Geology News

Over the half-term holiday, TGGS took delivery of a block of limestone and several tonnes of limestone chippings, which were kindly donated by E. and  J.  W. Glendinning Limited (http://www.ejwglendinning.co.uk/) from their Linhay Hill Quarry in Ashburton.  These donations have allowed work to progress on the schools amphitheatre, which is being built in this, the schools centenary year.

The limestone is mid- to late-Devonian in age, which makes it about 380 to 360 million years old. It was formed in a tropical marine environment, when the UK was much closer to the equator, indeed it was a similar environment to parts of the Caribbean today.  The limestones of the area formed on shallow undersea ridges associated with volcanic activity around edges of the ridges. The nearest shoreline to the north was in vicinity of what is now south Wales, which at the time was a desert environment with some primitive land plants.

The delivery of the materials was expertly undertaken by South West Crane Hire (http://www.sw-crane-hire.co.uk/). Head of Geology at the school, Gordon Neighbour, said “We are extremely grateful to our partners in local industry, which is allowing us to bring our regional geology to the fore at the school and giving us a way of celebrating our heritage.  Geology has been recognised as an area by the UK Government that needs development within the job sector and this is a great way of making our students more aware of the world around them.”