GEOLOGY MATTERS
The Newsletter of the Geological Survey of Ireland
Nuachtlitir Suirbhéireacht Gheolaíochta Éireann
Issue No. 6, Spring 2007 

Contents

Introduction

Director's Discourse

Open Access to GSI Digital Data

A Geological Synopsis of Co. Kerry

Groundwater Programme: Protection Schemes

Groundwater contributions to the Water Framework Directive

New Irish Water Tracing Database

The Cunningham & Du Noyer Photo Awards 2006

Geophysical investigation of Quaternary glacial sediments in South Co. Westmeath and North Co. Offaly

Launch of National Geoscience Programme (2007-2013) and new Research Awards Scheme

Geosciences funding in the NDP

INFOMAR Project Update

2008 – International Year of Planet Earth

New Products and Services available from the Geological Survey of Ireland

Some Preliminary Observations from the Pilot Airborne Surveys Conducted in 2006

Society Of Geology Applied to Ore Deposits

Promotions

Rockbits

Introduction

Welcome to the first edition of Geology Matters for 2007. It has been an exciting start to the year for the geosciences with allocation of some €33m in the National Development Plan to the sector in January (see the article by Ray Scanlon); with the launch of the National Geoscience Programme (2007-2013) by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources at the Royal Irish Academy in February; and the launch of the Griffith Awards in April, also by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. These latter initiatives are discussed in our regular feature The Director’s Discourse and discussed further in the Geoscience Strategy article by Enda Gallagher. An important feature of these new developments is that all GSI digital data will now become freely available to all users. This initiative is covered in our article on Open Access to GSI Digital Data


In this issue, the featured Section from the GSI is our Groundwater Section. Many of you will be aware that the Groundwater Programme is now led by Monica Lee following the departure of its long serving Head of Section, Donal Daly, to the Environmental Protection Agency. Other persons to leave the Section in recent times include Geoff Wright and Coran Kelly. There are three articles from staff in the section covering topics as diverse as Groundwater Protection Schemes (Monica Lee), The Water Framework Directive (Taly Hunter-Williams), and groundwater tracing (Caoimhe Hickey). These articles do not cover the entire range of work carried out by the Section but should give you a flavour of the type of work carried out by the Section.

We continue our series on the geology of the Counties of Ireland with summaries of the Geology of County Kerry. There are also articles from the Minerals Section on the trial airborne geophysics surveys carried out last year and featured in Issue 5, and the upcoming Society of Geology Applied to ore Deposits (SGA2007) conference to be held in Trinity College in August; web developments in Geotechnical Programme; Koen Verbruggen writes on the 2007 Marine Geology Programme; Silvia Caloca writes on her recently completed thesis on the use of geophysics for investigating shallow geological features; and we have a report on the recent Du Noyer Photographic Competition and the Cunningham Awards. There is also an update on the International Year of Planet Earth which was featured in Issue 4 of Geology Matters.

If you ever wondered about working as a geologist in the vast open spaces of Canada then go straight to our Rockbits section where MaryAnn Mihychuk writes about some of her experiences as a geologist working in the Bush of Northern Canada. We would also like to hear from any geologists who are willing to put pen to paper to tell us their experiences working in different locations around the world.

Enjoy your read.

DIRECTOR’S DISCOURSE

A STRATEGY FOR THE GEOSCIENCE SECTOR

Peadar McArdle

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, launched the National Geoscience Programme (2007-2013) at the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) on 21 February 2007. Jointly published by the RIA and GSI this programme sets out a vision for the geoscience sector over the period of the new National Development Plan (2007-2013). This document can become a blueprint for the future investment in the sector either through the National Development Plan or other national and EU funding mechanisms.

The geoscience sector is committed to the provision of efficient and relevant information to underpin economic, social and environmental progress and in support of balanced regional development. The programme will enhance the contribution that geoscience makes to sustainable environmental management, the development of natural resources and infrastructure, an understanding of natural hazards (such as landslides or tsunamis) and a better appreciation of how the Earth works as a planet. While geoscience will continue to provide services to the petroleum and minerals sectors, it will increasingly support a wide range of others, including planning, environment, agriculture, water supplies, infrastructure, transport, tourism and heritage.

The geoscience sector comprises the providers of geoscience-based commodities, services, research and education, together with their customers and stakeholders. Its industry contributes €2 billion to the Irish economy, its private sector services have an annual turnover of €130 million with 1,000 employees and its research budget exceeds €30 million per annum. At third level, institutes on an all-island basis produce 50 geoscience graduates per year, with 25 PhD and 15 post-doctoral start-ups annually, supported by 70 faculty members. The sector is sufficiently coherent to ensure that new investment will nurture multidisciplinary world-class research thereby driving national economic competitiveness.

The programme established a series of key research objectives which cover the energy, environment, marine and infrastructure sectors. Ireland can expect world-class research in the geoscience sector provided it has the necessary research infrastructural support and international participation. The key objectives can be summarised as follows: -

The development of an Irish Geoscience Graduate Programme is a key element of the National Geoscience Programme. It will be a networked and all-island graduate programme which will provide modular courses and research activities for all geoscience graduates. With appropriate investment, the number of graduates and post-doctoral fellows can be doubled over the period of the programme.

The work of GSI itself features in the programme. Recognising that its core competence lies in the way that GSI manages and delivers information, the programme describes a number of GSI programmes with which readers will be familiar, including INFOMAR, RESI (Resource and Environmental Survey of Ireland) and other GSI programmes. It notes that GSI over the period of the programme will shift towards digital 3D appreciation of the landscape and towards forecasting future environmental change by modelling the effects of climate change and infrastructure development.

The programme, noting the poor state of geoscience research infrastructure, identified two key priorities to support world-class research. The first comprises analytical facilities and equipment, both geochemical and geophysical, which will be strategically located and made available on an all-island networked basis. The second is the development of a 3D digital model of Ireland’s subsurface, based on strategic data acquisition and easy delivery.

The programme is explicitly an all-island one and will build on the strong N-S cooperation which already exists in geoscience. Ireland must operate in an international and EU context in order to produce excellent research and geoscience has an important tradition of successful participation in such activity. The programme also recognises that outreach is essential to ensure adequate government funding is provided to geoscience. While there is considerable ongoing outreach activity, a unique opportunity will arise in 2008 which is the International Year of Planet Earth (see http://www.planetearth.ie/).

In launching the programme the Minister announced two initiatives which will facilitate its implementation. The first is open and free access to all GSI databases. The second is the Griffith Geoscience Research Awards scheme which will provide attractive opportunities to early-career scientists in areas of key priority.

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Open Access to GSI Digital Data

The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr. Noel Dempsey T.D. announced on the 21st February, 2007 open and free access to all GSI digital data. The data will be made available over the Internet. This change in data delivery policy will be implemented in phases. The first phase, comprising Seabed (INSS & INFOMAR) data in their current formats, will be available (via the HEAnet) by 30th June, 2007. The schedule for additional phases will be announced later.

The following arrangements will operate to give effect to the Minister's decision:-

1. There will no longer be a charge for access to our digital data in the formats in which they already exist. This includes raster images (tiffs, geotiffs) GIS data, Excel tables and Access databases, etc.

2. Customers visiting the Customer Centre will have access to all data in the DMS free of charge. Charges for media (e.g. CDs, DVDs), printing or photocopying will apply as at present.

3. Where customers request professional services (e.g. customizing of maps, data conversion, interpretation etc.) fees will apply as at present.

4. GSI asserts its Intellectual Property Right to, and Copyright on, all its data and customers will be required to acknowledge this before gaining access to the data.

