Amazing Geological Stories Set in Stone

This local field excursion will examine some easily accessible areas of coastal outcrops situated in the Eaglehawk Neck and Koonya areas of the Tasman Peninsula.

The excursion will be led by Chris Vonderborch, a professor of Marine Geology and Sedimentology. Chris, despite his ripe age, has never lost his wonderment about our blue planet, and its accompanying complex and still evolving life forms.

Chris will demonstrate how geologists’ study and interpret outcrops of ancient sedimentary rocks, leading to an understanding of ancient Earth depositional environments, be they “marine” or “non-marine”, deep-water or shallow settings. Chris will discuss how “active” our little blue planet has been, and how Earth was endowed with its major ocean, very soon after it consolidated and finally cooled down, around 4.6 billion years ago.

This excursion takes in two sites, and all participants will need to travel by private vehicles. The excursion concludes at 2pm at Shelley Beach.

Hosted by Tasman U3A