The Tellus Conference - British Geological Survey · The improved mapping has prompted renewed...
Transcript of The Tellus Conference - British Geological Survey · The improved mapping has prompted renewed...
The Tellus ConferenceGeoscience for decision makingOctober 17th & 18th 2007W5 science and discovery centre, Belfast
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The Tellus Conference Geoscience for decision making October 17th & 18th 2007 W5 science and discovery centre, Belfast
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Contents
Welcome 1
Schedule 2
KeynotePresentations 5
OralPresentations 7
PosterPresentations 24
Workshops 26
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Welcome �
Welcome
WelcometotheTellusProjectConferenceandtotheW5scienceanddiscoverycentre.W5,which
aimstodemonstratethewondersofthenaturalworldandthecontributionofsciencetosocietyandthe
economy,isafittingvenueinwhichtodiscusstheTellusProject.
Overthesetwodaysinitialresultsofoneofthemostfocusedgeoscientificmappingprojectsever
undertakeninEuropewillbepresented.Theprojecthasproducednewgeochemicalandgeophysical
informationthatextendsanddeepensourknowledgeofthegeology,soils,naturalresourcesand
environmentofNorthernIreland.Thisinformationcanhelpsupporttheexplorationanddevelopment
ofournaturalresources,caninformland-useplanningandcanprovideacountry-widebaselineof
environmentalgeochemistry.
TheBritishGeologicalSurvey(BGS),inpartnershipwiththeGeologicalSurveyofFinland,flewalow-
levelairbornegeophysicalsurveyoverNorthernIrelandin2005–6.Theresultsprovidenewinsightsinto
geology,particularlywherebedrockisobscuredbyglacialcoverandpeat.Delineationoffaults,dykes
andthemajorvolcaniccomplexeshasbeengreatlyimproved.Thesedatacontributesignificantlyto
mineralexplorationandthedefinitionofnaturalandanthropogenichazards.
Ontheground,GSNIandBGSteamscollectedsome31000soil,stream-sedimentandstream-
watersamplesforanalysis.Thegeochemicalresultsprovideanewandconsistentbaselinestandard
forsome60elementsandcompoundsacrossruralNorthernIrelandandalsointhemainmetropolitan
centres.Theextensiverangeofnewgeochemicalmapsofsoilsandstreamsprovidesastandard
againstwhichtomonitorchangeandameansofidentifyingdepletedorpotentiallytoxiclevelsofkey
elementsorcompounds.
Theimprovedmappinghaspromptedrenewedinterestinmineralprospecting,andnewlicenseshave
beenissuedasaresult.MorethanhalfofNorthernIrelandisnowundermineralprospectinglicenceor
licenceapplication.TheprojectalsorecognisestheimportantplaceofthequarryindustryinNorthern
Ireland—avitalsourceofaggregatesfortheUK—andGSNIarepleasedtohavecollaboratedwiththe
QuarryProductsAssociation(NI)andW5inmountinganewexhibitabouttheextractiveindustries.
Tellusdatarepresentamajorresourceforindustry,regulatoryauthoritiesandenvironmental
organizationsandprovidecontextual,baselinegeoscienceinformationformanagingdevelopment
sustainably.Theprojecthasstimulatedacademicresearchintoarangeofappliedgeological,
environmentalandland-useissuesanddatahavebeendisseminatedamongstresearchgroupsin
NorthernIreland,inGBandasfarafieldasUSAandCanada.
GSNIacknowledgetheencouragementandassistanceoftheBritishGeologicalSurvey,Geological
SurveyofIrelandandtheUnitedStatesGeologicalSurveyinthedevelopmentofaprojectdealingwith
theresourcesandenvironment.WealsoacknowledgethesupportoftheDepartmentofEnterprise,
TradeandInvestment,TheRuralDevelopmentProgrammeforBuildingSustainableProsperity,andthe
EnvironmentandHeritageService.
WewishyouausefultwodayshereattheTellusProjectConferenceandwelookforwardto
yourcontribution.
EurGeolGarthEarls
Director,GSNI
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� Schedule
Wednesday �7th October �007
08�5–09�5 Registrationandcoffee(Level4)
09�5–�040 Opening (Lecture Theatre)
Welcome
EurGeol Garth Earls
TheNaturalEnvironmentResearchCouncilandnaturalresources
Prof. John Ludden
Earth-thePowerofthePlanet
Dr Iain Stewart
�040–���0 Coffeeandtea(Level4)
���0–�300 Session �: The Tellus surveys and results (Lecture Theatre)
Chair: Noel Cornick, Assistant Secretary, Department of Enterprise, Trade
and Investment
Anationalgeoscienceframeworkforthe21stcentury
Dr Mick Lee
TheTellusairbornegeophysicalsurveyandresults
Mike Young
TheTellusgeochemicalprogramme—surveyandresults
Dr Dermot Smyth
Sustainablemanagementofournaturalresources
EurGeol Garth Earls
�300–�400 Lunch(Level4)
�400–�530 Session �: Soils, the environment and health(Lecture Theatre)
Chair: Dr Peadar McArdle, Director, Geological Survey of Ireland
Soilsandtheirenvironmentalsignificance
Dr Crawford Jordan & Dr Barry Rawlins
Soilgeochemistryandimpactsonhumanhealth
Dr Andrew Tye
TheinfluenceofgeochemistryonanimalhealthinNorthernIreland
Helen Broadwith
ThegeochemistryofsoilsinGreaterBelfast
Dr Rory Doherty
�530–�600 Coffeeandtea(Level4)
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Schedule 3
Wednesday �7th October �007
�600–�645 Break-out workshops
1.MineralsinNorthernIreland:implicationsoftheTellusresults
2.Soilsandwaters:impactsonhumanandanimalhealth
�645–�7�5 Discussion
�7�5–�830 Posterviewing(Level4)
The Tellus Conference Reception and Dinner
�830–�930 Reception and viewing of GSNI/QPA exhibit (Level �)
Duringthereceptionyouareinvitedtovisitthenewlyinaugurateddisplay,onLevel2,
aboutthequarryindustryanditsimportancetotheNorthernIrelandeconomy.This
displayhasbeenorganisedjointlybyGSNIandtheQuarryProductsAssociation
NorthernIreland.
�930–��00 Conference Dinner (Level � atrium)
TheguestofhonourwillbeProfessorSirKeithO’NionsFRS,DirectorGeneral,
ScienceandInnovationintheDepartmentforInnovation,UniversitiesandSkills.Sir
KeithwaspreviouslyChiefScientificAdviseratMODfromJanuary2000toJuly2004
andDirectorGeneral,ScienceandInnovationandChiefScientificAdviserinDTIfrom
2004onwards.
HeattendedtheUniversityofNottingham,gainedaPhDinEarthSciencesfromthe
UniversityofAlbertaandbecameaPostdoctoralFellowattheUniversityofOslo.
From1971to1975hewasDemonstratorandthenLecturerinGeochemistryat
theUniversityofOxford.HebecameProfessorofGeologyatColumbiaUniversityin
1975,RoyalSocietyResearchProfessoratCambridgefrom1979andHeadofEarth
SciencesatOxfordin1999.
KeithO’Nionshasenjoyedextensiveparticipationinabroadrangeofacademic
andtechnologicalcommittees.HebecameaFellowoftheAmericanGeophysical
Unionin1979,andaMemberoftheNorwegianAcademyofScienceandLettersin
1980.HeisaFellowoftheRoyalSociety(1983),HonoraryFellowofIndianAcademy
ofSciences(1998),FellowIndianNationalScienceAcademy(2001),HonoraryFellow
RoyalAcademyofEngineering(2005).HehasreceivedHonorarydoctoratesfroma
numberofUniversities.
Hehasbeenthechairman,oramember,ofanumberofResearchCouncil
committeesoverthelast25yearsandamemberoftheCouncilofScienceand
Technologyfrom1998–2000.HewasTrusteeandChairmanoftheNaturalHistory
Museumfrom1996to2005.HereceivedaKnighthoodforservicestoEarthSciences
inthe1999Queen’sBirthdayHonours.