5. GSI printed products remain for sale at their current rates.

A Geological Synopsis of Co. Kerry

Introduction

The geology of a county can often define the nature of the landscape, farming, industry and the architecture of a county. In this synopsis of the geology of County Kerry we will briefly describe the underlying Bedrock Geology and its links to its landscape and historic buildings.

Bedrock Geology

The geology of County Kerry exhibits a wide variety of geological features, recording ancient environments ranging from muds of a deep ocean basin, the deserts of the Old Red Sandstone to the limestones of tropical seas. The pattern of the rocks in the map shows how the folding of these, by the Variscan mountain building event, controls the orientation of the famous Kerry peninsulas. The softer limestones, are found in the areas of the bays and the harder, more resistant sandstones form the cores of the peninsulas.

An area of great geological interest is on Valentia Island where the footprints of one of the oldest ever recorded four legged creature (a tetrapod) are preserved in the rocks, they were soft sands when the tetrapod walked over them!

Some geological facts:
Oldest Rock Units: the Annascaul Formation shown as Lower to Mid Ordovician slate on the map. These were deep marine shales and are approximately 470 Million years old.

Youngest Rock Unit: Cretaceous Limestone breccias of the Ballydeenla Formation, north of Killarney. These are approximately 70 million years old and were once parts of probably more widespread Cretaceous deposits. They have been preserved from erosion by surviving in hollows in Mesozoic karst features.

The most common rock types in County Kerry are:

1. Old Red Sandstone, all ORS (2624km² or 56% of the county)
2. Namurian sandstone and shale (1274 km² or 27% of the county)
3. Visean shelf limestone and shale (409 km² or 9% of the county)

Mining
The copper mines at Ross Island near the eastern shores of Lough Leane (Killarney) are recognised to include early Bronze Age workings (c2400 to 2000BC). The mine workings today survive as cave like openings in the host limestone rock. The copper was obtained from the minerals chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) and tennantite ((CuFe)₁₂As₄S₁₃). The host rock has been assigned to the Ballysteen Limestone Formation of Lower Carboniferous age. Other copper mines are known from Muckross (near Killarney) and Ardtully (near Kenmare). Lead was also been mined from near Kenmare.

Geology and Architecture
Most buildings are constructed of stone material, even those dating back some 5,000 years. Staigue fort, or "caher", near Sneem on the Iveragh peninsula of Co. Kerry is an example of a fort that was built approximately 1,000 BC. It was mainly built with green and purple, laminated mudstones siltstones and sandstones from the Valentia Slate Formation. The siltstones and sandstones are medium to fine-grained, with occasional quartz veins, natural fractures and contain some coarser conglomeratic beds. A certain amount of stone can be found loose on the valley floor and it is probable that most of the stone used in the construction of the fort was simply gathered from the surrounding fields. There is however evidence of prehistoric extraction at the site.

A primitive copper mine can be found close to the head of the river valley, about 550 metres south-east of Staigue Fort. The mine appears as a shallow 8 metre wide and 1.6 metre high opening cut into a rock scarp. The rock was probably extracted by lighting a fire against the outcrop to loosen the rock-face, which was then broken away using hand tools. The floor level of the mine has built up, and is likely to conceal a spoil heap where the initial crushing and sorting of the ore was undertaken.

A view of Staigue Fort, near Sneem Co. Kerry (left) with detail of the wall construction (right) illustrating purple and blue mudstones and siltstones of the Valentia Slate Formation.

Suggested further reading (GSI publication):
M. Pracht (1996), Geology of Dingle Bay: A Geological Description, with accompanying Bedrock Geology 1:100,000 Scale Map, Geological Survey of Ireland 1:100,000 series, Sheet 20.

M. Pracht (1997), Geology of Kerry-Cork: A Geological Description, with accompanying Bedrock Geology 1:100,000 Scale Map, Geological Survey of Ireland 1:100,000 series, Sheet 21.

M. Pracht & A.G. Sleeman (2002), Geology of West Cork: A Geological Description of West Cork and adjacent parts of Kerry with accompanying bedrock geology 1:100,000 Scale Map, Geological Survey of Ireland 1:100,000 series, Sheet 24.

A.G. Sleeman & M. Pracht (1999), Geology of The Shannon Estuary: A Geological Description of The Shannon Estuary Region including parts of Clare, Limerick and Kerry with accompanying bedrock geology 1:100,000 scale map, Geological Survey of Ireland 1:100,000 series, Sheet 17.

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Groundwater Protection Scheme programme

Monica Lee - Groundwater Section
and Vincent Fitzsimons - Scottish Environment Protection Agency

The groundwater protection schemes are county-based projects that are undertaken jointly between the GSI and the respective Local Authority. The overall aim of the groundwater protection scheme is to preserve the quality of groundwater, particularly for drinking water purposes, for the benefit of present and future generations. The scheme is not intended to have any statutory authority, but provides a framework for decision-making and guidelines for the Local Authorities in carrying out their functions. Since 2003, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government has recommended that groundwater protection schemes are incorporated into County Development Plans (Circular Letter SP 5/03 – Groundwater Protection and the Planning System).

The groundwater protection scheme comprises two components (Figure 1):

i) A land surface zoning map (or maps) called the groundwater protection zone map.

ii) Groundwater protection responses for existing and new potentially polluting activities.

Figure 1.  Summary of Components of a Groundwater Protection Scheme

The role of the GSI is in the production of the land surface zoning map, whereas decisions on groundwater protection responses are the responsibility of the statutory authorities. The three main elements to land surface zoning are integrated together in the matrix below, which gives a possible total of 8 source protection zones and 24 resource protection zones for any area.

Table 1.  Matrix of Groundwater Protection Zones

The output from the scheme is a series of 8 large scale maps (1:50,000 for regional maps; 1:10,000 or 1:25,000 for source protection maps) with an accompanying explanatory report. The series of maps comprise 1) bedrock geology map, 2) subsoil geology map, 3) outcrop and depth-to-bedrock map, 4) hydrogeological data map, 5) aquifer map, 6) groundwater vulnerability map, 7) groundwater protection zone map and 8) groundwater source protection zone maps.

A digital product is also provided to the local authority for inclusion in their own GIS system. This product identifies the aquifer, vulnerability, groundwater resource/source protection zone and available groundwater protection responses. At present, responses have been developed for landfills, on-site wastewater treatment systems (septic tanks) and landspreading of licensed organic wastes. Additional responses are also being developed for out-wintering pads, earth-lined slurry stores, integrated constructed wetlands and petrol stations.

A computerised database of all groundwater features - wells, springs and karst features - is set up by the GSI during the undertaking of a scheme. Information from this database is then available on request from the local authority and for other Groundwater Section customers.

The maps and reports not only provide a groundwater protection scheme for the county that is used to inform decisions (often related to planning), but also comprehensive information on the geology, hydrogeology and groundwater quality. These data are used on a site or county basis by a large number of Groundwater Section customers. The groundwater protection schemes are also a means to providing national coverage for a number of different environmental datasets e.g., aquifer and groundwater vulnerability. One example of the utility of these data are their inclusion in some of the Water Framework Directive risk assessments for potential pressures on groundwater and surface water bodies.

To date, the GSI has completed groundwater protection schemes for 14 local authorities (Figure 2) – Clare, Cork (South), Donegal, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, South Tipperary, Wicklow and Waterford, and an interim scheme in North Tipperary. Work is presently on-going in Counties Cavan and Galway and currently there are requests for schemes from 6 other local authorities.

