geoz 94 July 2014

NEWSBREAKERS

Explosive times at the AESC

aesc cannon firing The Australian Earth Science Convention dinner was memorable from start to finish. Pre-dinner drinks at Fort Scratchley were memorable for good wine and loud noises. Chris Pigram, CEO of Geoscience Australia - the conference Ruby Sponsor, was given the honour of the first firing of one of the fort guns. The privilege of firing four other rounds were auctioned and went to Graham Carr, Sue Fletcher, Bob Musgrave and Mike Smith.

The Dinner was held on the stage of the fabulous Newcastle Civic Theatre where good food and wine were accompanied by members of the Newcastle Festival Opera serenading the diners.

Read more about the AESC below.

Images courtesy of Greg McNamara.

45 years this month

Apollo 11 landed on the moon July 20, 1969. The lunar landing module, Eagle, settled on the Sea of Tranquillity and a new era began with samples of moon rocks collected by the Apollo 11 crew. Samples included soil, 50 rocks and 2 small cores weighing 22 kilograms in all.
NASA news: http://1.usa.gov/1oZo5BA
More on Apollo sample collection: http://bit.ly/1tKh4LD

Deep-sea mining licences issued

The International Seabed Authority has issued seven new exploration licences to state-owned and commercial operators. The total area of seabed now licensed is 1.2 million square kilometres.
http://bbc.in/1nfhSnu

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 2014: 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

2014 meeting dates to be advised
For more information: meetings@nsw.gsa.org.au

Queensland

2014 meeting dates to be advised
For more information: info@qld.gsa.org.au

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

GSA SA Division Annual Dinner: Thursday 21st August 2014
Mark Pharaoh, South Australian Museum
More details will be provided in the July edition of the newsletter
Historian Hotel

GeoNight at the Pub: First Thursday of each month (starting 6th February)
The Griffins Head, Hindmarsh Square, Grenfell Street, Adelaide (Front Bar), 5.00pm to 7.30pm
For more information: anna_petts@yahoo.com.au

Tasmania

2014 meeting dates to be advised
For more information: taryn.noble@utas.edu.au

21 - 23 November 2014
Field trip to Maria Island
More information coming soon.

Victoria

Thursday 31st July 2014 - Student Night
Farah Ali
  Environmental Geoscience, La Trobe University
Caitlin Gionfriddo
  Biogeochemistry, The University of Melbourne
Estephany Marillo Sialer
  Geochemistry, The University of Melbourne
Stefan Vollgger
  Economic Geology, Monash University
Fritz Loewe Theatre, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, 5.30pm for 6.15pm

Thursday 28th August 2014
Barbara Wagstaff
Dating Dinosaurs
Fritz Loewe Theatre, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, 5.30pm for 6.15pm

Friday 3rd October 2014
Selwyn Symposium 2014: The Nullarbor Plain: Recent Advances
University of Melbourne, 9.00am to 5.00pm .

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

GSA Governing Council

All councillors elected in ballots in June were endorsed on the 8th of July at the 2014 GSA AGM, held in association with the AESC in Newcastle. The incoming councillors are:
  Roger Bateman, WA Division
  David Cantrill, Victoria Division
  Christine Edgoose, NT Division
  Michelle Cooper, ACT Division
and General Councillors:
  Graham Carr
  Ian Graham
  Mike Smith
  Ian Withnall
  Chris Yeats

The new Governing Council recently held their first meeting and elected inaugural office bearers: GSA President - Graham Carr
GSA Secretary - Michelle Cooper
GSA Treasurer - Chris Yeats

Congratulations to all councillors and office bearers. The membership looks forward to the benefits this new style of governance will bring to the society.

AESC rocks Newcastle!

Reports from the AESC attendees indicate all enjoyed their time in Newcastle and the conference met or exceeded all expectations. Well done to all the organisers, staff on the ground and the many others who made it all possible.