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4 Schedule
Thursday �8th October �007
08�5–0900 Coffeeandtea(Level4)
0900–�040 Session 3: Monitoring man-made influences (Lecture Theatre)
Chair: Dr Andrew McCormick, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health, Social
Services and Public Safety
Surfaceandgroundwaterquality—meetingnewstandards
Dr Silke Hartmann
Humanimpactsongroundandsurfacewaters
Dr Ulrich Ofterdinger
PilotenvironmentalairbornegeophysicalsurveysinIreland
Dr Eibhlín Doyle
Newmappingofnaturalandman-maderadioactivity
Cathy Scheib
Site-investigationandlandfillcharacterisationbyairbornegeophysics
Dr David Beamish
�040–���0 Coffeeandtea(Level4)
���0–��30 Session 4: Natural resources and sustainable development(Lecture Theatre)
Chair: Dr Denis Peach, Chief Scientist, British Geological Survey
Quarrying—amajorruralindustryinNorthernIreland
Andrew Bloodworth
Assessingouruntappedenergyresources
EurGeol Derek Reay
ThescopeforcarboncaptureandstorageinNorthernIreland
Michelle Bentham
InformationdeliveryandlicensingofGSNIandTellusdata
Mark Patton
��30–�345 Lunch(Level4)
�345–�430 Break-out workshops
3.Energyandgeology:newperspectivesforNorthernIreland
4.Geosciencemappingofurbanareasandcontaminatedsites
�430–�530 Discussionandclose
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5
THENATURALENvIRONMENTRESEARCHCOUNCILANDNATURALRESOURCES
PROFJOHNLUDDEN,ExECUTIvEDIRECTORBRITISHGEOLOGICALSURvEy
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
JohnLuddenwasappointedExecutiveDirectorofBGSin2006.HegraduatedinEnvironmental
SciencesattheUniversityofLancasterandearnedadoctorateinIgneousPetrologyfromtheUniversity
ofManchester.In1976hemovedtotheUSAandCanadawhereheworkedattheLamontDoherty
EarthInstituteofColumbiaUniversityandwithWoodsHoleOceanographicInstitutionintheUSAand
wasProfessorofGeochemistryattheUniversitédeMontréalinCanada.HemovedtoFrancein1994
andservedasdirectoroftheCNRS-CRPGCentredeRecherchePétrographiquesetPetrographiques
andtheinFédérationdeRecherche«Eau-Sol-Terre»inNancy,France,wherehealsotaughtEarlyEarth
ProcessesattheFrenchNationalSchoolofGeology(ENSG-Nancy).
Hisfieldsofresearchincludecrustalevolution,maficmagmatismthroughtime,andearlyEarth
processes.HehasbeentheleadparticipantintheOceanDrillingProgrammeprojectsandwasthe
leaderofthePrecambriangeologypartoftheCanadianLithoprobeprojectwhichassociatedthe
NationalEnvironmentResearchCouncil,theGeologicalSurveyofCanadaandindustry.Heisauthor
ofabout150publishedarticlesinfieldsrangingfromgeochemicalmodelsofEarth’sevolutionto
high-resolutiongeophysicsappliedtominingregions.JohniscurrentlyPresidentoftheEuropean
GeosciencesUnionandtheInternationalassociationofGeochemistry(IAGC).
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6 Keynote
KEyNOTEEARTH-THEPOWEROFTHEPLANET
DRIAINSTEWART
SchoolofEarth,OceanandEnvironmentalSciences,UniversityofPlymouth,Plymouth,PL48AA
IainStewartiswellknownasthepresenterofthepopularandsuccessfulBBCTvseries‘Journeysfrom
theCentreoftheEarth’and‘JourneysintotheRingofFire’.Hisnextseries,‘Earth:theBiography’willbe
screenedinNovember.
IainisSeniorLecturerinGeodynamics,SchoolofEarth,OceanandEnvironmentalSciencesinthe
DepartmentofGeologyattheUniversityofPlymouth.HegraduatedinGeologyandGeographyfrom
StrathclydeUniversityinGlasgowandreceivedhisPhDfromBristolUniversityforresearchonthe
geologyofearthquakesinGreeceandTurkey.AfterfinishinghisPhDin1990,Iainlecturedingeologyat
BrunelUniversityandin2002wasappointedHonoraryResearchFellowatGlasgowUniversity.
HismainresearchinterestsareinthebroadareaofEarthhazardsandnaturaldisasters,
particularlyintermsofidentifyingpastmajorearthquakes,tsunamisandvolcaniceruptionsinthe
Mediterraneanregion.
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Session One. The Tellus surveys and results 7
ANATIONALGEOSCIENCEFRAMEWORKFORTHE21STCENTURy
Dr Mick Lee
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
The Tellus Project will underpin sustainable management of the environment, responsible economic
development and research into natural and human-induced processes in the shallow geosphere for the
next fifty years, and will place Northern Ireland at the forefront of integrated environmental science.
Provisionofanational‘framework’ofbaselinegeoscientificdataisoneoftheprimeresponsibilities
ofaGeologicalSurveyorganisation.Untilrecentlythiswasoftenlimitedtogeologicalmaps,low/
mediumresolutiongeophysicalsurveysandvariablegeochemicalcoverage.Digitalgeologicaldata
werealmostnon-existentandthegeophysical/geochemicalsurveyswereaimedatunderstandingthe
geologicalstructureandresourcepotentialataregionalratherthanlocalscale.Thislevelofinformation
wasdesignedtomeettheneedsofthemid/late20thcenturybutisnolongeradequatefortoday’s
challengesinrelationtoenvironmentalregulationsandissuessuchasaquifervulnerability,sustainable
landusemanagement,responsibleresourcedevelopmentandclimatechange.Usersacrossthe
spectrumofgovernment,environmentalagenciesandindustryneedaconsistent(three-dimensional)
geologicalframeworkandmuchmoredetailedinformationonthegeo-environmentalpropertiesof
thesurfaceandshallowsubsurface.Thisisamajorchallengerequiring:migrationfromanalogue/2D
todigital/3Dgeology;comprehensivecoverageofmulti-elementgeochemicaldata(soils,stream
sedimentsandstreamwaters);andanewgenerationofhigh-resolutionairbornegeophysicalsurveys
(magnetic,radiometricandelectro-magnetic).Themigrationtodigital/3Dgeologyisbeginningtogather
pacebutprovisionofcomprehensivegeochemicaldataandmodernairbornegeophysicalsurveysis
verypatchyinmanycountries.NorthernIrelandisanotableexception—DETI’svisioninfundingthe
Tellusgeochemicalandairbornegeophysicalsurveyshasprovidedtwokeycomponentsofthe‘next
generation’geoscienceframework.Thiswillunderpinsustainablemanagementoftheenvironment,
responsibleeconomicdevelopmentandresearchintonaturalandhuman-inducedprocessesinthe
shallowgeosphereforthenextfiftyyears,andwillplaceNorthernIrelandattheforefrontofintegrated
environmentalscience.
MickLeeisDirectorofGeologyandResourcesandamemberoftheBGSBoardandExecutive
Committee(since2000).HejoinedBGSasageophysicistin1972andhasworkedintheUKand
overseasonadiverserangeofprojectsincludingregionalgeophysicalsurveys,crustalmodelling,
geothermalexploration,nuclearwastedisposalandstructuralstudiesforhydrocarbonsexploration.Prior
tohiscurrentappointmenthewasmanageroftheBGSRegionalGeophysicsGroup(1991–2000).As
DirectorofGeologyandResources,DrLeeisresponsibleforsixmulti-disciplinarysurveyandresearch
programmestodefinethesurfaceandsub-surfacegeologyandgeo-environmentalcharacteristics
oftheUK(onshoreandoffshore)andprovideinformationtounderpinsustainabledevelopmentofthe
nation’smineralandhydrocarbonresources.TheworkprogrammealsoextendsintoEuropeandworld-
widethroughcollaborativeinternationalresearchprojectsandcommissionedcontracts.
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8 Session One. The Tellus surveys and results
THETELLUSAIRBORNEGEOPHySICALSURvEyANDRESULTS
Mike Young
GeologicalSurveyofNorthernIreland,ColbyHouse,StranmillisCourt,Belfast,BT95BF
The Tellus airborne survey has generated high resolution imagery of the surface and subsurface that
will promote the exploration and development of mineral resources and provide key data for monitoring
the environment.
