Gripped by snow and ice and shrouded in fog, the Derbyshire Pennines were not immediately attractive to geologists, but six of us had a stimulating walk around several sites near Cromford, led by Ian Chisholm.     Black Rocks picnic site car park was solid with ice, but we walked up to the top of the Ashover Grit escarpment and looked at the view across the valley to try to establish the nature of the slump features along Barrel Edge and the importance of the Bonsall Fault, which can be observed in Balleye Quarry opposite.     The mine tip at Black Rocks has many mineral specimens associated with lead, zinc and copper ores.

After lunch we visited the National Stone Centre nearby and enjoyed Ian's explanations of the different sorts of limestones in three of the quarries.     The size of the algal reefs in the lower quarries and the single bedding plane which makes up the floor of the quarry in the bedded sequence were very impressive.     Ian produced a well-presented and informative booklet, which will be our guide to the area in the future.

For more information about the Trust see West Yorkshire Geology Trust.

The Huddersfield Geology Group has been offered a chance to take part in this fascinating project.     The Museum has four display cabinets which it would like to use with community groups and we have been offered one of these cabinets to fill with our best rock, mineral and fossil specimens, which would go on display in the Museum from June to September.

The intention is that each cabinet should represent the individuals in the group and the spirit of that group, rather than teaching geology to the general public.     It is important to tell Museum visitors what the objects are and what their significance to the owner is.     It is intended that there will be audio players in each cabinet, playing interviews with the participants talking about their objects and their group.     The labels and signage are to be designed by a design team using the participants' words.

Each cabinet has been designed and made by the Museum's technicians.     They are about 70cm x 40cm and have four display areas: a top case; two drawers; a pull-out support with information about the group and the objects in the cabinet.     There is a third drawer for visitor feedback.

The Museum will work with our group over four sessions.     The sessions involve handling related objects from Museum collections, looking at museum display practice, recording participants talking about their objects, agreeing the contents of the cabinet, and organising the layout within the cabinet.     There would also be a behind-the-scenes look at the geology store.     The sessions will take place at these times:

Please let Alison (01484 608004) know if you are interested in using your rocks, minerals and fossils in this innovative way or just turn up to the sessions in April and May.

An Illustrated Lecture on Plate Tectonics by Professor Lyn Frostick - Tuesday 24th March at 19.15

University of Huddersfield, Room T5/10 Technology Building

The idea that the earth's crust is formed by a series of plates which move is relatively new.     The development of this controversial theory will be part of a lecture explaining the role and significance of the theory today.

Membership £7 per year
Visitors £2 per lecture
Information from John Broadbent 01484 650171

Saturday 21st March at The British Geological Survey, Keyworth 14.00 - 17.00
The Permian Zechstein Basin of northern England and Europe: a tribute to D.B. Smith

The late Denys Smith's contribution to our understanding of the Permian Zechstein basin was immense.    This meeting offers an overview of both Denys' work and exciting new developments in the sedimentology, basin evolution and applied geology of the Zechstein sequence of northeast England and central Europe.     During refreshments there will be an opportunity to view interesting cores and specimens from the Permian of the region.

Programme:

14.00 - 14.05    Society Business and Introduction by Paul Wignall, President

14.05 - 14.30    Denys Smith and the unravelling of the mysteries of the Permian of north-east England - a personal view by Dr Douglas W. Holliday, formerly of the British Geological Survey

14.30 - 15.05    Permian (Zechstein) Stratigraphy: from depositional cycles to sequences to millennial-scale cycles by Prof. Maurice Tucker of Durham University

15.05 - 15.45    Refreshments: and a chance to look at some Zechstein cores/fossils and posters

15.45 - 16.20    The southern margin of the Zechstein Basin: reefs, rivers and sabkhas by Prof Josef Paul from The University of Göttingen, Germany

16.20 - 16.55    Applied geology and geohazards in the Permian of northeast England by Dr Anthony Cooper from The British Geological Survey, Nottingham

16.55 - 17.00    Closing remarks and thanks