Apart from the fabulous presentations, posters and social events the GSA also held its award ceremony during the conference. This year the awards were:

Award:	Recipient:
GSA Fellow	Mike Smith
SW Carey	Mike Sandiford
Browne Medal	Gavin Young
AE Ringwood Medal	Tetsuo Irifune
AB Edwards 2012	David Phillips
AB Edwards 2013 - joint recipients	Patrice Rey & Simon Johnson
Tom Valance	David Oldroyd
FL Stillwell 2012	D. Phillips B. Fu C. J. L. Wilson M. Kendrick & J. McL. Miller
FL Stillwell 2013	R. A. Glen R. J. Korsch R. Hegarty A. Saeed Y. Poudjom Djomani R. D. Costelloe & E. Belousova
David I Groves 2012	David Flannery
David I Groves 2013	Samuel Holt

Award winners. Left to right: Mike Smith, Gavin Young, Tetsu Irifune, Laurie Hutton and Mike Sandiford. Image courtesy of Graham Carr

AESC survey: Communicating geoscience

Iain Stewart, on behalf of the IUGS working group on communicating environmental geoscience, has invited all those who attended the AESC and all others interested to complete a questionnaire designed to appraise the attitudes towards science communication among geoscientists. Follow this link to take the survey.

IN THE NEWS

Tidal heating of the Moon modelled

Modelling of the Moon's interior indicates there is a liquid layer between a radius of about 350 and 500 kilometres from the centre generated by the tidal affect of Earth's gravity.
News report: http://ab.co/1Ao7u24
Research abstract: http://bit.ly/1xmPrVu

Area of special scientific interest vandalised

Rocks containing ammonite fossils have been stolen from the Portrush area of special scientific interest in Co Antrim nature reserve, Northern Ireland. The fossiliferous sedimentary rocks have been altered to look like basalt by the intrusion of the Portrush Sill. The fossils are of little commercial value but are famous for the false impression they gave of fossils in igneous rock and the debate between neptunists and vulcanists that followed.
News report: http://bit.ly/1kqF1hL
More on the site and the debate: http://bit.ly/1n4jwcn

Downturn shows up

Federal government figures reveal exploration companies spent nearly 40 per cent less in the first quarter of 2014 than in the same quarter in the previous year. The Australian Institute of Geoscientists also reports that in a recent survey of over 1000 geologists, one in five have been let go in the last three months.
http://bit.ly/1mE1JYn

ON THE WEB

Google Earth helps find more volcanoes

The Penshurst region of western Victoria is well known for its volcanic landscape but with the aid of Google Earth, three new volcanoes have been identified and another 20 are yet to be examined further.
http://ab.co/1zDm6u2

National mapping access reaches new digital heights

The National Map initiative, a development between the Commonwealth Department of Communications, NICTA (Australia's Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence) and Geoscience Australia, was formally launched this month. The National Map facility provides easy access to quality spatial data to anybody for free. It integrates data held by federal, state and local government bodies and provides an open framework of geospatial data services that supports commercial and community innovation.
http://bit.ly/1oj9W0D

Regional rainfall decline linked to greenhouse gas increases

A new high-resolution global climate model has linked the observed regional rainfall decline over southern and southwest Australia to anthropogenic changes to levels of greenhouse gases and ozone in the atmosphere.
Research abstract: http://bit.ly/1mTtfwv

Mt Fuji under more pressure

The Great East Japan earthquake of 11 March 2011, that triggered a devastating tsunami, is now thought responsible for increased pressure on Mount Fuji. Using the earthquake's data from Japan's Hi-net system of 800 seismic sensors, researchers have been able to show that the Earth's crust is now under more pressure in the volcanic regions, in particular under Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji last erupted in 1707 with the area of modern Tokyo impacted by ash fall.
Research abstract: http://bit.ly/WJfNpT

IN THE MEDIA

New online open access journal up and running

The new open access journal Progress in Earth and Planetary Science (PEPS) has recently published its first articles online. The peer-reviewed online journal is part of the SpringerOpen portfolio and all articles are freely and permanently accessible on SpringerLink and SpringerOpen.
http://bit.ly/1qBOAhz

Australian of the year awards - 2015 - Nominate now!

