at Inchnadamph Lodge. I hope to put on a couple of day trips this year including one led by Dr Andrew McLeish. The date of this trip is still to be finalised but the venue will most likely be to Kinghorn or St Monans. We are always interested to hear from any member with suggestions for future events and who are willing to help with the organising of events. This year the Society AGM will be held in Chester on April 6th and the executive committee are keen to encourage more people to attend the event. This is very much a social event and will include field trips, a lecture, and evening meal followed by a quiz. Further details can be found on the main OUGS website. I look forward to seeing many of you on the field trips this year.

Best wishes

Cliff Probert

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Cleavage in the outcrop

localities that were visited in that magical week at Kindrogan had been embargoed by the OU can now be used for day trips – or even weekends so that the areas can be revisited or marvelled at by newcomers now that the much-loved Summer School has bitten the dust. Back to our visit. We packed into cars and trundled off down the A9. After the late Friday pub night, some were more awake than others but we assembled at the outcrop, ready to take it all in. We had a good look and exchanged ideas of what we could see. Stuart then took over, giving us his take on what he had gleaned from the Summer School visit and re-visits on his own. The story is that this exposure comprises metasediments, part of the Southern Highland Group of the Dalradian Supergroup. The structures we could see formed during the Grampian phase of the

Caledonian Orogeny as part of the Highland Border downbend of the Tay Nappe and is situated about 1.5km northwest of the Highland Boundary Fault. We examined the outcrop both at a distance and close up, discussing the visible cleavage and way up of the beds.

The sun was shining straight

onto the outcrop surface giving a clear view of the bedding structures of the metasediments. The fining direction of the beds could be traced by eye, the beds showing sharp bases and would originally have fined upwards but now fining towards the core of the antiform, proving that the beds had been overturned then folded during the Caledonian Orogeny. We traced the folding structures and discussed in groups whether we could distinguish different periods of deformation within the outcrop. We were to have also visited a nearby quarry but the access was not good given the lying snow. We left that visit for another AGM. ……the business part MINUTES OF THE 2013 AGM Held at Pitlochry Youth Hostel on Saturday 2 nd February at 15.00 PRESENT Ben Browne, Hammy Corrance, Maggie Donnelly, John Duncan, David Hamilton, Julian Overnell, Cliff Probert, Joyce Rammell APOLOGIES Muriel Alexander, Brenda Elias, Stuart Fairley, Jane Hickman, Seonaid Leishman, Alison McMenemy.

Antiform with bedding picked out by colour

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Cliff Probert welcomed the assembled company to the 2013 AGM and pointed out that the number attending had dropped considerably but that the weekend would probably just about break even. He gave a quick resume of the activities of the previous year and gave an update on information from the Branch Organisers’ meetings. The weekend at Glenelg and the Post Exam weekend on Arran had been very well attended but unfortunately the trip leaders pinpointed for other day trips had been forced to withdraw at short notice. The Inchnadamph week in May was completely organised and fully subscribed. One place had become available and had been filled from the waiting list. MINUTES OF LAST AGM The minutes of the 2012 AGM had been circulated and copies were available at the meeting. There were no matters arising and no changes proposed. Adoption of the minutes proposed Julian Overnell seconded Hammy Corrance FINANCIAL REPORT Hammy reported that he had managed to spend very little money over the year. The major spend being on the Newsletter. The timing of the AGM and closure of the accounts at the end of December always managed to give false indications. There was still cash to deposit but most of the bills had been paid for the AGM. The Field Trip account showed as very healthy but a proportion of that was Inchnadamph deposits. Adoption of the accounts proposed Maggie Donnelly seconded Joyce Rammell NEWSLETTER Joyce reported that she had managed four newsletters in 2012. She had had a busy year and had been unable to source much copy apart from the events that had taken place during the year. Hopefully in 2013 there might be more, different content available. WEBSITE Joyce had struggled to add much in the way of information but would try to add more pictures and field trip content very soon. LIBRARY Julian reported only one item out on loan and had decided not to bring the library to the AGM to save space in the car. The list was on the website which any member could access to borrow books or maps. After some discussion, it was decided that we should use some of the cumulating funds to purchase maps and any required background information for the Northwest Highland trip. ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS BRANCH ORGANISER Cliff Probert made himself available for re-election. There were no other offers Proposer Joyce Rammell seconder John Duncan TREASURER Hammy Corrance agreed to carry on for another year as there were no offers from the assembled company. David Hamilton agreed to carry on as auditor of the accounts.