At present, the schemes available in ‘digital format’ (Figure 2) i.e. the most recent schemes, are available for viewing on the GSI website (http://www.gsi.ie/). Appointments to view the older ‘paper format’ schemes can be made by emailing Groundwater Section enquiries (groundwaterinfo@gsi.ie).

Figure 2.  Current Status of Groundwater Protection Schemes undertaken by the GSI

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Taly Hunter Williams - Groundwater Section

What is the Water Framework Directive?
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a new legislative framework for the protection, improvement and sustainable use of waters – rivers, lakes, coastal waters, estuaries and groundwater – across Europe in order to prevent deterioration and enhance status of aquatic ecosystems; promote sustainable water use; reduce pollution; and contribute to the mitigation of floods and droughts.

The WFD was implemented in December 2000 (2000/60/EC) to rationalize and update existing water legislations and provide for water management on the basis of River Basin Districts (RBDs). The RBDs in the island of Ireland are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3.  River Basin Districts in the Island of Ireland. Seven are partially or totally in the Republic




Groundwater and implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Ireland
To date, the WFD has acted as a catalyst for the completion and initiation of many datasets and information sources. Within the GSI, work towards the ‘Initial Characterisation’ phase of the WFD started in 2002. During the period 2002-2004, several important datasets were created and/or completed. Work has continued from 2005 until present under the ‘Further Characterisation’ phase.

Key datasets and reports completed or undertaken by the GSI, RBD consultants, and others, are described below. Much of the map data is now available on the GSI’s web-mapping site, and many reports are available as PDF downloads from the Irish WFD site.

Key datasets and information sources
Aquifers – delineation and description

National Bedrock and Gravel Aquifer maps were created for the WFD. Prior to this, aquifer mapping had been carried out on a county basis, as part of the Groundwater Protection Schemes (GWPSs).

Compilation and grouping of rock units: Bedrock aquifers were delineated using the GSI’s 1:100,000 bedrock geology map and hydrogeological information. However, there are more than 1,100 geological formations and members. Therefore, geological formations and members were generalised into 27 ‘Rock Unit Groups’ (RUGs) on the basis of characteristics likely to influence groundwater flow (e.g. susceptability to karstification, jointing, etc.). Aquifer classification was then undertaken for RUGs rather than the individual rock units (Figure 4).

Figure 4.  Rock Unit Groups (RUG) used in bedrock aquifer classification. Note that a particular RUG can, and often does, have a different aquifer classification in different parts of the country. There are three RUGs exlusive to Northern Ireland.


Compilation of hydrogeological data and aquifer classification: Almost 5,000 well/spring data were assessed for individual rock units and the RUGs. If significant variation of aquifer properties between individual rock units in an RUG was noted (e.g. between conglomerates and sandstones/siltstones in the Old Red Sandstones), the variation was explained and the relevant units separated out. Significant regional variation of hydrogeological properties within each group of rock units was determined (e.g. Old Red Sandstones in the south are different hydrogeologically to those in the midlands). Where regional variations were noted, a physical basis for bounding the different areas was sought. In some cases, areas were delineated on the basis of different structural provinces as defined in Dunphy (2004).

Gravel aquifers were initially delineated based on mapping by the Quaternary and Groundwater sections of the GSI. These were augmented and modifed using the Teagasc subsoils mapping. Thickness data, where available, were assessed to verify gravel thicknesses sufficient to be classed as locally or regionally important gravel aquifers.

The bedrock and gravel aquifers are shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5.  National aquifer map



Groundwater Bodies – delineation and description
The groundwater body (GWB) is the management unit under the WFD that is necessary for the subdivision of large geographical areas of aquifer in order for them to be effectively managed. GWB delineation methodology is described in the document, “Approach to Delineation of Groundwater Bodies”, Guidance Document GW2, GWWG.

The generalised map was created by grouping the nine aquifer classes into four Groundwater Flow Regime types (Figure 6) as follows:

i.) Gravel (Rg and Lg) aquifers;

ii.) Karstic (Rk, Rkc, Rkd, Lk) aquifers;

iii.) Productive fractured bedrock (Rf and Lm) aquifers;

iv.) Poorly productive bedrock (Ll, Pl and Pu) aquifers.

Where R = regional; L = local; P = poor; g = gravel; k = karstic; c = conduit karst; d = diffuse karst; f = fissured; m = moderatly productive; and u = unproductive.

Figure 6.  Groundwater Flow Regimes and Groundwater Bodies



Descriptions for each GWB were developed by the GSI, and augmented by the RBD consultants. A small number of conceptual models were developed which fit the limited range of situations encountered in Ireland; each GWB was informally allocated to one of these.

Groundwater vulnerability
Groundwater vulnerability is a key dataset in WFD implementation, as it describes a pathway through which pollution may travel, and also indicates how much of the rainfall may replenish groundwater rather than becoming surface water.

Since the mid 1990’s, vulnerability mapping has been undertaken by the GSI. It involves mapping subsoil permeability and the thickness of the subsoil, and combining the two maps. This mapping has been done on a county basis, and takes at least one and a half person-years to complete. For the counties for which full vulnerability mapping hadn’t been completed by the GSI, the RBD consultants generated interim vulnerability maps (defining areas where subsoil is less than or greater than 3m thick, i.e. Extreme or High-Low vulnerability areas). This mapping was based on Teagasc’s mapping of ‘shallow rock’ areas plus borehole or other field data. Full and interim vulnerability mapping in Ireland is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7.  Groundwater vulnerability map



Other datasets and information sources
In addition to those described above, other datasets and reports include:

Eleven Guidance documents;

‘Article 5’ Risk Assessements of risks to groundwater (surface waters were also risk assessed);

National Subsoil map and Soil map;

Estimations of Natural Background Levels of key groundwater chemical constituents;

WFD Visualisation – images depicting groundwater concepts and its management;

An upgraded groundwater quality and level monitoring network (also, surface water quality and quantity networks).

Future groundwater information sources from WFD work
In the coming months and years, more information and data will become available, including: results and recommendations from Further Characterisation Programmes of Measures (POMs) studies; SWMI (Significant Water Management Issues) reports for each RBD (in 2007); River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs, from 2009).

References
DELG/EPA/GSI (1999) Groundwater Protection Schemes. Department of Environment & Local Government, Environmental Protection Agency & Geological Survey of Ireland, joint publication.

Dunphy, R. (2004) The role of fracture systems in controlling groundwater yields in the post-Silurian rocks of Ireland. Final report to the GSI, 141 pp. Based on MSc Thesis, TCD.

EPA (2005) Article 5: The Characterisation and Analysis of Ireland’s River Basin Districts - Summary Report on the Characterisation and Analysis of Ireland’s River Basins.

Groundwater Working Group (2003) Guidance Document GW3. Water Framework Directive (WFD) River Basin District Management Systems: Approach to delineation of Groundwater Bodies. Paper by Working Group on Groundwater, 16 pp.

Meehan, R.T., Subsoils maps for counties. Maps produced as part of EPA Soil and Subsoil Mapping Project (formerly FIPS- IFS). Teagasc, Kinsealy.

Useful Web resources

Geological Survey of Ireland website – http://www.gsi.ie/; GSI’s online maps direct link http://193.178.1.182/website/new_gwps/viewer.htm;

The European Union WFD website is at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/water-framework/index_en.html. The WFD Ireland website is at: http://www.wfdireland.ie/

* For GWWG (and other WG) documents on WFD Ireland website: go to www.wfdireland.ie/WFDCharRep.htm, scroll down to ‘Background Information’, and choose links of interest.