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised for the work that they do? Why not nominate them for one of the awards on offer? There are 128 awards in 4 categories but one nomination is all it takes - visit the website to see how easy it is! Nominations close 1 August 2014.
http://bit.ly/1yjICq4

Fluffy dinosaurs normal

A new feathery dinosaur from the Jurassic of Siberia shows feathers were present on dinosaurs much earlier than previously thought and may represent the normal state for most dinosaurs.
News report: http://bbc.in/Uy6zuM
Research abstract: http://bit.ly/1pMMmLJ

Speaking of dinosaurs ....
Some were not only fluffy, they had four wings!
News report: http://bbc.in/Uc70uL
Research abstract: http://bit.ly/1ysSDRX

Speaking of flying fossils ....
The remains of the largest flying bird known, with a wingspan of 6.4 metres, was unearthed recently.
News report: http://ab.co/1nOx36I
Research abstract: http://bit.ly/1rPta39

Mars: The field trip continued

Curiosity recently found an iron meteorite, now named Lebanon, about 2 meters wide. A smaller piece can be seen in the foreground and is called Lebanon B.
http://1.usa.gov/WfnUKJ
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/LPGNantes/CNRS/IAS/MSSS

New global geological map of Mars.
http://on.doi.gov/WdBOwN
Image courtesy of the USGS.

NASA data bottleneck needs you to solve it.
http://bbc.in/1pM6ptD

More news from the solar system ...

Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 launched
http://nyti.ms/1mcdfoN

Rosetta one stone or two?
http://bbc.in/1Aoc3JG

Europa sees red
http://ab.co/1uxtJCi

Gravity data suggests Titan has a salty sea
http://1.usa.gov/1oZKWgk

... and elsewhere ...

Earth as a proxy for alien spotting
http://bit.ly/1rIvMPk

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 61 No.4 - Published online and at the printers

M. Kneeshaw and R. C. Morris
The Cenozoic detrital iron deposits of the Hamersley Province, Western Australia.

C. L. Fergusson
Late Ordovician to mid-Silurian Benambran subduction zones in the Lachlan Orogen, southeastern Australia.

P. G. Lennox, M. A. Forster and I. S. Williams
Emplacement and deformation ages of the Wyangala Granite, Cowra, NSW.

M. Forster, G. Lister and P. Lennox
Dating deformation using crushed alkali feldspar: 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of shear zones in the Wyangala Batholith, NSW, Australia.

M. G. Tetley and N. R. Daczko
Virtual Petrographic Microscope: A multi-platform education and research software tool to analyse rock thin sections.

G. R. Burton and S. J. Trigg
Geodynamic significance of the boundary between the Thomson Orogen and the Lachlan Orogen, northwestern New South Wales and implications for Tasmanide tectonics: discussion.

R. A. Glen, R. Y. Poudjom Djomani, E. Belousova, R. Hegarty and R. J. Korsch
Geodynamic significance of the boundary between the Thomson Orogen and the Lachlan Orogen, northwestern New South Wales and implications for Tasmanide tectonics: reply.

Volume 61 No.5 - Soon to be fully online

I. C. Roach, S. Jaireth and M. T. Costelloe
Applying regional airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveying to understand the architecture of sandstone-hosted uranium mineral systems in the Callabonna Sub-basin, Lake Frome region, South Australia.

A. Glikson and A. Hickman
Coupled asteroid impacts and banded iron-formations, Fortescue and Hamersley groups, Pilbara, Western Australia.

J. Al-Hinaai and J. Redfern
The upper Carboniferous basal Grant Group unconformity, Canning Basin, Australia: a complex surface recording glacial tectonic and halotectonic processes.

J. Simmons, R. Cas and I. Nicholls
The volcanological and petrogenetic origins of the basaltic Flinders Volcanic Province (49-39 Ma), Older Volcanics Provinces, southeast Australia.

J. A. Boyce, R. R. Keays, I. A. Nicholls and P. Hayman
Eruption centres of the Hamilton area of the Newer Volcanics Province, Victoria, Australia: pinpointing volcanoes from a multifaceted approach to landform mapping.

Z. Y. Li, J. H. Zhao, X. H. Qiao and Y. X. Zhang
An automated approach for conditioning discrete fracture network modelling to in situ measurements.

M. M. Ma, X. M. Liu, B. J. Pillans, P. Y. LI, B. Lu and S. Y. Hu
Magnetic properties and particle size analysis of dust storm samples collected in Lanzhou and Sydney.

C. L. Fergusson
Refining accretionary orogen models for the Tasmanides of eastern Australia: discussion.

R. A. Glen
Refining accretionary orogen models for the Tasmanides of eastern Australia: reply.

Other papers published on-line recently

Follow this link to see the most recent papers published on-line.

