I Love Geology

I go to Geology lectures every month. Sometimes they are in Swansea uni and sometimes in Cardiff. My oldest sister made me start going. She is just finishing her Geology degree. I really enjoy the lectures. It is so interesting to hear what people can actually find out about the past! They are so clever. They know so much. And the lecturers are always at the very edge of what we know. And they are pushing the limits of our understanding further and further out. I wish I could do something like that. I am going to Art School when I leave school. But the pictures I see in the Geology lectures gives me lots of Art ideas!

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

Living on the sea-board named "The Jurassic Coast", (Dorset, S. England)with lovely Chalk down-land inland, helped inspire my love of geology; though it also worries me that "marketing" name may mislead people into thinking the [i]coast[/i] Jurassic. (It isn't of course; the main [i]rocks [/i]are.)

My nick-name here is from Arish Mell, a small bay on that coast.

And like Blodyn, I attend at least some of each season of geology lectures given locally; as well as others on a wider range of science topics.

Blodyn · 22-25, F

You do? I never heard of Arish Mell. Do you live nearby? I heard of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. @ArishMell:

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@blodyn: Arish Mell is a small bay to the East of Lulworth Cove, about as far that way as Durdle Door is to the West. It's relatively remote in public terms as there is no public road to it, just the coast path.

I was on a geology trip to Lulworth Door one day, and so were two or three student groups. I reckon the ordinary holiday-makers must have felt a bit exposed without shiny plastical hats on their heads!

Blodyn · 22-25, F

@ArishMell: we have trips in summer in South Wales. I'm so sorry I never heard of Arish Mell. I feel I should have. I can see south west England when the weather is clear!

ArishMell · 70-79, M

I don't think many have heard of Arish Mell.

Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove + Stair Hole, and the Fossil Forest, take all the publicity and are more accessible.

South Wales is a beautiful and geologically fascinating area, as is its Forest of Dean / Wye valley neighbour.

Blodyn · 22-25, F

Yes it is. There is a place on the Black Mountain where coral fossils are just so plentiful. It's like the Great Barrier Reef. If you know where to go. I was there on Sunday. No one else seems to know! @ArishMell:

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@blodyn:
Thank you for that tip!

Here, we're a pair of night owls aren't we? It's gone 1 am!

Blodyn · 22-25, F

It has? I should be asleep. @ArishMell:

Blodyn · 22-25, F

You have made me feel sleepy. @blodyn:

Blodyn · 22-25, F

Are you still awake Arish Mell? @blodyn:

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@blodyn:
Yes but not much longer. Should be asleep, dreaming of [i]Lithostrions[/i] and parasitic folds!

Blodyn · 22-25, F

Are you a boy or a girl? @ArishMell:

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@blodyn:
Ahem... Why? I'm a sexagenarian bloke sharing an interest in geology. The age and sex statement with my name in my story above is perfectly true.

Blodyn · 22-25, F

It just says your name. And I wanted to know to whom I was talking. Is all. I had no idea. Now I do. Thank you.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@blodyn:
OK Thank you! The label I see is "61-69 M".

I've been thinking of a small-scale local geology project I can do, and one that springs to mind is weathering rate of building-stone, having seen the effects on some quite new masonry locally.

Blodyn · 22-25, F

Really. There is no label that I can see. It just says ArishMell. And your project sounds interesting, I have heard of Portland Stone. It's from Dorset I think but used for grand buildings in London. @ArishMell:

ArishMell · 70-79, M

Oh, you're right! Ah well!

yes, Portland Stone is from Dorset - Portland! Plus other exposures but that's the main one. Upper Jurassic, shallow shelf, fine-grained oolite (to micrite for the finest? I think).

It used to be a stage and type area but I think it's been demoted.

Blodyn · 22-25, F

I don't know. To me it's a really solid rock from Portland! @ArishMell:

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@blodyn: ☺

Blodyn · 22-25, F

Thank you! @ArishMell: