C G I B BIG C - Geoconservation Live...Partnership Business Education OCCS Selar Energy, Celtic Glamorgan Mid Partnership Business Education Busnes Addysg Partneriaeth Ganol Morgannwg

CwmGwrelych Ro

cks

AnEx

citing

EarthScience

Activity

Pack fo

r Primary Teachers

British Institute for Geological ConservationCBIG

And What’s actually there?The British Institute for Geological Conservation (BIGC) is an independent charity set up to protect and manage our unique geological heritage. Cwm Gwrelych isa pilot project for the BIGC’s Coalfield Geo Heritage Network, a scheme which is designed to help protect and improve access to a suite of geological sitesunique to South Wales through community involvement, partnership working and education.

Cwm Gwrelych Rocks has been developed by the British Institute for Geological Conservation in partnership with:

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales www.museumwales.ac.uk

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Councilwww.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fundwww.wales.gov.uk

Countryside Council for Wales www.ccw.gov.uk

Education Business Partnershipwww.ebpmidglam.btik.com

Celtic Energy, Selar OCCSwww.coal.com

Mid GlamorganEducation Business Partnership

Partneriaeth Addysg BusnesMorgannwg Ganol

BIG British Institute for Geological Conservation

South WalesCoalf ieldGeo HeritageNetwork

RhwydwaithDaeardreftadaeth

Maes GloDe Cymru

The Waterloo Foundationwww.waterloofoundation.org.uk

We wish to extend a special thank you to the Walters family for giving permissionto use this wonderful site and for all their help in the creation of this trail.

1

Contents PageIntroduction to the Teachers’ Pack 2Where is Cwm Gwrelych 3Geology of Cwm Gwrelych 4Origins of Industry 5Topic Web- Cwm Gwrelych Visit 6Topic Web- Cwm Gwrelych Rocks 7

Field Trip LocalitiesTimetable 8Site Map 9Stop 1 The Viaduct 10Stop 2 Farewell Rock 11Stop 3 Glacial Boulder 12Stop 4 Patchwork Quarry 13Stop 5 The Ironstone Mine 14Stop 6 The Coal Mine 15Stop 7 Landslide 16Stop 8 Orange Stream 17

Field Trip ActivitiesWalking Back in Time 18Word Wall 19Mapping Rocks 20Fossil Hunt 21Rock Collection 22Fossil Rubbing 24

Customising your Cwm Gwrelych Visit 25Other Activities 27Resources 28

2

Introduction to the Teachers’ PackCwm Gwrelych Rocks!

How to use this pack

1. Arrange a day for your visit.

2. Contact British Institute for Geological Conservationto find out if a facilitator is available. Tel 02920 573305.

3. Prepare the recommend resources (all resources, tem-plates and instructions required for your day are includedin this pack )

4. Go visit and use the map provided to navigate betweenway marked activity areas

Getting the most from your visit.

We recommend that you spend a full school day at CwmGwrelych and follow our timed excursion guide.

The pack will guide you stop by stop to some of the mostinteresting features at Cwm Gwrelych.

At some of the stops your group will undertake activities.The majority of the activities can be run with the wholegroup however; some activities will require you to splityour class into several smaller groups.

The pack is written so that the teacher / leader canread, word for word, the stop description allowing fornominal pre visit preparation. Two relevant questions andspecimen answers are provided for each stop.

Each activity should take approximately 30 minutes.Travel time between stops and a lunch break have beenfactored into the time table.

Three other additional activities that haven’t been fac-tored into the time table are available on site for thosewho wish to deviate from the timed excursion guide orwho wish to spend longer on site.

Pre Visit Preparation

Risk AssessmentsAn example of a suitable risk assessment along with ablank form has been included in the pack (Resource 13).All schools are advised to carry out their own independ-ent assessment of the site and activities prior to theirvisit.

What to bring

Clothing and FootwearWaterproof jackets should be considered at any time ofthe year. Long sleeve tops and trousers should ideally beworn. Trainers are adequate for summer visits withwellies the preferred option for the rest of the year.

Consult the weather forecast before setting outwww.metcheck.com

Consider taking sun cream and advising children to bringwater and sun hats if especially warm

LunchThe best place to base yourself is at the stone circle inthe quarry (Stop 4) There is adequate seating for thewhole class.

First Aid BoxContaining basic equipment to treat any minor injuries.

Mobile PhonesBring a mobile phone with you and check for signal cov-erage

Welcome Welcome to Cwm Gwrelych Rocks - a curriculum linkedgeological pack for schools. This pack provides hands onactivities for visiting groups to the incredible CwmGwrelych Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.It aims to increase children’s knowledge and fascinationof the rocks and fossils beneath their feet whist instill-ing an understanding of the geological and industrial his-tory of their local area.

Why Cwm Gwrelych?Cwm Gwrelych is a wonderful and incredibly importantpart of the South Wales Coalfield. Situated at the headof the Neath Valley, right on the edge of the SouthWales Coalfield, the rocks found within this quiet valleyare internationally important! The 300 million year oldrocks found at the site tell a fascinating story of a timelong before dinosaurs when giant plants flourished andinsects grew huge.

What’s in the pack?Inside the pack, you’ll find introductions to the geologi-cal and industrial history of the site, hands on discoveryactivities, maps, pictures and other resources that willhelp you make the most of your visit to Cwm Gwrelych.The activities have been specifically developed to helpmeet National Curriculum targets for a range of KeyStage 2 subjects to provide your children with an unfor-gettable outdoor learning experience.

3

Where is Cwm Gwrelych?And what’s actually there?

Please note the site is privately owned and there are no toilets or hand washing facilities. Also there are no litter bins soall rubbish must be taken away with you at the end of your visit.

Cwm Gwrelych is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and must be treated with respect. Collection of rocks and fossilmaterial should be undertaken responsibly, our “ Collecting Rocks Guide” (Page 23) will show you how.

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved Neath Port Talbot Council. OS License No. 100023392

LocationSituated just outside Glyn Neath at the head of theNeath Valley, Cwm Gwrelych is easily accessible by car,bus or by foot (Grid reference SN 891 063).

