We have six trips in the geological module, and we now have got to number five. I have a timetable clash for the sixth one, so this was my last. But it was a good one to end with.
This was the trip to Rhosneigr, with a little bonus of blueschists with the Marquess of Anglesey (or more accurately, a statue of him) on top. The blueschists are a clear indicator of subduction. And it’s pretty as well!
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| The Marquess |
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| The blueschists, looking green because of algae growing on top of them. Am I pointing at two pillows from pillow lava? |
We had some slight trouble with the vehicle we were using; more often than not it was claiming that there was a door open, and still claiming that if we had slammed all of them shut with really more force than needed to get them properly closed. We are not quite sure what that was about.
In the Rhosneigr area we first look at some contact metamorphism; there is a (Precambrian) granitic intrusion in that area, and there are also some rocks exposed to that have been baked by this. So we look at both. And then we make a bit of a jump. From there we go straight to Ordovician sandstones and conglomerate. That is something where Jaco go out with sediment dynamics.
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| Llyn Maelog |
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| Talking about rocks with a lot of disruption |
We finish it off on the beach, where there are more sedimentary rocks, but with these we focus on the deformation. It's mudstone with interbedded turbidites, and these are beautifully deformed.
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| Beautifully deformed rock |
It was stunning weather for this trip! That did have the unwanted effect, though, that it was fine weather for flying around, and the location is really close to a military airport. Propeller airplanes flying overhead makes it impossible to make yourself heard, but a fighter jet flying overhead actually hurts your ears.
I think it was a good trip. And then next week the two gentlemen round things off without me. And then we'll do it all again next year!
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