Event Reminder – Novel Approaches to Improving Understanding of the Stratigraphical Record

Wednesday 8th November

Time 19.30 hrs.

Dr. Peter Burgess, University of Liverpool

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86417807374?pwd=uiGWGbBj0nXqrBzZH0FVh3dIazd8S8.1

Sedimentary geology has, like many areas of geology, traditionally been mostly an observational science. However, this is slowly changing. Using more quantitative methods, we can improve our understanding of how sediments accumulate and what individual beds may show of deep time environmental changes. For example this approach means we can better understand any patterns in the layers and if so what they are recording, such as possible cycles of change in the environment.

Event Update: Indigenous Gold

Wednesday 11th October 2023

Time: 19.30 hrs

Prof. Chapman is now unable to deliver his talk in person. 

The meeting will therefore be on Zoom, joining details will be posted shortly

Indigenous Gold and How Recent Research Contributed to our Understanding of this Landscape

Britain and Ireland are geologically complex, and we are fortunate to have
relatively easy access to rocks that reveal a rich tectonic history. That
diversity of past geological processes is reflected in the wide range of ore
deposits; many of which were once economically important. Whilst mining for lead, copper, iron and latterly zinc, has been of strategic importance, the
winning of gold has been both more geographically and temporally sporadic.

Nevertheless, the history of gold mining in these Islands goes back over
4,000 years, from the Early Bronze Age to the modern day mines of Clogau
and Gwynfynydd in North Wales, Cavanacaw in Northern Ireland and
Cononish, Scotland. Historic exploitation focussed on alluvial gold, again both in Scotland and Ireland, but, in addition, there are a large number of gold localities where smaller amounts of gold can recovered from river gravels.

Whilst these seemingly have no economic potential, the development of
methodologies to characterise gold composition has utilised such
occurrences to enhance our understanding of regional gold mineralization.
This talk will introduce the various different geological environments in which gold forms, and correlate these with the main gold bearing areas of Britain and Ireland that have been exploited at one time or another. There will be a short foray into the research work carried out on indigenous gold at Leeds University, and finally some practical advice on how to go about finding some for yourself.

Mineral display October 2023

SUNDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2023

FROM 12.30 PM TO 6.00 PM

Cumbria Amenity Trust Mining History Society (CATMHS)
Mineral Display


Members of the Society are hosting a mineral display in the Wesley room at Ambleside Parish Centre. This is a rare opportunity to see beautiful specimens collected mainly from mines in Cumbria and Weardale, one of areas traditional industries which helped shape it as it is today. There is the opportunity to discuss, understand minerals and their formation.
Entry free with Tea & Coffee provided. Donations welcome in aid of Ambleside Parish Centre

Anyone is welcome to bring along their material specimens along to show and have them photographed.

Linarite – Red Gill Mine, Caldbeck
Fluorite – Rogerley Mine, Weardale
Calcite – Florence Mine, Egremont
Barytes – Force Crag Mine, Keswick
Galena & Dolomite – Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead

Event Reminder: Coombe Crag Gorge

Saturday, September 16, 2023    10:00

Leader Steve Rozario

Meet at 10.00am at  Banks East Turret Car Park: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/banks-east-turret-hadrians-wall/directions/ £2 parking charge, free for English Heritage members.

The purpose of this excursion is to examine the regional geology and the sedimentology of the Leahill Cyclothem, a minor Yoredale Group cyclothem, and the picturesque, postglacial incised Coombe Crag Gorge, near Brampton. Full details of the excursion will be published in the new Geologists’ Association guide to Cumbria. The excursion is a 6 km walk on waymarked public paths, with 200m of ascent and descent, and will take about 4 hours. The paths can be muddy when wet, there are sections through woodland with exposed tree roots and paths along the sides of a steep river gorge. One section has steep drops on both sides and may be difficult for vertigo sufferers, although this can be bypassed if needed. Boots or stout walking shoes should be worn. A packed lunch is recommended.

We will see:

– a short section of Hadrian’s Wall and a Roman Quarry

– a cyclothem succession of fossiliferous marine limestone, offshore mud, and a prograding delta.

– channel sandstones and overbank deposits

– a gorge carved by glacial meltwater with an incised meander