There is no specific parking provision at the site but onstreet parking should be available for one or two minibuses. If traveling to site by coach it is advised thatthey park about 200m outside of the village in a largelay-by on the Glyn Neath- Hirwaun road. The site is a 5minute walk from here. For those using SAT NAV thenearest post code is SA11 5LR

If vehicular access is required (to carry equipment orthose with limited mobility) it is possible to take acar/minibus down onto the site via a farm track fromHendre Fawr Farm, Cwm Hwnt. Prior permission shouldbe sought before taking a vehicle on site.

What’s actually there?This fantastic site is situated right on the edge of theSouth Wales Coalfield where alternating sequences ofcoal, fossil rich mudstones and hard sandstones come tothe surface. The mineral wealth of this area was recog-nised over 300 years ago at the start of the IndustrialRevolution when miners discovered and began extractingIron Ore. Since then this site and the surrounding land-scape has been extensively mined for coal, the remainsof old spoil heaps and collapsed mine adits abound.Geological features include many wonderful exposures ofCarboniferous Coal Measures geology.

The site is also a wildlife haven, with a huge variety ofhabitats including grassland, ancient woodland, spoil tips,

rivers and ponds supporting a wealth of biodiversity.

Much of the site has an extensive network of waymarked paths ensuring easy access. The majority of the

site’s features of interest are situated directly offthese main paths.

Park here

4

The Geology of Cwm Gwrelych?

© National Museum of Wales

The rocks found at Cwm Gwrelych were formed about300 million years ago during a period of geological timecalled the Carboniferous (from the Latin for coal bear-ing). At this time Britain lay somewhere south of theequator and basked in tropical conditions. TheCarboniferous Coal Measures rocks of South Wales areall sedimentary and consist of many repeating layers ofmudstones, coal seams and hard sandstones that werelaid down in a swampy delta environment. This deltaextended for hundreds of miles and consisted of net-works of rivers and streams. Sand banks and floodplainsseparated the rivers and created many stagnant back-water areas.

The Carboniferous was an important period in Earth’shistory as it was the first time that the land wascolonised by plants which formed vast forests. Theseplants grew fast and died, falling into the swampywaters, the organic material gave rise to significantthicknesses of peat which would later be compressed toform coal. During the Carboniferous Period land animalswere primitive and only insects lived in the tropicalswampy forests. Giant dragonflies with wing spans of upto 80cm flew through the forests while huge spidersand millions of cockroaches roamed the forest floor.

Cwm Gwrelych lies right on the northern edge of theSouth Wales Coalfield. The Nant Gwrelych stream flowsoff the Rhigos escarpment and has cut deep into thesoft Coal Measures rocks to form a deep narrow gorge.

In the stream bed coal seams and fossiliferous mud-stones can be found, along the valley sides hard sand-stones form rocky crags and ledges.

5

Origins of IndustryThe riches found within the Carboniferous rocks of theSouth Wales Coalfield have been known and exploited byman since Roman times. It was only in the C18th duringthe Industrial Revolution that they really became impor-tant. At first the rocks of South Wales were mainlyworked for ironstone (iron ore) used in the productionof iron. Later, coal became the more importantresource replacing charcoal as a fuel for smelting ironand being used in steam engines and the homes of themany people who came to work in the valleys. The homesof those that moved to the valleys were often built ofthe abundant Pennant Sandstones or bricks made fromsoft Coal Measures clay.

Here at Cwm Gwrelych both the extraction of iron, coaland quarrying of building stone has played a huge role inshaping the landscape and influencing where people set-tled and communities developed. Well preserved at CwmGwrelych are 300 year old ironstone workings, whichwould once have supplied iron ore to the blast furnacesin Aberdare. Many coal mines are also evident, theirentrances usually collapsed. Coal was dug at CwmGwrelych until the 1970’s when the last small privatemines closed and the large opencast site immediately tothe north east of the site finished producing coal. Coalis still extracted locally at the impressive SelarOpencast Site which lies just south west of CwmGwrelych. Here over the past 10 years many millions oftones of coal have been extracted.

Cwm Gwrelych 1835 - 1875

jN

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved Neath Port Talbot Council. OS License No. 100023392

6

Topic Web - Cwm Gwrelych

Welsh� Introduce new vocabulary, adjectives within familiar

sentence patterns� Express an opinion� Read short descriptive texts

ICT � Research census records� Prepare presentations� Design and prepare a leaflet� Investigate Google Earth� Use 2 Simple 2 series� Create a simple animation

DT � Investigate shelter building� Design a pulley system to move drams of clay/coal� Design and build a Carboniferous Garden� Food Technology – ‘Cwm Gwrelych Layered

Cheesecake.’ Rock cakes

Music� Creative music soundscape -composition,

performance & evaluation – ‘Carboniferous Carnival’

Cwm GwrelychRocks

English � Poetry activities- Sound/word poems� Adjectives & descriptive writing� Writing Instructions� Newspaper reports� Design a leaflet & persuasive writing

Art � Observational drawings� Photography & using photographic paper with

foliage� ‘Fossil’ Rubbings on-site� Natural Collages & Sculpture –investigating the

work of Andy Goldsworthy & Tim Pugh� Natural & colour weavings � Strata tissue paper collage� Using colours and patterns of Cwm Gwrelych in the

style of Mary Lloyd Jones� Using clay – create texture tiles & pinch/coil pots

incorporating motifs from Cwm Gwrelych� Textiles/3D – create models of dragonflies & other

Carboniferous creatures

Geography � Investigate how people have used the land

and affected the environment� Ask questions about a place� Undertake fieldwork� Measure, record and collect data� Use maps and aerial photographs� Make a variety of maps

History � Fact or opinion activities� Investigate chronology� Local area investigations� Use and compare census records, old maps

and photos, secondary & primary sources� How has our locality changed?

