Field excursion to Cornwall

The excursion will provide an introduction to the wide range of geology found in Cornwall, including the tectonics of the Devonian metasediments, the granites, the Lizard Ophiolite and the classic Sn, W, Cu and kaolin mineralisation.

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Proposed itinerary:

Monday 28 June, 2010: Arrive in Cornwall

6.00pm approx. Early evening lecture on geology and mineralisation in Cornwall, by Robin Shail, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter.

Tuesday 29 June, 2010: Penwith, West Cornwall (Low tide: 13.48), including St Michael’s Mount, Cape Cornwall and Botallack. Depart 9.00am.

• Penberthy Croft Mine dumps (Primary Cu, Fe, Pb sulphides, arsenides and secondary oxides, arsenates etc)

• St Michael’s Mount (Sn/W greisen related mineralisation, granite contact, pegmatites). Cape Cornwall (Priest’s Cove and Porthledden – granite contact with Mylor Slates, mine workings, different granite types).

• Botallack (metabasites, metasediments, magnetite/garnet skarns, Sn, Cu and U mineralisation).

Wed 30 June, 2010: St Agnes mining area. (Low Tide: 14.18). Depart 9.00am.

• Wheal Coates (Engine House and Sn/Cu mineralisation)

• Chapel Porth (Folded Porthowan Formation, elvan (rhyolite) dykes, Sn/Cu mineralisation)

• Blue Hills and Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes (Folded Porthowan Formation and Sn/Cu vein mineralisation)

• Cligga Head (Sn/W greisen mineralisation)

 Thurs 1 July, 2010: St Austell Granite and kaolinisation (Low Tide: 14.54). Depart 9.00am.

• St Stephen (overview of china clay pits)

• Wheal Martyn China Clay Country Park (Exhibition on china clay, granite boulders, view of Wheal Martyn china clay pit)

• Carclaze China Clay Pit (kaolinised granite and associated quartz/tourmaline mineralisation)

• Tresayes Pegmatite (Large K-feldspars in pegmatite, formerly used in glass-making)

• Roche Rock (exposure of quartz/tourmaline rock)

Fri 2 July, 2010: Lizard Complex ophiolite (Low Tide: 15.30). Depart 9.00am.

• Mullion Cove (Introduction, view of Mullion Island and hornblende schist)

• Kynance Cove (Serpentinite, basalt dykes and Kennack Gneiss)

• Poltesco (Serpentinite, with basalt dykes, Kennack Gneiss, historic serpentine ornamental stone works)

• Coverack (serpentinite with magmatic layering(?) chromite, gabbros, basalt dykes)

• West of England Quarry and Manacles (gabbbro and sheeted dyke complex, plagiogranite)

Sat 3 July, 2010. Depart 9.00am.

• Underground visit to either Rosevale Mine, near St Ives, or the Holman’s Test Mine of Camborne School of Mines in the morning. Rosevale Mine is a private (hobby) mine with excellent exposures of a typical tin vein.

• Depart for home at approximately 12.00 – 1.00pm.

Accommodation and food
This will be in single ensuite bedrooms at the Tremough Campus, Penryn, near Falmouth on a bed and breakfast basis. Participants will make their own arrangements for lunch and dinner. There will be an opportunity to purchase sandwiches or have lunch in a pub / cafe in the middle of each day. Falmouth has an excellent range of restaurants for dinner at varying prices to suit individual needs.

Transport in the field
This will be provided in two hired minibuses, departing from the Tremough Campus at 9.00am each day.

Costs
£275.00 per person. This includes accommodation (bed and breakfast) for 5 nights, transport in the field, entry fees, and the field excursion guide. If participants want to join the field excursion and arrange their own accommodation, the cost is £150 per person.

Arrival
The Tremough Campus, Penryn, near Falmouth is approximately 280 miles from London and 100 miles west of Exeter. Driving time from London is approximately 5-6 hours. There is a good train service from London, the Midlands and North to Penzance (book train tickets to Truro). There are flights from London Gatwick, London City and Stansted airports are well as from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and places in northern England to Newquay Airport, Cornwall. There is a regular bus service from Truro Rail Station to Tremough Campus.

Those not arriving by car can be met before 5.00pm at either Truro Railway Station or Newquay Airport.

Health and safety
Participants should bring waterproof clothing and wear strong boots for the fieldwork. A hat, cream/lotion for sun protection, and water bottle may be needed for sunny weather. Hard hats and high-viz  vests / jackets should be brought if possible, as some of the sites are cliffs or road side sections, and one is in an active quarry. The leaders will have some hard hats and high viz-vests available.

Hammers
Almost all of the locations to be visited are either Sites of Special Scientific Interest, County Geology Sites or on protected land. Thus, hammering to collect samples is not permitted. Photography is encouraged.

Number of participants
This is to be restricted to a maximum of 30, so early registration is advised.

Leaders
Peter W. Scott  (p.w.scott@ex.ac.uk; phone (+44) (0) 1326-371837 or 1326-340214), Peter Frost, and Robin Shail, Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter.

See the Camborne School of Mines Virtual Museum  (www.ex.ac.uk/geomincentre) for an overview of geology and mineralisation in Cornwall.

Society members will be given preference when registering for this field excursion, but others are welcome to attend if space permits. Please contact the leader of the trip, P.W. Scott (p.w.scott@ex.ac.uk) for more information.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN