Issue 57 contents list: published March 2011
Travel with Rockwatch and News from members
Some of the highlights of Rockwatch events around the country to share with you..
GEMS FROM THE FOREST
Tony Waltham tells us about mining for sapphires and other gem stones, carried out for over 2000 years at Ratnapura in Sri Lanka. The mining here is small scale and has a relatively low impact on the environment. Discover more about these gorgeous gems and how they are formed.
WONDERFUL WENLOCK LIMESTONE
Dudley in the West Midlands holds some surprising secrets for the fossil hunter. Langhan Turner shares some of these secrets in his article about the ancient sedimentary environments around Dudley and what they left behind for us to discover. You can join us on a field trip to the area later in the season and maybe find some stunning fossils yourself!
MAKE YOUR OWN SHOE-BOX STUDIO
A chance to get some ideas for your competition entry from Ian Mercer’s helpful, practical article on how to make a studio to photograph your specimens using simple things to be found in everyone’s home.
RUMBLINGS FROM MONTSERRAT
Andrea Kaszewski stopped off recently on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat during a round the world trip and discovered just what had caused the islanders to leave their homes more than a decade ago. Find out what happened when the Soufrière Hill volcano woke after being asleep for some 400 years.
PAINTING WITH EARTH PIGMENTS
People all over the world have been using Earth pigments for thousand of years to decorate their environment. Here, Peter Ward tells us how these natural resources, many of which he’s found in North Devon, might be used by artists to produce paintings and decorations to brighten up our lives.
MINOR INTRUSIONS
Discover some fascinating igneous intrusions that you might spot whilst on holiday around Britain. Alan Holiday tells you how to spot them and explains why they are important for geologists.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY’S GREAT PAVEMENT RESTORED
Eric Robinson gives us a sneak preview of this beautiful Italian marble pavement which has recently undergone restoration. He explains how it differs from the Italian Cosmati pavements and how the differences came about and tells us a bit about the recent restoration, completed in time for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
