Simon Wellings
@metageologist.bsky.social
I write about Geology:
https://all-geo.org/metageologist/ and Front Vision magazine.
I've published papers on gabbros and the havoc they wreak: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8pJUbAoAAAAJ&hl=en
https://all-geo.org/metageologist/ and Front Vision magazine.
I've published papers on gabbros and the havoc they wreak: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8pJUbAoAAAAJ&hl=en
I'm working in an office in Slough industrial estate watching a gull collect sticks for a nest.
I guess windowless data centres are just another form of cliff, their tops safe from predators.
I guess windowless data centres are just another form of cliff, their tops safe from predators.
April 29, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I'm working in an office in Slough industrial estate watching a gull collect sticks for a nest.
I guess windowless data centres are just another form of cliff, their tops safe from predators.
I guess windowless data centres are just another form of cliff, their tops safe from predators.
Lighting like this is necessary to make the features visible, but whenever I see images of Ediacaran fossils my first reaction is to think they are images from a vampire film.
March 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Lighting like this is necessary to make the features visible, but whenever I see images of Ediacaran fossils my first reaction is to think they are images from a vampire film.
Wow. This includes even one of my (quote obscure) scientific papers. Still behind a paywall and copyright the Royal Irish Academy
March 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Wow. This includes even one of my (quote obscure) scientific papers. Still behind a paywall and copyright the Royal Irish Academy
Enjoying the frenzied limestone at Augsburg station, noisy with tropical life. Plenty of fossils and blotchy with bioturbation.
Each grain is the product of life and probably passed through the guts of, or been picked over by multiple critters subsequently
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Each grain is the product of life and probably passed through the guts of, or been picked over by multiple critters subsequently
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February 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Enjoying the frenzied limestone at Augsburg station, noisy with tropical life. Plenty of fossils and blotchy with bioturbation.
Each grain is the product of life and probably passed through the guts of, or been picked over by multiple critters subsequently
⚒️
Each grain is the product of life and probably passed through the guts of, or been picked over by multiple critters subsequently
⚒️
Reposted by Simon Wellings
1/ Have you ever suspected you had a shear zone hidden in poly-deformed metamorphic rocks but could not prove it? A brief thread showing how you can find clues from #geology, RSCM #thermometry, #metamorphic #petrology, and #zircon dating and an example from the Sanbagawa belt of Japan!
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February 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
1/ Have you ever suspected you had a shear zone hidden in poly-deformed metamorphic rocks but could not prove it? A brief thread showing how you can find clues from #geology, RSCM #thermometry, #metamorphic #petrology, and #zircon dating and an example from the Sanbagawa belt of Japan!
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Reposted by Simon Wellings
Definitely go to the museum and buy the geo guidebooks. If you have transport go and see the suevite quarry at Altenburg, the overturned limestones at Gosheim Quarry and if you can get out to Steinheim crater, go there too 1/2
February 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Definitely go to the museum and buy the geo guidebooks. If you have transport go and see the suevite quarry at Altenburg, the overturned limestones at Gosheim Quarry and if you can get out to Steinheim crater, go there too 1/2
Lucky me is going to Nördlinger Ries soon (where a rock from space smashed into Germany). Just the town, briefly.
Apart from the visitors centre and the church made of suevite, any ideas on what should I look out for?
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Apart from the visitors centre and the church made of suevite, any ideas on what should I look out for?
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February 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Lucky me is going to Nördlinger Ries soon (where a rock from space smashed into Germany). Just the town, briefly.
Apart from the visitors centre and the church made of suevite, any ideas on what should I look out for?
⚒️
Apart from the visitors centre and the church made of suevite, any ideas on what should I look out for?
⚒️
Reposted by Simon Wellings
just saw someone in the FT comments section referring to Tesla as the swasticar
February 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
just saw someone in the FT comments section referring to Tesla as the swasticar
Revelling in the lidar DTM layer in the National library of Scotland website and the varied types of British landscapes it unveils.
First we have glacially shaped land in the Vale of Eden looking like the skin of a dinosaur.
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First we have glacially shaped land in the Vale of Eden looking like the skin of a dinosaur.
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January 31, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Revelling in the lidar DTM layer in the National library of Scotland website and the varied types of British landscapes it unveils.
First we have glacially shaped land in the Vale of Eden looking like the skin of a dinosaur.
⚒️
First we have glacially shaped land in the Vale of Eden looking like the skin of a dinosaur.
⚒️
Reposted by Simon Wellings
Next month, I’ll be starting my year’s programme of #urbangeology walks introducing the building stones of London with London Walks. The first date is 8 Feb. Cost, details and reservations at this link www.walks.com/our-walks/ge...
