The Onset of Modern-Style Plate Tectonic
2025-11-13 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Zoom Talk
Talk by Professor Craig Storey, University of Portsmouth
Abstract
Since the 1960s we have accepted the plate tectonic paradigm as being central to how our planet operates at the present day. However, there is much ongoing debate as to when plate tectonics began and how similar it was to the current observable mode. Hypotheses range from the Hadean to the Neoproterozoic and therefore span across profound changes in the Earth system, including atmospheric oxygenation and the proliferation of life. In this talk I will review (some of) the “hallmarks” of plate tectonics, their first appearance and secular evolution, and speculate on when it all began and how it evolved.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

The value & potential of the UK’s dinosaur track sites
2025-12-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom Talk
Talk by Richard Butler, Professor of Palaeobiology, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham
Due to unforeseen circumstances Richard was unable to give this talk so it will be rescheduled to a future date.
Abstract:
Dinosaur tracks provide important data on the distribution of dinosaurs through time and space and unique information on palaeobiology and behaviour, such as dinosaur locomotion, herding behaviour and species interactions. Dinosaur tracks and trackways are typically not collected and generally are left in the field: as such they have significant realised and potential value for tourism and education. In our recent work, we have comprehensively reviewed the distribution of dinosaur track sites in the UK and their scientific and cultural ‘value’. Fourteen dinosaur track sites are present in situ in the UK today, distributed across England, Wales and Scotland, and spanning from the Late Triassic to the Early Cretaceous. UK sites with considerable national and international scientific value include the Late Triassic dinosaur track site Bendrick Rock, in South Wales, and the Middle Jurassic site at Ardley and Dewars Farm quarries in Oxfordshire, parts of the latter having been excavated by our research team in 2024 and 2025. By contrast, the Early Cretaceous dinosaur track sites at Hanover Point, Isle of Wight, and Spyway Quarry, Dorset have relatively high cultural value due to their accessibility and visitor appeal, but modest scientific value. Our work helps identify threats and opportunities for UK dinosaur track sites, potentially helping to guide future conservation, scientific research, and public engagement efforts.

Stratigraphy & Sedimentology of Northern European Chalks
2026-01-08 19:30 - 21:00 | over Zoom
given by Dr Haydon Bailey, HGS Chairman, Past GA president & geological advisor to the Chiltern Society
Abstract:

The Upper Cretaceous Chalks of Northern Europe appear, on the face of it, to represent sedimentation during an extended period of relative tectonic and environmental stability. Nothing could be further from the truth. These uniform, white, fine grained carbonates are the sediments resulting from constant change in water temperature, oxygen content, dynamic water currents both at the sea surface and at depth.
Back in 1994 I presented a talk at a European conference entitled “Chalk, white, as above!”, because that was the comment frequently seen on core logs, geologists’ description sheets and engineering geologists’ well logs. Just how much information were we losing because of this phrase? Over the last 30 years our understanding of chalk deposition, and the environmental conditions which control it, have fundamentally shifted. Hopefully I can convince you that this might be the case.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.
This replaced the scheduled talk on Critical Minerals from Geology to circular economy: A matter of national security planned to be given by Professor Kathryn Moore, University of Exeter. This was due to bad weather. Kathryn’s talk will be rescheduled to a later date.

Critical minerals from geology to circular economy: a matter of national security
2026-01-08 19:30 - 21:30 | over Zoom
talk given by Associate Professor Kathryn Moore, University of Exeter
Abstract:
With the imminent release of a new Critical Minerals Strategy, the UK is updating its approach to national security. In this lecture, I will highlight the security issues that threaten critical mineral supply chains into the UK and into most countries. I will explain how mitigation of the risks requires ground – truthing, based on an understanding of geology and material properties, as well as wider socioenvironmental and political considerations. I will discuss how the needs of critical minerals production is a challenge in terms of skills requirement, and why the discipline of geology has never been more important.
Unfortunately this talk had to be cancelled due to communication issues caused by Storm Goretti. The talk will be rescheduled for a later date.

The end-Triassic mass extinction and its aftermath
2026-02-12 19:30 - 21:30 | over Zoom
talk given by Professor Paul Wignall, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds
The end-Triassic marks one of the big 5 mass extinctions of the fossil record and is also probably one of the least understand. It has many things in common with the preceding mass extinction at the end of the Permian. Both are associated with the eruptions of vast flows of basalt lava and both occurred whilst the world’s continents were united into a supercontinent. The talk will focus on some of the latest discoveries and ideas regarding both the mass extinction event and its aftermath. Unlike some other crises, the recovery from the crisis was remarkably quick in a geological sense and it of course paved the way for dinosaur to dominate the planet for 135 million years.
View This Talk In The Members’ Section.

