geoz 117 October 2015

NEWSBREAKERS

Mars is wet

Using the HiRise visible light camera and the CHRISM spectrometer on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter researchers have identified magnesium perchlorate, magnesium chlorate and sodium perchlorate in the wet looking areas known as recurring slope lineae on the surface of Mars. These compounds precipitate from water and also considerably lower the freezing point and raise the boiling point of water on Mars, reinforcing the proposition that the recurring slope lineae are caused by seasonal seeps of liquid salt-rich water.
News report: http://tinyurl.com/o57xzb8
Research abstract: http://tinyurl.com/qenaeyh
Why SETI thinks this is important: http://tinyurl.com/nm4y4wj

FROM THE DIVISIONS

Divisional information is regularly updated at http://gsa.junctionworld.com/events/divisionmeetings.html
Check this site for more recent information on the following events:

Australian Capital Territory

Regular meetings 2015: Third Tuesday of each month (Except January)
Jaeger Lecture Theatre, Jaeger Building (Building 61), Australian National University. 5.00pm for 5.30pm start.
For more information: emma.mathews@ga.gov.au

New South Wales

Friday 9th October 2015
Dr Cornel de Ronde, Geological and Nuclear Sciences, New Zealand
Exploring the deep: submarine volcanoes of the Kermadec Arc
University of New South Wales, Mathews Theatre C 4.00-5.00 pm and refreshments aftwards!
See the flyer here.

Queensland

Wednesday 28th October 2015
Dr Graham Carr, President Geological Society of Australia
GSA Queensland Division Technical Talk
The Theodore Club, Level 1, 333 Adelaide St, Brisbane. 5.15 pm for 6.00 pm

Every Wednesday evening: GeoPub
Weekly Informal get-together for Explorers, Miners & other Geoscientists
O'Malleys Irish Pub - Basement Level of the Wintergarden in the Queen Street Mall, Brisbane. 5.30 pm

South Australia

Saturday 10th October 2015
GeoFamily Picnic, GSA SA Division, Australian Society of Economic Geophysicists, Adelaide University Geological Society, and the Geological Survey of South Australia
A sausage sizzle will be provided and attendees are invited to bring a child-friendly (no nuts!) plate to share on the day, plus drinks. Hats and sunscreen are recommended. There will also be activities for all ages on the day. For more information, please contact GSA secretary, Morgan Blades (morgan.blades@adelaide.edu.au)
Princess Elizabeth Playground, South Terrace. 9am to 1pm

Tasmania

Thursday 15th October 2015: GSA/ASEG meeting
Bob Musgrave
What can geophysics tell us about the mobile phase of the Lachlan Orogen
School of Earth Sciences, Lecture Theatre, University of Tasmania, 5.30 pm for 6.00 pm

Victoria

Thursday 29th October 2015
Rebekah Kurpiel
Using geochemistry to trace silcrete sources for stone tool manufacture in the Lake Mungo region
Fritz Loewe Theatre, Earth Sciences Building, University of Melbourne. 5.30 pm for 6.15 pm

Wednesday 4th November 2015
Victorian Universities Earth and Environmental Sciences Conference
http://tinyurl.com/q2dy63m

Thursday 26th November 2015
Helen Green
Dating Aboriginal Rock Art
Fritz Loewe Theatre, Earth Sciences Building, University of Melbourne. 5.30 pm for 6.15 pm

Geological Society of Australia, Victoria Division, Student Research Scholarships
The scholarship is valued at up to $500 for travel within Australia and $700 for travel outside of Australia. The number of and value of the scholarships awarded each year is made at the discretion of the GSA (Vic) committee. Funding will not be granted retrospectively and applicants are asked to submit forms no later than 6 weeks prior to their trip to give the committee time to consider the application.
Follow this link for more information and the application form.

