Sydney Mineral Exploration Discussion Group (SMEDG) presents:
Compiling a book on the Sydney Basin: Geology that stopped me in my tracks
Researching and compiling books featuring the geology and flora of the Sydney Basin has involved a huge number of field visits and journeys over the past decade (both geological and botanical), including many within a newly defined georegion on Sydney’s northside. The approach has always been curiosity-driven – to question and understand everything. So confronting striking features like the sub-Antarctic setting of the Sydney Basin, the Pokolbin Carboniferous inliers, the end-Permian extinction, the phonolite laccoliths of the Barigan district, the mind-boggling number of diatremes in the basin, including 8 in our local georegion, and the stunning wildflower blooms brought on by the Black Summer fires, has stretched the brain to its limits, and has involved much research beyond that which can be squeezed between the covers of a book. The talk will be a strongly pictorial journey highlighting features both geological and botanical, that have stopped me in my tracks. Comments, and especially new information, will be very welcome!
Speaker
Dr. John Martyn
After graduating from Sheffield University in 1965, John studied for his Ph.D at Bedford College, London University, on the geology, volcanology and structure of the Lake Baringo area of the East African Rift Valley, Kenya, submitting it in 1969. His first work assignment was in the Zambian Copperbelt whereafter he relocated from UK to Perth to the newly formed office of London-based geological and mining consultants Mackay & Schnellmann Pty Ltd. Subsequently, after an assignment mapping the Mt Tom Price iron ore deposit, he moved in 1972 to join image-interpretation company Loxton Hunting and Associates: in those days primarily doing regional air photo interpretation.
In 1973 John joined the Perth office of the Minerals Dept of Esso Australia Ltd as geologist, senior geologist then regional studies supervisor, relocating in 1979 to their head office in Sydney. Leading a team of up to 3 geologists, his role involved broad-based regional practical and conceptual studies for base metals, gold, uranium and oil shale throughout Australia. In 1986, Esso pulled out of mineral exploration and he went out on his own as a consultant, with many client companies both large and small. His basic geological mapping skills came to the fore in large project areas throughout Australia, and also in China, Mauritania and Uruguay.
Retiring from full time geology in 2003, he completed major mapping and book publication projects including bushwalking maps of the entire Lane Cove and Middle Harbour catchments, plus the books: Sydney’s Natural World (2007), Field Guide to the Bushland of the Lane Cove Valley (2010), Understanding the Weather (2013), and Rocks and Trees (2018). All these have been published through the North Shore community environmental group called STEP. He is currently completing a book that covers the whole Sydney Basin.
Date and Venue
Date: Thursday, 21 March 2024; 5.30 pm for 6.00 pm – talk starts at 6.00 pm
Venue: Club York, 95-99 York St, Sydney NSW
Cost and Registration
FREE – No registration required for live meeting, but Zoom attendance requires: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsf-2hqzkpG9aktZvRt4-BWffHV_ID-fqP
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