Geology and Building Stones in the City of London - London Walks
Thinking about going on the guided Geology and Building Stones in the City of London tour? Have a little read about the sights, hidden spots, your guide and meeting point beforehand!
www.walks.com
January 29, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Next month, I’ll be starting my year’s programme of #urbangeology walks introducing the building stones of London with London Walks. The first date is 8 Feb. Cost, details and reservations at this link www.walks.com/our-walks/ge...
Reposted by Simon Wellings
And there’s nothing like visiting a 5800 year old #LongBarrow for putting things in perspective. I also chose the hour where it was lit up by the sun. Do you spot the #Ammonite?
January 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
And there’s nothing like visiting a 5800 year old #LongBarrow for putting things in perspective. I also chose the hour where it was lit up by the sun. Do you spot the #Ammonite?
Reposted by Simon Wellings
Any ideas on a species for this seed pod/nut?
Local or from further afield?
Found it washed up on the beach this morning.
County Clare, Ireland.
Local or from further afield?
Found it washed up on the beach this morning.
County Clare, Ireland.
January 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Any ideas on a species for this seed pod/nut?
Local or from further afield?
Found it washed up on the beach this morning.
County Clare, Ireland.
Local or from further afield?
Found it washed up on the beach this morning.
County Clare, Ireland.
Reposted by Simon Wellings
#GeologicalRelief for my American friends...
Some of the best folds I have seen in my life in schists and metasandstones... second phase folds refolding an earlier foliation parallel to bedding.
Paleozoic basement, Bocca di Magra, La Spezia (Italy)
#geology #folds #structuralgeology
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Some of the best folds I have seen in my life in schists and metasandstones... second phase folds refolding an earlier foliation parallel to bedding.
Paleozoic basement, Bocca di Magra, La Spezia (Italy)
#geology #folds #structuralgeology
⚒️🧪
January 20, 2025 at 12:57 PM
#GeologicalRelief for my American friends...
Some of the best folds I have seen in my life in schists and metasandstones... second phase folds refolding an earlier foliation parallel to bedding.
Paleozoic basement, Bocca di Magra, La Spezia (Italy)
#geology #folds #structuralgeology
⚒️🧪
Some of the best folds I have seen in my life in schists and metasandstones... second phase folds refolding an earlier foliation parallel to bedding.
Paleozoic basement, Bocca di Magra, La Spezia (Italy)
#geology #folds #structuralgeology
⚒️🧪
Reposted by Simon Wellings
Fossilized Colonial Coral from a Burren stormbeach.
It's been over 300 million years since the living coral, that left this imprint, grew on the tropical sea bed that covered this area.
County Clare, Ireland.
It's been over 300 million years since the living coral, that left this imprint, grew on the tropical sea bed that covered this area.
County Clare, Ireland.
January 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Fossilized Colonial Coral from a Burren stormbeach.
It's been over 300 million years since the living coral, that left this imprint, grew on the tropical sea bed that covered this area.
County Clare, Ireland.
It's been over 300 million years since the living coral, that left this imprint, grew on the tropical sea bed that covered this area.
County Clare, Ireland.
Reposted by Simon Wellings
The Alpine Foreland exposed in the facade of Santa Maria Novella; pietreforte molasse, Prato serpentinite and marble from the metamorphic Tuscan nappe #Florence #UrbanGeology
January 14, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The Alpine Foreland exposed in the facade of Santa Maria Novella; pietreforte molasse, Prato serpentinite and marble from the metamorphic Tuscan nappe #Florence #UrbanGeology
I'm simultaneously cooking a white sauce and a beetroot curry (separate meals).
I'm quivering with delicious horror at the thought of accidentally using the curry spoon to stir the white sauce.
I'm quivering with delicious horror at the thought of accidentally using the curry spoon to stir the white sauce.
January 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I'm simultaneously cooking a white sauce and a beetroot curry (separate meals).
I'm quivering with delicious horror at the thought of accidentally using the curry spoon to stir the white sauce.
I'm quivering with delicious horror at the thought of accidentally using the curry spoon to stir the white sauce.
Explain your username..
I used to be a geologist, but I changed (metamorphosed) into something else (I have a different career).
I don't mean meta in the sense of above or beyond, just the geo one of transformation.
Needless to say, on here I am very much about the geology
I used to be a geologist, but I changed (metamorphosed) into something else (I have a different career).
I don't mean meta in the sense of above or beyond, just the geo one of transformation.
Needless to say, on here I am very much about the geology
Explain your username.
Back in the late 00s, I had a blog called "All of My Faults Are Stress-Related." I taught structural geology, and that was my favorite geo-pun from our department t-shirts when I was an undergrad. My original Twitter account was an extension of that blog.
Back in the late 00s, I had a blog called "All of My Faults Are Stress-Related." I taught structural geology, and that was my favorite geo-pun from our department t-shirts when I was an undergrad. My original Twitter account was an extension of that blog.
