History of Geology Group
@hoggroup.bsky.social
The History of Geology Group is for anyone, any level of knowledge and anywhere across the globe who is interested in #HistGeo
We are affiliated to @geolsoc.bsky.social
Posts, reposts & replies are our own.
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/hogg
We are affiliated to @geolsoc.bsky.social
Posts, reposts & replies are our own.
https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/hogg
Greenly's geological map of Anglesey is a masterpiece. Surveyed in minute detail as a lone project between 1895 and 1919 using 6 inch and 25 inch to the mile base maps, his summary map of 1 inch to the mile remains the standard geological map of Anglesey, over 80 years later!
December 4, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Greenly's geological map of Anglesey is a masterpiece. Surveyed in minute detail as a lone project between 1895 and 1919 using 6 inch and 25 inch to the mile base maps, his summary map of 1 inch to the mile remains the standard geological map of Anglesey, over 80 years later!
Btw ...we like the tale in the book about Geological Society founder George Bellas Greenough and his occasional controversies. Prof Cheshire rates GBG for his pioneer importance to spreading geographic/geologic literacy through use of maps to convey useful information. An early Tharp & Heezen?
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Btw ...we like the tale in the book about Geological Society founder George Bellas Greenough and his occasional controversies. Prof Cheshire rates GBG for his pioneer importance to spreading geographic/geologic literacy through use of maps to convey useful information. An early Tharp & Heezen?
Cracking talk following the HOGG AGM this afternoon. Prof. James Cheshire (UCL) on 'Mapping the Ocean Floor'. Terrific insights into Heezen & Tharp's map + many more; a tale of science meets art in creative cartographic expression - the reality of their map was more nuanced than the standard story!
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Cracking talk following the HOGG AGM this afternoon. Prof. James Cheshire (UCL) on 'Mapping the Ocean Floor'. Terrific insights into Heezen & Tharp's map + many more; a tale of science meets art in creative cartographic expression - the reality of their map was more nuanced than the standard story!
Yes, the Lapworth Museum holds Lapworth's teaching charts...particularly his sections and sketches of Dob's
Linn
Linn
November 21, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Yes, the Lapworth Museum holds Lapworth's teaching charts...particularly his sections and sketches of Dob's
Linn
Linn
And it is a credit to the early @geolsoc.bsky.social and Greenough that a riposte was made available to all. It undoubtedly diffused tension if not controversy. Debate was at the heart of the Geol Soc, as was the refereeing of papers with GBG the originator of this now ubiquitous academic practice!
November 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
And it is a credit to the early @geolsoc.bsky.social and Greenough that a riposte was made available to all. It undoubtedly diffused tension if not controversy. Debate was at the heart of the Geol Soc, as was the refereeing of papers with GBG the originator of this now ubiquitous academic practice!
Her account was subjected to the habitual skepticism of G.B.Greenough in his 1834 Presidential address to @geolsoc.bsky.social, a critique of Lyell's mountains formed by gradations vs elevation via volcanic force from below. He dismissed her account as she was not a naval officer observer of repute.
November 19, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Her account was subjected to the habitual skepticism of G.B.Greenough in his 1834 Presidential address to @geolsoc.bsky.social, a critique of Lyell's mountains formed by gradations vs elevation via volcanic force from below. He dismissed her account as she was not a naval officer observer of repute.
Ganly (1809–1899) worked for Richard Griffith at the Valuation Office, Dublin but was de facto a geological rather than land/valuation surveyor. The detail on later editions of Griffith's impressive Geological map of Ireland (1852, 1853 & 1855) was due to Ganly. It should be the Griffith/Ganly map!
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Ganly (1809–1899) worked for Richard Griffith at the Valuation Office, Dublin but was de facto a geological rather than land/valuation surveyor. The detail on later editions of Griffith's impressive Geological map of Ireland (1852, 1853 & 1855) was due to Ganly. It should be the Griffith/Ganly map!
🧵2/2 The small building houses a modern seismometer, installed by @bgs.ac.uk, and a viewing window to see the Lenartz chart recorder. On 20th October a cluster of EQ events struck 37km north west at Glen Lyon. Our HOGG member arrived in time to see the traces on the chart. History in the making!
October 24, 2025 at 8:54 PM
🧵2/2 The small building houses a modern seismometer, installed by @bgs.ac.uk, and a viewing window to see the Lenartz chart recorder. On 20th October a cluster of EQ events struck 37km north west at Glen Lyon. Our HOGG member arrived in time to see the traces on the chart. History in the making!