Thesurvey,flownin2005/6,wasthefirstregionalgeophysicalsurveyofNorthernIrelandsince1959and
wasflownbytheJointAirborne-geoscienceCapability(JAC),apartnershipofBGSandtheGeological
SurveyofFinland(GTK).Thesurveywasflown56mabovethegroundoverruralareasand244mover
villagesandurbanareas.Surveylineswerespaced200mapart.Thankstothiscloselyspacedsampling,
andtothegreatimprovementininstrumentalsensitivitysincetheprevioussurvey,veryhighresolution
imagesofthemagneticfield,electricalconductivityandterrestrialgammaradiationhavebeenproduced.
Thesethreemethodsaidgeologicalmappingbyprovidecomplementaryinformationondifferent
rockandsoiltypesandprovidenewinsightsintoNorthernIreland’sgeology,particularlywherebedrock
isobscuredbyglacialcoverandpeat.Delineationoffaults,dykesandthemajorvolcaniccomplexes
hasbeengreatlyimproved.ProminentmagneticanomaliesincludethoseoftheAntrimLavaGroup,
theswarmsofPalaeogenedykes,andthePalaeogeneintrusionsofsouthCo.Down.Theelectrical
conductivityimagereflectspetrologicaldifferencesbetweentheprincipalgeologicalformations,areas
ofincreasedsalinity,expressionsofmajorfaultzones,certainindustrialeffectsandsignaturesof
landfills.Theseelectricaldatacontributesignificantlytocharacterisingthenaturalandanthropogenic
propertiesofthenear-surface.variationsingamma-rayemissionscharacterisenear-surfacerocksand
soils.Prominentgamma-rayanomaliesincludethoseoftheintrusiverocksoftheMourneMountain
ComplexandpartsoftheancientmetamorphicrocksinCountiesTyroneandLondonderry.Thesedata
areimprovingthepredictionofradonriskandprovideabaselinerepresentationofcurrentterrestrial
radiationlevels.
MikeyounghasbeenmanageroftheTellusProjectatGSNIsince2004.Hegraduatedinphysicsfrom
BristolUniversityandingeophysicsfromImperialCollege.Inthe70sheworkedonmineralexploration
programmesinNorthandCentralAmerica,southernAfricaandIran,beforestartingthegeophysics
departmentoftheconsultingcompanyRobertResearchInternationalin1979.Overthenext12years
Mikepromotedanddirectedairborneandgroundgeophysicalexplorationandmappingprojectsin20
countries.From1991to2003hemanageddevelopmentprojectsinthewatersectorintheSultanateof
OmanandinSouthAmerica.Hisspecialinterestistheuseofgeophysicsinmineralandgroundwater
explorationanddevelopment,particularlyinaridenvironments.
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Session One. The Tellus surveys and results 9
THETELLUSGEOCHEMICALPROGRAMME—SURvEyANDRESULTS
Dr DerMot SMYth
GeologicalSurveyofNorthernIreland,ColbyHouse,StranmillisCourt,Belfast,BT95BF
Following the Tellus surveys, Northern Ireland is more comprehensively surveyed with geochemical
methods than any region of Europe. The surveys have revealed important anomalies associated with
precious metal mineralisation and defined areas with depleted or elevated levels of key trace elements.
TheTellusProjectconductedthreegeochemicalsurveysoverthelandsurfaceofNorthernIreland
between2004and2006:
Ruralsoils:sampledat20and50cmdepthsonaregulargridatonesiteper2km2.
Urbansoils:sampledat20and50cmdepthsonaregulargridatfoursitesperkm2.
Streamssedimentsandwaters:sampledfrom1stand2ndorderstreamsatanaverageofonesite
per2km2.
Some31,000soilandstreamsampleswerecollectedfrom12,900sites,includingthosesampled
in1994–1996byBGS.Sampleswereanalysedfor60elementsandinorganiccompounds.25%ofthe
urbansampleswereanalysedforarangeofsemi-volatileorganiccarbons.
Resultsofenvironmentalinterestincludemapsofthedistributionofnickel,chromiumandother
metalsinsoils.ThemapsshownaturallyelevatedconcentrationsoftheseelementsovertheAntrimLava
Group.Thedistributionofessentialtraceelementssuchaszincandseleniumidentifiesareaswheresoils
arerelativelydepletedforagriculturalpurposes.Elevatedanthropogeniclevelsofsomeelements,notably
tinandleadareassociatedwithurbancentres.
Prominentanomaliesofpreciousandbasemetalswererecorded,notonlythoseassociatedwith
theknownareasofmesothermalquartzveingoldinCo.TyroneandCo.Armagh,butelsewherein
Co.DownandCo.Antrim.Elevatedvaluesforplatinumgroupelementswererecorded,notablyin
streamsedimentsandsoilsovertheAntrimLavaGroup.Elevatedconcentrationsofbasemetalsalso
occurinsoilsandstreamsontheAntrimLavaGroup.Highnickelvaluesarealsoassociatedwithdykes
inCo.FermanaghandamajordykeswarminCo.Down.
DermotSmythhasaB.Sc.(Hons)degreeinGeologyfromQueen’sUniversity,Belfast,aMScin
PetroleumGeologyfromUniversityCollegeDublinandaPhDinexplorationandenvironmental
geochemistry,alsofromQueen’s.PriortojoiningGSNIin2004hewasemployedbyBHP-Billitonin
prospectingforplatinumgroupelements,andasaconsultanttolocalgovernmentandtheinsurance
industryinNorthernIreland.Hisresearchinterestsincludeexplorationandenvironmentalgeochemistry
andcontaminatedlandinvestigationusinggeochemistryandbiogeochemistry;orthomagmaticPGE-Cu-
Nideposits;andlodegoldmineralization.
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�0 Session One. The Tellus surveys and results
SUSTAINABLEMANAGEMENTOFOURNATURALRESOURCES
eurgeoL garth earLS
GeologicalSurveyofNorthernIreland,ColbyHouse,StranmillisCourt,Belfast,BT95BF
Mineral extraction is essential to maintain living standards. Exploration and sustainable development of
resources, and associated environmental monitoring, require modern, multi-parameter geoscience data.
Tellus provides this baseline data for Northern Ireland.
Thecommonperceptionisthatextractiveindustriesrepresentachallengetotheenvironmentbothas
sourcesofpollutionandaseyesoresonthelandscape.Theparadoxisthatveryfewpeoplewanttolive
nexttoamineorquarryyettheyacceptmanyofthelifebenefitsthatextractiveindustryprovides.
Predictionsofworldpopulationgrowthsuggesta50%increasetoninebillionby2050.Ifdemand
fromdevelopingcountriescontinuestoincreasethenoneforecastsuggeststhat,inthenext50years,
weneedtoextractfivetimestheamountofmetalthathasbeenminedtodate.Recyclinghasapartto
playbutitcannotmeetrisingdemand.Consequentlywehavenooptionbuttocontinuemining.
Giventhisscenarioweneedtorethinkourattitudetotheextractiveindustries.Minesandquarries
arenowplannedwithclosureinmindandessentiallyrepresenttransitionallanduses.Longer-termviews
needtobetakenregardingournaturalresourceindustries—whatpresentlymayberegardedasscar
onthelandscapein50yearscouldrepresentasiteofamenityvaluetoourchildren.
Theconceptofsustainabledevelopmentofmineralsgoespasttheparadoxoffiniteresourcesand
leavessocialandindustrialskillsthatcanbedevelopedinbothnewandtraditionalmarkets.
TheTellusdataprovidespartofanenvironmentalbaselineagainstwhichtomeasurechange,while
allowingtheopportunityfornewresourcestobedefined.Itisonlythroughknowingwhatmightbeunder
ourfeetthatwecanplansustainablyandresponsiblyforthefuture.
