The Geologists' Association

@geolassoc

Founded in 1858, the Geologists' Association (GA) is a charitable organization that exists for all geologists and earth scientists. Our offices are co-located with those of the Geological Society at Burlington House in central London.

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The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 13d

We are pleased to announce that Professor Phil Manning, Director of Science at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and Chair of Natural History at The University of Manchester will deliver one of the headline talks at the Festival of Geology this year: Impossible Fossils.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 15d

Yes, the Puddingstone book is very interesting. Further copies can be purchased from: www.therockgallery.co.uk/hertfordshir...

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 21d

The latest edition of Earth Heritage magazine is out now! Issue 65 is full of interesting and informative articles about geology and earth-science sites and initiatives across the UK Free online: www.earthheritage.org.uk/.../EH-65_fi... Buy a hard copy: geologistsassociation.org.uk/earthheritage/

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 22d

Thank you to Paul Hildreth of Yorkshire Geological Society for leading our weekend field meeting to Flamborough Head and the Yorkshire Coast. We enjoyed many opportunities to examine the strata up close, including an in-situ Sternotaxis plana zonal marker fossil. Photo credit: Cathy Gallagher.

Paul describing the chalk exposure to the assembled group. Photo: Cathy Gallagher.

Sternotaxis plana zonal marker fossil. Photo: Cathy Gallagher.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 23d

We currently have a vacancy for an Honorary General Secretary. If you think you have the experience and skills necessary to fulfil the role and would like to apply for this position, please contact the GA President: president@geologistsassociation.org.uk

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 25d

Save the date! Join us and our colleagues from @rockwatch.bsky.social on Saturday 7th November 2026 from 10.30am - 4.30pm at Burlington House in London for our FREE Festival of Geology. Full details coming soon via our website: geologistsassociation.org.uk/festival/

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· 26d

Booking for the GA 2026 Conference in York is now open! 🗓️25 - 27 September 2026 📍York Join us for for the whole weekend or just one day - you choose. 🥳GA Student Members can attend the Saturday Conference for FREE! ℹ️ Full details on our website: geologistsassociation.org.uk/conferences/

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jul 9

Our field excursion to the White Cliffs of Kingsgate, which sadly had to be cancelled on Saturday 6th June, has been rearranged and will take place on Saturday 17th October Cost: £5 GA Members / £15 non-members For full details see our website: geologistsassociation.org.uk/ukfield/#kin...

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jul 8

Thank you to Dr Cathy Hollis for leading an informative field meeting to examine the Visean strata around the Great Orme headland. The group were treated to many examples of Late Carboniferous exposures, illustrating the growth and demise of the Mississippian carbonate platform.

Cathy preparing to describe the Pier Dolomite exposure to the group.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jul 6

Volume 25, number 2 (June 2026) of the Geologists' Association Magazine is out now! This issue includes articles on trips to Iceland and New Zealand, an update on the Mary Anning statue maquette road trip, 2026 GA Award winners and the 2025 Halstead Lecture to name but a few.

Front cover of the Geologists' Association quarterly magazine, volume 25, number 2 (June 2026) showing a picture of the western Southern Alps shrouded in dense forest and almost permanent cloud, looking toward the Cropp River basin and Hokitika Gorge. Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand, means 'long white cloud'. Photo: Jonathan Turner.

Ellie Kew as Mary Anning at Somerset Earth Science Centre, which is also hosting the Mary Anning statue macquette.

New Zealand plate boundaries configuration and a schematic cross-section through the Southern Alps, The deep geometry of the Alpine Fault is speculative. Adapted from Little et al. (2005).