PSE� Active Citizenship � Understand aspects of cultural heritage� Develop ICT � Lifelong learning - Investigate the range of

jobs in the community

Religious Education� Core Unit – Our World� The natural world & living things� Caring for our environment and

sustainability� Creation stories from around the

world

The Cwm Gwrelych Rocks Topic Web introduces new ideas and suggestions for alternative on site activities as well as demonstrating how avisit to Cwm Gwrelych might influence and stimulate other areas of teaching.

7

Topic Web - Cwm Gwrelych Visit

Timeline

Reinforce chronology of the site.Understand the significant events in Earth’s History

Word Wall & Annotated Drawings

Investigate rock layers by collecting adjectives andcreating annotated drawings.

Fossil Hunting

Children use geological tools to discover and collectfossil samples.

Mapping and Measuring

Make geological mapsUse clinometers to measure angles of rocks

Rock Collecting and Identification

Collect and identify rock samplesMake your own classroom rock collection

Vegetation History

Learn about fossil plants and ancient vegetation bymaking fossil rubbings.

Cwm Gwrelych Visit

This Topic Web introduces the activities that you andyour group can undertake during a visit to wonderfulCwm Gwrelych.

All the activities listed here are fully described later,along with additional information and advice to makeyour visit successful and memorable.

8

Field Excursion Guide Timetable

Location Time/Duration Activity

Stop 1 Time 9.30amActivity 30min

The Viaduct.Walking Back in Time.

Stop 2 Time 10.00amActivity 20min

The Farewell Rock.Map Rocks, Word Wall.

Stop 3 Time 10.30am Glacial Boulder

Stop 4 Time 11.00amActivity 2x 30min

The Patch Work Quarry.Fossil Hunt (1/2 group). Rock Collection (1/2 group).Groups Swap.

Stop 4 Lunch 12.00 Seating at Stone Circle

Stop 4 Time 12.45pmActivity 30min

The Patchwork Quarry.Word Wall & Map Rocks.

Stop 5 Time 1.15pm The Ironstone Mine

Stop 6 Time 1.25pm The Coal Mine

Stop 7 Time 1.35pm Landslide

Stop 8 Time 1.45pm Orange Stream

Return to viaduct. Duration of walk = 25 minutes

9

Site Map

Key

10

Stop 1 - The Viaduct

Background Information

9.30am

This wonderful viaduct was constructed by one ofBritain’s most celebrated engineers Isambard KingdomBrunel (9 April 1806- 15 Sept 1859).

The railway was surveyed and the viaduct designed byBrunel for the Vale of Neath Railway Company. The lineopened in 1851. This railway eventually ran betweenSwansea to Pontypool and was primarily used for carryingcoal.

The viaduct is built from several different stones butmost of the rock used in its construction was dug fromsmall quarries just up the trail from where you’re stand-ing now.

Ask the childrenWhat sort of trains would have used this railway line in1851?AnswerSteam trains ran along this line. There were steam trainsrunning on this track for over 100 years

Ask the childrenWhat was used to power steam trains?AnswerCoal was burned to heat water and make steam that pow-ered the engines

Suggested Questions

Activity

ActivityWalking Back in Time 20-30min

This activity is described in this pack on page 18

Next stopThe Walking Back in Time activity will take you to yournext stop

11

Stop 2 - The Farewell Rock10.00 am

This is the Farewell Rock it is the oldest rock you will seetoday. The Farewell Rock is about 40 metres thick and ismade of hard sandstone.

This rock is called the Farewell Rock because early C18thironstone miners knew that if they dug beyond or throughthis sandstone that could bid “farewell” to any chance offinding iron rich rocks.

In the C19th coal miners adopted the name because theyrealised there wasn’t any coal deeper than the FarewellRock that was worth mining.

Ask the childrenCan anyone see any fossils in this rock? Take five min-utes to look for some.

AnswerThere are some fossils on the gently sloping surfacethat leans back towards the viaduct. Show the children.

Ask the childrenWhat are they fossils of?

AnswerThey are fossils of logs and large pieces of fallen trees.

ActivityMap Rocks and Word Wall, 30min Combined

This activity is described in this pack on page 19

Next stopFollow the path to your next stop 130m away.

Background Information Suggested Questions

Activity

12

Stop 3 - Glacial Boulder


Activity

This large white stone isn’t from Cwm Gwrelych it’s agiant pebble transported here by ice. During the last IceAge about 16,000 years ago large glaciers covered thispart of Wales. The climate at this time was very cold anda thick icy sheet covered most of South Wales. The icehad come from the north and had even covered the high-est mountains in the Brecon Beacons.

Glaciers are very powerful, their ice is very hard and theycan easily cut into the rocks beneath them to create val-leys. This large white boulder was carved from the groundsomewhere north of Cwm Gwrelych and was carried herein the ice! When the glacier melted about 16,000 yearsago this boulder fell out of the ice and was left here. Theboulder has been smoothed and rounded by the hard ice.

The boulder is quite easily identified because it is madeof many tiny hard white grains ( ask the children to takea closer look at the stone ) the rock is called MillstoneGrit. There are no rocks like this in the ground at CwmGwrelych.

Ask the childrenWhy do you think that this rock is called Millstone Grit?AnswerThe rock is hard and coarse and could be used for grind-ing and milling

Ask the childrenWhat else happened when the glaciers melted?AnswerHuge rivers would have formed. The rivers would havebeen powerful, they carved deep valleys like CwmGwrelych and moved huge rocks.

There is no activity for this stop

Next stopStop 4 is a 10 minute walk from here. Follow the path upthe hill to the Kissing Gate. Turn right and follow theway marked trail. Stop when you reach the Coal Dram.

10.30 am

13

Stop 4 - The Patch Work Quarry


Activity

This is the oldest mined area of Cwm Gwrelych. Men,women and children were working here about 300 yearsago! They were digging ironstone, a rock rich in iron thatcould be used to produce iron metal. There is lots of ironrich rock in this area, it could be dug out of the softmudstone quite easily using picks and shovels- there wasno machinery to help back then.