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Proposer John Duncan seconder Maggie Donnelly NEWSLETTER Joyce Rammell intimated that she was happy to carry on with the newsletter for another year unless someone else had literary ambitions. There were no takers. Proposer Cliff Probert seconder Julian Overnell WEBSITE The post of managing the website was offered but had no takers. Joyce reluctantly agreed to carry on in the meantime. Proposer Cliff Probert seconder Julian Overnell EVENTS FOR 2013 The Iain Allison-led trip to the Northwest Highlands is of course organised and fully subscribed. Cliff said that Andrew McLeish was happy to lead a trip but had specified limited dates and localities for which he was available. It was agreed he would be approached for a day at St Monans or Kinghorn for one of the April dates which would suit tides. Mike Keen had offered to lead a trip to Aberfoyle or Balmaha so that could be looked at for during the summer months. Cliff would speak to him and arrangements could be made by email. The Post Exam weekend was discussed and it was agreed to approach Andrew Bell to find out his availability. It was agreed he was the ideal leader for a follow up trip to the Lake District and the location at Keswick Youth Hostel had been very good. Another idea for a day trip was to invite Neil Clark to possibly lead us on a Gold Panning day and Julian offered his services for any of his local sites around Oban. Maggie is organising a trip for the Glasgow Society to Glen Orchy and that could be kept for a future West Scotland trip. The options look very good and of course other members not present are always free to offer ideas of sites they would find of interest. AOCB There was a proposal from the OUGS executive committee that OUGS pull out of OUSA. Cliff gave a bit of background information from the last Branch Organisers’ meeting and it was the general feeling of those present that OUGS should carry on as an individual society. A vote was taken and the meeting agreed that at the OUGS AGM, Cliff should vote to sever the link with OUSA. Past President, Angela Coe had put forward a proposal that OUGS should embrace the ecology and environmental fraternity of the OU and that OUGS should become a geology and ecology society. This was discussed and it was agreed without dissent that geology is our main interest and that OUGS should keep its narrow, geological remit. We always manage to include ecological, anthropological and historical input into our trips where appropriate. Cliff was charged with the duty of relaying West Scotland’s views at the forthcoming OUGS AGM. On the subject of the AGM, which will be on April 6th in Chester this year, it was noted that attendances are falling year on year and there is a need to encourage more members to participate. It had been decided to include more field trips to coincide with the AGM. There being no more business, the meeting was closed at 16.35.

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Evening talk Dr Roger Anderton Amang the rocks and Streams or why is the Dalradian so interesting? Roger gave us a great talk on the Dalradian. Roger is still living and working the area in his ‘retirement’ and first gave an overview of the general geology of the area. He described his early research work on Jura before discussing his more recent and current research on the Garvellochs and its significance to the depositional environment. He went on to describe the Port Askaig tillite deposits and how they were considered to be the result of either grounded ice or floating ice, showing examples of drop stones in finer sedimentary layers. There was some discussion about the dating of these deposits and their relationship to the Snowball Earth hypothesis which was reckoned to date from 650Ma while the Port Askaig tillite and Argyll Group were thought to have been laid down between 600Ma and 700Ma. Giving a vote of thanks to Roger, Cliff Probert persuaded the company to let Roger relax and get together to prepare the room for the evening meal. ..and the entertainment The meal once again took the form of a Burns Supper: cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps an’ tatties, followed by a selection of donated desserts and accompanied by wine provided by Branch funds. The haggis was formally piped in as usual by John Duncan and ably addressed by David Hamilton. After the meal, there was a selection of readings of Burns poetry by Julian Overnell, Joyce Rammell, Anne Burgess and Maggie Donnelly. Bob Morley, dressed appropriately, gave us a rendition of Tam O’Shanter with an amusing follow-up from Tam’s wife played by Christine Skinner. Alison Bramley gave us a couple of Burns songs, accompanied by her husband Glen with Louise on fiddle. Many thanks to willing hands, the washing up was soon done and the tables rearranged. This was followed by Phyllis Turkington’s legendary quiz. She stated that this was her last one, wanting to be able to relax and show that next year she didn’t need the answers written down. The bulk of the company repaired to the common room to listen to the marvelous piping of John Duncan and Iain Darroch, and indulge in some old songs as well as the amber nectar and good conversation. Finally an offer:

Open University Geological Society East of Scotland Branch

Complete collection of

Scottish Journal of Geology Vol 1 – Vol 48 Part 1

FREE to uplift Pitlochry area Contact: east.scotland@ougs.org

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FUTURE EVENTS for 2013 Talks………….