BeforebecomingDirectorofGSNIin2002,Garthworkedintheexplorationandminingindustryfor
23years.HewaspartoftheteamthatdiscoveredgoldinNorthernIrelandinthe1980sandhasalso
workedintheCononishgoldmineinScotland.HethenbecameapartnerintheCSAGroup,oneof
Europe’sleadinggeologicalconsultancies,whereheworkedonaglobalbasisforcompaniessearching
forgoldandbasemetals.HehastaughtProfessionalPracticeingeologycoursestouniversitiesandin
recentyearshehasdevelopedprojectsrelatingtolandscapetourismandthepublicunderstandingof
science.GarthistheChairoftheGeosciencesCommitteeoftheRoyalIrishAcademy.
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Session Two. Soils, the environment and health ��
SOILSANDTHEIRENvIRONMENTALSIGNIFICANCE
Dr crawforD JorDan1 anD Dr BarrY rawLinS2
1.Agri-FoodandBiosciencesInstitute,18aNewforgeLane,Belfast,BT95Px
2.BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,NottinghamNG125GG
Northern Ireland’s soils vary widely in composition. Tellus data help to define these variations and identify
zones deficient or replete in nutrients. Tellus surveys have mapped soil organic carbon, thus contributing
to a statutory requirement to audit variations in soil carbon.
ThispresentationwilldescribethedistributionofsoiltypesinNorthernIreland,theirphysical(including
hydrological)andchemicalcharacteristicsandtheirenvironmentalsignificance.Inparticular,changesin
soilpH,phosphorus(P)andorganiccarbon(SOC)overthe10-yearperiod1995–2005willbediscussed.
Therehavebeentworecent,comprehensivesurveysofsoilsinNorthernIrelandwhichfulfildifferent
objectives.ThefirstfullsurveyofNorthernIrelandsoilswascarriedoutbystafffromtheDepartment
ofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(DARD)overtheperiod1988–1997.Duringthissurvey,soilswere
systematicallysampled,described,analysedandclassifiedintosoilseries,afterwhichsoilmapsat
1:50,000scalewerecreatedinbothpaperanddigitalformats.Thesurveyidentified308distinctively
differentsoilseriesdevelopedfrom97soilparentmaterials.
ThelaterTellussurveyfocusedongeochemicalproperties,butalsoincludedthemeasurement
ofSOC.Regionalgovernmentshaveastatutoryrequirementtoestimateaccuratelythesizeandany
changeinSOCstocks.BycombiningtheTellussoilsurveydatawiththosefromtheairborneradiometric
surveytheuncertaintyintheestimationofSOCcontentcanbesignificantlyreduced.Quantitative
relationshipswillbedemonstratedbetween:i)themajorandsometraceelementgeochemical
parameters,andii)theradiometricsurveyelements(K,ThandU)andparentmaterialsacrosstheregion.
CrawfordJordanhasbeenaProjectLeaderinDARD’sScienceServicesince1981and,subsequently,
intheAgri-FoodandBiosciencesInstitute(AFBI),anon-departmentalgovernmentbodysponsoredby
DARD.HisresearchinterestsrevolvearoundtheimpactofagricultureontheenvironmentandhowGIS
techniquescanbeusedtoaidthequantificationandmappingofnutrientlossesfromlandtowaterand
toidentifyareasatriskfrompollutionincludingheavymetals,nitrateandphosphorus.Heisresponsible
forallAFBIsoilmonitoringactivitiesandhisteamhavecarriedoutanumberofcountrywidesoilsurveys
inrecentyears,thelatestinJanuary–March2005.
BarryRawlinsmanagesthesoilpropertiesandprocessesprojectatBGS.Hisresearchinterests
include:thefactorswhichcontrolthedistributionofpotentiallyharmfulelementsinthesoilandwider
environment;theuseofairborneradiometricsurveydatatomapsoilproperties;theprocesseswhich
influencethepropertiesandfateofblackcarbonorchar–apotentiallong-termsinkforsoilcarbon;the
useoflargesoilarchives;anddatabasesinforensicinvestigationsandforensicgeology.
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�� Session Two. Soils, the environment and health
SOILGEOCHEMISTRyANDIMPACTSONHUMANHEALTH
Dr anDrew tYe
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
Some soils related to certain parent materials or those that have been contaminated through
anthropogenic activity, have properties that could be detrimental to human health. The Tellus project has
demonstrated the importance of high resolution baseline soil geochemistry maps in recognising where
potential impacts on human health may occur.
Thepresentationwillbrieflyreviewthemajorhumanhealthimpactsassociatedwithsoilgeochemistry.
Soils,viafood,providehumanswithmuchoftheiressentialmineralnutrition.However,somesoils
relatedtocertainparentmaterialsorthosethathavebeencontaminatedthroughanthropogenicactivity,
havepropertiesthatcouldbedetrimentaltohumanhealth.Exposuretothesepropertiesoveralifetime
couldbecontributoryinthenumberandtypesofillnessesfoundinthegeneralpopulationasaverage
lifeexpectancyincreases.Itcouldalsobeafactorintheincreasingnumberofallergysufferers.Hence
moreresearchisneededintothepossiblecontributionthatsoilpropertiesmayhaveonhumanhealth.
Themajorpathwaysfromthesoiltothehumanreceptorinclude(a)particleingestion,(b)soilgasesand
radioactivityand(c)soilchemistryincludingtheuptakeofelementsbyplantsandthefilteringofwater.
ExamplesfromboththeG-BASEgeochemicalsurveyofmainlandUKandtheTellusprojectwillbeused
todemonstratetheimportanceofhighresolutionbaselinesoilgeochemistrymapsinrecognisingwhere
potentialimpactsonhumanhealthmayoccur.Inaddition,PhysiologicallyBasedExtractiontechniques
(PBET)willbeexaminedtoassesstheirsuitabilityinexaminingthebio-accessibilityofelementssuchas
NithatareenrichedinsoilsderivedfrombasaltrocksinNorthernIreland.
AndrewTyewasawardedhisPhDinsoilfertilityandplantnutritionattheUniversityofWolverhampton
in1996.HewasaPostDoctoralResearchFellowattheUniversityofNottinghamfrom1997to2003.
Thefirst4yearswerespentdevelopingisotopicdilutiontechniquesforevaluatingthelabilepoolof
metalsincontaminatedsoils,developingempiricalmodelsoffreeionactivityofheavymetalsinsoilpore
watersandtheirsubsequentup-takebyplants.LaterheworkedonSpitsbergenusingstableisotope
techniquestoexaminenitrogenbiogeochemistryontundraecosystems.AndrewmovedtoBGSin
December2003.Hiscurrentresearchinterestsincludeweatheringstudiesandsoil/regolithformation,
theuseof3Dmodelsofthenearsurfaceenvironmentinprocessorientatedresearchaswellasthe
mobilityofheavymetalsincontaminatedpeatsoilsinperi-urbanenvironments.
TellusAbstract.indd 12 8/10/07 08:20:39
Session Two. Soils, the environment and health �3
THEINFLUENCEOFGEOCHEMISTRyONANIMALHEALTHINNORTHERNIRELAND
heLen BroaDwith
Agri-FoodandBiosciencesInstitute,veterinaryServicesDivision,StoneyRoad,Stormont,
Belfast,BT43SD
The Tellus geochemistry maps provide a valuable database for farmers, animal nutritionists and
veterinary practitioners on potential mineral deficiencies or toxicities in soils.
Traceelementsandmineralsplayanimportantpartinanimalhealthandnutritionincludingfunctioning
ascomponentsofenzymesorco-factorsinbiochemicalreactions.Poorhealth,clinicaldiseaseordeath
mayoccurifmineralsandtraceelementsarepresentineitherinsufficientorexcessamountsinthediet.
Traceelementsandmineralsmayalsointeractwitheachotherincomplexbiochemicalreactions.For
example,highlevelsofmolybdenuminthedietcanresultininsufficientcopperbeingavailabletoan
animal,whichmaythenshowsignsofcopperdeficiency.
Thelevelofmineralsandtraceelementsinthesoilwilldeterminethelevelspresentinthepasture
orcropsgrowninthatarea.MostcattleandsheepinNorthernIrelandarefarmedonpastureand
grassformsthebasisoftheirdiet.Withoutsupplementationtheleveloftraceelementsintheanimalis
determinedbytheamountofgrasstheyingest.
