Dr Olver identifying his mineral samples

9th November 7.30pm saw the 3rd in the series of 6 evening courses on the Making of Minerals, with Dr Paul Olver. 24 enrolled, lecture before coffee then out with pen knives, bits of broken glass, old copper coins and the odd bathroom tile attempting to identify Paul’s myriad

Samples Awaiting Identification

collection of rock samples through sight, scratchability (my word) and streak testing. Geology is a surprise–probably the most difficult science–built on the back of tests carried out with odds and ends from the rubbish bin at home and complex words in foreign languages (orthoclase feldspar = right angle breaking field crystal duhh, why not say so?). Obsessive though and yes it was me who did a streak test with graphite on one of the village hall tables–jolly hard to remove without a rubber.
five more names from the class joined the TVGS database–now 91, with one overseas follower–Perth Australia, Vince McMahon.

Hope this works for you OK. 86 photos from our growing collection as a slide show. Click on a photo to enlarge it, or pause to look longer or step through. These show the changing site of Martley Rock as well as Penny Hill exposures and views from the top of the hill, Berrow Permian Breccia and other places. Those on the database will also receive an email prompt. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS DOESN’T WORK. In the past some have been unable to open the Picasa folders but I suspect this is due to works based firewalls. Photos thanks to Hannah Nicklin, Phil Vincent, Mike Install, Andy Priest, John Nicklin.
The 86 are divided into:
Slides 1 to 53–Martley Rock, Pre-Cambrian, Cambrian, Silurian, Carboniferous, Triassic
Slides 54 to 55–Quarry Farm, Wenlock (Silurian) Limestone
Slides 56 to 65–Penny Hill, Wenlock (Silurian) Limestone
Slides 66 to 79–Nubbins and Scar Cottage, Bromsgrove (Triassic) Sandstone
Slides 80 to 84–Berrow Hill South, Permian
Slides 85 to 86–Miss Phillips Conglomerate

Picture above (poor light) shows Martley Rock site as you would see it from the Worcestershire Way which enters the field from the north.

Martley Geology Project Progress Meeting 5 today; boring? Not at all. We have them to make sure that the Martley Geology Project remains on track and I am glad to say at this stage all seems in order. Well advanced with the fencing and walkways we now turn our attention to the ‘furniture’ on site at Martley Rock. These will be illustrated information boards to interpret the complex geology, waterproof box with visitors’ book, signposts to mark divisions between the periods–pre-cambrian, cambrian, silurian, carboniferous, triassic (and I am sure a dash of quaternary somewhere).

I am looking forward too, to a meeting, tomorrow, with the geologists who will produce the geological audit of the parish. This will commence with desk based research of all geological sites, move to a field survey of each–measuring, photographing and sampling–finally producing a detailed reference volume for local distribution. Who knows what will turn up, what hidden wonders we are at present not aware of? Thanks those of you who send comments to the blog, I will answer them all.

Yet another person called me today making number 83 on this blog list, and there are some who do not ‘do’ email, probably another 4. Our numbers are growing incredibly, backed up by the 24 attending Dr Paul Olver’s geology course on Wednesday, now into its 3rd week (no places left I am afraid). No pictures this week, but am working on it. Thanks for your continued interest.