Someone who looks for valuable minerals in the ground iscalled a prospector. In the early C 18th prospectorswould claim “baggsy” a patch of land that looked like itmight be rich in iron. This would then become his “patch”so, if his name was Dai Morgan, the area of land wouldbecome “Morgan’s Patch”, the patch belonging to Morgan.

The men and boys would dig into the ground to make deeppits, throwing all the stones they dug onto a big heap. Thewomen and girls would pick over the heap looking for valu-able rocks. The “Patch Girls” as they were known wouldseparate the good iron rich rocks from the waste rock- itwas hard work!

The iron rich rock would be taken by trams to iron worksin Aberdare or Wenallt Iron Works at Cwmgwrach whereit would be crushed and smelted in a blast furnace. Whenheated to about 1800 deg. C the iron trapped in the rockcan melt and run out as liquid metal. The metal is calledPig Iron at this stage.

Ask the childrenAt what age would children be working at the PatchWorks?AnswerIt wasn’t unusual for children of 11 or 12 to be working

Ask the childrenWhat colour would you expect rocks containing iron tobe?AnswerIron rich rocks are often orange or red in colour. Theiron actually rusts in the rock and gives the ironstone arusty orange colour.

ActivityWalk the group to the stone circle 100m on and split theclass into two groups for the Fossil Hunt (1/2 group)(Page 21), Rock Collection (1/2 group)(Page22). Groupsswap activities after 30 minutes.

Next stopHave a sit down at the Stone Circle and have some lunch(12-12:45pm).

After lunch the activity at Stop 4 continues.

11.00 am

© Manchester City Galleries

14

Stop 5 - The Ironstone Mine


Activity

Not all ironstone was mined in open pits like we saw atthe Patchwork. Here a particularly rich layer of ironstonewas discovered by miners about 200 years ago. Ratherthan digging a pit to get at the ironstone the miners duga tunnel straight into the hillside. They would have fol-lowed the rich ironstone layer and avoided any rocks thatweren’t worth digging. They dug the rock using picks andshovels with only candles to provide light. It was veryhard and dangerous work.

Over the many years since this mine closed the entrancehas collapsed. The roofs of the ironstone mines often col-lapsed while the men were underground.

Ask the childrenHow do you think miners tried to stop the roofs of themines collapsing when they were underground?AnswerThe miners either left pillars of rock to support theroof or they used wooden posts called pit props. Showthe picture of the miners working and the miners cuttingwood.

Ask the childrenSo far we haven’t seen any layers of coal. Where mightyou find a layer of coal?AnswerThe thicker more valuable coal seams are usually foundabove these layers in some of the younger rocks. Tellthe children that they’ll go and look for evidence ofthem later.


Next stopFollow the path up the hill and fork right and follow thegrassy path down to the interpretation panel 100m away.

1.15 pm

15

Stop 6 - The Coal Mine


Activity

This mine is quite different to the ironstone mine thatyou have just seen. This is the entrance to a 150 year oldcoal mine. There are several coal seams in this areaalthough many of them are not very thick. The coal seamthat the miners were digging here was about 60 cm thick.Imagine trying to dig coal whilst lying or kneeling in acramped, pitch black tunnel with only candles for light.

Mining coal was even more dangerous than digging forironstone. The roof of the mines often collapsed and poi-sonous gasses could seep out of the coal. Coal gas, oftencalled “Fire Damp”, could cause explosions and firesunderground. Many men died in explosions like this atCwm Gwrelych and in the hundreds of mines all acrossSouth Wales.

Ask the childrenWhat have the miners done here to stop the roof of themine collapsing ?AnswerThe miners have lined the walls and roof of the minewith stone to provide support and safety.

Ask the childrenHow did the miners get the coal from deep undergroundto the entrance of the mine?AnswerThe large size of the entrance tunnel suggests that min-ers might have used pit ponies to pull wagons/drams ofcoal from where it was cut to the surface.

There is no activity for this stop.

Next stopPass through the old iron gate and walk 40m into thesmall wood. As you walk you will be walking over the oldcoal tip- the waste rock from the coal mine.

1.25 pm

16

Stop 7 - Landslide


Activity

This wet wooded area is a landslide. A landslide is thename given to an area of collapsed hillside where largelumps of rocks, soil and mud slide down to the valley bot-tom. Landslides may be massive or really small like theone you are standing on now. Landslides can happen sud-denly and catastrophically or really slowly, so slow in factthat it’s impossible to see it move. This landslide is a slowone, the ground you are standing on is still creeping, slid-ing ever so slowly towards the river. Before the landslidethe path that you are standing on would have been 10-15meters above you- if you look up the bank, through thetrees you can see where this path used to be.

A landslide may occur when a combination of natural fea-tures come together. Steep slopes, fractures in the rockbelow ground (faults) and wet or water logged ground cancommonly cause landslides.

Ask the children What do you think has caused this landslide?AnswerThis landslide has been caused by man. Miners whoworked at the mine you just saw have dug out all the coalfrom the ground behind this landslide. When the minewas working the miners propped up the roof of the minewith wooden supports but over a hundred years the woodhas rotted and the mine has become flooded. The weightof the rocks above have caused the hillside to collapse.

Ask the childrenWhy do you think the ground is so wet? AnswerRain water that falls on the hill behind seeps into theground, it runs through the fractures in the rocks andpours into the old mine workings. When the mine is fullof water it pours out of the ground as a spring. Thewater really helped cause this landslide, it acted as alubricant between the muddy rocks, helping them to slipover each other.


Next stopWalk through the wood and up the steps. Immediatelyturn left at the top of the steps and then rejoin thefarm track and turn right. The next stop is 100m away.

1.35 pm

17

Stop 8 - Orange Stream


Activity

This strange, orange coloured stream is caused by waterflowing out of an old ironstone mine on the other side ofthe path. We know there was an old ironstone mine herebecause it is marked on old maps and we can see theremains of an old tramway (take the group 30m furtheralong the track to see the stone sleepers).

