Geology Options - Field Studies Council

LocationOutlineLocationOutlineLocationOutlineLocationOutlineLocationOutlineShap andPooley Bridge(full day)Sinen Gill(full day)The Shap A6 road cutting provides an excellent opportunity for examining folding, cleavagerefraction and sedimentary structures within the Silurian turbidite sequence, were anabundance of sole structures and way-up structures are present.Students will visit Shap Pink Quarry to investigate variability in igneous texture and compositionwithin the granite pluton, where magma mixing and crustal contamination, together with latestagefluid formation has resulted in some striking features and mineralisation.Students will then visit an angular unconformity at Shap Wells hotel where terrestrialsandstones and breccias lay unconformably over Silurian greywackes and mudstones.At Pooley Bridge we analyse and interpret an exposure of the Devonian Mell Fell Conglomerateoutcropping along the banks of Ullswater.The fieldwork takes place at three locations based around the Shap area about a 45 minutedrive away from the centre as well as a stop off at the popular beauty spot of Pooley Bridge.If using centre transport, a cost of £6.50 is payable per student.On this day we identify changes in the country rock with distance from the Skiddaw Graniteintrusion at Sinen Gill. Students observe changes in the metamorphic grade of the rock in orderto produce a basic geological map of the Glenderaterra valley. The students will be encouragedto develop their enquiry skills by completing rock descriptions and field sketches at each site.Glenderaterra Valley is accessed on foot directly from the centre and takes 1 hour to reach thefurthest site at Sinen Gill. The route is a total of 6.5km (200m of ascent/descent).Vale of Eden(half day)Sedimentary palaeoenvironments are the focus of this half-day, where we travel to the GreatAsby Scar to carry out a detailed study of highly fossiliferous Carboniferous Limestone and viewa limestone pavement. We then visit Bongate Scar to see some classic Permian desertsandstone with dune cross-bedding and faulting.On this excursion we travel through the limestone scenery of the Vale of Eden to Great Asbyand Appleby. If using centre transport this trip incurs an additional transport cost of £6.50 perstudent.EconomicGeology(half day)QuaternaryGeology(full day)On this half day we discuss the environmental impacts of mining on the landscape and themode of formation of the mineral or rocks in question.A variety of mining and quarrying sites are available for us to visit, such as Greenside Mineabove Ullswater - the largest lead mine in the lake district; Honister slate mine, Carrockwolframite mine and Long Marton gypsum mine. Transport costs depend on the locationvisited. Entrance fees may apply.Easedale valley near Grasmere is an ideal place to view erosional and depositional landformsfrom the Quaternary, including hanging valleys, roche moutonnées, truncated spurs, glacial tilland erratics. The highlight of the walk is Easedale Tarn and Corrie at the top of the valley. Wethen have the option of driving to Mosedale to investigate fluvioglacial features. If your groupare particularly adventurous you could opt for a more challenging mountain walk such asclimbing Blencathra to discuss the glacial features present there.The walk to Easedale tarn is a popular route for tourists due to its proximity to Grasmere andits natural beauty. This journey requires an additional transport cost of £6 per student if usingcentre transport.

Additional Notes Please feel free to request further details on the content, learning objectives and outcomes for each topicwe teach. The order of days and location of study sites may be varied due to the weather, and to avoidequipment/transport clashes. Students are requested to bring a pen, pencil and paper. They may also find a camera, memory stick,calculator, protractor, folder in which to keep their work, colouring pencils and graph paper useful. Course leaders are advised to bring a memory stick or portable hard drive onto which resources andstudents’ work can be saved. Students will undertake activities outdoors for extended periods of time and should therefore be dressedappropriately for the weather conditions. They will need walking boots, wellies, a waterproof jacket withhood and waterproof trousers. All the above items can be hired from centre for £2 each with a maximumcharge of £6.Transport For a breakdown of transport costs, please see the details of each day. An invoice will be made out to theschool and sent out to the organiser immediately after the course. If you have agreed to drive during the course, please complete a driving form and provide us with a copy ofyour driving licence and photocard in advance. You have the option of a station pick up and drop off at Penrith Station for a cost of £8 per student.A Typical DayWe make the most of your time whilst at the centre. A typical day would normally consist of a classroom sessionstarting at 9.30am, followed by fieldwork from 10.30am to 4pm in the afternoon. On return, the students enjoy abreak and then follow-up their learning in the classroom until 6pm. The after dinner session lasts around onehour.Health & SafetyAll tutored sessions are risk assessed and led by experienced teaching staff with specialist knowledge andfieldwork expertise. All education staff hold first aid qualifications and are trained in H&S and groupmanagement, and a number of our staff hold Mountain Leader qualifications. The FSC holds the Quality Badgefrom The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, which is awarded to organisations which havedemonstrated that they consistently deliver high quality teaching and learning experiences and manage riskeffectively.Adventurous ActivitiesWe are accredited to offer a range of more adventurous activities such as gill scrambling and mountain walking.These offer the students a marvellous opportunity to develop their personal and leadership skills.Blencathra Field Studies Centre is one of seventeen centres in the UK run by the Field Studies Council, anindependent education charity committed to bringing environmental understanding to all. We offer tailor-madepackages for schools and youth groups as well as providing outreach education and adult training. Leading thefield in innovative, effective and enjoyable approaches to learning outside the classroom, we are confident ofproviding a safe, secure and caring atmosphere in which students will widen their environmental understanding,improve their motivation and develop their personal and social skills. We can accommodate up to 110 people fullboard,including a self-contained, self-catering unit for up to 22 people and offer a choice of half or full daysessions.Facebook.com/blencathrafsc | Twitter: @blencathrafsc