River Basin Districts: Eastern: http://www.erbd.ie/; Southeastern: http://www.serbd.ie/; Southwestern: http://www.swrbd.ie/; Western: http://www.wrbd.ie/ ; Shannon: http://www.shannonrbd.com/; Northwestern International: http://www.nwirbd.com/; Neagh Bann International: http://www.nbirbd.com/; Northeastern: http://www.nerbd.com/.

EPA co-ordinated Groundwater Monitoring Network – see www.epa.ie/OurEnvironment/Water/WFD/Monitoring/Programme and www.epa.ie/OurEnvironment/Water/WFD/Monitoring/Results;

Teagasc: http://www.teagasc.ie/;

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New Irish Water Tracing Database

Caoimhe Hickey - Groundwater Section

Karst is a significant aspect of Ireland’s hydrogeology as carboniferous limestones underlie more than half the area of the Republic. In a non-karst aquifer, most information about groundwater velocities, flow directions and aquifer storage can be obtained from pumping test data. In karstified aquifers these parameters are extremely difficult to determine by borehole analysis. Karst aquifers often contain open conduit flow paths with hydraulic characteristics more like surface streams than groundwater. Wells rarely penetrate the main conduits of a karst groundwater basin as conduits usually account for only a very small percentage of the aquifer but often contain most of the flow. To get a real idea of aquifer characteristics, especially for these heterogeneous, anisotropic conditions, a special method of investigation is used; water tracing.

Water tracing at its simplest involves ‘tagging’ water as it enters the karst system and monitoring possible exits to see where it re-emerges. The time the tracers take to get from one point to the other is also usually recorded. Thus, the most common usages of water tracing are the identification of subsurface flow directions, the delineation of underground catchment areas, and the estimation of groundwater flow velocities. Most water tracing is carried out using artificial dyes. For short distances, where the water is restrained to a system of conduits, and there is not much ponding in the underground waterways the colour can be observed coming out at resurgences. In most cases however, this discolouration of the water is not desirable and water samples are tested for dilute concentrations of the dye using a spectrofluorometer. This type of analysis allows for the determination of dye-break through curves, the shape of which yields large amounts of information about the workings of the karst system.

Stories of water tracing involving the use of chaff or hayseeds have been past down for generations in many parts of Ireland, but it wasn’t until the early twentieth century that the first scientific water tracing experiment was conducted. Although many water-tracing experiments have been carried out in Ireland since, the literature is hard to find, often located in obscure caving journals. A new database attempting to compile and detail water tracing experiments carried out in the Republic of Ireland has recently been established by the Groundwater Section of the Geological Survey of Ireland. The primary purpose of creating this database is to serve as an inventory of known water tracing experiments and to store details of the traces. Data are complied from numerous sources including maps, academic and caving journals, company reports and personal communication. The database is designed for use in a Geographical Information System (GIS), which can be overlain on other data layers. The database is also designed to compliment the existing GSI’s karst feature database. Figure 8 shows an example of the water-tracing database for east of counties Galway and Mayo.

The database contains specific details for each tracing experiment. There are 20 fields, which can be searched and queried by topic, locality or catchment. These fields are shown in Table 2. The database has recently been populated with all known traces and currently contains details of almost 300 individual water traces carried out in Ireland. An interactive version of the database will shortly be made freely available on the Geological Survey of Ireland website (http://www.gsi.ie/).

Table 2.  List and explanation of the fields in the groundwater tracer database

In order to maintain its usefulness it is essential that continued data compilation is sustained. Any existing water tracing data, which has not been already recorded in the database, should be sent to the Groundwater Section of the Geological Survey of Ireland. For further details please contact Caoimhe Hickey at (01) 678 2824.

References:

Gunn J. 1982 Water tracing in Ireland: A review with special reference to the Cuilcagh Karst in Irish Geography 15: 94-106

Burke M. 1999 The GSI karst features database in The GSI Groundwater Newsletter, No. 36

Hickey C. 2006 Landforms and hydrology of the lowland karst of County Roscommon, Ireland. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis

Figure 8.  An example of the GSI’s groundwater tracing database from east Galway / southeast Mayo

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THE CUNNINGHAM & DU NOYER PHOTO AWARDS 2006

On Friday 8^th December 2006, GSI celebrated the presentation of the 22^nd Mark Cunningham Awards. The Awards are presented by the Cunningham family in memory of Mark Cunningham (1908 – 1980), late Assistant Director of GSI.

College Prizes are awarded to the two best geological mapping project reports submitted from undergraduates at third level colleges each year. Over the years various colleges have been successful in the competition but this year most unusually it was just one college that provided both winners – Trinity College Dublin, and indeed both winners had carried out work in the same part of England. Sophia Gold took one of the prizes for her thesis entitled “The Geology of the Borrowdale Fell volcanics, the Lake District, England,” whilst the other was won by Jonathan Moore with his thesis “The Central Fells area, the English Lake District.” The winning theses were on display in GSI’s Customer Centre on the day of the Awards ceremony, attracting much interest from the assembled guests. In presenting the prizes the Director of GSI, Dr. Peadar McArdle complimented the winners work describing it as being of “an exceptionally high standard.”

There is one Special Merit Award for members of GSI staff for “outstanding contribution to the work and development of the Survey.” For 2006, this was awarded to Chris McDonnell, Central Technical Services, in recognition of his “exceptional performance in relation to the work of GSI over many years and his committed delivery of quality service to all sections of GSI and their customers.”

The Awards are presented each December at an informal ceremony and Christmas lunch hosted by the GSI in its office in Beggars Bush. Representatives of the Cunningham family attend along with current and recent staff members and invited guests from within and outside the Department.

Awards were also presented at this ceremony to winners of the Du Noyer Photographic Competition which is sponsored by the GSI in association with the IGA. As is customary, all photos entered for the competition were on display. The Competition is named after George Victor DuNoyer (1817 - 1869), a skilled artist who worked for many years with a youthful GSI and had a tendency to add illustrations to the geological maps on which he worked. The overall winner for 2006 was Mr Wojciech Szczygiel, a Polish national living in Graiguecullen, Co. Carlow and he accepted his winner’s prize of €250 at the awards ceremony. His winning photograph came from a suite of wonderful shots taken in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. In second place was John Linehan from Sligo who had meticulously prepared a suite of wonderful fossil shots. GSI’s Director, Dr. Peadar McArdle, congratulated Wojciech and Linehan on their outstanding photographs saying they clearly lived up to the aspirations of the competition organisers to honour Du Noyer’s memory by “encouraging the same blend of artistic and scientific skills through the medium of photography.” A selection of the prize winning photographs is reproduced for this article.

Aspiring landscape photographers (amateurs especially desirable) can plan now to enter this year’s competition. Its closing date is Friday 12^th October and entry details will be available at http://www.gsi.ie/ closer to the time, so get snapping….!

The High Atlas Mts, Morocco.  Photo by Wojciech Szczygiel

Waterfalls in Morocco.  Photo by Wojciech Szczygiel

Burren waterfall, Co. Clare.  Photo by Sean Tomkins

Boulders/Rocks, Knockmealdown Mts, Co. Waterford.  Photo by Peter O’Donnell

Wojciech Szczygiel (on the right) receiving first prize from Dr Peadar McArdle, Director of GSI

Fossils. Serpent Rock, Ballyconnell, Co. Sligo. Photo by John Linehan




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Geophysical investigationof Quaternary glacial sediments in South Co. Westmeath and North Co. Offaly.