………..and Events

A reminder that the committee is always looking for ideas for field trips. If there is any location that you have a burning desire to visit, c ontact Cliff and we can try to organise a leader and gather a nucleus of enthusiasts to accom pany you. Contacts Cliff Probert: 01698 828209 west.scotland@ougs.org OUGS: http://ougs.org Stuart Swales: 01887 840377; east.scotland@ougs.org (AGS) Aberdeen Geological Society . Lectures – Thursdays in the Meston Building, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen at 6.30 pm. For further details see UU Uwww.aberdeengeolsoc.co.uk

(EGS) Edinburgh Geological Society . Lectures are held Wednesdays, 7.30 pm in the Hutton Lecture Theatre in the Grant Institute of Geology, on the University of Edinburgh's King's Buildings campus. For details of field trips please contact the EGS Excursions Secretary, e-mail excursions@edinburghgeolsoc.orgT. For further details see www.edinburghgeolsoc.org. (GSG) Geological Society of Glasgow . Lectures are held Thursdays, 7.30 pm in the Gregory Building, Lilybank Gardens, University of Glasgow. For details of lectures and field trips please contact secretary, Dr Simon Cuthbert geolsocglas@uk2.net. For further details see Uwww.geologyglasgow.org.uk

(HGS) Highland Geological Society . Lectures are held at 7.15 pm in the Fairways Leisure Centre, Castle Heather, Inverness. For details of events please contact Alison Wright, a.j.wright00@aberdeen.ac.uk. Website: http://www.spanglefish.com/highlandgeologicalsociet

Date Organisation Details Time Location

March 14thth

Geological Society of Glasgow

T Neville George Medal Lecture Populating Romer’s Gap: rebuilding terrestrial ecosystems after the end-Devonian mass extinction’ Professor Jenny Clack, Cambridge University

7.30 pm Glasgow University Gregory Building, Lilybank Gardens,

April 18th Geological Society of Glasgow

Measuring Palaeozoic time by isotopic dating 7.30pm Glasgow University Gregory Building, Lilybank Gardens

Date Location Details Organiser Contact

April 28th Kinghorn Leader Dr Andrew McLeish Cliff Probert west.scotland@ougs.org

May 11th to 17th Assynt

Visit to the NW Highlands led by Dr Iain Allison There is now a waiting list for participants

Cliff Probert west.scotland@ougs.org

May 13th to18th Arran Presidential trip led by Dr Nick Rogers Chris Arkwright events@ougs.org

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MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL It is even more important for continuing students to remain society members with the demise of Summer Schools. OUGS is the best way to get out into the real geology of our wonderful countryside and learn first hand from the experts in their field. Discussions with other like-minded enthusiasts is best way to continue learning. You can renew by completing the form on the OUGS ma in website: http://ougs.org/files/ouc/general/Membership_Renewa l_2012_PT2_dgcajgag1.pdf Or completing standing order mandate: http://ougs.org/files/ouc/general/SO-Mandate.pdf For those with no easy access to the internet, your membership renewal form is on the last page of the OUGS November newsletter.

ELECTRONIC ERRATIx Over half of our readers now receive their copy of ERRATIX via e-mail as a PDF file (300-500KB). If anyone else would like to do so, then please let me know (Adobe Reader can be downloaded free). Benefits are: • You’ll receive your copy 2-3 days ahead of postal delivery • It will be in glorious technicolour • You can store your copy on hard disk or print off if you wish – saving shelf space • Postal costs to the Society will be reduced.

Message from the Membership Secretary: RENEWAL REMINDER TO MEMBERS FOR 2013. If you are a continuing member renewals should be made on 1st January each year. Please note the following: 1. If you joined after 1st July 2011 your subscription is now due 1st January 2013. 2. If you were late in renewing for 2012, as I have received some late subscription even in September, remember that you still have to renew again 1st January 2013. 3. If you joined after 1st July 2012 you do not have to renew until 1st January 2014. Thank you Phyllis Turkington OUGS Membership Secretary.