Western Australia

Regular meetings: First Wednesday of each month (except December and January)
Irish Club of WA, 61 Townshend Road, Subiaco, 5.30pm
For more information: info@wa.gsa.org.au

GSA EVENTS

AESC 2016: Program themes

The AESC 2016 offers six themes. Within each Theme there will be dedicated Sessions.

Earth's Environment: Past to Present
Theme coordinator John Tibby Contact: john.tibby@adelaide.edu.au

Tectonics of the Planet: Craton and Continental Formation and Evolution, Ocean Plate Tectonics, Plate Margin and Plate Interior Tectonism
Theme coordinator Stijn Glorie Contact: stijn.glorie@adelaide.edu.au

Deep Earth Geodynamics: Core, Asthenosphere and Lithosphere Dynamics, Coupling the Dynamic Deep Earth with Surface Tectonics
Theme coordinator Dietmar Muller Contact: dietmar.muller@sydney.edu.au

Mineral Endowment: Formation and Exploration of Mineral Deposits; Their Tectonic and Geochemical Environment and Significance
Theme coordinator Richard Lilly Contact: richard.lilly@adelaide.edu.au

Geoscience and Society: Education, Integration and Translation of Earth Sciences for Societal Benefit
Theme coordinator Ian Clark Contact: Ian.Clark@unisa.edu.au

Earth Science for Energy: From Hydrocarbons to Renewables
Theme coordinator Peter McCabe Contact: peter.mccabe@adelaide.edu.au

If you have Session suggestions please contact Alan Collins alan.collins@adelaide.edu.au

Call for AJES Special Issue Papers
Oct 30th 2015 deadline

Papers are invited for a special issue of AJES, to be published at the AESC next June, devoted to the outputs and findings of the AuScope National Virtual Core Library (NVCL). The publicly-funded National Virtual Core Library project has imaged and hyperspectrally scanned the mineralogy of more than 750,000 metres of publicly accessible drill core from diverse geological environments from across all seven State and Territory Geological Survey jurisdictions. All these data are openly available for research via the freely accessible NVCL database or from each Survey. Scientific Papers or short Technical Notes are invited that address research and results derived from the NVCL databases.

Expressions of interest, with an abstract, should be sent to the Editorial Panel via Guest Editor jon.huntington@csiro.au by Oct 30th 2015.

Finalised manuscripts will be required by December 31st and will follow the normal AJES publishing guidelines.

Specialist Group in Tectonics and Structural Geology.

Riding the Wave: A conference to showcase current research and ideas in Structural Geology and Tectonics 22-27 November 2015

Pre-conference field trip: 14-21 November 2015
New Caledonia: ophiolite obduction, accretion and high-pressure metamorphism
Field trip convener: Geoffrey Clark

Post-conference field trip: 28-29 November 2015
Gympie Block/D'Aguilar Ranges: Oscillating deformation and the birth and death of the final orogeny on onshore Australia - core complex, ophiolitic blueschist, rift systems and terrane accretion.
Field trip convener: Rod Holcombe

Download the third circular here.
Visit the SGTSG web site here.

For queries and expressions of interest contact:
Gideon Rosenbaum,
Email: g.rosenbaum@uq.edu.au
Phone: 07 3346 9798

GSA responds to the Hornsby Quarry Project EIS

The Geological Heritage Subcommittee of the GSA NSW Division recently made a submission to the NSW Department of Planning & Environment concerning one important aspect of the 2015 EIS Hornsby Quarry Road Construction Spoil Management project which does not appear to have been investigated to the same level of thoroughness as is evident throughout the remainder of the EIS. Concerns were expressed in the submission that the GSA, despite having commissioned the initial report into the Geological Heritage of New South Wales in which the geoheritage aspects of the Hornsby Diatreme at the Hornsby Quarry site were first documented, was not regarded as a stakeholder during the preparation of the EIS and therefore was not previously consulted. As a result, the significance of the geological phenomenon uniquely exposed in the quarry wall at the eastern end of the site has been overlooked and disregarded, leading to formulation of a plan for infilling the quarry which will largely obliterate this feature of State, National and arguably Global significance. Click here to read the submission in full.