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jul 1

Welcome to July with a spectacular image of Serpentine boulders, Kynance Cove, Cornwall from the Geologists' Association 2026 calendar, which was taken by Jonathan Turner and won second prize in the GA 2025 Photographic Competition.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jun 30

Thank you to Emma Nicholls & Duncan Murdock of @morethanadodo.bsky.social and Mark Stanway, Quarry Manager at Dewars Farm Quarry operated by Smiths Bletchington for hosting the Geologists' Association President's Day visit yesterday.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jun 22

Join us online on Friday 3rd July 2026 at 19.00 BST for our next free talk - All fossils are rotten: the science of death, decay, and soft tissue preservation by Thomas Clements The talk will be via Zoom. Non-members should call 020 7434 9298 or email sarah@geologistsassociation.org.uk for details

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jun 20

Congratulations to Dr Colin Prosser on being appointed MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list 2026 in recognition of his services to geoconservation at Natural England Colin is the GA Geoconservation Officer, is actively involved in the PGA publications committee and is also a former GA President

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jun 10

A second specimen of the enigmatic Wealden reptile Yaverlandia by Darren Naish & Steven C. Sweetman. In Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, volume 137, issue 3. Available now via Science Direct: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Yaverlandia bitholus Galton, 1971. Holotype specimen, MIWG 1530, in dorsal view (A) and ventral view (B). IWCMS. 2012.585 in dorsal view (C), anterior view (D) and ventral view (E).

Schematic lithological log of the upper part of the Wessex Formation exposed in the cliff and on the foreshore in the vicinity of Yaverland on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight. Modified from Sweetman et al. (2015). Bed numbers from Radley (1994).

Outline map of southern Britain showing the location of the Isle of Wight (A). Outline geological map of the Isle of Wight showing the locality from which the holotype specimen MIWG 1530 and the second specimen, IWCMS. 2012.585, were recovered (B).

Cover of the scientific journal Proceedings of the Geologists' Association.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jun 9

Join us & @rockwatch.bsky.social on 13-14 June at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival for a weekend full of family-friendly fossil-related fun. Look out for our stand in the Lister Gardens Marquee. Plus, Ben Cunningham, one of our Student Representatives, will be giving a free talk at the Driftwood Cafe.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Jun 1

Welcome to June with a mesmerising image taken from the Geologists' Association 2026 calendar of the Isle of Staffa, Inner Hebrides, Scotland taken by Peter Lincoln.

ISLE OF STAFFA, INNER HEBRIDES, SCOTLAND

The island of Staffa, with its famous Fingal’s Cave, is entirely of volcanic origin. It consists of black, fine-grained basalt lava from volcanoes active in the Eocene epoch. The slow cooling of one of the lava flows has resulted in the formation of remarkable polygonal columns.
Photograph: Peter Lincoln.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 28

Come and join us at the Great Exhibition Road Festival on the 6th & 7th June 2026. The GA stand will be there both days with our interactive exhibits, fossil & rock specimens and information so do call by and say hello! Full details on their website: www.greatexhibitionroadfestival.co.uk

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 27

Carboniferous tetrapod fauna of the fossil lycopsid trees at Joggins and the origin of the hollow tree guild by John H. Calder, Andrew C. Scott, Brian L. Hebert, Andrew C. Milner & Matthew R. Stimson. In Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, vol 137 (2): www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Plate of representative tree fauna: (a) characteristic assemblage of tetrapod bones and charcoal; (b) jaw of the non-amniote Hylerpeton dawsoni (R4180); (c) coprolitic mass and bones of the amniote Hylonomus lyelli (R4564); (d) the early land snail Dendropupa vetusta (G92); (e) detail of coprolitic mass in (c); (f) two specimens of the millipede Xyloiulus sigillariae (28795). Photographs (b–f) courtesy Natural History Museum, London.

Modern and ancient fire scars: (a) basal fire scar in Taxodium distichum, inhabited by nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novermcinctus), Mississippi Delta; (b) notched, charred lycopsid tree base rife in tetrapod skeletal material, below coal 21 of Logan (1845), interpreted as a fire scar; (c) interpretive drawing of tree and fire scar in (b). Key to interpretive drawing: a) massive sandstone; b) silty fine charcoal with tetrapod bones; c) coalified strands of cortex/periderm; d) silty sandstone infilling fire scar; e) massive sandstone encircling tree.