P. W. Whitehead and P. N. Nelson
Displacement of the Great Divide in north Queensland associated with Neogene lava flows

H-B. Tan, J-Z. Huang, W-J. Zhang, X-Q. Liu, Y-F. Zhang, N. Kong and Q. Zhang
Fractionation of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of gypsum hydration water and assessment of its geochemical indications

Follow this link to see the 2014 AESC conference abstracts.

Coming up in TAG

TAG for September 2014

The June issue has been mailed to GSA members and subscribers. The September issue deadline was 25 July. If you missed it and have got something to say in 2014 get your Letter to the Editor or a news item published in the December TAG by sending it to: tag@gsa.org.au. If you are submitting a Feature or Special Report please send your article in as soon as possible. Need information about word lengths and submitting? Contact: tag@gsa.org.au

JOB VACANCIES

Advertising space now available

Advertising positions are now available in Geoz. Be the first to advertise here.
Word length: 40-50 words (the shorter the more effective) plus link to a web site.
Text and a small logo linking to your online advert or business.
Logo a maximum of 180 pixels wide x 90 pixels high.
Adverts will run in Geoz for two issues.
Fee: $150.00
For more information: info@gsa.org.au

WHAT'S ON

DEADLINES:

Earlybird registration closes July 31 2014

31st Annual Meeting of the Society for Organic Petrology, Sydney, September 27 – October 3, 2014

http://bit.ly/1xlSrlb

Earlybird registration closes July 31 2014

Open Pit Geotechnical Analysis and Design Training Course, Perth, 26 – 28 August, 2014

http://bit.ly/1hY6njg

Nominations for Australians of the Year – Nominations close August 1 2014

Categories are: Australian, Senior Australian and Young Australian of the Year as well as Australia's local hero

http://bit.ly/1iT9Vya

Call for Papers – Abstract deadline August 1 2014

APPEA conference and exhibition, Adelaide, 17 – 20 May 2015

http://bit.ly/1ncLDW3

Call for Papers – Abstract deadline August 5 2014

7th International Conference on Geoscience Education, Hyderabad, 5 – 5 September 2014

http://bit.ly/1qGGMjb

Call for nominations – Deadline extended until August 11 2014

The Australian Innovation Challenge Awards

http://bit.ly/1rspa6z

Call for field trip proposals – Proposal deadline August 15 2014

The AAPG International Convention and Exhibition, Melbourne, 13-16 September, 2015

http://bit.ly/1inTPSU

Call for National Science Week events – Register before August 16

National Science Week, August 16 – 24 2014

http://bit.ly/1q6imue

Call for nominations – Nominations close August 29 2014

The ATSE Clunies Ross Awards

http://bit.ly/1xKkNHO

Geoscience Australia's 2014 Top GeoShot photographic competition – entries close 12 September 2014

Winners receive a professionally framed enlargement of their image and their image will be displayed in Geoscience Australia's foyer in Canberra for the year.

http://bit.ly/1oD7SVe

Call for Papers - Abstract deadline October 13 2014

11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, Sydney 24 – 26 August 2015
http://bit.ly/1lKkQ3y

Call for Papers - Abstract deadline December 1 2014

9th International Symposium on Field Measurements in Geomechanics: 8 – 10 September 2015
Instrumentation: the key to managing project performance
http://bit.ly/1wYNmSc

EVENTS:

AusIMM Sir George Fisher Lecture, Townsville, 31 July 2014

Professor Noel White
Geological Time: long but not boring - slow and steady in parts, filled with action and excitement in others
http://bit.ly/X16e5t

Ground Support in Mining (Introduction) Short Course , Perth, 30 July – 1 August 2014

http://bit.ly/1hY6njg

Student Night: Careers For Environmental Students, Sydney, 6 August 2014

http://bit.ly/1ptPKK4

Water essentials Short Course , Adelaide, 8 August 2014

http://bit.ly/Uw0orc

GSAQ & AIG at the EKKA, 8 – 17 August 2014

http://bit.ly/1qGCZSO

National Science Week, 16 – 24 August 2014

http://bit.ly/1nM7e8Z

9th International Mining Geology Conference 2014, Adelaide, 18 – 20 August 2014

Click here for more information