Silvia Caloca - Information Management Programme

Introduction

During a period of six months a geophysical investigation was carried out in areas of South Co. Westmeath and North Co. Offaly in the vicinity of Horseleap as part of an MSc research thesis carried out at Maynooth University. The geophysical techniques of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electrical Resistivity proved to be very successful when applied to the study of glacial environments – a landscape dominated by esker ridges and glaciofluvial sediments associated with them (Figure 1). The interpretation of geophysical results obtained in three different sites of investigation, helped to discern the structure and genesis of the landforms and to correlate with other glacial deposits in the area.

Geophysics involves obtaining data on the variation of the physical properties of the Earth, such as density, magnetic susceptibility, and resistivity. Geophysical techniques combined with drilling are a powerful tool in the study of a region. GPS surveys employing an RTK system were also undertaken in order to provide accurate heights and high-resolution digital elevation models, which helped with the interpretation and 3D visualisation of the results.

Electrical Resistivity survey

Electrical resistivity ρ (or electrical resistance) is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of electrical current (ohm.metres). The basis of this technique is passing a current into the surface of the ground and measuring changes in the potential difference, which will yield understanding of the subsurface conditions.

A total of 29 2D electrical imaging profiles were undertaken in 3 survey areas. Initially low and then high-resolution resistivity profiling, using longer hybrid Schlumbeger-Wenner arrays, was undertaken to test for subsurface anomalies. Subsequently, an azimuthal survey and 3D resistivity grid mapping was carried out using a portable Wenner array, which was moved along a sufficient number of azimuths to identify spatial variations of apparent resistivity.

Resistivity measurements were very useful for estimating sand and gravel thickness together with their lateral extents. Areas with high clay content/water saturation could be distinguished from areas of dry, sand and gravel deposits and thick overburden cover, and other changes in lithology. Higher resistivities are perceived as sands, gravels and cobbles and boulders whereas low resistivities are related to silty/ clayey finer sediments. Depth to bedrock can also be detected if the contrast between these and the overlying deposits is high enough. Water table could also be assumed and was later verified by the drilling survey.

Ground Penetrating Radar
GPR has also been used to improve our knowledge of the area. GPR is a non-destructive electromagnetic (EM) method, which can under certain circumstances; provide a detailed image of the subsurface. A total of 14 lines were surveyed in the area, with some over 150m long.

This technique is based on the propagation and reflection of pulse high frequency EM energy, which uses the introduction of a primary magnetic field to generate a secondary magnetic field, which is proportional to the electrical conductivity of the material. Part of the wave energy is reflected or scattered back to the surface, while part of its energy continues to travel downward. The equipment used in this survey was a Sensors & Software Pulse EKKO 100 GPR system with the following parameters: Antennae Frequency 200MHz, Antennae separation 0.5m and step size every 10cm.

In this case variations in reflection may be due to discontinuities such as hollows, cavities, sinkholes, voids, or recent movement of the soil. Internal structure across and along the main glaciated features can be discerned and compared in terms of their reflection patterns. The method has also been applied to try to detect depth to bedrock. Post-processing results from GPR profiles are more laborious that those from.

Radargrams (the plots of the radar reflections) in the area display strong scattering producing multiples, dipping reflectors and hyperbolae, when the survey is carried out along ridges containing cobbles and boulders. The GPR survey was particularly good for detecting changes between clayey and sandy sediments and also some dipping reflectors highlighting internal structures of the sand and gravels lenses.

A drilling campaign was carried out at the final stages of the research. A total of 10 boreholes using continuous flight auger drilling using the GSI drilling rig. The information obtained was used to ground truth the interpretations from the non-intrusive geophysical surveys (Figure. 3. Borehole cross validation along one of the radar profiles outlining a kettle hole).

Conclusions
Shallow geophysics made it possible to interpret the internal stratigraphy of the glacial sediments, and to delineate the water table successfully. Resistivity inversion models delineated different sedimentary patterns among the three sites. The azimuthal resistivity survey and 2D resistivity grid mapping detected sub-surface anisotropies. The resistivity profiling was used to image the subsurface accurately, thus delimitating differing lithologies and interpretating different depositional patterns associated with subglacial water regimens close to the ice margin contact. Radar profiling was important in differentiating internal structures such as collapsing fractures caused by the ice melting and other lithological changes (particularly in clayly-sandy sediments). Borehole cross- validation resolved previously presumed lithologies and determined water table levels.

The three sites are intimately associated with the main esker system trending NW-SE in the Midlands of Ireland formed in the interlobate area between the northern and central domes and then associated with the northern dome during deglaciation. A glacier moving eastwards would deposit fines at its base when flow was supercritical and when seasonal factors changed it would regress and low energy conditions were favourable for depositing heavier material from the bed load as was evidenced by resistivity and radar surveys. Oscillating cold / warm periods would rework and erode earlier deposited sediments creating complex structures such as those seen at Site 2. Deposits in this area are associated with the fill of the esker. Finer-grained glaciofluvial sediments at Sites 1 and 2 produced lower resistivities and were deposited within subaerial and subaqueous fan environments.

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“Geoscience underpins our society today more than ever”

Launch of National Geoscience Programme (2007-2013) and new Research Awards Scheme

“Geoscience underpins our society today more than ever” that was the message that rang out loud and clear at the launch in February of the “National Geoscience Programme (2007-2013)” by Noel Dempsey, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It represented a further illustration of the ongoing commitment to world-class science of both governments on this island, for this was a truly cross-border initiative in its scope.

This wide-ranging programme, published as an attractive booklet, provides clear evidence of the importance of geoscience in our daily lives. Indeed the focus of the programme is on putting “our knowledge of the earth to work for Ireland”, the “our” referring to the co-publishers of the strategy – the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Royal Irish Academy, in consultation with the geoscience sector across the island. That knowledge of the earth encompasses almost every aspect of society today. The houses that we live in are built from materials mostly found naturally in our earth. The oil that literally fires our lives is sourced through the expertise of geo-scientists. The water we drink is made safer by the monitoring work carried out by geoscientists. The infrastructure that makes life more convenient for us is made possible by the use of aggregates and other earth materials. Ireland’s scenic landscapes, so admired by countless locals and visitors alike, are the product of earth forces over millions of years, and even the jewellery we wear often occurs naturally in the rocks around us.

Announcing a €33m investment over seven years, Minister Dempsey staunchly asserted the importance of geoscience within the government’s overall Science Strategy. He remarked that the programme had been crafted so as to “enhance many aspects of Irish life, including the sustainable management of our environment, the development of our natural resources and infrastructure, and understanding and predicting natural hazards.” Noting that 2008 has been designated by the UN as International Year of Planet Earth, Minister Dempsey challenged the geoscience sector to avail of this opportunity to herald its importance to the wider public. Those representatives of the sector present at the launch in the offices of the Royal Irish Academy responded with instinctive enthusiasm to the challenge.

The programme was drafted by GSI in association with the Royal Irish Academy. The geoscience sector then provided inputs and the result is a fine, readable account of how geoscience “powers the economic engine.” Geoscience-based industry contributes more than €2 billion each year to the Irish economy. This figure is comprised of mining operations, aggregates, plasterboards and other materials for the construction industry, gas production and various high-level consultancy services, mostly carried out by highly skilled graduates of Irish science universities.