A couple of days ago, a HOGG member paid an homage visit to Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. 'Shaky Toon', as it is known, is v. important in the history of seismology. It boasts the oldest seismological observatory in the world: 'The Earthquake House', built in 1874. 🧵1/2
October 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
A couple of days ago, a HOGG member paid an homage visit to Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland. 'Shaky Toon', as it is known, is v. important in the history of seismology. It boasts the oldest seismological observatory in the world: 'The Earthquake House', built in 1874. 🧵1/2
HOGG will be at the GA FoG, discussing history of geology matters with friends & colleagues old & new, giving out our postcards & we'll have top-notch books for sale at bargain prices, & if we can squeeze into the crowd on the stairway we'll point out key things to see on the Smith & Greenough maps.
October 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
HOGG will be at the GA FoG, discussing history of geology matters with friends & colleagues old & new, giving out our postcards & we'll have top-notch books for sale at bargain prices, & if we can squeeze into the crowd on the stairway we'll point out key things to see on the Smith & Greenough maps.
Hutton (and John Playfair) attended Walker's lectures on mineralogy - a science that interested Hutton, as distinct from geology. Walker told students where they could see mineral specimens in nature, eg. for mountain tar: "It is found in the Limestone, at Lord Elgin's Quarries, at Charleston."
October 7, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Hutton (and John Playfair) attended Walker's lectures on mineralogy - a science that interested Hutton, as distinct from geology. Walker told students where they could see mineral specimens in nature, eg. for mountain tar: "It is found in the Limestone, at Lord Elgin's Quarries, at Charleston."
Interesting this portrait is of an older Murchison, not as he would have been in 1829, and wearing his Russian honours awarded by Tsar Nicholas I - he was not permitted to wear these in Britain until 1845. Here is his 1836 portrait.
October 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Interesting this portrait is of an older Murchison, not as he would have been in 1829, and wearing his Russian honours awarded by Tsar Nicholas I - he was not permitted to wear these in Britain until 1845. Here is his 1836 portrait.
Werner used the term 'Geeognosy' for study of rocks, minerals & orderly succession of geological formations - explained in his universal theory of Earth history, based on all minerals precipitated from a primordial ocean covering the entire globe. His scheme brought sense to the 'chaos' of strata.
September 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Werner used the term 'Geeognosy' for study of rocks, minerals & orderly succession of geological formations - explained in his universal theory of Earth history, based on all minerals precipitated from a primordial ocean covering the entire globe. His scheme brought sense to the 'chaos' of strata.
Not only the discovery of Megalosaurus but also Plesiosausus dolichodeirus in this ESH special issue, 44 (1),
Transactions of the symposium to mark the bicentenary of a momentous meeting at @geolsoc.bsky.social in 1824,conceived by HOGG, convened in partnership with @morethanadodo.bsky.social
Transactions of the symposium to mark the bicentenary of a momentous meeting at @geolsoc.bsky.social in 1824,conceived by HOGG, convened in partnership with @morethanadodo.bsky.social
September 17, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Not only the discovery of Megalosaurus but also Plesiosausus dolichodeirus in this ESH special issue, 44 (1),
Transactions of the symposium to mark the bicentenary of a momentous meeting at @geolsoc.bsky.social in 1824,conceived by HOGG, convened in partnership with @morethanadodo.bsky.social
Transactions of the symposium to mark the bicentenary of a momentous meeting at @geolsoc.bsky.social in 1824,conceived by HOGG, convened in partnership with @morethanadodo.bsky.social
Did you know that Jane Austen possibly had a once removed connection with George Bellas Greenough? The controversial portrait, owned by Dr Paula Byrne, was drawn in the rooms of Rev. Edward Smedley, in The Sanctuary, Westminster, whose wife was Hannah Smedley (née Bellas), who was Greenough's aunt.
September 15, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Did you know that Jane Austen possibly had a once removed connection with George Bellas Greenough? The controversial portrait, owned by Dr Paula Byrne, was drawn in the rooms of Rev. Edward Smedley, in The Sanctuary, Westminster, whose wife was Hannah Smedley (née Bellas), who was Greenough's aunt.
Great photo ...it is always a pleasure to welcome proud younger generation relatives of pioneering geologists ... we did something similar for Gertie Elles' family at our 2019 conference marking the centenary for women admitted as FGS. Btw we spy Prof Andy Aplin in your photo too!
September 11, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Great photo ...it is always a pleasure to welcome proud younger generation relatives of pioneering geologists ... we did something similar for Gertie Elles' family at our 2019 conference marking the centenary for women admitted as FGS. Btw we spy Prof Andy Aplin in your photo too!
Arthur Holmes was, without doubt, one of the greatest geoscientists of the 20th century. His legacies include radiometric-dating of rocks, a mechanism for lateral movement of continents and continental drift, and his inspirational big fat book -'Principles of Physical Geology' (2nd edition).
September 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Arthur Holmes was, without doubt, one of the greatest geoscientists of the 20th century. His legacies include radiometric-dating of rocks, a mechanism for lateral movement of continents and continental drift, and his inspirational big fat book -'Principles of Physical Geology' (2nd edition).