Explain your username.
In another life, back when I had a blog and joined the other site, I was managing all the uranium mine permitting for my group. Coconinoite is a uranium-bearing mineral.
In another life, back when I had a blog and joined the other site, I was managing all the uranium mine permitting for my group. Coconinoite is a uranium-bearing mineral.
January 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Explain your username..
I used to be a geologist, but I changed (metamorphosed) into something else (I have a different career).
I don't mean meta in the sense of above or beyond, just the geo one of transformation.
Needless to say, on here I am very much about the geology
I used to be a geologist, but I changed (metamorphosed) into something else (I have a different career).
I don't mean meta in the sense of above or beyond, just the geo one of transformation.
Needless to say, on here I am very much about the geology
Reposted by Simon Wellings
Falls Foot landslide on #Ingleborough, picked out by snow, is a textbook example of mass movement. Thx to my brother, who took this shot last week. We dated the slide with 10Be to 12.5ka (Younger Dryas), bang on David Johnson's estimate in his book 'Ingleborough'. Climate influencing geomorphology?
January 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Falls Foot landslide on #Ingleborough, picked out by snow, is a textbook example of mass movement. Thx to my brother, who took this shot last week. We dated the slide with 10Be to 12.5ka (Younger Dryas), bang on David Johnson's estimate in his book 'Ingleborough'. Climate influencing geomorphology?
Reposted by Simon Wellings
Chalcopyrite & calcite from Ecton mine, Ecton Hill, Staffordshire, England, UK. Specimen ~ 48 mm longest dimension. #MineralMonday #Minerals #Geology #EarthScience #mineralogy
January 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Chalcopyrite & calcite from Ecton mine, Ecton Hill, Staffordshire, England, UK. Specimen ~ 48 mm longest dimension. #MineralMonday #Minerals #Geology #EarthScience #mineralogy
Top quality views, right now.
January 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Top quality views, right now.
Reposted by Simon Wellings
So I was given this old trophy that had a rock on it, and turns out it's a piece of "platinum-rich"* ore from the Merensky Reef, South Africa. Some nice visible chromite and sulfides (pentlandite/pyrrhotite?) along with the usual silicate gunk.
* Everything is relative.
* Everything is relative.
December 16, 2024 at 1:08 PM
So I was given this old trophy that had a rock on it, and turns out it's a piece of "platinum-rich"* ore from the Merensky Reef, South Africa. Some nice visible chromite and sulfides (pentlandite/pyrrhotite?) along with the usual silicate gunk.
* Everything is relative.
* Everything is relative.
This sea wall is made of shelly limestone blocks.
One fossil caught my eye. Any ideas what it might be?
One fossil caught my eye. Any ideas what it might be?
December 15, 2024 at 2:25 PM
This sea wall is made of shelly limestone blocks.
One fossil caught my eye. Any ideas what it might be?
One fossil caught my eye. Any ideas what it might be?
Folded Moine sediments, shores of Loch nan Uamh, Arisaig #Scotland.
Note how the feldspar grains (white blebs) are aligned horizontally, parallel with the 'axial plane' of the fold.
#FridayFold
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Note how the feldspar grains (white blebs) are aligned horizontally, parallel with the 'axial plane' of the fold.
#FridayFold
⚒️🧪
December 13, 2024 at 10:43 AM
Folded Moine sediments, shores of Loch nan Uamh, Arisaig #Scotland.
Note how the feldspar grains (white blebs) are aligned horizontally, parallel with the 'axial plane' of the fold.
#FridayFold
⚒️🧪
Note how the feldspar grains (white blebs) are aligned horizontally, parallel with the 'axial plane' of the fold.
#FridayFold
⚒️🧪
Oceanic tides are pretty, but when this planet was *very* young it was subject to magma tides.
Following a BIG collision both Earth and Moon were balls of molten rock, each affected by the gravitational pull of the other.
Following a BIG collision both Earth and Moon were balls of molten rock, each affected by the gravitational pull of the other.
Exciting new paper by Mohammad Farhat yesterday on arXiv: "Tides on Lava Worlds: Application to Close-in Exoplanets and the Early Earth-Moon System", by Mohammad Farhat, Pierre Auclair-Desrotour, Gwenaël Boué, Tim Lichtenberg, Jacques Laskar (arxiv.org/abs/2412.07285). 🥳🤯
December 11, 2024 at 11:33 AM
Oceanic tides are pretty, but when this planet was *very* young it was subject to magma tides.
Following a BIG collision both Earth and Moon were balls of molten rock, each affected by the gravitational pull of the other.
Following a BIG collision both Earth and Moon were balls of molten rock, each affected by the gravitational pull of the other.