A 100 Great Geosites nomination from Idil Hassan Ingleton falls has built up over millions of years, but the decision to make it more accessible to the public was made in the 1880s. In April of 1885 the trail was first opened as a tourist attraction and has continued to attract thousands of people each … Continue reading
Author Archives: sarah
A New Epoch?
Some of the names given to periods of geological time are familiar. The Jurassic, for example, immediately brings to mind dinosaurs and a certain film favourite of ours (let’s not quibble about how few of those dinosaurs were actually FROM the Jurassic..) The Cretaceous says dinosaurs, chalk and lots of extinctions. The Pleistocene, wolly mammoths … Continue reading
The Great Geobakeoff – the results!
A few weeks ago, we set you a challenge. With Easter on the way, and a blog post about Silurian Death Assemblage cupcakes proving popular, we gave birth to the Great Geobakeoff. Nearly 100 entries later, what have we learned? Well, mostly, we’ve learned that cake and geology go really, really well together. Before we … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites nomination: Afon Cwm Llan and the Watkin Path, Snowdon
A 100 Great Geosites nomination from the Geological Society’s President, David Shilston. I discovered the hidden and diverse delights of this valley and its route up/down Snowdon only a few years ago. It has so many interesting features – geology, history, politics and ecology. Continue reading
Let’s talk about fracking
Last month, Professor Richard Davies of the ReFINE (Researching Fracking In Europe) project at Durham University gave a GSL Lecture entitled ‘Fracked or Fiction: What are the risks associated with shale gas production?’ In this guest post, Richard and his ReFINE colleague Liam Herringshaw explain a bit more about and the challenges faced in researching … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites Nomination: Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve
A 100 Great Geosites nomination from Dr. Catherine Duigan. Every year I bring students from Bangor University on a fieldtrip to Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia. It is always a thrill to tell them they are walking in the footsteps of Charles Darwin who came here to learn geology before he embarked on The Beagle. Continue reading
Snakes on a chain: sea level change and evolution on the Galapagos
“These islands appear paradises for the whole family of Reptiles. Besides three kinds of Turtles, the Tortoise is so abundant that [a] single Ship’s company here caught 500-800 in a short time. “The black Lava rocks on the beach are frequented by large (2-3 ft.) most disgusting, clumsy Lizards. They are as black as the … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites Nomination – Cayton Bay, North Yorkshire
A 100 Great Geosites nomination from Pamela Ross. My favourite geosite (of very many along the North Yorkshire coast!) is Cayton Bay in North Yorkshire. Continue reading
The Great Geobake-off
We’re feeling inspired by Catherine Kenny’s fabulous Silurian Death Assemblage cupcakes, and the general geo-baking movement that appears to be taking off. We love both cake and rocks. There should be more geology based cakes. With this in mind, we’re celebrating the Easter season with the Great Geobake-off Challenge! Yes, it’s the showstopper round the … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites nomination – the beaches of Lyme Regis, Dorset
A 100 Great Geosites nomination from geologist and palaeontologist Ben Brooks @BenjaminDBrooks There are few places in the world where fossil hunting is legal, even fewer where it is encouraged, and fewer still where anyone can have a go, and it doesn’t cost you a penny. Continue reading
The Geological Society Blog 