Underground the water in the mine dissolves the sur-rounding ironstone rock and when the water flows out ofthe ground, the iron in the water mixes with oxygen inthe air to form rust. Another stalagmite type (limestone)mineral has also been formed by the water, it has turnedthe stream bed in to a hard honeycomb called a TUFA(take the group down to the board walk to have a look atthe TUFA).

Ask the children What problems might rusty water cause wildlife?AnswerThe rust can coat the stones on the river bed and blocksmall holes where small river creatures like to live. Therust can also remove oxygen from the water and clog thegills of fish making it difficult for them to breathe.

Ask the childrenWhy is the TUFA like a honeycomb?AnswerThe Tufa is like a honeycomb because the minerals haveformed around all the plants that grow here. Someinsects may also have become trapped in the stalagmitetype mineral.


Return to the viaduct, your field trip is complete.

1.45 pm

18

Walking Back in Time


Activity

The rocks you will see today are very old and wereformed in a time long before man, mammoths and evendinosaurs! These rocks tell a story of when the climatewas tropical, forests covered the land and when coal wasable to form.

Safety note The last few children will have to walk a long way (150m)but they will be in view the whole time.

PlenaryExplain that the group has walked back in time to theCarboniferous Period (about 300 million years ago whenmuch of the world was covered in vast forests) and thatthe rock outcrop they are stood next to now is calledthe Farewell Rock. This is the oldest rock the group willsee today- as they walk further into the site the rockswill become younger. Use the acetates of Carboniferous animals (Resource 2)along with images of Carboniferous swamp forest(Resource 1) to show primitive life and the ancientCarboniferous environment.

Follow upTurn a corner of your classroom in to a Carboniferousswamp forest. Use the pictures in the resource sectionto create models of the trees and plants. Can you make amodel of a dragonfly with an 80cm wingspan to hang inyour swamp forest? Could you make life size Cockroachusing paper plates?

Skills Science C1,2 Geography LPEP2 UPEP2

RangeScience IO4Geography CO2 AAQ2

Description Create a massive timeline to show how long ago rocks andCoal Measures were formed.

Pre visitIntroduce timelines. Children could make a personal time-line (birth to present day) of events in their lifetime (e.g.first went to school, first tooth fell out etc.) Create anhistorical timeline (Celts, Romans, Victorians)

On site resources� Picture of Carboniferous forest (Resource 1)� Laminated event cards (Resource 3)� Timeline Guide (Resource 4)� Acetates of Carboniferous animals (Resource 2)

Activity part 1Start on the main path below the viaduct. Give laminatedevent cards to groups of children. Explain what happenedfor each event card. Ask the children to arrange thecardholders in to a line, in historical order…with yourhelp.

Activity part 2Using the path ahead of you create a timeline to put his-torical events on. Use the guide (Resource 4) to help buildyour timeline. Start with the most recent and work backin time. Ask the children to walk up the path until theyhave either counted out the appropriate number of stepsor you signal them to stop. When they stop ask the chil-dren with cards to stay at that point and hold the cardsfacing towards you. When the furthest child/group hasreached their destination take the remainder of the classup the path to them, gathering the others as you go.

Used at the Viaduct (Stop 1) 30 mins

19

Word Wall


Activity

The tropical forests of the Carboniferous grew in alarge swampy delta. There were rivers and streams,sand banks and floodplains giving rise to a variety ofdifferent sediments. These sediments were laterchanged in to different types of rock. These rocks havedifferent properties, colours and textures.

Safety noteMake sure the children stand away from the edge of thepath at Stop 2, there is a steep drop into the river.

PlenaryThe group should be reminded that in and around CwmGwrelych they will see several different rock types.Each rock will have different properties (hardness,colour and density). These properties determine how therock is/was used.

Follow up � Write a story or poem using these words.� Make a collage or model of the geological outcrop

using materials that have the same properties as thewords used.

� Part fill a coffee jar with a mix of soil, sand, gravel,crushed chalk and crushed coal. Fill it up with waterand shake it vigorously to stir it all up. Leave it tosettle (at least overnight). This should settle intocoloured layers similar to that seen on the rock face.

SkillsScience GeographyC2 UPEP1 C3

RangeScience GeographyTSE 3,5 CO2

DescriptionDiscover a layered rock face and create a descriptiveword wall.

Pre VisitCopy, cut out and laminate the descriptive word flashcards (Resource 5)

On site resources� Descriptive word cards (Resource 5)� Blank cards� Marker pen� Digital Camera

Give each child a descriptive word card. One child readsout their word and gives it to the teacher. Ask the childto point out a place on the wall (rock face) that fits thedescription. Place the word card on the rock face wherethe child has indicated (e.g. on a coal seam you mightexpect words like dark, sparkly, black, flaky, crumbly,fractured etc.) You probably won’t use all the cards atevery rock outcrop. Ask children for any other adjectivesand write these down on your blank card and place on therock face as directed. When you have finished take aphoto of the labelled wall to use back in the classroom

May be used at multiple stops 10 mins

20

Map Making


Activity

Understanding where to find coal, iron and fossils isimportant. Geologists make maps so that those thatcome after them can identify the rocks around themand understand what goes on below the ground surface.

Once the geology has been added to the map, show thechildren how to measure the angle of the rocks comingout of the ground using the clinometer (Resource 10).Record the angle measured on the map using this symbol(below) replacing the example “32” with the angle youmeasured. The symbol should be added onto the map ontop of the slab of rock which has just beendrawn. (Resource 9)

Safety noteThis activity will require the group to get close to therocks. Ensure all members of the group are wearing theirhard hats.

Plenary Geological maps use colours to identify different agesand types of rock. Symbols are also used to show geolog-ical features like folds and faults.

Geological maps are important for many reasons –

� Finding of minerals and raw materials (stone, coal, oiletc.).

� Farmers need them to identify suitable soil types togrow crops

� Engineers need geology maps to build the correctfoundations for buildings.

� Water companies need to know how and where to findwater.

Follow upUse the British Geological Surveys open Geoscience por-tal http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer to have a lookat more geology in your local area.