The excavated tree-fill at site R114, Rusinga, Kenya, that bore the skeletal remains of Proconsul africanus (Mark Teaford photograph, used by permission). b) Depiction of the ‘1951’ Proconsul-bearing tree from the Miocene of Kenya, from Walker and Teaford (1989), used by permission (illustration by Tom Prentiss, 1936–1997).

Location map of fossil tree fauna sites at Joggins. Meterage refers to stratigraphical section of Davies and Gibling, 2003 (see Fig. 2).

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 21

Join us for our next evening talk: Trace Fossils: footprints and burrows - evidence of life when there are no teeth, bones etc by Maurice Tucker, University of Bristol. 📅Friday 5th June, 2026 🕖19.00 BST 📍Online via Zoom 🎟️Free

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 13

We are making our annual return to Smokejacks Quarry on Sun 4th Oct 2026, for a field excursion led by Ed Jarzembowski & Peter Austen Cost: £5 GA Members / £15 non-member GA Members have priority booking on Field Meetings until 4 weeks beforehand when any remaining places will open to non members

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 11

The use of minerals, plants and burnt materials in ancient medicine: Approaches to working recipes in John the Physician's Therapeutics from late 13th century Cyprus by Andrew C. Scott et al. In Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, volume 137-2: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Scanning electron micrographs of cuttlefish bone.

a. Uncharred cuttlefish bone.
b. Uncharred cuttlefish bone.
c. Cuttlefish bone charred at 300 °C for 1 h.
d. Cuttlefish bone charred at 300 °C for 1 h.
e. Cuttlefish bone charred at 600 °C for 1 h.
f. Cuttlefish bone charred at 600 °C for 1 h - crushed showing isolated blades.

Cyprus and other comparative minerals:

m. Galena.
n. Sphalerite.
o. Chromite.
p. Molybdenite.
q. Stibnite.
r. Hematite.
s. Cuprite.
t. Copper pyrite and malachite.
u. Orpiment.
v. Calamine (hemimorphite). Zinc silicate Cumberland, England.
w. Chrysocolla, locality unknown.
x. Lapis lazuli, Afghanistan.

Cyprus and other comparative minerals:

a. Cyprus sock sulphide containing iron pyrite and chalcopyrite, Cyprus.
b. Chalcopyrite from within stock pyrite ore. Cyprus.
c. Sulphide ore, Cyprus.
d. Cyprus sulphide ore undergoing decay.
e. Decay products from e.
f. Umber from Cyprus.
g. Azurite and malachite.
h. Crushed azurite.
i. Celadonite in pillow lavas, Klirou Bridge, Cyprus.
j. Gypsum.
k. Baryte.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 10

Congratulations to all the recipients of our 2026 Awards, which were presented at our AGM on Friday evening at Burlington House. Thank you to Dr Liam Gallagher, who steps down from his role as President and welcome to Alison Barraclough who takes on the role of President for the next two-year term.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 5

Join us on for our AGM, annual awards ceremony and President's Address: 'Calcareous nannofossils - Little things can make a big difference! - Part 2. 🗓️Fri, 8th May 2026 📍@geolsoc.bsky.social Burlington House ☕from 18.00 BST with the AGM commencing at 18.30 BST Non-members welcome free of charge.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 5

For the tercentenary of the birth of James Hutton, the founder of modern geology, we are visiting his home city of Edinburgh to explore two of his most famous localities. 📆7th - 9th July 2026 🎟️£15 GA Members / £45 non-member Full details & registration: geologistsassociation.org.uk/ukfield/#edi...

