Geology resources

Articles

Interesting article on how Mars’s complex volcanism, driven by vertical tectonics, provides insights into ancient crustal recycling, offering new perspectives on both Martian and Earth geology.

Downloads

  • Australian geology

The Australian continent, a geophysical synthesis – you can download this book for free.

You can download pdfs of the following documents:

  • The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites
  • The Second 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites
  • The First 55 IUGS Heritage Stones.

This is a downloadable pdf providing a beginner’s guide to identifying UK rock types.

The guide has two main sections:

  • background information on the structure and forces affecting the Earth in relation to rock formation
  • a more practical hand-specimen guide with examples of rock samples commonly found in the United Kingdom, detailing igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

This is followed by a glossary of geological terms that are used in the text.

Websites

  • Australian geology

If you want to learn more about the geology of Australia, Melbourne Museum’s pages on ‘600 million years: Victoria evolves‘ is well worth a look. The pages support a current exhibition which would be worth visiting if you’re in the vicinity.

Geoscience Australia also has a really interesting website with loads of info and resources including virtual exhibits and experiences with videos.

The Borough geologist’s video on the Black Country Geopark gives an evocative overview of the geological history of the area.

A mass of information, including the BGS Geology viewer where you can click on a location to find out more about it’s geology

If you’re interested in volcanoes this is a great site to explore. It includes activities for children, videos and links to even more volcano and earthquake related sites.

The Deep Time Project started with the Deep time walk app which covers the geological history of the earth with every step you take equalling millennia in time. The project has been extended to provide additional downloadable Voyage modules covering various areas. The modules enable you to walk around an area and hear information about the site as you walk.

There is also a TED talk which you can listen to while walking.

A great collection of geology related links including books, online courses, webinars, podcasts, virtual collections, 3D models, thin sections and virtual field trips. Well worth a look through.

A really good list of useful geology related links.

The Oxford Geology Group site is worth a look, it includes pages on various aspects of Geology and if you’re near to Oxford offers some interesting talks and visits as well.

This includes videos and a downloadable guide to Scottish Beach pebbles.

You can read and download their impressive bi-annual newsletter from the home page along with the latest edition of Down to Earth. Their newsletters are more like journals with details of field trips, interpretations of the landscapes and rocks they come across, information on forthcoming events for other geology groups and a list of websites at the end. Plenty to dig into.

Programmes, documentaries, videos, films and recorded lectures etc

The internet is a fantastically powerful resource; there are hosts of talks on whatever subject you’re interested in. 

Whatever you want to learn about you’re bound to find something interesting here. The database hosts over 6,000 videos from shorts to full-length documentaries on topics spanning the whole range of Earth Sciences.

Offers free educational videos and lectures at university level across a wide range of subjects.  The link takes you to previously recorded lectures and you can see what’s coming up by clicking on the ‘What’s on’ tab at the top of the page. You can also find Professor Sir Stephen Sparks’ lectures on volcanology there as well.

My friends in the High Wycombe U3A Geology group have kindly given permission for me to share the link to their YouTube page where you can see recordings of previous talks if you’re interested. Take a look.

There are also excellent programmes featured on iPlayer and other streaming services and you can search for them by category.

A video on limestone caves by Sid Perou a famous caver. You can find more of his videos on the British Caving Library.

Keith Edwards’ videos on caves also come highly recommended but you’ll need to sign into YouTube to view them.

A page of lectures recommended by it’s members that are all available online and which may be of interest.

  • Plate Tectonics

Tectonics of the Mediterranean Sea and the Subduction of the African Plate – A lecture by Lauren Jolivet of the Orleans institute of Earth Sciences, France.

TED Talk on The continents are moving when will they collide?

Will Pangea form again? Will the continents reunite at some point in the future? Find out about Pangea 2.0.

Don’t be put off by the opening section his videos are very interesting.

Siccar point is possibly the most important geological site in the world. Find out more about Hutton’s unconformity in the above video from Prof Ian Stewart. There are also videos by the British Geological Survey and the BBC.

These are a series of lectures on geological aspects of the solar system.

See their events page for upcoming events and you can also watch recordings of earlier lectures.

During the Covid lockdown the Geological Society of Glasgow presented virtual excursions to Scottish geological localities. Some of these presentations were recorded and are available to view on YouTube.

Podcasts

It seems that there’s a podcast for everything and, like anything digital, you just have to find what interests you.

  • Dinosaurs and palaeontology

If you’re into geology and dinosaurs I can heartily recommend Terrible Lizards – hosted by a palaeontologist and a historian/comedian and featuring a guest posing a question each month. I find them educational, interesting and amusing.

If you’re into ancient life then this page on the Palaeocast website should keep you well occupied. It lists a whole host of different podcasts relating to palaeontology.

Oliver Strimpel, former astrophysicist and museum director asks leading researchers about their discoveries and how they made them.

A recommendation from a member. There are 11 episodes around an hour long providing introductions to the basics of Geology.

Places to visit and things to do

There are some wonderful sites and museums to visit with really good geology sections.

A unique visit for anyone brave enough to consider is the winch trip into Gaping Ghyll – one of the deepest pot holes in the country. This is open to the public and is a hell of a ride. It is available in late August for just a few days, it is an excellent walk from Clapham. You can also find out more at https://www.cravenpotholeclub.org/index.php/about-gaping-gill/visit-gaping-gill

The Lapworth Geology Museum at the University of Birmingham has been recommended to me as a great place to visit. From volcanoes to dinosaurs, the Museum captures the imagination of all as visitors explore life over the past 3.5 billion years. The innovative galleries showcase exceptional objects from one of the UK’s most outstanding geological collections. Entry is free and there is no need to book before visiting.

  • Norfolk

Norfolk Deep History Coast – Fascinating website about the geological and archaeological history of North Norfolk.

Chalk reefs – Did you know that the UK holds almost all the chalk reef in Europe (and probably the world? There are other chalk reefs in Kent and Yorkshire, where they are much flatter, but Norfolk’s chalk reef is the longest by far and probably the most rugged. It is a very special habitat.

This isn’t a large museum but other museums are nearby if you want to make a day of it. They pack a lot into a small space, even the columns are part of the exhibits being made from different polished rocks from around the UK. The serpentine columns are particularly beautiful.

Between the columns they pack in smaller cabinets of exhibits as well. If you have children there are things they can touch as well.