October 26th: 'How to foster a loving, meaningful relationship between metamorphic rocks and argon isotopes', by Dr Chris Horsfall, Manchester.

Radiometric dating of igneous rocks using K-Ar dating is a relatively straightforward process. However, applying the same techniques to metamorphic rocks is fraught with problems since the process of metamorphism can change both the mineral assemblage and the isotopic information. I will present a number of ways by which reliable argon dates can be obtained from rocks which have experienced multiple episodes of metamorphism in their histories.

 

Reading Week

November 9th: 'The perpetual joy derived from squeezing rocks in a basement: why brittle is cooler than ductile deformation', by Dr Michael Heap, Munich.

The characterization of brittle deformation processes is paramount to unravelling the complex evolution and dynamics of the Earth’s upper crust. Here I present unique experimental data on the deformation of a suite of rocks and consider how we can utilize such data to aid our understanding of large-scale geophysical conundra.’

November 16th: 'The Alpine Fault of New Zealand: Building Mountains Down Under', Mr Edward Dempsey, Liverpool.

The Alpine Fault of New Zealand is the on-land segment of the Australian-Pacific plate boundary upon which sit the lofty Southern Alps. This talk will discuss the tectonic setting of the South Island of New Zealand and how the Alpine Fault has been, and still is, key to our understanding of fault dynamics and crustal scale processes. The Alpine Fault is one of the most important and potentially dangerous active faults on the planet. This is one of the drives for the Alpine Fault Deep Drilling Program gaining huge momentum recently, with some very exciting projects proposed for the near future.

November 23rd: Volcano-ice interactions: Explosive eruptions through the Icelandic Pleistocene ice sheet., Dr John Stevenson, Manchester.

November 30th: 'Dinosaur Tracks and Supercomputers: One small step for T. rex...a giant leap for Palaeontology', by Mr Peter Falkingham, Manchester.

Dinosaur tracks can tell us much about these iconic, extinct, animals that would otherwise be unavailable from the body fossil record. But the factors involved in track formation can vary wildly. In order to understand track formation, therefore, a quantitative approach is required. For this reason a computer model has been developed to simulate track formation in a quantitative, repeatable manner, and reverse engineer track formation.

December 7th: 'Oceanic detachment faults and seafloor hydrothermal systems on slow spreading ridges', Dr Andrew McCaig, Leeds.

 

Christmas Vacation

 

February 8th: 'Why geologists should use 3D seismic data: a case study from the North Sea', Dr Chris Jackson, Imperial College.

February 15th: 'Volcanism and extinction in the Perian of China', Prof Paul Wignall, Leeds.

February 22nd: 'Unravelling sauropodomorph diversity from the tangle of sampling biases', Dr Phil Mannion, UCL.

March 1st: 'Thin section workshop', Harry Williams.

March 8th: ' Uncovering the early evolution of echinoderms', Dr Imran Rahman, Manchester (formerly Imperial College London).

March 15th: 'Stars, Dust and Comets', Lisette Sibbons, University of Hertfordshire.

March 22nd: 'Seismic anisotropy from subducting slabs: combining field evidence with rock physics', Dr David Healy, Aberdeen.

Subducting plates undergo metamorphism and deformation as they descend into the mantle. Theory, laboratory experiments, seismology and field work all confirm that slabs enjoy profound changes in mineralogy, structure, rheology and fluid-content during their downward journey. This talk will attempt to link these diverse observations into a coherent model for the pattern of seismic anisotropy measured above subducting slabs. The model is based on field observations in exhumed but previously subducted rocks, integrated with simple petrophysical calculations.

 

Please contact Rochelle Taylor for further information about any of the seminars or if you would like to suggest a speaker for future presentations.