Upcoming Events and Meetings
A Message from the GSA Queensland Division Chair about COVID-19 and upcoming QLD GSA Events
In view of the rapidly worsening situation with COVID-19, the GSAQ Committee has decided to take the responsible step of cancelling our technical talks for March and April. Although our meeting numbers are not high (30-40), the venue at the Transcontinental is a public setting often crowded with others who go there to socialise, eat and drink. The demographics of the GSA also means that we have members attending who are in the higher risk category. We will re-evaluate our program in May.
The April meeting was to be our AGM, so the current committee will continue in place until a meeting of the general membership can be scheduled.
Stay safe and well.
Ian Withnall
Chair, GSA Queensland Division
Previous Division Meetings
24 June 2020 - GSA Queensland Division, June Technical Webinar (joint with AIMM and AIG)
The June Technical Talk will be a joint meeting with AIMM and AIG, presenting another update on exploration in Queensland.
Time: 12 noon to 1pm
Webinar with Rob Murdoch presenting
Registration: This webinar is provided at no cost but please note that registration is required. Please click here to register
24 March 2020 - GSA Queensland Division Meeting - Cancelled
Speaker: Joan Esterle (University of Queensland)
Topic: A review of hyperspectral applications in coal measures
28 April 2020 - GSA Queensland Division, April Technical Talk and AGM
Talk Cancelled - AGM Postponed. Date to be advised
Topic: TBC
Guest speaker: Professor Peter Betts from Monash University, the inaugural GSA Travelling Lecturer.
Agenda: Presentation of reports and election of committee for 2020–21 (see nomination form February/March 2020 newsletter)
25th February 2020 - QLD Division - Technical Talk
The GSAQ first technical meeting for 2020 will be on 25 February. There will be two shorter talks with a Geotourism/geotrails theme.
First Topic: Logging of a new geotrail in southern Queensland – the Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail
Speaker: Bill D’Arcy and George Winter
Second Topic: On the trail of the Ice-age Floods: geotouring in the Channelled Scablands of Eastern Washington State, USA.
Speaker: Ian Withnall
Summary: The Channelled Scablands are a relatively barren and soil-free region of interconnected relict flood channels, coulees and dry cataracts eroded into loess and the flat-lying Miocene Columbia Plateau basalt flows in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Washington. The channelled scablands are thought to have been scoured by more than 40 cataclysmic floods, unleashed when a large glacial lake repeatedly drained, and the waters swept across the Columbia Plateau during the during the Last Glacial Maximum between 18,000 and 13,000 years ago. The idea was originally proposed by J Harlen Bretz in the 1920s, but he was subjected to ridicule and scepticism for several decades before he was finally vindicated.
12 November 2019 - GESSS Q
Description: The GSA Earth Sciences Student Symposium Queensland (GESSSQ) is an annual student-run conference held in Brisbane. It is an initiative of the Geological Society of Australia (GSA) and is supported by a network of industry partners. This unique symposium grants students the opportunity to communicate their research to the wider scientific community, and allows them to network with academics and industry professionals.
Keynote Speaker: Marina Costelloe (Geoscience Australia)
24 September 2019 - QLD Division - Technical Talk
Speaker: Dr Luke Nothdurft, Senior Lecturer School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology
Topic: Hard bits and soft bits: Recent advances in modern carbonate sedimentology.
In recent years there has been a vast increase in the coverage and resolution of bathymetry data on the continental shelf of Queensland obtained with a range of remotely sensed shipboard and airborne techniques. The new data has breathed new life into the study of modern carbonate environments including coral reefs and the remarkable morphology of Halimeda (green algae) bioherms. More efficient coring and dating techniques and improved geochemical and microscopy analysis has enabled progress on some age-old problems in the field, and utilisation and re-evaluation of the vast amount of legacy material collected over past decades. It has also led to more multidisciplinary research whereby environmental and biological study is informed by the underlying geomorphology.