William Lonsdale is the (unsung) real founder of the Devonian System. Sedgwick & Murchison admitted as such in their 1839 communication to the London & Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine & Journal of Science 14 (99). Lonsdale told them the 'Devonian' existed in 1838. So..credit where credit's due1
September 8, 2025 at 9:25 PM
William Lonsdale is the (unsung) real founder of the Devonian System. Sedgwick & Murchison admitted as such in their 1839 communication to the London & Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine & Journal of Science 14 (99). Lonsdale told them the 'Devonian' existed in 1838. So..credit where credit's due1
George Bellas Greenough's (1778–1855) concern to ensure "The tints of a geological map speak to the mind as well as to the eye" on his 1820 map corresponded to a practical application of the theory on colour that Goethe proposed in Farbenlehre. A palette of balanced, associative colours ensued.
August 29, 2025 at 8:54 PM
George Bellas Greenough's (1778–1855) concern to ensure "The tints of a geological map speak to the mind as well as to the eye" on his 1820 map corresponded to a practical application of the theory on colour that Goethe proposed in Farbenlehre. A palette of balanced, associative colours ensued.
Mark Witton considers Gideon Mantell's take on Megatherium from his 1851 book "Petrifactions and their teachings, or, A hand-book to the gallery of organic remains of the British Museum" among the very first life reconstructions of Megatherium - so maybe Ansted's view was just poor?
August 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Mark Witton considers Gideon Mantell's take on Megatherium from his 1851 book "Petrifactions and their teachings, or, A hand-book to the gallery of organic remains of the British Museum" among the very first life reconstructions of Megatherium - so maybe Ansted's view was just poor?
A lesson (from the past) to serve all those who consult sources in geological archives, whether documents, drawings or old geological maps - don't have liquids anywhere nearby & don't drink coffee before you begin! It's not just designated driver status that can be a hazard of teetotalism!
August 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
A lesson (from the past) to serve all those who consult sources in geological archives, whether documents, drawings or old geological maps - don't have liquids anywhere nearby & don't drink coffee before you begin! It's not just designated driver status that can be a hazard of teetotalism!
Not so according to Hugh Torrens whose evidence shows Owen reevaluated his 1841 address for his report published in April 1842 & only then did he coin the term 'Dinosauria'(Torrens 1997 Politics and Palaeontology: Richard Owen and the invention of the Dinosaur. p.181 in: The Complete Dinosaur.)
August 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Not so according to Hugh Torrens whose evidence shows Owen reevaluated his 1841 address for his report published in April 1842 & only then did he coin the term 'Dinosauria'(Torrens 1997 Politics and Palaeontology: Richard Owen and the invention of the Dinosaur. p.181 in: The Complete Dinosaur.)
John Milne b.1850 d. 31 July 1913
Geologist, engineer & seismologist - a significant contributor to the understanding & evaluation of earthquakes. He developed the first international network for seismological data & invented the world’s first modern seismograph.
shorturl.at/6yCGB
Geologist, engineer & seismologist - a significant contributor to the understanding & evaluation of earthquakes. He developed the first international network for seismological data & invented the world’s first modern seismograph.
shorturl.at/6yCGB
July 31, 2025 at 10:49 PM
John Milne b.1850 d. 31 July 1913
Geologist, engineer & seismologist - a significant contributor to the understanding & evaluation of earthquakes. He developed the first international network for seismological data & invented the world’s first modern seismograph.
shorturl.at/6yCGB
Geologist, engineer & seismologist - a significant contributor to the understanding & evaluation of earthquakes. He developed the first international network for seismological data & invented the world’s first modern seismograph.
shorturl.at/6yCGB
John MacCulloch's mapping of the complex geology of Schiehallion led him (1824) to say of Playfair's estimate "I discovered what I had long before suspected, the error of this celebrated experiment, & the consequent wreck of its conclusions." His 1836 map arose, in part, seeking an alternative site.
July 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
John MacCulloch's mapping of the complex geology of Schiehallion led him (1824) to say of Playfair's estimate "I discovered what I had long before suspected, the error of this celebrated experiment, & the consequent wreck of its conclusions." His 1836 map arose, in part, seeking an alternative site.
In 1801 John Playfair mapped the lithology of Schiehallion, introducing variable subsurface density, to improve accuracy of Hutton’s estimate of the density of the Earth; computing in 1811 a specific gravity range of 4.56–4.87 effectively making him creator of the first geophysical model.
July 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
In 1801 John Playfair mapped the lithology of Schiehallion, introducing variable subsurface density, to improve accuracy of Hutton’s estimate of the density of the Earth; computing in 1811 a specific gravity range of 4.56–4.87 effectively making him creator of the first geophysical model.