Field Trips for 2012

12th. May: Met at Ryhope Green (NGR 414529*) at 10.30hrs. Ryhope Dene, Seaham and Blast Beach. Durham Permian. Rocks belonging to the top of the Permian Magnesian Limestone sequence, e.g. the Concretionary Limestone, Roker Dolomite and Seaham Formations were examined, their history of deposition, dissolution and disturbance of the beds repeated up the succession. Other features seen were our geologically young (Devensian) glacial beds, coastal erosion, and the impact of past industries on the coastline - the last two events being closely linked! Leader: Andy Lane, Univ. of Sunderland. Click here for a report and photo's
A more detailed report is available, written by Gordon Liddle, in the June 2012 newsletter.

23rd. June : The meeting was in two parts. Leaders: Derek Teasdale & Gordon Liddle: Part 1: Met 10.30am at GR NZ078967. Wards Hill (south of Rothbury) a roadstone quarry that provides an exposure of the Whin Sill.
Part 2: Meet 1:00pm at NZ054989: Lordenshaws Hill Fort: the effects of geology on the landscape as well as enigmatic Cup & Ring marks, and Tosson Lime Kiln (NU027009) one of the best preserved lime kilns. Click here for more details of both trips.
A preliminary Report on this field trip, and photo's is available here.

7th. July - Leader, Dr. John Knight, Harworth Minerals Consultancy, Programme Sec. for YGS. The Sedgwick Geological Trail. Met 10.30am at the viewpoint and large parking area (SD694912) at the side of the A684 (Hawes road) at 3.6 km to the ESE of Sedbergh. The car park is immediately adjacent to the minor road descending to Danny Bridge (SD698913), where the Sedgwick Geological Trail commences. Click here for a report on the trip. For photo's, click here.

4th. August: Leader: Jon Barber, Univ. of Leeds. Glacial geomorphology and anthropogenic alteration in Swaledale: moraines mines and mounds.
Met in the Village Square at Reeth at 10:00am.
A seven mile circular tour around Reeth allowed examination and discussion of some of the more interesting geomorphological features of Swaledale. From a glacial history perspective the moraine and associated glaciofluvial features in Swaledale are well preserved and well defined. Arthur Raistrick (1926, 1927) described moraines along Swaledale at Gunnerside, Feetham, Grinton and Ellerton which he correlated with corresponding cross-valley features found in the dales confining the Ure, Nidd, Wharfe and Aire to the south.
The party travelled downstream of Reeth to the moraine at Grinton where there was a discussion as to how these ice readvance features fitted in with the accepted view of a relatively rapid deglaciation following the Last Glacial Maximum at around 20 thousand years before present. Swaledale also contains well preserved evidence of human activity including boundary defining earthworks and the remains of large-scale historical mining. These were explored on the return trip to Reeth.
Raistrick. A., 1926. The glaciation of Wensleydale, Swaledale and adjoining parts of the Pennines. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 20, 366 – 410.
Raistrick, A., 1927. Periodicity in the glacial retreat in West Yorkshire. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 21, 24 – 28.
A full report by Gordon Liddle- click here.
A brief description with photo's - click here.

September: There was no meeting organised by N.E.G.S. for this month. However, members were informed of a meeting organised jointly by the YGS and Nat. Hist. Soc. "The Rookhope Borehole-50 years on"- 1st and 2nd Sep. More details- click here.
Top of page      Back to Field trips page.