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If you share our passion for geology why not join us by becoming a member of the Black Country Geological Society
We are the Champions!
In 2008 the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust (H&W EHT) received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to fund the Community Earth Heritage Champions project, an initiative to select key geological sites in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and involve local people in their ongoing maintenance and promotion. Additional funding was also obtained from [...]
Posted in Activities and Events, General, Guest Blogs, Local Geology
Tagged Activities, BCGS, Black Country, Champions, Geology, Places, Quarries, Rocks, volunteer
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Birth of the Black Country
Why does geology matter to the Black Country? In this blog we investigate the historical importance of the area in relation to the mineral wealth below the ground, and the early pioneers who began the industrial development. The Black Country is an area located just to the northwest of Birmingham right at the heart of [...]
Posted in General, Local Geology
Tagged Abraham Darby, BCGS, Black Country, Canals, Dud Dudley, Dudley, Geology, Limestone, Minerals, mines, Mining, Places, Rocks, Seven Sisters, Step Shaft, Wrens Nest
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A way with words
This short but amusing extract entitled ‘Geobabble’ was taken from the newsletter of the Black Country Geological Society number 160, August 2003. A favourite word of mine however, is PENECONTEMPORANEOUSLY. Perhaps not a Technical term, but an adverb that I have only see used in a geological context. Indeed, I have only seen it used in [...]
Posted in General, Guest Blogs, Local Geology, Rocks and Minerals
Tagged BCGS, Black Country, Geology, Minerals, Rocks, Terminology, Words
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Erratic Anvil’s
This is an extract from the Black Country Geological Society newsletter number 210, December 2011. It investigates how glacial erratics have been used as a local resouce in the Black Country. Each area of the Black Country has always been associated with its own specialised trade and Bloxwich is no exception, having long been a [...]
Posted in General, Guest Blogs, Local Geology, Rocks
Tagged BCGS, Black Country, Erratic, Geology, Glacial, Granite, Places, Rocks
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Rock with laughter
This short but amusing extract entitled ‘Geobabble’ was taken from the newsletter of the Black Country Geological Society number 187, December 2007. It reveals that even minerals can have a sense of humour at this festive time of year. Petrology deals with the origin, composition, structure, and alteration of rocks. To do this geologists slice up perfectly good [...]
Posted in General, Guest Blogs, Minerals, Rocks, Rocks and Minerals
Tagged BCGS, Geology, Igneous rocks, Microscopes, Minerals, Petrology, Rocks, Thin Sections, volcano, volcanoes
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Shropshire Six Summits Challenge 2011, now with added rocks!
Last weekend on Saturday 18th June 2011, I was part of a team which walked 36 miles over the six highest summits in Shropshire to raise money for the local search and rescue team known as the Severn Area Rescue Association, Wyre Forest Station. Along the gruelling journey we passed over some astounding geological formations. [...]
Posted in Activities and Events, General, Guest Blogs, Local Geology
Tagged Activities, Coal mining, Earth history, Geology, Mining, Places, Rocks, Shropshire, Walking
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Only a geologist would buy a thing like this…
My first rock ‘n’ gem show for three years promised to be an expensive day, so I bulked up my wallet and headed down to Cheltenham Racecourse last month to expand my collection. As I entered the show hall I had that un-natural geological excitement at the sight of “pretty rocks”. The traders had to [...]
Posted in Activities and Events, Collectors, Collectors and Collecting, Fossils, General, Guest Blogs, Rocks and Minerals
Tagged Collectors, Earth history, Fossils, Geology, Minerals, Rocks
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Why I became interested in geology
Our second guest blog describes how a local enthusiast Martin, began his journey along the rocky road of geology. For me it started at a young age, I used to get curios and excited at the site of exposed rocks. When I was out with my dad in the car, I used to look out the window [...]
Geology Matters Launch Event
Last Thursday saw me pulling on my walking boots to join a group of geology enthusiasts on a tour of three sites in the Black Country, chosen to illustrate the geological diversity of the area. The sites were Barr Beacon, Barrow Hill and Dudley’s’ Limestone Mines. Although I have lived on the edge of the [...]
Posted in Activities and Events, General, Guest Blogs, Local Geology
Tagged Activities, Canals, Dudley, Earth history, Geology, Igneous rocks, Limestone, mines, Mining, Murchison, Places, Rocks
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What is an igneous rock?
Igneous rocks are hot molten rocks which rise towards the surface. The term igneous originated from the Latin term ignis which means ‘fire’. In order for them to begin to melt temperatures can be anything from 700°C. They begin to melt down within the deep crust or upper mantle and because the molten rock has [...]