SkillsScience GeographyC2,3 EP3,4,5 ED1,3 LPEP1,2,3,4 UPEP1,3 I2 C3

RangeScience GeographyIO7 AAQ3

DescriptionChildren fill in gaps in the base map to create a basic geo-logical map and use a homemade clinometer to recordangles.

Pre VisitMake clinometer with children (Resource 10) and showchildren how to measure slopes with them. Point out thathorizontal is 0 and vertical is 90 degrees.

Look a geological map of Wales (Resource 11) see how itdiffers from a normal Ordnance Survey topographic map.Identify where Cwm Gwrelych is. Use the key to find theage of the rocks.

On site resources� Base Map (Resource 9)� Homemade clinometer (Resource 10) one per class (take

turns to use)� Pencil� Coloured pencils� Clipboards

Tell the children that they are going help create a geolog-ical map

Explain to children that geology maps are aerial views ofthe land. Using the base map (Resource 10) instruct thechildren to draw on the rocks they see at each stop.Geology is added by drawing shapes (polygons/sausages)in relation to the paths and other features shown on thebase map. This could look like a small rectangle for an iso-lated feature or a large ribbon for a cliff face.

Used at stops 2 and 4 15 mins

32

21

Fossil Hunt

Background Information Activity

Of all the different rock types it is the mudstone thatcontains the best plant fossils. Mudstones are composedof tiny particles that settled out of the swampy watervery slowly. The tiny particles of mud would have buriedleaves, twigs and other plants that fell into the swampywater preventing them from rotting. The delicatedetails of these buried plants would have been pre-served in the fine muddy sediment. 300 million yearslater these plants are now found as beautiful fossils.

Activity Try to find 300 million year old fossilised plants by split-ting mudstone. After equipping the group with safety equipment,encourage the group to look for small fossil plants at therock pile. Finding fossils is not guaranteed!

Safety note:Please refer overleaf for Safety Guidance

PlenaryWhat have you found? Use the Rock and Fossil Guide(Resource 6) to identify the finds for the children.Living plants contain lots of Carbon, they take it as car-bon dioxide from the atmosphere. The Carboniferousswamp forests were huge and took lots carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere. When the forest plants died theircarbon was locked in the ground as coal. Explain to thechildren that their fossils are black because they con-tain trapped carbon

Follow UpThe group can take their rocks and fossils back toschool to be placed in their Museum Collection Box(Resource 8)

NotePlease ensure that all geological equipment is accountedfor and that it is returned in good condition

Description Hands on rock collecting using real geological tools.

Pre VisitArrange to collect geological hammers, safety glasses andgoggles and children’s hard hats from British Institutefrom Geological Conservation.Telephone 02920 573305

On site resources� Bags to take specimens home in

Used at Patch Work (Stop 4) 30 mins

22

Rock Collection


All the rocks found at Cwm Gwrelych are sedimentary,that means they are made of sediment / particles ofolder rocks. During the Carboniferous Period 300 millionyears ago the rocks found at Cwm Gwrelych were beingformed in a large, tropical, swampy delta. Large riverscarried sand, silt and mud across a large swampy plain.Forests covered this swampy landscape and droppedhuge amounts of dead and decaying vegetation into theswampy waters. Different rock types formed wherethere were different conditions - sandstones formedwhere there were rivers, streams and flowing water,mudstones were formed where the water was still anddeep and coal formed where there was lots of vegeta-tion and the water was stagnant.

Try to find small (golf ball size) specimens of sandstone,mudstone, ironstone and coal. You won’t need hammers todo this as there are lots of bits of all these rocks allover this area.

Safety note:Please refer overleaf for Safety Guidance

PlenaryWhat have you found? Use the Rock and Fossil Guide(Resource 7) to identify the finds for the children. Atthe end of the activity gather the group together andmake sure they all know what each rock type looks like!

Remind the children that all the rocks found here aresedimentary – made of tiny particles of other smashedup rocks and dead plant material. Remind them that bybreaking/splitting rocks they are helping create sedi-ment that may in the future become a rock again.

Follow UpThe group can take their rocks back to school to beplaced in their Museum Collection Box (Resource 8)

NotePlease ensure that all geological equipment is accountedfor and that it is returned in good condition

Description Hands on rock collecting

Pre VisitLook at different types of rock in and around school. Seeif you can work out which building materials are naturalstone and which are man made.

On site resources� Bags to take specimens home in

Used at Patch Work (Stop 4) 30 mins

23

Collecting Rocks Guide

It’s very important that rocks and fossils are collectedsafely and responsibly. Cwm Gwrelych is a GeologicalSite of Special Scientific Interest. This means that thegeology found here is some of the very best in the coun-try. In fact, the rocks found at Cwm Gwrelych areunique and are of international importance. It is there-fore important that you and your groups have a minimalimpact when exploring and examining them.

At the rocks

� Ensure all group members including you wear hard hatsand safety goggles/glasses

� Work in small groups

� Give each child space to work. Accidents are morelikely when children work (hammering or chiselling) ina confined space

� Look for fossil plants in the mudstones and other fall-en rocks rather than hammering the rock face itself

� Small rocks are easier to break and often have linesof weakness- try these first

� To split rocks cleanly use a chisel or the pointed endof the geology hammer

� Breaking rocks cleanly is all about precision with manysmall taps being much more efficient than huge ham-mer blows with wild and dangerous hammer swinging.Rocks like sandstones that require hard hitting seldomhave good fossils.

This guide will help ensure that you, your group and therocks stay as safe.

Collecting rocks and fossils can be done most safely bysimply looking on the floor beneath the rock outcrops.Here you will find a variety of rocks, possibly containingfossils within easy reach of even the youngest children.

Some of these rocks may need to be broken using specialgeological hammers. Hammers and chisels along with hardhats and goggles/safety specs can be borrowed from theBritish Institute for Geological Conservation.

Take collection bags or sandwich bags to carry specimenshome.

