Have you ever been on holiday, looking at the
local geology, and wished that you had a
professional geologist and local expert by your
side to explain the geology to you?
For those of you who visit South Wales, that wish
has now been granted by the publication of a new
book (see photograph left) by Dr Gareth George; a
Welshman, a former lecturer in Geology at the
University of Greenwich, and a member of the Kent
RIGS Committee.
To summarise the geological content of the book,
and Gareth's qualification to write it, we can do
no better than to quote verbatim from the precis
on the rear cover.
"The Geology of South Wales
provides up-to-date field itineraries to five
regions noted for their beautiful scenery and
outstanding geology:-
-
Vale of glamorgan: (6 itineraries)
-
Gower: (4 itineraries)
-
Headwaters of the River Neath and River
Tawe: (3 itineraries)
-
South Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Bay: (16 itineraries)
-
North Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay: (9 itineraries)
The itineraries are well-illustrated with line
figures (120), including location and geology
maps, cross sections, stratigraphic columns,
graphic logs and depositional/facies models; black
& white (56) and colour (21) photographs.
The field guide is user-friendly and suitable for
a range of Earth scientists, enthusiastic
amateurs, schoolteachers, under graduates, Open
University students and professionals. Most of
the main disciplines of the Earth sciences are
covered, including stratigraphy, sedimentology,
palaeontology, structural and igneous geology,
and geomorphology. The extremely important
concepts, principles and applications of the
relatively new discipline of sequence
stratigraphy are introduced and explained by
reference to many excellent field examples and
case studies of Upper Carboniferous strata. Key
stratigraphic surfaces, present within these
sequences, record significant changes in relative
sea level, which were driven by both
glacio-eustatic and basinal processes
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Gareth George is a retired academic who
began his teaching career in 1969 at Sir John
Cass College (London) and retired in 2004 while
at the University of Greenwich. He was also a
part-time tutor for the Open University and a
consultant to the oil industry. During his
geological career he ran innumerable field trips
to South Wales for undergraduates, postgraduates
and oil company personnel. His main research
interests are clastic sedimentology and sequence
stratigraphy, with particular emphasis on Upper
Carboniferous successions."
Clearly, this book offers much more than the
itineries for 38 geological field trips listed in
the precis above.
A ten page 'Introduction' addresses South Wales
and covers the following topics:- Transport,
Accommodation and food, Landscape and scenery,
Prehistory and historic buildings, Cultural
attractions, Exploring on foot, Wildlife, Sports
and leisure activities.
Chapter 2, 'Overview of the geology of South
Wales' is 23 pages long and covers in some
detail the following geological periods as they
are represented in South Wales:- Precambrian
(Neoproterozoic), Early Palaeozoic (542 - 416Ma),
Caledonian (Acadian) orogeny, Old Red Sandstone,
Carboniferous (Dinantian and Silesian), Variscan
orogeny, Mesozoic and Palaeogene - Neogene
(Tertiary), Quaternary (Pleistocene and Holocene)
and concludes with a section on field itineries
and safety guidelines.
Chapters 3 through 7 give very detailed guide
information for the 38 itineries.
Eight appendices, a seven page glossary and nine
pages of useful references complete this most
comprehensive guide book.
Twenty one coloured photographs highlight the
beauty of the varied South Wales geology. The
photographs are copyrighted but the four
photographs below were supplied by the author and
are reproduced with his permission.
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Skrinkle Haven with the prominent Church
Doors and Horseback limestones.
|
The Green Bridge of Wales, a magnificent
natural arch with a span of approximately
25m.
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Late Namurian-early Westphalian strata at
Henrhyd Falls, north crop of the South
Wales Coalfield.
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Impressive chevron anticline in turbidites
and mudstones, at Newport Sands.
|
Finally, this is a guide that you will carry with
you on your field trips; and, recognising this,
it comes with a plastic wallet to protect it.
If you are interested in geology and visit South
Wales you really must buy this book. Copies,
price £17.95 (plus postage & packing), are
obtainable from:-
G. T. George
17, Aviemore Gardens,
Bearsted,
Kent.
ME14 4BA.
Email: gareth@geoserv.co.uk
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