IN THE NEWS

Mantle plumes linked to hotspots by new imaging

A new whole-mantle seismic imaging technique reveals the presence of broad, quasi-vertical conduits beneath many prominent hotspots. These conduits extend from the core-mantle boundary to about 1,000 kilometres below Earth's surface, where some are deflected horizontally, suggesting more vigorous upper mantle circulation in some places.
News report: http://tinyurl.com/prz8n7t
Research abstract: http://tinyurl.com/ngzaumz

... and speaking of hotspots...
Is this the worlds longest chain of hotspot related volcanic events?
http://tinyurl.com/ndgo89k

Students bring home gold and silver from Brazil

Three of Australia's most talented high school science students representing Australia at the International Earth Science Olympiad in Brazil have won gold and silver medals, putting them in the top echelon of earth and environmental science students in the world with the entire four person Australian team bringing home 3 medals and 2 international team awards in total. Sydney's Zoe Thompson from Redlands School is the only girl in the world to win a gold medal in the competition this year. Joining her on the podium to receive silver medals were Sacha Mann from Girton Grammar School in Bendigo, Victoria, and Tim Hume from Mansfield Secondary College, Victoria.

Above: The 2015 Australian International Earth Science Olympiad team. Left to right: Jade Pham, Zoe Thompson, Sacha Mann & Tim Hume. Image courtesy of Greg McNamara.

http://tinyurl.com/otn77zt

ON THE WEB

Deccan and Chicxulub in double dino killer act?

Newly published high-precision 40Ar/39Ar data indicate that the the terminal-Cretaceous mass extinctions may be related to both the Deccan Traps volcanic eruptions and the Chicxulub bolide impact. The new dating suggests the Deccan magma system was invigorated and boosted by the impact and both events directly contributed to the demise of the dinosaurs and many other life forms.
News report: http://tinyurl.com/q62zgra
Research abstract: http://tinyurl.com/qxhabx9

Apollo Archives project - all there for you!

Every single photo taken on the Moon's surface, along with those from the voyages there and back are all now available on the Apollo Archives project Flickr site. The unprocessed versions of the original NASA scans have been uploaded into Flickr albums and organised by mission.

Above: Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan (left) with lunar module pilot and geologist Harrison Schmitt. Image courtesy of Project Apollo Archive/Flickr.
http://tinyurl.com/nlfb9l5

AuScope National Virtual Core Library on LinkedIn

Follow the outcomes of and/or discuss the AuScope National Virtual Core Library via the LinkedIn Group here: http://tinyurl.com/qjh8ftn

IN THE MEDIA

Schools get the Dirt on TV

The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy recently announced the winners of its annual video competition for students, Dirt TV. Dirt TV is a video competition requiring students in years 7 to 12 to produce a short video clip illustrating what mining or oil & gas means to them. A prize pool of approximately $10,000 is awarded across five categories with $5,000 being first prize for Best Overall Video.

The 2015 winners are:
BHP Billiton Best Overall Entry: Dig a little deeper by Leighton Elliott, St John's Grammar School.
Iron Road People's Choice Award: More than numbers on a screen by Emily Keough, St Peter's Girls School.
SACOME Best Music Award: Life with Mining by Cassandra Netz, Concordia College.
OZ Minerals Best Writing Award: How mining contributes to our daily lives by Emilia Blagojevic, St Joseph's Memorial School, Norwood.
Santos Best Director Award: Dig a little deeper by Leighton Elliott, St John's Grammar School.
http://tinyurl.com/p2w9n2c

The sound of bio-erosion ...

Research produces some interesting things. As a result of investigating how limpets respond to anti-fouling paints on actual marine substrates we now know what a limpet licking a rock sounds like!
http://tinyurl.com/qdmqm3p

Mars: The field trip continued ...

