alive and well - Geological Society of Australia

Newsfrom the DivisionsJoint GSA VictorianDivision – Royal Societyof Victoria AnnualHowitt LectureEvery winter the Geological Society of Australia(Victorian Division) and the Royal Society ofVictoria hold a lecture at the Royal Society inhonour of Alfred Howitt. Alfred Howitt is bestknown to the geological fraternity for hispioneering geological investigations of theDevonian of Gippsland. He also producedsignificant works on Eucalyptus of East Gippslandand famously led the recovery expeditionfor the Burke and Wills Expedition, travellingtwice to Coopers Creek. Howitt was also a keenobserver of Aboriginal peoples and producedsignificant works on the social fabric of Aboriginallife. It was therefore appropriate that thisyear’s Howitt Lecture was delivered by GuyHoldgate (Melbourne University) on the recenthistory of Port Phillip Bay. The lecture was heldon 12 July at the Royal Society headquarters.Guy drew together the threads from manydifferent surveys of Port Phillip Bay and thesedimentary successions encountered. Recentmultibeam seismic imaging of the bay floorreveals meandering river channels and it isthought that the bay began drying out aboutTOP: Investigating Cambrian volcanic-hosted massive sulfides rich in gold at the South Hercules mine,recently mined by MMG. Photo courtesy Ralph Bottrill.BOTTOM: On top of Mt Read, on a rare day where it’s not enshrouded in clouds, looking at Cape Sorellsome 40 km away. There used to be an old mining town here, reputed to be one of the highest, coldestand windiest towns in Australia, but there is little left of it now. View is over the Tyndall Valley and theHenty gold mine. Image courtesy Ralph Bottrill.2800 years ago, reaching a minimum extentsome 1000 years ago. This has some support incarbon dates of disconformity surfaces withinthe sedimentary successions. This accords withAboriginal oral tradition that has the bay dryand used as a hunting ground until a suddenflood event. Guy postulates that this flood wasan event rather than just postglacial sea-levelrise with the breach in the sand barrier at itsentrance releasing a flood of water into the bay,altering the landscapes of the area. The talkattracted a packed house and prompted lots ofquestions from the audience.DAVID CANTRILLExplore the Science –Science MeetsExploration at Strahan,7–8 December 2011The first Tasmanian Geoscience Forum, held inStrahan on 7–8 December 2011, was the largestgathering of Tasmanian geologists seen formany years. The two-day conference was a jointproduction between the Tasmanian branches ofthe GSA (main convenor Andrew McNeill) andThe AusIMM (main convenor Angela Lorrigan).Day 1 consisted of 15 technical talks promotingthe use of innovative scientific techniques inexploration. Most participants then enjoyed agenerous meal at the Strahan Village restaurant.Day 2 saw field trips to Renison (BluestoneMining) and Mt Read/Hercules (MMG) in themorning, where participants were treated tosensational weather conditions in this normallywintery alpine setting. In the afternoon, theyvisited the Venture Minerals Mt Lindsay coreshed and Hellyer/Fossey (Bass Metals).The conference was well-attended, hosting76 people. Sponsors were ALS, Bass Metals,Unity Mining, MMG, CODES and RogersExploration Services. The conference wasconsidered so successful that GSA and TheAusIMM are considering another event for theend of 2012 — details to be announced.Presentations from the conference are available.Contact Andrew McNeill(Andrew.McNeill@utas.edu.au) for details.MIKE VICARY(Editor: We apologise this report was notprinted in the June issue because ofcomputing issues.)20 |TAG September 2012