16 September 2019 - Introduction to QGIS (GSA & AIG Workshop)
Presenter: Grant Boxer (Consultant)
Details: The AIG and GSA are proud to be supporting workshops on the GIS program QGIS. QGIS is a free open-source GIS program that runs on the PC, Mac and Linux. Although QGIS is not specifically built for geological applications, the program is very capable and can do many data import, data display and map production functions required by geologists. Because the program is open source there are no problems with multiple copies and no licensing issues. A wide variety of geological symbols and patterns are available for annotating geological maps. The workshop has been designed for new and experienced users of Geographic Information Systems to find out what QGIS can do for you. The workshop will comprise an introduction to the various features of QGIS and will be followed by extensive hands-on sessions using QGIS to create maps, and to explain and demonstrate the import and display of various types of data (vector, raster, geological, geochemical, geophysical, and satellite imagery). Examples will be shown of the use of free on-line data from the GSWA and Landgate via web servers and the use of plug-ins to select, download and process satellite imagery. GIS data will be provided for the hands-on workshop together with documentation on using QGIS in mineral exploration. The workshop will be based on the Windows OS but feel free to bring your Mac
17 September 2019 - More QGIS for Geoscientists (GSA & AIG Workshop)
Presenter: Grant Boxer (Consultant)
Details: This workshop, supported by both the AIG and GSA, is designed to expand on the “Introduction to QGIS for Geologists” workshop, providing more detail on using QGIS for geoscience applications. It is aimed at users of QGIS who would like to expand their skills. The “More QGIS for Geoscientists” workshop will begin with a brief review of some of the new developments in version 3 and will be followed by a series of hands-on exercises covering:
- Using the new Geopackage file format
- Useful plugins
- Conversion of local grid to real world coordinates
- Registering raster images
- Plotting drill hole traces and basic cross sections
- Reviewing the process of assigning pattern fills to geological polygons
- Joining spatial and non-spatial data
- Searching for and use of open source WMS data
- Visualising drill holes in 3D using QGIS2Threejs
- Geological legends
- Review of remote sensing applications in QGIS
17 August 2019 - Unearthed
Details: Unearthed! celebrates palaeontology and the work done by the Queensland Museum, in partnership with BHP, at South Walker Creek site. QM scientists have been collecting fossilised megafauna of international significance from there since 2011. The Unearthed! program will includes talks, workshops and hands-on activities based on megafauna and associated subjects. The Geological Society of Australia will be part of the program and will be holding a booth. This event is targeted at family audiences with activities for under 5s through to adults.
Location: Mackay
7 August 2019 - Trivia Night (Organised by AIG NGG and GSA in conjunction with the QUT Natural Resource Society)
23 July 2019 - QLD Division Monthly Meeting
Speaker: Laurie Hutton
Topic: Mafic rift magmatism in the Mount Isa Inlier: implications and geochemistry
25 June 2019 - QLD Division - Technical Talk (joint with AusIMM and AIG)
Speaker: Ian MacFarlene
Topic: Queensland Exploration Update
28 May 2019 - QLD Division Annual General Meeting
Speaker: Mojtaba Rajabi, University of Queensland
Topic: Present day stress field of Australia
23 April 2019 - QLD Division Meeting
Speaker: Balz Kamber, Queensland University of Technology
Topic: Giant ore deposits associated with impact structures: why Sudbury is the exception and not the rule
26 March 2019 - QLD Division Meeting
Speaker: Sue Golding, University of Queensland
Topic: Past, present and future applications of isotope geochemistry in resources exploration and environment
23-24 March 2019 - QLD Division at the World Science
Details: GSAQ is running a booth for the World Science Festival with publications, geological specimens and GSAQ Rock and Mineral Sets on display. The Division will also offer guided walking tours of the geology, buildings stones and historic buildings of inner Brisbane.
Website: https://www.worldsciencefestival.com.au/
19 February 2019
Speaker: Kenneth Collerson (KDC Consulting and SEES, University of Queensland)
Topic: Cobalt and HREE Mineral Systems in the Eastern Mount Isa Block: IOCG Metal Source and Exploration Opportunities