Little Heath Geoconservation
2026-02-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Little Heath, Potten End, Potten End, United Kingdom
Annual vegetation clearance

AGM - at our new Redbourne Parish Centre venue
2026-03-12 19:30 - 21:30 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
followed by refreshments and launch of the
The Hertfordshire 50th anniversary book – Mike Lambert & Nick Pierpoint
This meeting is being held in the Conference Room in the Parish Centre as shown on the map below, but be aware that The Park refers to several side roads/cul-de-sac roads.
Full address Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourn, near St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR.
By Car: Redbourn is easily accessible off the M1 Junction 9 then heading south of the A5183 Redbourn Bypass to the second roundabout at the southern end of High Street, then up High Street bearing left onto Common Road and taking the 3rd turning on the left into The Park.
There is limited parking both in front of the Redbourn Parish Centre and to the rear of the centre on a first come first served basis. Elsewhere in Redbourn there is some on-street parking

Ver Valley Society Walk on the Chalk, Dunstable Downs
2026-03-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Hertfordshire
Herts Geol Society have a limited number of places available on this walk (5 – 6) organised by the Ver Valley Society. It will start at the Dunstable Downs National Trust Centre at 10am and will last until 1pm, when we can get something to eat at the NT Centre.
If you’re interested in joining in on this walk, then please contact Haydon via haydonbailey@outlook.com as he’s taking the bookings on behalf of HGS on a first come first served basis. Be prepared for a wet and very muddy walk; wear wellingtons or waterproof boots and expect muddy trousers!

The Ice-pushed chalk of the Chiltern escarpment between Barkway and Heydon
2026-03-29 10:00 - 16:30 | Silver Ball Transport Café, Reed, Royston London Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 8BG, United Kingdom
Meet at the Silver Ball transport cafe, which is on the A10 at Reed (SG8 8BD) at 10am for drinks and a bacon sandwich (cash only) and a loo stop. Leave for Barkway Pit at 10.30, stopping at a view point on the way. Visit a small pit at Great Chishill. Pub lunch at the Pheasant, Great Chishill. The day will finish at the Chalk pit at Heydon. The trip will concentrate on looking for evidence of glacis-tectonic structures and will finish around 4.30pm.
For folk who are interested in attending they should register with Mike Howgate mikeeh1086@hotmail.com

49th Percy Evans Lecture: Snowballs in the Desert - A Glacial History of Oman
2026-04-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
given by Ross Garden, Reading Geological Society
Ross is kindly standing in for the scheduled speaker Dr Haydon Bailey. Haydon’s talk will now given at a later date.
Abstract
The Earth has experienced repeated major icehouse periods through its history. Across the UK, we have many examples of the Plio-Pliestocene ice age deposits and in Scotland we see evidence of Pre-Cambrian Snowball Earth glaciations. Sowhat might the Sultanate of Oman on the eastern margin of the arid Arabian Peninsula offer?
Oman lies on the Tropic of Cancer and the current climate is hot and arid with midday winter temperatures in the mid 20’s and summer temperatures reaching 40° C and above. The arid climate, together with the relative ease of movement and hospitality of the Omani people provides a geological wonderland. There are many geological delights in Oman, but the area provides a variety of geology resulting from previous glaciations. We can see evidence for Proterozoic marine glaciations together with lacustrine deposits from the Permo-Carboniferous ice ages. The lack of vegetation and long geological history of the area provides good out crops of the glacial formations and allows examination of lateral facies variations that typify these deposits.
But the Oman also contains evidence of the impact of high latitude glaciations on land masses at low latitudes. The Omani Plio-Pliestocene history is characterised by ice driven sea level falls and rises, compressed climatic zones and cooler and wetter periods. As Arabia is situated between Africa and Asia these climatic changes are likely to have impacted the migration of homids out of Africa.

Glacial dropstone in Permian Al Khlata deltaic sandstones, Huqf

49th Percy Evans Lecture: The Geology of the Lower Chess Valley & where does all that water go?
2026-04-09 19:45 - 21:45 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
given by Dr. Haydon Bailey, HGS Chairman
now postponed to a later date.

Geology of Stonehenge and the bluestone controversy
2026-05-14 19:45 - 21:45 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
talk given by Prof. Peter Worsley, Emeritus Professor of Quaternary Geology, University of Reading

The Chalk Sea Ecosystem Project
2026-06-11 19:45 - 21:45 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
talk given by Dr James Witts, Senior Post Doctoral Researcher, Natural History Museum London

Researching the Puddingstone Book
2026-07-09 21:45 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
talk given by Gerald Lucy, Essex Rock & Mineral Society & Mike Howgate, AGS & HGS

St Albans’ building stones walk
2026-07-18 | Hertfordshire
with Haydon Bailey, geological advisor to the Chiltern Society.
This is a joint event with the Bucks Geology Group. PLACES LIMITED – BOOKING ESSENTIAL.
For more information and to book you place, please contact Mike Palmer at mpalmer@discoverbucksmuseum.org

The Deep Geology beneath southern England (TBC)
2026-09-10 21:45 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
talk given by Dr. Chris Pullen, Director, CP Exploration

Book Presentation - The Meteorites
2026-10-08 19:45 - 21:45 | Redbourne Parish Centre, The Park, Redbourne, Hertfordshire, AL3 7LR, United Kingdom
given by Helen Gordon, Hertfordshire University & Author

Ashridge House and Gardens
2026-10-17 10:00 - 16:30 | Ashridge House, Ashridge, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS, United Kingdom
A walk around the house and gardens.
More details to follow.

Alpine peaks and salt intrusions - Geological windows into Earth's mantle
2026-11-12 19:45 - 21:45 | over Zoom
given by Dr. Jonathan Turner, Geologists’ Association Field Guide Editor

The history of geological thought and exploration of the geology of the Himalaya
2026-12-10 19:45 - 21:45 | over Zoom
given by Dr. Danny Clarke-Lowes, Director, Nubian Consulting