ThemapsproducedbytheTellusprojectprovideavaluableresourcewhichdeterminesthetotal
amountofmineralpresentinthesoil.Interpretationofthesemaps,inconjunctionwithlocalknowledge
ofmineraldeficienciesandtoxicitiesinaparticulararea,mayprovideavaluabledatabaseforfarmers,
animalnutritionistsandveterinarypractitioners.Animportantdevelopmentwouldbetoassess
bioavailabilityofcertaincompoundsaswellastotallevelsinthesoil.
HelenBroadwithgraduatedasaveterinarysurgeonfromtheUniversityofGlasgow.Sheworkedin
LancashireasamixedpracticevetbeforemovingtoNorthernIreland.In2004shetookupapostas
aveterinaryResearchOfficerintheDiseaseSurveillanceandInvestigationBranchoftheveterinary
SciencesDivision,Agri-FoodandBiosciencesInstitute.InthisroleHelenprovidesaclinicalpathology
servicetopractisingveterinarysurgeonsinNorthernIrelandaswellasprovidinginformationanddatafor
diseasesurveillancewhichisusedbyDARD.
TellusAbstract.indd 13 8/10/07 08:20:39
�4 Session Two. Soils, the environment and health
THEGEOCHEMISTRyOFSOILSINGREATERBELFAST
Dr rorY DohertY
Queen’sUniversityBelfast,EnvironmentalEngineeringResearchCentre,SchoolofPlanning,
Architecture&CivilEngineering,DavidKeirBuilding,StranmillisRoad,Belfast,BT95AG
The Tellus project has produced the first Belfast-wide survey of inorganic and organic chemical
constituents in the soil. High levels of nickel and chromium in soils arise from naturally high levels in local
rocks but Belfast suffers less from pollution of other heavy metals than other industrial cities of the UK.
Sporadic elevated levels of certain organic contaminants in soils are ascribed to combustion of domestic
and vehicle fuel.
TheTellusProjectmadetwobaselinesoilsamplingsurveysacrosstheGreaterBelfastarea.Sampling
densitiesandcoveragearegreaterthanotherrecentsoilsurveysinUKcities.Inorganic(metals)
andorganic(hydrocarbon)samplingstrategiesgiveaninsightintotheeffectofgeologicalfeatures
andhumanactivitiesonsoilquality.TheorganicsamplingstrategyanalysedforPersistentOrganic
Pollutants(POPs)thatincludePolyaromaticHydrocarbons(PAHs),PolychlorinatedBiphenyls(PCBs)
PhenolsandPhthalates.PreliminaryanalysisofPAHdatainBelfastsoilsindicatesthatthedistribution
hasnotbeenfrompointsources(suchasanindividualindustrydirectlypollutingthesoil).Theuseof
environmentalforensictechniqueswhichcompareratiosofindividualPAHswouldsuggestthatthey
originatefromcombustionsources(domesticfuels).TheTellusgeochemicalbaselineprovidesavehicle
forthefulfilmentofEUSoilThematicStrategy,placingNorthernIrelandintheforefrontofurbansoils
managementinEurope.
RoryDohertyjoinedtheSchoolofPlanningArchitectureandCivilEngineeringatQUBasalecturer
inEnvironmentalEngineeringin2005.Hisintroductiontocontaminatedlandwasasanengineeron
bioremediationprojectsusinghisMScinBiogeochemistryfromUniversityofNewcastleuponTyne.
HecompletedhisPhDin2002modellinggroundwatercontaminationatagasworkssite.Hewas
alsotechnicalmanagerforacontaminatedlandremediationcompanyandduringthistimewasan
industrialboardmemberoftheQUESTORCentreatQUB.Roryalsoworkedasaresearchfellowat
theEnvironmentalEngineeringResearchCentreontheawardwinningSEREBARandPortadownPRB
groundwaterremediationprojects.
TellusAbstract.indd 14 8/10/07 08:20:39
Session Three. Monitoring man-made influences �5
SURFACEANDGROUNDWATERQUALITy—MEETINGNEWSTANDARDS
Dr SiLke hartMann
GeologicalSurveyofNorthernIreland,ColbyHouse,StranmillisCourt,Belfast,BT95BF
Tellus data will contribute to Northern Ireland’s compliance with new EU directives on the management of
water resources and to our understanding of the links between surface water and groundwater.
TheECWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD)andGroundwater‘daughter’Directivedemandafundamental
reappraisalofhowweassess,manageandprotectthewaterenvironment.Akeyobjectiveisto
encourageaholisticapproach,whichrecognisesthecontinuumbetweengroundwater,surfacewaters
anddependentecosystems.
Amoresystematicapproachisnowbeingtakeninconsideringthepressure-pathway-receptor
concept,whichrequiresbetterdefinitionoftheeffectsofsuperficialandbedrockgeologyon
themovementofwaterandpollutants.GeophysicaldatacollectedbyTellusallowsanimproved
understandingofthepathwaybetweensurfaceland-useandgroundwaterwithinunderlyingaquifers.
Tellusresultsandimageryimprovethemappinganddefinitionofgeologicalfeaturessuchasfaultsand
dykeintrusionsthatinfluencegroundwaterflowpatterns.
TheintentoftheWFDisthatallwaterbodiesshouldattain‘goodstatus’by2015.Indefininggood
statusinaconsistentmanner,newwaterquality‘standards’ortargetsarebeingadoptedandexisting
standardsreviewed.Inconsideringwhatstandardsshouldbeset,wheremonitoringofwatersshould
takeplaceandhowdatashouldbeinterpreted,anunderstandingofthenaturalbaselinechemistryis
required.Tellusstreamwaterdatahelpdefinethenaturalbackgroundchemistryandassistinidentifying
suitablelocationsformonitoring.
SilkeHartmanntookacombinedPrimary-Masters-DegreeingeophysicsatLeipzigUniversityin
Germany.Shecarriedoutherfinal12-monthprojectinNamibiawiththeDepartmentofWaterAffairs.
SilkeholdsaPhDinhydrogeologyfromtheUniversityofLeeds,whereshestudiedgroundwaterflow
andtransportprocessesoftheconfinedchalkaquiferinEastyorkshire.SincejoiningGSNIin2005Silke
hasworkedonvariousprojectsfortheEnvironmentandHeritageService,includingtheestablishment
oftheWaterFrameworkDirectivegroundwatermonitoringnetworkforNorthernIreland.Sherecently
completedapilot1:50,000groundwatervulnerabilitymapandisalsoinvolvedintheassessmentof
contaminatedlandandtheeffectsoflandfills.
TellusAbstract.indd 15 8/10/07 08:20:40
�6 Session Three. Monitoring man-made influences
HUMANIMPACTSONGROUNDANDSURFACEWATERS
Dr uLrich ofterDinger
Queen’sUniversityBelfast,EnvironmentalEngineeringResearchCentre,SchoolofPlanning,
Architecture&CivilEngineering,DavidKeirBuilding,StranmillisRoad,Belfast,BT95AG
Tellus data provide a valuable resource in the assessment of the impacts of different types of land-use
and help define the extent of diffuse and point-source contaminants on the ground surface which
may contaminate groundwater. Tellus data also yield additional data for the assessment of wetland
characteristics, such as thickness of peat cover.
Theassessmentofanthropogenicimpactsontheenvironmentissubjecttoaseriesofcurrentand
forthcomingEUframeworkdirectivesconcerningthemanagementandprotectionofwaters,soils,
wastesandecology.Theserequireacomprehensiveassessmentofqualitativeandquantitativeimpacts
ontheenvironmentandtheimplementationofscientificallybasedmanagementprogrammesinorderto
preserveenvironmentalqualitystatus.
ThecomplementarydatasetscollectedwithintheTellusProgrammeprovideavaluableresourcein
theassessmentoftheimpactsofdifferenttypesoflanduseongroundwaterandsurfacewatersandwill
helptargetresearchactivities.Airbornegeophysicaldataaswellassoilgeochemistrymaybeemployed
toassessthenatureofpotentialdiffuseandpointsourceimpactsontheenvironment.Pedologicaldata
collectedduringtheTellusProjectprovidesadatabaseofbackgroundcompoundconcentrationsin
soilonwhichtheimprintofanthropogenicimpactsmaybeidentified.Withregardtotheassessment
ofrelevantreceptors,Tellusdatamayfurthermoreyieldadditionaldatafortheassessmentofwetland
characteristics,suchasthicknessofpeatcover.