Recognising the essential ingredient of research within the successful implementation of the programme the Minister announced a major new €3 million initiative, the “Griffith Geoscience Research Awards Scheme.” The scheme will honour Richard Griffith the celebrated geologist and engineer, who lived from 1784 to 1878. It will bolster the research agenda of the programme targeting the vital pillars of energy, environment, marine and infrastructure, “all issues which are central to the success of the NDP” according to the Minister. The programme purposely coincides with the 2007-2013 timeframe of the NDP.*

The Awards Scheme reflects one of the central tenets of the geoscience programme – that of being composed on an all-island basis. As reflected on by the President of the RIA, Dr. Jim Slevin, “geological parameters do not recognise political borders so this strategy has been explicitly created in an inclusive “All-Island” context.” Dr. Slevin went on to outline how there has been a long history of such inclusiveness in the geoscience sector and he highlighted the recent publication of a Bedrock Geological Map of Ireland, produced in partnership by both Geological Surveys on this island. Minister Dempsey himself followed up with a ringing endorsement of cross-border co-operation as he commented “I regard the all-island basis of this programme as an important dimension for Government. With the current positive signals on the re-establishment of institutions in Northern Ireland, we want to promote this type of North-South collaboration, where we share skills and experience.”

The Minister reiterated the NDP budget allocation of €33m to the programme, a sum which will assist the geoscience sector in achieving one of its stated aims, that of enhancing its participation in international research programmes. GSI hopes to spearhead Ireland’s participation in major international observation initiatives over the coming years. The strategy lists out several but arguably the most topical possibility right now is in the area of climate change. Even this issue gets a brief analysis in the publication, but bearing in mind this programme was more than two years in the planning, it seems clear that we, as geoscientists, have been profoundly aware of its consequences for longer than most, and will lead the way in future initiatives to combat its most frightening effects.

Minister Dempsey noted that the “Geoscience Strategy will have a major impact on GSI and the way it delivers its information and services.” As if to emphasise this he went on to announce that “GSI will make its data available free of charge to customers over the Internet, thereby promoting “the maximum use of GSI’s data, both in Ireland and abroad.” He described his foresight that this policy would encourage new developments in the knowledge economy and facilitate an increased research agenda for new discoveries and economic benefits. All in all then, changing times ahead for GSI!

* Calls for proposals under the programme were subsequently advertised in the national press in March and the closing date for proposals was 18^th April. An independent expert panel is now judging the proposals and results will be issued in May. Announcements and further details on the Griffith’s Awards and the Geoscience Programme will be available on our main website as they arise – www.gsi.ie

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Geosciences funding in the NDP

Geosciences were mentioned for the first time in the recent National Development Plan (NDP 2007 – 20013) announced in January. The Geoscience Sub-Programme appears under the Enterprise, Science and Innovation Priority of the Plan. The GSI will play a key role in the delivery of these projects. The Plan represents funding of €33 million in Geosciences over the seven-year lifetime of the NDP.

Here is the text from the National Development Plan.

Geoscience Sub-Programme

Some €33 million will be invested under this Sub-Programme in research that impacts on a number of Government priority areas including Energy, Marine, Environment and Transport. Geoscience knowledge is critical to environmental protection and investment planning. Applications include protecting the quality of groundwater, developing strategies to cope with climate change, securing new indigenous sources of energy and the optimal planning of motorways.


INFOMAR Project

This is the successor programme to the Irish National Seabed Survey. The benefits arising from this survey will place Ireland at a competitive advantage in relation to leveraging international funding for offshore energy exploration, including offshore hydrocarbons, aggregates and renewable energy sources and the siting of a deep sea observatory in Irish waters.

Resource and Environmental Survey of Ireland (RESI) Project

The Resource and Environmental Survey of Ireland (RESI) Project will provide, for the first time, an integrated national baseline survey of Ireland using state of the art airborne geophysical surveying techniques complemented by ground geochemical surveys. This survey data will underpin the assessment of environmental status that assists in the discovery of new mineral and aggregate resources, that help delineate new groundwater resources and inform planning authorities on issues relating to water quality and geo-hazards potential (radon risk, subsidence, landslides etc.).

Infrastructure Support Project

Historically, Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) have carried out a number of projects, principally for Local Authorities and other Government agencies, to support infrastructural development. Instead of developing as piecemeal coverage, a co-ordinated national study will be carried out to provide a full suite of products to support infrastructural development.

Geoscience RTDI

A Geoscience Strategy for Ireland (32 County) is in preparation under the auspices of GSI guided by the Geosciences Committee of the Royal Irish Academy. In order to develop what is still an embryonic research sector, funding is provided over the life of the NDP to underpin strategic research in a number of key areas. A geoscience graduate programme, incorporating island-wide networked teaching resources, as well as additional research infrastructure, is designed to support this initiative.

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 INFOMAR Project Update

Koen Verbruggen

The INFOMAR programme is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and the Marine Institute (MI). The programme is a successor to the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS) and concentrates on creating a range of integrated mapping products of the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed in the near-shore area. (See Geology Matters Issue 4 for Project Description).

WHAT WILL INFOMAR ACHIEVE?

The INFOMAR programme aims to deliver a diverse and ambitious range of products. These include:

• Mapping

The INFOMAR programme will complete[1] the mapping of the Irish Designated Seabed Area started by the INSS. This will be achieved in two phases – initially focusing on 26 bays and 3 priority areas, and then moving on to complete the remaining areas.

This mapping activity will lead to the creation of a number of mapping products:

- bathymetric maps

- seabed geology/ classification maps

- habitat maps

• Standards & Best Practice

In addition to these maps, the INFOMAR programme will also produce a suite of best-practice standards. These standards will can be used to support future Irish bids for the performance of similar mapping exercises worldwide and will be published by relevant statutory licensing authorities in the marine area for national use

• Data

The INSS database[2] will be expanded to included additional baseline data to underpin the delivery of a range of requirements including, management plans for inshore fishing, aquaculture, coastal protection and engineering works, environmental impact assessments related to licensing activity, Water Framework Directive requirements and to support evolving needs in the coastal zone management area.

• Integrated Information Products

The INFOMAR programme will work to ensure that data from both the INSS and INFOMAR is easily available and integrated with other relevant national data sets in order to promote innovation and the development of value add products and decision support systems.

WHERE WILL INFOMAR SURVEY?
Initially INFOMAR will focus on 26 bays and 3 priority areas in its first 10 years of operation. During this period the EU designated Biologically Sensitive area will also be surveyed on an opportunistic basis, e.g. where use of vessels such as the R.V. Celtic Explorer can be used to best effect by taking part of this area while also working on a priority area.

INFOMAR Phase 1 areas

The 26 bays and 3 priority areas were identified during an extensive stakeholder exercise that was conducted in the period between 2002 and 2005. This exercise included consultation with over 50 organisations government departments, coastal local authorities, industry sectors and consultancy companies.

The INFOMAR programme commenced in mid-2006 with survey operations in Bantry, Dunmanus and Galway bays as well as the priority area off the South West Coast. These will be completed in 2007 together with work in Waterford Bay. Currently the plans for 2008 include work in Dublin Bay, Carlingford Lough, Donegal, Sligo and Mulroy Bays. In addition to using the MI Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager, contract in-shore vessels will be used for mapping backed up by ground-truth sampling and aerial LIDAR surveys will be carried out in shallower waters of low turbidity, along the west coast.

Image below shows extent of area covered by LIDAR bathymetric mapping in Galway Bay in 2006.



Further information on the programme is available here.






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2008 – International Year of Planet Earth

The year 2008 has been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE). Ireland fully supported the proclamation. IYPE has been registered as a not-for-profit corporation under the patronage of UNESCO and associated organisations.

The IYPE proclamation reflects international recognition that whilst geoscience is particularly relevant to the needs of modern society it must demonstrate clearly how society can benefit from its accumulated knowledge as well as from the impact of future investment.

National Committee
The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), with the support of the Royal Irish Academy, has established a National Committee for IYPE which is broadly representative of geoscience in Ireland. Its purpose is to maximise the impact in Ireland of IYPE and to convince decision makers and the public that geoscience is an exciting and important discipline which makes critical contributions to society.