Eight holes and counting
Curiosity has now drilled its eighth hole on Mars, and its fifth since reaching Mount Sharp one year ago. The drilling took place on Big Sky, an ordinary looking sandstone rock. It is also relatively near sandstone that looks as though it has been altered by fluids that will probably be the next drilling and analysis target. The analyses of the Big Sky rock-powder samples will occur shortly. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.
http://tinyurl.com/npfm8ln

Petrified aeolian dunes
http://tinyurl.com/ox2zzpz

More news from the solar system ...

Rubber duck once two ducklings
http://tinyurl.com/oy46q93

Is Ceres salty?
http://tinyurl.com/pq6mgy9

Amazing details from Charon
http://tinyurl.com/q5pcykg

Waves in Saturn's rings
http://tinyurl.com/oa6k6ta

What's in AJES

The Australian Journal of Earth Sciences online is available through the Taylor & Francis website. It is very easy to navigate and use.

AJES is available to financial members of the GSA. Don't miss the next issue because your membership has lapsed!

Volume 62 No.5 On-line

I. D. Lindley
Late Quaternary geology of Ambitle Volcano, Feni Island Group, Papua New Guinea.

S. A. Ayaz, J. S. Esterle and M. A. Martin
Spatial variation in the stratigraphic architecture of the Fort Cooper and equivalent coal measures, Bowen Basin, Queensland.

A. Babaahmadi, G. Rosenbaum and J. Esterle
Alternating episodes of extension and contraction during the Triassic: Evidence from Mesozoic sedimentary basins in eastern Australia.

G. P. T. Spampinato, L. Ailleres, P. G. Betts and R. J. Armit
Crustal architecture of the Thomson Orogen in Queensland inferred from potential field forward modelling.

B. P. J. Stevens
Magnetite-bearing zones in metasediments at Broken Hill, Australia: signatures of black smokers?

R. L. Stanton
The "orogenic andesite" puzzle of C. E. Tilley: 1 - Is the volatile phase the missing piece?

R. L. Stanton
The "orogenic andesite" puzzle of C. E. Tilley: 2 - Some exploratory experiments and their possible implications.

Coming up in TAG

TAG for December 2015

The September issue has been posted. If you didn't receive your copy, please contact the GSA.

Do you have an article or news item for the geological community? If so make sure you meet the deadline December issue deadline of 26 October. If you are submitting a Feature or Special Report please send your article in as soon as possible and if you need information about word lengths and submitting contact: tag@gsa.org.au.

JOB VACANCIES

Employment opportunities with the GSA

Book-keeper
Do you know a skilled Book-keeper wanting to work full-time? If so, please send them a link to the Position Description for this role with the GSA. Book-keeper position description.

Membership Development Officer
The GSA is looking to appoint a Membership Development Officer. This full-time position is based in Hornsby. If you know someone suitable or you think you have the skills please respond to the Position Description for this role with the GSA. Membership Development Officer position description.

WHAT'S ON

DEADLINES:

Call for Papers - Abstract deadline October 30 2015

AJES special issue devoted to the outputs and findings of the AuScope National Virtual Core Library:
to be published at the AESC: Adelaide 26-30 June 2016

Uncover Earth's past to discover our future
Email expressions of interest to: jon.huntington@csiro.au

Call for Papers - Abstract deadline January 31 2016

35th International Geological Congress:
Cape Town South Africa 24 August-4 September 2016

Geoscience for Society, Fundamental Geoscience and Geoscience in the Economy
http://tinyurl.com/q2nwlh8

EVENTS:

Earth Science Week, Nationwide, 11 – 17 October 2015

http://tinyurl.com/o5vhhgr.

Managed Aquifer Recharge, Melbourne, 12 – 13 October 2015

http://tinyurl.com/obv8w2l.

Earthquakes - the Australian experience, Canberra, 14 October 2015

http://tinyurl.com/p2m7v8a.

Predictive mapping of regolith properties with implications for mineral exploration, Canberra, 21 October 2015