ThecomprehensivedatasetsprovidedthroughtheTellusProgrammewillformanintegralpartin
assessingthegoverningprocessesforenvironmentalimpactinNorthernIrelandandasuccessful
templateforanall-islandapproachasenvisagedoriginallyintheRESIInitiative,supplementing
establishedandforthcomingmonitoringprogrammes.
UlrichOfterdingerjoinedtheEnvironmentalEngineeringGroupatQueen’sUniversityBelfastas
Lecturerin2005.Previously,asSeniorHydrogeologist,UlrichworkedwithURSIrelandLtd.,Dublin
onaseriesofenvironmentalprojectsforaninternationalclientbase.PriortoworkingwithURS,Ulrich
workedongroundwaterhydraulicsinfracturedbedrock,numericalmodellingandcontaminatedland
remedialtechnologiesduringhisresearchatETH,SwitzerlandandatQueen’sUniversity.Aqualified
Hydrogeologist(Dr.sci.nat)withafirstdegreeinGeology,hismainareasofexpertiseincludecatchment
hydrogeology,isotopehydrology,quantitativeriskassessment,remedialdesignandsupervision,
hydraulictestingandnumericalmodelling.Hehasparticularinterestinenvironmentalliabilitylegislation
andhisexperiencealsoincludesGIS,geophysicalinvestigationsandsiteinvestigationoforganicand
inorganiccontaminationatavarietyofindustrialsites.
TellusAbstract.indd 16 8/10/07 08:20:40
Session Three. Monitoring man-made influences �7
PILOTENvIRONMENTALAIRBORNEGEOPHySICALSURvEySINIRELAND
Dr eiBhLín DoYLe
GeologicalSurveyofIrelandBeggarsBush,HaddingtonRoad,Dublin4
The Geological Survey of Ireland made three successful pilot airborne geophysical surveys in 2006 to
test the application of this method as a tool for environmental management. GSI hopes to extend these
surveys over the whole of the Republic of Ireland.
InJune2006,theGeologicalSurveyofIreland(GSI)commissionedpilothighresolutionairborne
geophysicalsurveysoverthreeselectedareasinIreland:
PartofCavan-Monaghan-Leitrim,
Castleislandarea,
Silverminesarea.
Thethreeareasposeddifferentchallengesandthedifferentcomplementarygeophysicalsystems
onboardassistedinimprovingourunderstandingoftheissuesineachofthethreeareas.Thehigh
resolutiondatarevealnumerousfeaturesofinterestanddemonstratethediverseusefulnessofsucha
datasetforIreland.
DetailedstructuralgeologicalinformationprovidedbythesurveyinCavan-Monaghan-Leitrim
supportsexistingworkbyGSIonagroundwaterprotectionscheme.Thissurveyextendedthecoverage
oftheTellusairbornesurveyintotheRepublicofIreland.TheCastleislandareahasrecordedelevated
radonlevelsinbuildingsandwassurveyedtoprovidemoredetailonthebedrockgeologyandtoidentify
geologicalunitsandorstructuresthatmayhavepotentialforradon.Analysisofthedataisbeingcarried
outinconjunctionwiththeRadiologicalProtectionInstituteofIreland.TheSilverminesareaisaformer
basemetalminingareaandwassurveyedtosupportongoingrehabilitationprogrammes.
TheGSIcontractedtheJointAirborne-geoscienceCapability(JAC)tomakethesurvey,with
theaircraftandsystemsusedbytheTellussurveyandwithsimilarspecifications.Theworkwas
accompaniedbyasubstantialpublicrelationscampaignmanagedbyAurumExplorationLtd.
EibhlínhasaBScingeologyfromUCD,anMScingeologyfromAcadiaUniversityinCanadaanda
PhDingeologyalsofromUCD.Eibhlínhasworkedinthemineralsindustryinbothexplorationand
development.ShewasthegeologistresponsibleforthediscoveryoftheGalmoyorebodywhileat
ConroyPetroleumandNaturalResourcesin1986.ShebecameexplorationmanagerforBHPinIreland
in1995.EibhlínjoinedtheGeologicalSurveyofIrelandin1999wheresheworkedintheMinerals
ProgrammeonIndustrialMineralsProjects.ShewasinvolvedinthesuccessfulIrishNationalSeabed
Survey.In2006shewaspromotedtoPrincipalGeologistfortheMarineGeologyandGeophysics
ProgrammeandlaterassumedresponsibilityfortheMineralsandGroundwaterProgrammesaswellas
becomingmanagerforairbornesurveys.
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TellusAbstract.indd 17 8/10/07 08:20:40
�8 Session Three. Monitoring man-made influences
NEWMAPPINGOFNATURALANDMAN-MADERADIOACTIvITy
cathY ScheiB
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
The Tellus airborne survey has resulted in the most detailed map of terrestrial radioactivity of any region
in the UK. These data aid geological and soil mapping, improve our estimation of in-house radon risk,
and define the extent of caesium deposition remaining from the 1986 Chernobyl accident.
Airbornegamma-rayspectrometry,flownaspartoftheTellusgeophysicalsurveyofNorthernIreland,
provideddetailedinformationonnaturalandman-maderadioactivityrelatingto:bedrockandsuperficial
geology;soilandlandscape;humanactivitysuchaswastesassociatedwithpowergeneration,
mineralextractionandlandfills;andthedistributionof137Csfromatmosphericweaponstestsandthe
Chernobylaccident.
Thenaturalradioactivityfrompotassium,thoriumanduraniumreflectmajorsolidgeological
subdivisionsandtheeffectsofoverlyingsuperficialdepositsandsoil.Lownaturalradioactivitylevels
resultingfrompeatcoverareveryclear,asarehigherzoneswhereglacialtillsarederivedfromareasof
relativelyradioactivegeology.
PatternsseenintheTellusdatafor137Csareconsistentwithwetdepositioncausedbybandsofrain
interceptingtheChernobylplume.Comparisonofthe137Csdatawithaland-useclassificationshowed
thatsaltmarshareas,forests,naturalgrassland,pasturesandsimilarclassesexhibitedhigheraverage137CsvaluesalthoughthevaluesfallwithintheexpectedrangefortheUK.
Theseradiometricdatahavebeenusedforgeologicalandsoilmapping,explorationforuraniumand
gold,radonpotentialmapping,environmentalstudiesandforestablishingaterrestrialradiationbaseline
forcomparisonwithfuturemeasurements.
CathyScheibholdsajointhonoursprimarydegreeingeologyandenvironmentalchemistryfrom
theUniversityofGlasgow.Followingthisshecompletedaresearchmasters(MSc)focusingonradio-
nuclidesintheurbanenvironmentattheScottishUniversitiesEnvironmentalResearchCentre(SUERC).
Hermajorresearchfocusisenvironmentalradioactivityandshehasworkedinthisareaduringthe
pastsixyearswithBGS,bothintheUKandoverseas.Airborne,ground-basedandlaboratorygamma
spectrometrydataacquisition,processingandinterpretationremainhermainareasofinterestaswellas
radonpotentialmapping.SheprovidestrainingforWorldBankandEuropeanfundedprojectsinthese
areasandhaspresentedtointernationalaudiencesonthegeologicalaspectsofradonriskmapping.
TellusAbstract.indd 18 8/10/07 08:20:40
Session Three. Monitoring man-made influences �9
SITE-INvESTIGATIONANDLANDFILLCHARACTERISATIONByAIRBORNEGEOPHySICS
Dr DaviD BeaMiSh
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
Analysis of selected results suggests that Tellus airborne methods can in some cases detect the
geophysical signatures of landfill sites. These may be due to the contents of the landfill or to polluted
water draining underground from the site.