Draft Programme of Events
Arising from various meetings and working groups within the National Committee a Draft Programme of Events for 2008 has been prepared and is available at http://www.planetearth.ie/ or from enda.Gallagher@gsi.ie. We urge all interested parties, be they geoscientists or non-scientists, to view the document and offer us feedback on it or additions to it. The National Committee for IYPE has carried out an initial scooping of events that might comprise our 2008 activities. This draft programme is available at http://www.planetearth.ie/ or can be posted or e-mailed to interested parties from GSI offices (please contact enda.Gallagher@gsi.ie Tel 01 6782834).

We sought formal feedback on this programme from January to March 2007. We asked if it was appropriate and sufficient to assist in improving public understanding of the contribution and relevance of geoscience in a modern society? The aim was to set out an exciting programme which will capture the attention of the widest general public. Whilst the deadline for initial feedback has passed we welcome all suggestions for additions or improvements at any time.

Importance of IYPE
The National Committee for IYPE is optimistic that successful management of the IYPE programme in Ireland will have the following benefits:

Ireland will play an active role in an important UN initiative and provide important leadership in promotion and innovation;

An improved public understanding of geoscience will make Ireland an attractive centre for increased inflows of students and researchers;

Ireland’s knowledge economy will benefit in circumstances where the country’s numbers of geoscience students and researchers increase significantly (whether home-grown or attracted from abroad);

GSI can expect an increased use and sale of its data, products and services, according as the public become more aware of the potential contributions of geoscience;

The third level in Ireland will benefit from increased numbers of students and researchers, leading to the development of research centres of excellence and a networked graduate school of geoscience.

All Island Initiative
Ireland is fully embracing IYPE and an exciting programme is being developed on an all-island basis. The membership of the National Committee reflects this emphasis. The island of Ireland is home to a wide range of spectacular landscapes from the incredible basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway to the magnificent limestone pavements of the Burren, both locations well known throughout the world. IYPE activities will be spread right across the island with local groups everywhere planning events right on your own doorstep.

IYPE Website
The IYPE website for Ireland http://www.planetearth.ie/ is currently live At this time only a nominal amount of content is “live” but over the coming months and into and throughout 2008 we will be populating the site with varying content including news, photographs, programme of events updates, educational materials etc.

It is hoped that it will become the leading resource for those interested in regularly finding out more about IYPE. It is also hoped that early in 2008 will see an interactive dimension to the site primarily geared towards the general public and the education sector. Please visit the site, and often, but for now please do not expect too much!

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New Products and Services available from the Geological Survey of Ireland

	Format	Price
Airborne Geophysics: Magnetics, EM & 256ch radiometrics
Castleisland, Co. Kerry	CD	€25*
Silvermines, Co. Tipperary	CD	€25*
Cavan – Leitrim – Monaghan (parts)	CD	€25*
Bedrock Mapping:
"A geological guide to the granites of the Galway Batholith, Connemara, western Ireland" M. Feely, B.E. Leake, S. Baxter, J. Hunt and P. Mohr.	Book	€20
Geotourism
Breifne Guide	Book with DVD	€15**
Web Mapping Site Updates
Bedrock mapping National coverage of Bedrock mapping incl. Strike and Dip data	www.gsi.ie
Groundwater mapping
New improved site	www.gsi.ie

* The data on the CD is free, the €25 is a handling fee
** guide must be purchased from Bréifne, Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre
Dublin Road, Cavan ++ 353 (0)49 4377237 or info@breifne.ie

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Some Preliminary Observations from the Pilot Airborne Surveys Conducted in 2006

Gerry Stanley, Eibhlin Doyle and Sarah Lee - Minerals Section

As reported in Issue 5 of Geology Matters three areas were surveyed last year by an aircraft carrying geophysical instrumentation. The three areas flown were Silvermines in County Tipperary, parts of Counties Cavan – Leitrim – Monaghan and part of County Kerry centred on the Tralee – Castleisland area. There were different reasons for surveying the different areas as were outlined in the previous article (Silvermines: to assist in investigating possible contamination from historic mining operations; Cavan – Leitrim – Monaghan: to assist with groundwater studies; and Kerry: to assist in identifying areas with elevated levels of the carcinogenic gas radon).

Following the delivery of the data a careful quality assurance (QC) exercise was carried out to assess the data for the purposes for which they were collected. This QC work was carried out under contract and the consultant concluded that “The data meet the contract specifications.” One of the QC specifications relates to the height that the aircraft is supposed to fly. Where terrain clearance exceeds ± 20 metres from the nominal survey height for more than 5 continuous kilometres or +/- 50% of nominal survey height at any time on any line. (Figure 9).

                 
 
Figure 9.  Diagrams showing part of the QC process assessing flight height for the Cavan – Leitrim – Monaghan area.

Left. Terrain clearance outside height range 28-84 m, shown in red. The high flying is mostly over developed areas.

Right. Terrain clearance outside height range 36-76 m for more than 5 km, shown in red. There are no such instances.

With respect to the actual results data processing and interpretation is ongoing. However, we can present a number of preliminary images which demonstrate the spectacular nature of the information contained in the data.

Figure 10 is an image from the Cavan – Leitrim – Monaghan generated from the magnetic data. Within the image are clear linears trending both in an east west direction and in an northwest – southeast direction. These are interpreted to be igneous rocks formed from molten lava and which are only mapped sporadically on the ground on account of the thick drape of glacial debris covering the region. The continuous nature of these rocks can be seen from this image.

Figure 10.  Magnetic image (analytical signal) from the Cavan – Leitrim – Monaghan survey

As an example of the radiometric data Figure 11 shows the data processed to show where there are abnormally high levels of uranium which is an indicator of high levels of radon gas. This image is from Kerry where there are known instances of high indoor radon. This type of survey can assist authorities in directing further investigations for indoor radon.

Figure 11.  Processed equivalent Uranium (eU) data from the Kerry survey area

The image shows those areas with values of eU greater than the mean plus two standard deviations, i.e., greater than 2.67ppm eU. The background image is a geological map of the region while the bright red and green areas (towards to north and middle of the diagram) are the parts of the survey are which are greater than 2.67ppm eU. It can clearly be seen from the image that the high level are closely associated with certain geological features shown on the background map.

The electromagnetic data can be processed in such a way as to reveal the 3-dimensional structure of the earth. This is particularly important for engineering and environmental studies where the thickness of the glacial sediments can be critical from a groundwater protection point of view. For example, thick clayey deposits can provide a protective layer inhibiting the ingress of contaminants to a valuable aquifer beneath. Figure 12 show how the data can be ‘diced and sliced’ to reveal its internal structure.

Figure 12.  Processed electromagnetic data from the Silvermines survey area. The image shows how the earth can be represented as 3D models showing numerous features such as the thickness to the glacial overburden and the underlying structure of the bedrock which on the ground in obscured by the glacial sediments

Promotions

It is with pleasure that we announce a number of recent promotions within GSI. These promotions are as a result of recent retirements and resignations from the GSI. We welcome:

Sean Cullen to Senior Geologist (Hydrographer) in the Marine Geology and Geophysics Programme.

Sarah Gatley as Head of the Irish Geological Heritage Programme.

Monica Lee as Head of the Groundwater Programme.

Ray Scanlon as Head of the Information Management Programme.

We wish them every good fortune in their appointments and continued success in their careers.

