Category: Email to Non-members

The next Cumberland Geological Society event is on Wednesday 14th October. 

Volcanoes of Iceland and Chile

Presented by Dr Dave Mcgarvie from Open University Scotland

At Community Hall, Bolton Street, Workington, CA14 2SN

Talk starts 1930

On 20th September a large number of members met at Kinniside Stone Circle on a rather windy morning.   Our leader, David Kelly took us into the upper valley of the Nannycatch Beck to an exposure of the Skiddaw Group.   This was the Buttermere Formation with cleaved mudstones which even in this relatively small outcrop had varying cleavage directions reflecting the olistrome nature of the deposit.   The party descended through the gorge to examine intrusions into these rocks.   After lunch, taken during a shower, David introduced us to the Latterbarrow Sandstone, a conglomerate thought to be the base of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, visible in small exposures on the sides of Swarth Fell.    In addition to the solid geology the group also considered the curious drainage pattern of the Nannycatch Beck.  The final visit of the day was to the head of Combe Beck, with more curious drainage, with Skiddaw Group rocks intruded by dykes exposed in the beckside.   Thanks were given to David who had led us unerringly across pathless fells to such interesting sites.

On 13th September 2015 a dozen members met at Linewath to record a conspicuous linear feature. The day was co-ordinated by Alan Smith. The linear feature runs north-south and is undisturbed at its southern end. Towards the northern end material has been extracted leaving a disturbed cross section and much loose material. The dimensions of the feature was recorded together with the dimensions and shapes of randomly selected pebbles. A wide variety of lithologies were recognized among the pebbles, including pebbles of the Threlkeld microgranite and a pebble of the Armboth Dyke above Thirlmere.

After lunch the party moved to the Rospow Hills to consider their formation.

The recorded data will be analysed and published in the forthcoming issue of the Proceedings of the Society.

When and where:

20th September. Meet at Kinniside Stone Circle NY 059 139 at 10.30am.

About: 5km walking on open fellside looking at the meltwater channel, Skiddaw Group rocks and minor intrusions of the Nannycatch Gorge. In the afternoon we will look at the Borrowdale Volcanic Rocks and some of the oldest rocks within the Skiddaw Group, including the problematic Latterbarrow Sandstone.

When: 10.30am, 13th September

Where: Linewath, north of Mungrisedale. Meet at the minor road junction NY 352 344.

Who: The day will be coordinated by Alan Smith.

The aim of this field work project is to examine, measure and map the details of a puzzling linear topographical feature and record the characteristics of the pebble deposits exposed in a quarry feature on the ridge.

It is likely this will take until mid afternoon, so please bring packed lunch and usual weather protection as this is a very exposed site. Short walk across rough grass. Please bring a GPS, calculator and measuring tapes (long metric ones) if possible. Maps, recording sheets, and other field material will be provided. If the work is completed by lunchtime, there could be the option of a very short walk to look at some nearby features for about an hour afterwards (weather and enthusiasm permitting). We should finish by about 3pm. Easy terrain.

CGS Field Trip to Smardale Gill Nature Reserve. On Sunday 23rd August 2015

16 enthusiasts enjoyed a sunny day at Smardale Nature Reserve.  The leader, Sylvia Woodhead, explained the complex river capture in the upper Lune and Eden catchments and the group then walked along the old railway line to examine the sandstones, and limestones and comment on Sylvia’s draft guide to the geology which is designed for the layperson.  Flowers and butterflies competed for attention but some helpful comments were made and Sylvia hopes to distribute a second draft of the leaflet shortly.  The limestones proved to be very fossiliferous with a range of corals observed with some colonies apparently in life position.  The Ashfell Limestone was studied in the light of recent research.  A fascinating day.  A visit to Smardale Gill NNR & CWT reserve is strongly recommended.