TheTellusairbornegeophysicalsurveywasdesignedtoprovidenationalscalecoverageofNorthern
Irelandusingalineseparationintervalof200m.Themagneticandelectromagnetic(EM)conductivity
models,inparticular,providesomespectacularnewinformationongeologicalformationsandtheir
attributesatbothregionalandlocalscales.Inaddition,withinthedatasets,amultitudeoflocalised
responses(anomalies)areobserved.Manyofthesearenon-geologicalandrelatetotheimpactsof
humanactivityontheenvironment.UsingtheTellusEMdataastheprimarydatalead,themannerin
whichsite-scaleinvestigationsmaybecarriedoutisconsidered.Thepitfalls—includingthesampling
interval,variationsinflyingheightandtheimpactofnoise—mustallbemanagedcorrectly,especially
whenwemovefromobservationaldatatodetailedsubsurfacemodels.Aseriesofsite-investigation
scalestudies(typicallynomorethan3x3kminextent)areconsidered.Thestudiesrelatetoavariety
oflocalisedsourcesofmaterialconcentrationsthatincluderefusetips,sewageworks,industrialsites,
quarriesandlandfills.Suchstudiesandthegainedunderstandingareanecessaryprerequisiteto
makingwiderpracticaluseofthedata.IntheUKandwidercontext,theTellusgeophysicalresults
representanewformofhighresolutionandextensiveassessmentofthenear-surface.Theconductivity
models,inparticular,presentuswithanewtypeofinformationonrock/fluidpropertiesandtheir
environmentalsignificance.
Dr.DavidBeamish(BA,PhD)hasbeenwiththeBritishGeologicalSurveyforsome30years.Hisfirst13
yearswerespentworkinginGeomagnetism,largelyundertakingsolid-earthgeophysicalinvestigations
anddevelopingthemagnetotelluricmethod.ThiswasfollowedbyamovetotheKeyworthofficeto
specialiseinthedevelopmentandapplicationofavarietyofelectromagneticgeophysicalmethodsto
BGSprogrammesofworkintheUKandoverseas.Hehascontributedover100externalpapersto
journalsandover125internalreports.HeiscurrentlyHeadofAirborneGeophysicsandcoordinatesthe
JointAirborne-geoscienceCapabilitythatacquiredtheTellusdata.
TellusAbstract.indd 19 8/10/07 08:20:41
�0 Session Four. Natural resources and sustainable development
QUARRyING—AMAJORRURALINDUSTRyINNORTHERNIRELAND
anDrew BLooDworth
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
Northern Ireland is an important source of aggregates for the whole of UK and contributes significantly to
the economy of Northern Ireland. Airborne geophysical mapping of the surface and near-surface helps
to define the extent of deposits and maps new potential sources. Geochemical surveys provide baseline
data for environmental impact assessments.
In2005,theNorthernIrelandquarryproductsindustryproducedalmost26milliontonnesofaggregate
from160quarries.Thisrepresentedover11%oftotalUKaggregateproduction.Productsfrom
theindustryinNorthernIrelandarewortharound£700millionperannum,literallyunderpinninga
constructionsectorwhichconstitutesabout12%oftheprovince’sGDP.NorthernIrelandisalsoamajor
exporterofpremiumqualitycrushedrockaggregate—materialwhichmostlygoestoprovideskid-
resistantroadsurfacingonroadsinEngland.AselsewhereintheUK,theindustryisanimportantjob
providerinruralareaswhereotheremploymentopportunitiesmaybescarce.
Throughtheirroleinconstruction,primaryaggregatessuchascrushedrockandsandandgravel,
togetherwithsecondarymaterialsrecycledfromdemolitionwasteandroadmaintenance,arevitalin
sustainingtheeconomicdevelopmentofNorthernIreland.Althoughbothactiveandformerquarry
sitesmakeaconsiderablepositivecontributiontolocalbiodiversity,negativeenvironmentalimpactsare
inevitable,particularlythoseresultingfromroadtransportofbulkmaterials.
Aspartofanintegratedrangeofinitiativestoimprovethesustainabilityoftheaggregatessector,
Tellusdatahavethepotentialtoassistindustryandregulatorsenhancetheeconomicbenefitand
minimisethenegativeenvironmentalimpactofaggregateproductionandtransport.
TellusEMdatacanpotentiallybeusedforrapidreconnaissanceofconcealedsandandgravel
bodieswithinglacialdepositsintheeastoftheprovince,althoughthiswillrequireinvestmentin
geologicalcontrolandprocessing.Tellusgeochemicaldatawillprovideexcellentbaselineinformation
forenvironmentimpactassessmentsassociatedwithproposedquarrydevelopmentandrestoration,as
wellasthatwhichmayberequiredtofulfiltherequirementsofEuropeanlegislationsuchastheMine
WasteDirective.
AndrewBloodworthisHeadofScienceforMineralsinBGSandisresponsibleforabout35staffworking
onavarietyofprojectsrelatedtothesustainabledevelopmentofmetallicandnon-metalliceconomic
mineralsintheUKandoverseas.Hisowninterestsareinthegeologyofindustrialandconstruction
materials,aswellasinspatialplanningandregulatoryissuesassociatedwithmineralsextraction.In
additiontohisconsiderableexperienceoftheUKmineralssector,hehasalsoworkedinanumberof
countriesacrossthedevelopingworldandwasformerlytheMiningAdvisortotheUKDepartmentfor
InternationalDevelopment.
TellusAbstract.indd 20 8/10/07 08:20:41
Session Four. Natural resources and sustainable development ��
ASSESSINGOURUNTAPPEDENERGyRESOURCES
eurgeoL Derek reaY
GeologicalSurveyofNorthernIreland,ColbyHouse,StranmillisCourt,Belfast,BT95BF
The improved geological mapping resulting from the Tellus surveys contributes to the search for
hydrocarbon and geothermal energy resources.
NorthernIrelandreliesonimportedgasandoiltomeetmostoftheenergyneedsofitseconomyand,
despitetheincreasinguseofrenewableenergy,thissituationisunlikelytochangesignificantlyinthenear
future.Thesearchforindigenousoilandgashasthepotentialtoyieldvaluablereservesthatwouldboth
boosttheeconomyandhelptomaintainthesecurityofNorthernIreland’senergysupplies.
Gashasbeendiscovered,butnotyetincommercialquantities,inCarboniferousrocksinCounties
Fermanagh,CavanandLeitrim.ThesedimentarybasinsconcealedbeneaththeAntrimPlateaumayalso
containaccumulationsofoilandgas,butthethickcoverbasaltlavaobscurestheunderlyinggeological
structure.Thehigh-resolutionTellusaeromagneticdatacanprovidenewinsightsintothegeological
structureanddevelopmenthistoryoftheprospectivesedimentarybasins.Structuraltrendsandfaults
mappedatsurfacecanberecognisedontheTellusdataandextendedintoareaswheresurface
outcropsarepoor.Depth-to-basementestimatesmayalsobederivedfromtheaeromagneticdata,and
thenintegratedwithwell,seismicandgravityinformationtoproduceimprovedgeologicalmodels.
Geothermalenergystoredinrocksdeepbelowthelandsurfacecouldprovideasignificantlow-
carbonsustainableresourceforthegenerationofelectricityandheat.Tellusradiometricdataidentifies
near-surfacerockswithrelativelyhighradiogenicheatproduction.Similarrocks,buriedatdepthsof3to
5kilometres,mayprovidegeothermalheatenergysuitableforpowergeneration.
DerekReayhasover25yearsexperiencewiththeBritishGeologicalSurvey.Hisearlycareerwasspent
inEdinburghwhereheworkedontheregionalgeophysicalandgeologicalsurveysoftheUKContinental
Shelf,beforeproducinghydrocarbonprospectivityevaluationsfortheDepartmentofEnergy.Since
movingtotheGeologicalSurveyofNorthernIrelandDerekhasbeenactiveingeologicalmapping,
andintroducedITanddatabasesystemsintotheoffice.Heprovidestechnicaladviceonpetroleum
licensingandexplorationtotheDepartmentofEnterprise,TradeandInvestment,andhasinterestsinthe
developmentofgeothermalenergy.
TellusAbstract.indd 21 8/10/07 08:20:41
�� Session Four. Natural resources and sustainable development
THESCOPEFORCARBONCAPTUREANDSTORAGEINNORTHERNIRELAND
MicheLLe BenthaM
BritishGeologicalSurvey,KingsleyDunhamCentre,Keyworth,Nottingham,NG125GG
Sites in Northern Ireland may be appropriate for the long-term storage of carbon dioxide. High quality
lithological and structural information provided by GSNI and Tellus will be vital to their assessment.
