Course Coordinator: Steve Booth

Course leaders: Tony Morigi, Dr Tony Cooper, Dr Jon Lee, Holger Kessler,
Dr Adrian Humpage

Introduction

This field-based course has been created by the Quaternary Methodologies and Training project (QMT) in response to the user need identified in a number of BGS publications including 'Quaternary geology - towards meeting user requirements' (Foster et al, 1999) and the Programme Development Group for Onshore Survey (PDG) report Geology for our diverse economy (Walton and Lee; 2001).

This course sets out to improve the 'standards' and consistency of Quaternary mapping at a time when a better understanding of Quaternary deposits is required, especially in terms of the likely 3D distribution of the near-surface deposits. For example, the results of a BGS client survey, summarised in Walton and Lee (2001, p.37), showed that the majority of respondents (mainly from the hydrogeological, environmental and engineering sectors) placed the acquisition of information about Quaternary and artificial deposits (as opposed to bedrock geology) in the 'very important' category. This reflects the current pressures on builders and developers to comply with environmental legislation. The report by Foster et al. (1999) makes the point that Quaternary geology is important, simply because much of the UK landmass is covered by Quaternary ('drift') deposits. Such material is largely unconsolidated and in engineering terms often classified as 'weak'; it forms the foundations to many buildings, waste is commonly placed by landfill into it, and the water that we drink has usually passed through it.

Although the course is structured as a 'stand-alone' course it is intended to complement the field-based course held in Scotland: Upland Britain Quaternary Field Mapping. The aspects covered are:

• Mapping deposits typical of the Anglian glaciation of lowland Britain.
• Mapping deposits typical of Devensian glaciation of lowland Britain.
• Mapping floodplain alluvium and river terrace deposits.
• Mapping 'artificial ground' (Made ground, disturbed or mined ground etc).
• Recognition of periglacially affected ground.
• Mapping landslipped ground.

A manual is provided which includes detailed information relating to the four modules comprising the course (see venue below) as well as essential fieldwork information not specific to the mapping of Quaternary superficial deposits such as office-based methods including 'pre-fieldwork' assessment of literature, assessment of borehole data; aerial photo interpretation etc. The various techniques and practices that may be implemented for Quaternary field-mapping are additionally tagged with a 'priority ranking', giving a proportionate estimate of their usefulness to the mapper and their appropriateness.

The venue

The course is set up as four discrete modules:

• Module 1 Great Yarmouth (5 days): Pre-Anglian, Anglian and Holocene sequences.
• Module 2 Vale of York (2 days): Devensian and Holocene sequences.
• Module 3 Southern Pennines (1 day): Periglacially affected ground, landslipped ground.
• Module 4 Midlands, Vale of Belvoir (2 days): Anglian and Holocene sequences, floodplain alluvium and river terrace deposits, landslipped ground, artificial ground.

Duration and number of participants

The course lasts 10 days, including one weekend. The optimum number of participants is 8, with a maximum number of 12.

Course objectives

The aims of this course are to:

• Provide a hands-on opportunity to gain confidence in field mapping Quaternary deposits (including landslips).
• Familiarise individuals with some basic techniques to use when mapping the range of Quaternary and man-made deposits commonly encountered in parts of lowland southern Britain.
• Acquire an understanding of Quaternary depositional processes and landforms - essentially to develop a 'landscape literacy' skill.
• Undertake mapping to BGS Corporate standards
• Emphasise relevant Health and Safety issues, particularly in the use of augers.

Contact the BGS School of Field Geology for course fees, scheduling and availability

 

• School of Field Geology