How are these videos created?
All Essex Rock and Mineral Society Zoom meetings are recorded and uploaded to our own YouTube channel – ERMSVIDEO. These videos fall into two main categories:
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- ERMS Miscellaneous videos, which are usually given by an external speaker who is an expert in his or her chosen field. Nevertheless, these videos are still aimed at enthusiastic amateurs, rather than fellow experts.
- ERMS ‘Basics’ videos, which are usually given by members of the Society and cover basic topics in geology and palaeontology. They are aimed at amateurs who have no previous experience of geology, but would like to know more.
None of these videos are visible to the general public – only members of Essex Rock and Mineral Society can view them when they click on the links that are sent out by our Secretary.
Below is the full list of the recordings that are currently available.
ERMS Miscellaneous Videos
Date | Title | Presenter | Affiliation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/07/2021 | An update on the Skye meteorite | Andy Beard | Birkbeck College, London | An update on the recently discovered traces of a meteorite that impacted somewhere around the Isle of Skye, around 60 million years ago. Some tantalising evidence that it might have been a comet rather than a meteorite. |
| 06/07/2021 | The Geology of Oman | James Cresswell | Geoworld Tours | Oman has some amazing geological features, which, unlike the equivalent features in the UK are not covered in vegetation and hence are easy to view. In particular, it is the world's premier site for viewing ophiolites. |
| 06/04/2021 | Early Man in Britain | Nick Ashtion | British Museum | A review of human occupation in Britain over the last 1 million years. Covers the evidence of occupation, distribution of main sites, plus some of Nick Ashton's recent excavations |
| 17/06/2021 | Understanding Fossils | Ken Brooks | Hastings Geological Society | This is a comprehensive review of fossils, covering what constitutes a fossil, how fossils are created and why they are important. A well illustrated talk suitable for beginners and experienced fossil hunters alike. |
| 04/05/2021 | Evolution of Birds | Dennis Kell | ERMS | The evolution of birds starting from Theropod dinosaurs and ending with modern birds. Incorporating the discovery of feathered dinosaurs, evolution of bird respiration, and origins of flight. |
| 02/03/2021 | Origin of Life on Earth | John Ratford | ERMS | How, when and where life on earth originated |
| 26/01/2022 | Dinosaurs: New visions of a lost world | Prof Mike Benton | Bristol University | This is the story of how the discovery of the first feathered dinosaurs in China, starting in 1996, has completely revolutionised our view of dinosaurs |
| 09/02/2022 | Trees of the North Pole | Neil Davis | Cambridge University | A facinating insite into the plantlife of the high arctic, much of which is so well preserved that it has not yet become fossilised. The difficulties of collecting specimens from this harsh environment are also well illustrated |
| 14/03/2022 | The Geology of Bedfordshire | Bev Fowlston | Befordshire Geology Group | A comprehensive introduction to the geology of Bedfordshire, as well as the local industries (especially brickmaking) which were based on this geology. |
| 10/05/2022 | Clay - Mineralogy and Uses | Prof Peter Scott | Camborne School of Mines | This is an excellent introduction to the main types of clay, their mineralogy, where they are found, and what they are used for. As an overview, it is first class, being both simple enough and comprehensive enough for the non-specialist. |
| 22/06/2022 | Geohazards in the UK | Martin Clushaw | British Geological Survey | A review of the different types of Geohazards that are encountered by engineers in the UK. This includes things like earthquakes, landslips, cliff erosion, mining subsidence etc. |
| 28/09/2022 | Tunnel Valleys of the North Sea | Margaret Stewart | British Geological Survey | This intriguing video delves into the alien world of the ice rivers that once ran beneath the ice sheets that previously covered the land area which has now become the North Sea. |
| 23/11/2022 | Ice Age Mammals of the Mendip Hills: Move, Adapt or Die | Prof Danielle Schreve | Royal Holloway, London | This talk tells the story of a multi-decade excavation in a cave in the Mendips, which has revealed astonishing details of the mammal fauna that inhabited the area during the late Pleistocene |
| 11/01/2023 | Volcanoes - Past and Present | Ros Mercer | ERMS | This extremely informative overview of UK volcanoes starts with the oldest known, and progresses to the youngest. Excellent diagrams and pictures |
12/04/2023 | The Pacific Ring of Fire | Ros Mercer | ERMS | An entertaining and informative tour round the various volcanoes of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Excellent explanations of the associated plate tecktonics and why particular volcanoes disgorge different types of larva |
31/05/23 | Quaternary Sequences in the Thames and Medway | Prof David Bridgland | Durham University | Prof Bridgland reports on the latest research into the fluvial sequences that have been deposited in Essex and Beyond, in the North Sea. This is currently our best view of how the most recent glaciations have affected the courses of the Thames and Medway rivers. |
21/06/23 | Palaeolithich Archaeology in the Brecklands | Prof Simon Lewis | Queen Mary, University of London | Prof Lewis reports on the latest results of the multi-year archaeological dig at Barnham in Suffolk. In particular, he highlights the interplay between archaeology and the Quaternary geology, and the progress that has been made in dating the various levels and individual finds. |
ERMS Extras Videos
Date | Title | Presenter | Affiliation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
02/02/21 | Gems - the inside story | Ian Mercer | ERMS | Gemstones. What makes them genuine, and how to spot a fake. What makes them valuable |
18/02/21 | The Rock Cycle | Ros Mercer | ERMS | The eternal cycle of volcanic magma cooling to form igneous rocks which are then converted into sedimentary rocks, which are then turned into metamorphic rocks and finally back to magma |
18/03/21 | Sedimentary Rocks | Ros Mercer | ERMS | Explanation of the basics of sedimentary rocks, including clays, shales, sandstones and limestones |
15/04/21 | Limestone | Ros Mercer | ERMS | The different types of limestone. How they are formed, what they look like, and how to recognise them |
27/10/21 | Moving Continents | Ros Mercer | ERMS | The Earth's crust consists of a small number of plates, which move around on its surface. This talk explains what makes them move, what happens at the boundaries of these plates (i.e. the creation of mountain ranges, rift valleys, volcanos and earthquakes) and how we know about all this. |
24/11/21 | The Rock Cycle - mud to granite | Ros Mercer | ERMS | The rocks in the earths crust are subject to a never ending cycle that goes from sedimentary rock to metamorphic rock to igneous rock and back to sedimentary rock. This lecture describes the journey from mud and claystones through the various stages of metamorphosis the result in granite - which is subsequently eroded to form mud and clay. |
13/04/22 | Metamorphic rocks - part 2 | Ros Mercer | ERMS | Many of the rocks in the Earth's crust are the result of the heating and squeezing of existing sedimentary rocks - processes which often happen at great depths. This lecture tells the story of how this happens, and what chemical transformations take place to create metamorphic rocks. |
26/10/22 | Millions and Millons of years | Ros Mercer Ian Mercer | ERMS | The concept of a millions years is extremely difficult for the average mind to comprehend. This video tackles exactly this problem - and discusses how difficult it was for nineteenth century geologists to arrive at an agreed view of the age of the Earth |