Risinggreenhousegasemissionscreateapotentiallyhugethreattotheenvironment,humanpopulations
andglobaleconomies.Amajorgreenhousegasiscarbondioxide,whichcontributesapproximatelytwo-
thirdsoftheworldsgreenhousegasesemittedbyhumanactivities.Asaresultofgovernmentalpolicy,
commitmentshavebeenmadetoreduceCO2emissionsby60%by2050.
IntheUK,thepowergenerationsectoraccountsforapproximatelyone-thirdoftotalCO2emissions.
ThisCO2couldpotentiallybecapturedatthepowerplant,transportedbypipeline,injectedintothe
subsurfaceandstoredinasuitablegeologicalstoragesite.Thisisknownascarboncaptureand
storage(CCS).
AstoragesitemayberequiredtostoretheCO2fortensorhundredsofthousandsofyearsandit
needstobechosenverycarefullyonthebasisofitsgeologicalcharacteristics.Themaincriteriaarea
reservoirrockwithgoodporosityandpermeability,coupledwithacaprock(seal)topreventtheCO2
fromescaping.Thesiteshouldbeasufficientdeep(usually800mbelowthegroundsurface)forthe
CO2tobeinitsdense(supercritical)phasesothatitoccupieslessvolume.Thesitemustalsobelarge
enoughtostoretherequiredvolumesofCO2.Theseparameterscanbefoundinseveralgeological
settings:
Oilandgasfields
Salineaquifers
Coalseams
Naturalandman-madecaverns
InNorthernIrelandthereareseveralsedimentarybasinsthatmayexhibitthenecessarycriteria
forgeologicalstorageofCO2,includingtheLarne,Rathlin,LoughNeagh,NorthChanneland
PortpatrickBasins.
MichelleBenthamgraduatedfromLeedsUniversity(BSc,EarthSciences)andRoyalHolloway(MSc,
BasinEvolutionandDynamics).SincejoiningBGSin2000shehasbeenworkingonthegeological
storageofcarbondioxide,focusingonsiteselectionandstoragecapacityestimates.ShewasBGS
projectmanageroftheGreenEnergyfromcoalandGeoCapacityproject.Sheisaresearcheron
severalEUandUKfundedprojectsandfortheUKcarbonandcaptureconsortium.Sheiscurrently
involvedinundertakinganassessmentofthepotentialtostoreCO2inthegeologicalformationsofallof
Irelandaspartofthe‘Assessmentoftheall-IslandpotentialforgeologicalstorageofCarbonDioxidein
Ireland’project.
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TellusAbstract.indd 22 8/10/07 08:20:41
Session Four. Natural resources and sustainable development �3
INFORMATIONDELIvERyANDLICENSINGOFGSNIANDTELLUSDATA
Mark Patton
GeologicalSurveyofNorthernIreland,ColbyHouse,StranmillisCourt,Belfast,BT95BF
The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland holds a wealth of information relevant to any organisation
concerned with the surface or subsurface of Northern Ireland, its resources, rocks, soils and drainage
systems. These data are readily available to all and include digital geology, information on mine workings,
borehole and hydrogeological results, mineral and hydrocarbon exploration data, and various datasets
from the Tellus Project.
Tellusdatacanbeprovidedaswholecountrycoverageorassubsetsforspecificareas.Geochemical
analysesofindividualsamplingsitesofsoils,streamsedimentsandstreamwatersareavailableas
ASCIItextorExcelspreadsheet.1:250000scaleprintedmapsareavailableforcommonelementsand
compounds.AirbornedataareavailableinGeosoftgridordatabaseformats,orasASCIItextlinedata.
1:250000scaleprintedmapsoftheairborneresultsandseveralcommondata-transformationsare
alsoavailable.
Thecurrentdeliverymechanismsareviaopticaldiskore-mailforsmallerdatasets.Hardcopydata
areprovidedwhereappropriate.Selecteddatasetswillbeavailableonlineinthefuture.
GSNIdata,includingTellusdata,areavailableunderastandardlicencearrangementmodelledon
theBGSlicensingscheme.NominalfeesarechargedtocommercialusersofTellusdata,whicharea
smallfractionofthedataacquisitionandprocessingcosts.Dataaremadeavailablefreeofchargeto
academicresearcherspursuingprojectswhichaccordwiththegoalsoftheTellusProject.
MarkPattongraduatedfromtheUniversityofLiverpool(BSc(Hons),Geology)andtheUniversity
ofBirmingham(MSc,AppliedGeophysics).Hespentfouryearsworkinginoilfieldservicesasa
datamanagerformultinationalexplorationandproductioncompaniesbeforemovingintosoftware
developmentandsupport.HeworkedinthisrolesupportingthesystemsusedbytheNorthernIreland
PlanningServicebeforejoiningGSNIin2004asdatamanagerfortheTellusProject.
TellusAbstract.indd 23 8/10/07 08:20:41
�4 Poster Presentations
Tellus data
RegionalinterpretationofTellus
geophysicalimagery
Mike Young
ProminentfeaturesofTellusgeochemicaldata
Dermot Smyth
Natural resources
MetallicmineralpotentialofNorthern
Ireland:newinsightsfromprospectivity
analysisusingTellusdata.
Gus Gunn
Geothermalresourceprospectivity
inNorthernIreland
Adrian Walker
Tellusinformationinareaswith
hydrocarbonpotential
Adrian Walker
Quaternaryinvestigations,includingsand
&gravel,usingtheTellusEMdata.
Dave Beamish
Environment, agriculture and health
Airborneradiometricsurveydataanda
DTMasco-variatesforregionalscale
mappingoforganiccarbon
Barry Rawlins
Geochemicalconsiderationsinplanning
theuseofsewagesludgeinagriculture
Crawford Jordan
PilotstudyoftheapplicationofTellus
airborneradiometricandsoilgeochemical
dataforradonmapping
Don Appleton
High-resolution 137Cs data over Northern Ireland:
understanding 137Cs deposition
Cathy Scheib
Iodineandiodinedeficiency
disorderinNorthernIreland
Chris Johnson
Nutrientsinstreamwaters
Louise Ander
Fluorideinstreamwaters
Louise Ander
IsotopeandgeochemicalanalysisofTellus
watersappliedtomeasuringnutrientcycling
Hannah Corcoran
LandfillinvestigationsusingtheTellusEMdata
David Beamish
Potentialformappingthevariationofpeat
thicknesswithairbornegamma-rayspectrometry
Chris van Dam
Historicalchronologiesofsedimentation
andheavymetalcontaminationin
StrangfordLough,NorthernIreland
James Strong and Matthew Service
POSTERPRESENTATIONS
LOCATION:LEvEL4
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Poster Presentations �5
Regional geological mapping
and interpretation
StructureandzonationoflateCaledonianNewry
IgneousComplex:geophysicalupdatefromTellus
Mark Cooper and Ian Meighan
Comparison of the stream sediment geochemistry
of the Down-Longford Terrain with the Southern
Uplands of Scotland
Neil Breward and Phil Stone
Cenozoicpull-apartbasinsintheBritishIsles
Martyn Quinn
Apreliminaryassessmentoftheuseofnatural
radioactivitydatafromtheTellusairbornesurvey
Dave Jones
RadioactivitythroughtheAges:
theMourneMountains
Alastair Ruffell
Geostatistics
Geostatisticsappliedtodataintegrationof
multi-sourcegeophysicalandgeochemical
datafromtheTellusProject
Jenny McKinley
Computingaveragevariogramsfrom
imagerytoguidesoilsampling
Ruth Kerry
MonteCarloanalysisofsoilcharacteristicsand
samplingtheoryparametersforoptimisation
ofenvironmentalsamplingprograms
David Hiroz
Education
Geoscienceeducationand
outreach—theTelluscontribution
Marie Cowan
Characterisation of poorly producing
aquifers — the Griffiths Geoscience Award
Ulrich Ofterdinger
Collaborative research between Queen’s University
and the Tellus Project
Jenny McKinley
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�6
NOTES
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GeologicalSurveyof
NorthernIreland
ColbyHouse
Stranmilliscourt
Belfast
BT95BF
[T]02890388462
[F]02890388461
www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/
tellus/index.html
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