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· May 1

Welcome to May '26 with a beautiful image of sea stacks near Newquay in Cornwall, by Thomas Pashley The dramatic cliffs north of Newquay consist of sandstones and slates of Devonian age, about 400 mya. In places there are impressive sea stacks, such as this famous group known as the Bedruthan Steps

SEA STACKS NEAR NEWQUAY, CORNWALL

The dramatic cliffs north of Newquay consist of sandstones and slates of Devonian age, about 400 million years old. In places there are impressive sea stacks, such as this famous group known as the Bedruthan Steps. Photograph ©Thomas Pashley.

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Apr 23

Microvertebrates from the Cliff End Bone Bed (Wealden, Lower Cretaceous), East Sussex, UK by Johnny Clavo et al A Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 'Article in Press': www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S001...

Bony fish fauna from the Cliff End Bone Bed. (A–H) Teeth of semionotiform fish, traditionally assigned to Lepidotes, contemporarily assigned as Scheenstia mantelli, in lateral views (BRSUG 22957-93, BRSUG 22957-60, BRSUG 22957-20, BRSUG 22957-138). (I–L) Heavily abraded semionotiform teeth assigned as Scheenstia mantelli in lateral (I, J), occlusal (K) and basal (L) views (BRSUG 22957-41). (M–P) Unidentified pycnodont crushing teeth in lateral (M, O), occlusal 👎, and basal (P) views (BRSUG 22957-22). (Q–AG) Pycnodont and semionotiform pharyngeal teeth in lateral views showing different morphologies and abrasion grades (BRSUG 22957-130, BRSUG 22957-129, BRSUG 22957-83, BRSUG 22957-102, BRSUG 22957–100, BRSUG 22957-52, BRSUG 22957-44, BRSUG 22957-10). (AH–AJ) Unidentified albuliform tooth in occlusal (AH), lateral (AI), and basal (AJ) views (BRSUG 22957-166). (AK) Ganoid bony fish scale (BRSUG 22957-1). Scale bars represent 500 μm.

Photographs of material from the Cliff End Bone Bed. (A) A block of Cliff End Bone Bed recovered from the beach. (B) Petrological thin sections in Cross Polarised Light (XPL) above and Plane Polarised Light (PPL) below, showing generally rounded quartz grains with point contacts, some separated by matrix; the matrix has cleavage, twinkling and high birefringence of calcite. (C) A view of the cliff area on which the log in Fig. 2B was based.

Wealden stratigraphy and sedimentary log at Cliff End. (A) Stratigraphy of the Hastings Beds and Weald Clay Formation of the Wealden Sub-Basin. Modified from Batten and Austen (2011). (B) Sedimentary log from the Cliff End site, with the Cliff End Bone Bed marked BB at the top of the log. Log is based on data measured by Jon Howell in 2002. Abbreviations: GCF, Grinsted Clay Formation; TWSF, Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation.

Geological map showing the region of Cliff End, Fairlight Cove, and Pett Level; with regional geology indicated. The site corresponding to the Cliff End Bone Bed is marked by a red circle. Bottom right: Cliff End is indicated on the regional geological summary map of SE England. © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2025. Ordnance Survey (Digimap Licence).

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Apr 20

We’re proud to announce that we're an official Fossil Festival Supporter of the 2026 Lyme Regis Fossil Festival through one of our Curry Fund awards The GA and colleagues from @rockwatch.bsky.social will be attending the festival on both days, based in the Lister Gardens Marquees on Marine Parade

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Apr 16

One of our affiliated societies: Bucks Geology Group is holding a Rock & Fossil Day at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury on Sunday 3rd May 2026 from 12.00 until 15.00 BST. For full details and to buy your ticket visit the Discover Bucks Museum website: www.discoverbucksmuseum.org/.../rock-and...

The Geologists' Association@geolassoc· Apr 15

Post-glacial development of limestone scree in NW England; the example of White Scar, southern English Lake District by Paul A. Carling, Richard B. Pearce & S.E. Darby In Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, vol 137, issue 2 via Science Direct: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...