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Society Of Geology Applied to Ore Deposits
Biennial Meeting
20^th to 23^rd August 2007
Trinity College, Dublin

Gerry Stanley - Minerals Section

The Irish Association for Economic Geology (IAEG) is organising the 9^th biennial SGA meeting in Dublin in August. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) supported by SGA Councillors are preparing a programme for the meeting which will make the Dublin meeting the place to be in 2007 for researchers, industry personnel, minerals geologists in general and all earth scientists interested in mineral deposits. SGA 2007 will probably be the largest meeting on economic geology ever held in Ireland.

The overall theme for the meeting is Mineral Exploration and Research: Digging Deeper. The meeting will include technical sessions, a technical discussion forum, poster sessions, workshops, short courses, field trips, exhibition and social events.

• Some 22 session are being convened on the following themes
• Ore Deposits Through Space and Time
• Future Directions in Economic Geology – Research & Teaching
• Society of Economic Geologists Session
• New discoveries and advances in exploration in the Tethyan arc.
• Sedimentary rock-hosted Copper Deposits
• Irish Association for Economic Geology Session:
• Carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposits
• Dating Mineral Deposits
• Felsic Intrusion-related Mineral Deposits
• Integrated Exploration & New Discoveries
• Resource Estimation - Classification Systems
• Gold Metallogenesis
• Europe & Asia
• Americas & Australasia
• Advances in Hydrothermal Geochemistry
• Industrial Minerals
• Magmatism and Ore Genesis in the Tethyan Arc
• North Atlantic Minerals Symposium
• Metallogeny of the North Atlantic region
• New discoveries in Africa
• Sea-floor systems (IGCP 502)
• Uranium Deposits
• Supergene Formation and Upgrading of ore deposits
• From Mineral Systems to Predictive Mineral Discovery
• Open Session (General Economic Geology)
• Relating mineral deposits to tectonic events
• Rare metal deposits

Short Courses
The following short courses (with their organisers) are being offered:

Orogenic Lode Gold Deposits: D. Groves

Granite-related Gold Deposits-Geological Models & Exploration: T. Baker

Sediment-hosted Base Metal Deposits: J. Wilkinson / R. Large

Sediment-hosted Copper Deposits: S.Roberts

Isotopes in Exploration: A. Boyce

Exploration for Skarn Deposits: L. Meinert

Applied Structural Geology for Economic Geologists: C. McCuaig

The Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves: John Clifford

Advances in 3D Geological Modelling and Applications To Economic Geology: Paul Hodkiewicz

Field Trips
The following Field Trips (with their leaders) are being offered:

Iberian Pyrite Belt / Ossa Morena: K. Anderson and F. Tornos

Parys Mountain / Avoca: R. Herrington and B. Sheppard

Irish Zn-Pb Province: J. Kelly

Irish Gold Deposits: G. Earls

Historic Mine Sites in Ireland: G. Stanley, V. Gallagher and P. Lally

Fennoscandinavian Metallogeny: P. Weihed and P. Eilu

Base Metal Deposits of Southern Poland: D. Leach, M. Sass-Gustkiewicz, A. Piestrzynski, S. Mikulski and S. Oszczepalski.

This is a great opportunity to showcase Ireland and promote the country as a destination for exploration investment. I would also urge all interested persons to attend the meeting.

Additional information on the conference may be had through the conference website – www.conferencepartners.ie/sga2007

Keep in touch with the website as there will be frequent updates.

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Rockbits

The Life of a Field Geologist (in Canada)

MaryAnn Mihychuk

(The following is from an informal talk in mid-September 2006 to the Mining in Women Network in Toronto. The author describes what bush life can be like for people in the exploration business, based on her own experiences in Newfoundland and northern Manitoba during the 1980s. She assures us that all incidents are true.)

You wake at sunrise as the sun streams though the tent, to a surprise - a blanket of snow has covered the tents, and it's July 10th. The winds coming off the Atlantic Ocean over the icebergs have caused this freakish weather.

Getting up you don your T-shirt and long-sleeved shirt (two shirts, harder for the bugs to get through), heavy duty work pants (khaki, as dark colours attract bugs), wool socks, work boots with laces (you never know when you may need them for emergency surgery, human or otherwise), and your field vest (including compass, notebook, identification, matches, two or three bottles of bug dope, pocket knife, pencils and pens, magnet, magnifying glass). Toilet paper, lunch, sample bags, extra bug stuff, emergency blanket, matches, flagging tape and permanent markers are stuffed into your backpack … and a picture of your special ones.

The wailing coming out of your two-year-old's tent is an indication of potential trouble. Not to worry, the nanny will get him. After an extended period of wailing you come to figure out that your nanny has run off with a lumberjack!!!

The team gets ready for the field and loads supplies into the truck – backpacks, air photos, rock hammers, sledge hammers, shovels, rock pails, sample bags and diapers. Off to town to find a Mother Teresa! Someone willing to look after 'Precious' 12 hours a day, seven days a week for the next two months. That done…off to the field, you think.

In the truck your summer assistant, a rough and rugged, handsome third-year geology student, informs you that he has crabs and wants YOU to go to the nearest drugstore and get him some medication!!!

You jump into the amphibian - an all-terrain vehicle that travels over land, swamp and water - for your day's traverse, but 10km along you break a shear pin in the middle of a swampy creek. You get out, standing in putrid water up to your knees and realize that you cannot fix the machine and must walk out. It's just too bad it's raining off and on and almost the whole way back is swamp, as you are following a 'winter road'.

The trip back to the truck will take about four hours of heavy slogging. And to counter the thick flies, rain and swamp you reflect on the calories you are burning (who needs a stepper) and play 'Black Fly Counts' (where you snap your 4 x 6-inch notebook closed, and count the number of carcasses on the page). You have reached a new high of 13.

On the way back you are delayed as what seems like a never-ending line of caribou crosses your path, and you marvel at the animals and nature.

Back into the field after this unfortunate delay you hop into Canova (inflatable) boats to run down the North Knife, a raging torrent with beautiful sections over 15 metres high. To pass Dead Man's Corner you must cross the river just at the crest of the hairpin corner with a sheer cliff wall. You head out. The water is pulling the boat and you fight to keep it steady. But the motor fails, and you drift down in a time warp thinking "this is it. The end has come," when the boat gets hung up on a rock in the middle of the river. The Canova is teetering, rocking dangerously back and forth, and you try frantically to restart the motor, one, two, three, four times - you are really starting to PANIC - finally it sputters and starts.

On the way back to camp you notice an ominous cloud ahead, and you can smell smoke. You realize that a massive forest fire will be engulfing your base camp in minutes. You throw everything together and head into town, where you spend the time watching the fire ravage the forest around, and you drink beer.

The day is over and you take a few minutes to freshen up in the crystal clear, FREEZING cold lake. Smelling good (but not too good as everyone knows bugs love perfume), you hop into the chopper for a well deserved evening of R&R with the neighbouring exploration camp. On the way the pilot pushes his luck and flies the machine like a ball in a pinball machine. You roller-coaster downwards in a death drop just in time to ensure you blow over the neighbours' outhouse.

There you meet some impressively talented colleagues, including one who is willing to demonstrate his perfected art of drinking a whole bottle of beer while standing on his head and not throwing up.

At sunset you stand on the edge of the lake with the loons calling out and reflect that this must be heaven on earth. You head for bed in awe of the great and beautiful world you are a part of, reflecting you must be the luckiest person in the world for the chance to be here.

That night, for the first time in the whole summer, you have a visitor. You are awakened by heavy breathing, you feel the massive hairy chest and broad shoulders and look into the biggest, largest brown eyes you've ever seen. Weighing in at 1,000lbs Yogi Bear has love in his eyes…or is it lunch?