Safety NotesKey Information

24

Fossil Rubbing30 minsUsed at Patch Work (Stop 4)


The Carboniferous was the first period in earth’s longhistory that plants evolved and flourished on the landforming vast tropical forests. These plants were oftenpreserved as fossils in the soft rocks.

DescriptionFind 7 hidden fossil plates and take rubbings of each one.

Pre visitPractice making rubbings in art lessons. Find leaves in theschool grounds and make rubbings of those.

On site resources� Note pads� Wax crayons

SkillsScience GeographyC1 UPEP3

Range Science GeographyIO4 CO2

The 7 metal fossil rubbing plates are dotted around thePatchwork. Encourage children to make rubbings of eachfossil plate they come across. A rubbing is taken by plac-ing a page of the notepad over the plate, then rubbinglightly with a crayon or pencil.

The 7 rubbing plates depict a rare Carboniferous insectand 6 of the most common fossil plants found at CwmGwrelych, (some of which you might find during yourother activities)(Resource 6).

PlenaryCompare the rubbings of the fossil plants with the plantswe find at Cwm Gwrelych today. See if the group can findsome living plants that look similar. Ferns, conifers andhorsetails are modern relatives of the ancientCarboniferous plants. You won’t find fossils of grasses,flowering plants or broad leaved trees in the CoalMeasures rocks because they evolved more recently.

Follow up

Back in school try making your own rubbing plates usingair drying clay or plaster of paris. You could make platesof leaves found around the school grounds.

25

Customising your Cwm Gwrelych visit.If you wish to deviate from the field excursion guide orto customise your visit you may wish to use the additionalon site facilities.

There are three activities that you may want to considerundertaking on the day or returning to do another day.

The Cwm Gwrelych Geo Heritage Trail. This is the way marked trail that guides visitors to all 10interpretation panels (you will have passed several on yourfield trip). This trail will take your group a little furtherupstream beyond Stop 8, Orange Stream. This additionalloop will take 30 minutes.

Merfyn’s Memory Trail. This 8 point audio trail gives a wonderful personal insightinto the history of Cwm Gwrelych and the life and timesof people who have worked, played in and explored CwmGwrelych. A map of Merfyn’s trail can be found here (Resource 12)

Fossil Rubbing activity. In and around the Patchwork Quarry there are 7 rubbingplates that depict typical Coal Measures Fossils. See theActivity Guide in this pack. (Resource 6)

Alternatively consider making this trip part of a series ofvisits to local geological attractions. You could visit CefnCoed Mining Museum, Big Pit, Rhondda Heritage Park orcontact the British Institute for Geological Conservationon 02920 573305 to try to arrange a visit to a localopencast coal mine.

26

Follow Up ResourcesBooks

Rockwatch www.rockwatch.org.uk

A great website for kids and teachers alike! Lots of interactive activitiesand how to guides.Rock hounds club for amateur geologists.

British Geological Survey www.bgs.ac.uk

The resource for all your geological maps, historic records and literature.Well developed educational resources for all ages.

Earth Science Education Forum www.bgs.ac.uk/esef/home.html

A group of organisations promoting earth science at all levels. A Welshgroup meet every quarter in Amgueddfa Cymru- National Museum Wales.Meetings are open.

Earth Learning Idea www.earthlearningidea.com

Joint Earth Science Education Initiativewww.rsc.org/education/teachers/learnnet/jesei/index2.html

The Pebble in My Pocket: A History of Our Earth

A children’s storybook history of a pebble is followed from its time in a volcano to the primordial forests; from there it is stepped on by dinosaurs,dragged by glaciers and picked up by cave people.

Hooper, Meredith/ Coady, Christopher ISBN 0670862592

Geology Rocks!

Packed with fantastic geological activities, which are easy for children tocarry out in the classroom. The activities explain everything including coalvolcanoes, earthquakes, Brilliant!

Cindy Blobaum and Michael KlineISBN9781885593290

Websites

27

Other ActivitiesCwm Gwrelych is a great place that offers lots of other outdoor opportunities for schools.

You could consider using the site for one of these activities.

Pond dipping

Nature walks

Environmental Arts and Crafts

Orienteering

Bug hunts

Problem solving exercises

Poetry and stories

Practical conservation

Guided walks

Picnics

History walks

28

ResourcesResource 1Carboniferous swamp forest picture

Resource 2Carboniferous animals acetate

Resource 3Time line event cards

Resource 41st Present day 0 = stand child at bridge2nd Romans/Celts 2000 years ago = stand child next to first3rd Mammoths extinct 10,000 years ago = stand child next to first two4th Man evolves 2 million years ago = stand child 1 m (2 steps) away5th Dinosaurs Extinct 65 million years ago = stand child 32m (65 steps) away6th First Dinosaurs 230 million years ago = stand child 115m (230 steps) away7th Tropical forests 300 million years ago = stand child 150m (300 steps) away

In this scale 1cm = 20,000 years…. That’s 2 million years per metre - probably 1 million years perchild’s step!

The earth formed 4.6 Billion years ago. Using the above scale a child placed to represent the formation of the earth would have to stand 1.5 miles away.

Resource 5Descriptive Word Cards

Dark Hard Polished MattDull Coarse Sloping FlakyBright Smooth Sticky LumpySparkly Light Crumbly ThinBlack Shiny Fractured LayeredGritty Sandy Fibrous BlockyMetallic Uneven Granular ThickRough Dipping Soft Glassy

Resource 6Fossil Hunters Guide

Resource 7Rock Guide

Resource 8Collection box template

Resource 9Key Stage 2 Base Map

Resource 10Make your own Clinometer

Resource 11Geology map of Wales

Resource 12Merfyn’s Memory Trail

Resource 13Risk assessment example and template

Resource 1

© National Museum of Wales

Resource 2

Resource 3

Pres

ent

day

Rom

ans

/Ce

lts

Resource 3

Mam

mot

hsEx

tinc

t

Man

Evo

lves

Resource 3

Dinosaurs

Extinct

First

Dinosaurs

Resource 3

Tropical

Forests

Resource 4 - Timeline

1st Present day 0 = stand child at bridge

2nd Romans/Celts 2000 years ago = stand child next to first

3rd Mammoths extinct 10,000 years ago = stand child next to first two

4th Man evolves 2 million years ago = stand child 1 m (2 steps) away

5th Dinosaurs Extinct 65 million years ago = stand child 32 m (65 steps) away

6th First Dinosaurs 230 million years ago = stand child 115 m (230 steps) away

7th Tropical forests 300 million years ago = stand child 150 m (300 steps) away

In this scale 1 cm = 20,000 years…. That’s 2 million years per metre - probably 1 millionyears per child’s step!

The earth formed 4.6 Billion years ago. Using the above scale a child placed to represent the formation of the earth would have to stand 1.5 miles away.

Resource 5

Dark

Dull

Bright

Sparkly

Black

Gritty

Metallic

Rough

Resource 5

Hard

Coarse

Smooth

Light

Shiny

Sandy

Uneven

Dipping

Resource 5

Polished

Sloping

Matt

Crumbly

Fibrous

Granular

Soft

Fractured

Resource 5

Flaky

Lumpy

Sticky

Blocky

Thin

Thick

Layered

Glassy

Fossil Hunters’ Guide

Fern Leaves and Fronds

Sigillaria - Bark

Stigmaria - Roots

Horsetails (Calamites)

Fossilised insects are extremely rare soyou’ll be very lucky if you find one!

Lepidodendron - Bark

Stems

These are fossils that you and your group might find atCwm Gwrelych. Most of them are parts of 300 million year old Carboniferous plants.

Resource 6

Rock Type: CoalDescription:A black & shiny sedimentary rock composed of almost 100% preserved plant material. Coal is a highly val-ued fossil fuel. The coal at Cwm Gwrelych is very high quality and burns very cleanly, it is called Antracite.

Resource 7

How it might look in the field

Coal is formed from accumulations of organic matter plantmatter. Typically over many thousands of years the vegetation of the Carboniferous swamp forests would havegrown, died and fallen into the still swampy waters of thedelta.

In the swampy water, the fallen vegetation would not havedecayed due to a lack of oxygen. Huge thicknesses of thisplant material would have built up to form Peat.

Peat is the first stage in coal formation, 1m thickness of peat cantake 1,000 years to form. Over timethe peat becomes compressed, ittakes 11m of peat to form a 1mthickness coal seam. Although Coalis 100% organic, it is unusual to findfossils because the plants have beensquashed.

Coal best seen at the Coal Dram

Special Rock Features

Rock Type: IronstoneDescription:A heavy orange/rusty coloured rock containing up to 30% iron. Occurring in bands the ironstones areusually found within the soft mudstone. Once worked commercially for the production of iron.


Iron rich water flowed through themuddy swamp delta sediment priorto it becoming rock. A series ofchemical reactions resulted in ironrich minerals growing to form nodules.

Resource 7


Ironstone nodules best seen at Stop 4

Ironstone was minedand worked in SouthWales long before thecoal was exploited. Itwas crushed and smelted in blast furnaces throughoutSouth Wales.

Rock Type: MudstoneDescription:A soft dark grey sedimentary rock. It is composed of very small particles of fine silt, clay and mud.It was formed (deposited) in water where there was very little movement. Mudstone often has manythin layers which would have built up slowly over thousands of years.

Resource 7


Mudstone best seen at Stop 4

Special Rock FeaturesMudstones are commonly fossiliferous. The dark colour comesfrom the large amount of organic material locked in the rock.

This organic material is often microscopic but often larger frag-ments of organic material can be found. The fine mud and claysediment that settled from the swampy waters of the CoalMeasures delta was perfect for preserving plant material.

These are some of the fossils that can be commonly found in themudstone rocks. The plants are preserved in very fine detailbecause of the soft fine sediment that surrounded and buriedthem.

These strange structures look like fossils but they aren’t! Theyare Cone in Cone structures and formed when the swampy mudwas being turned to rock.

Rock Type: SandstoneDescription:A hard sedimentary rock composed of sand and gravel particles. Formed (deposited) by rivers thisrock is often rippled but it doesn’t contain any good fossils.


Ripples are often found in sandstones.They show that the sediment wasdeposited in moving water. Sometimesthe shape of a river channel is preserved and often it is possible to calculate which way the water flowed.

Resource 7


Sandstone outcrop best seen at Stop 2

Pebbles and largergravels are often foundat the base of sandstone beds. Theselarger inclusions showthat the rivers wereoccasionally fastflowing and could carrylarge particles.

The Coal MeasuresSandstones make goodbuilding stones. Manyof the terraced housesand schools in SouthWales are built of thisstone.

Resource 8

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Colle

cted

by:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

.D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

...Pl

ace

colle

cted

: ....

......

......

......

......

...Ro

ck o

r fo

ssil

Type

:.....

......

......

......

....

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

.....

Fold along dotted linesFo

ld a

long

dot

ted

lines

Fold along dotted lines


Fold sides in and staple Fold si

des i

n and

stap

le

Fold sides in and stapleFold si

des i

n and

stap

le

Fold sides in and staple Fold si

des i

n and

stap

le

Fold sides in and stapleFold si

des i

n and

stap

le


Fold

alo

ng d

otte

d lin

es

Fold along dotted linesFold along dotted lines

Resource 9

Geology Base Map Example

Cwm GwrelychGeology Base Map

Path

River/ Stream

Rocks

Geology Mapping Activity

Other Stops

Key

Resource 9

Geology Base Map Example

Cwm GwrelychGeology MapTeacher’s Copy

Area of rock outcropthat should be markedon the map

Area of rock outcropthat should be markedon the map

Path

River/ Stream

Rocks

Geology Mapping Activity

Other Stops

Key

Resource 10

Place clinometer on rock surface and measure angle(dip) of rock in degrees. Theweighted string will hangvertically and indicate thedip (angle the rocks enterthethe ground) on the measure at theedge of the clinometer.

How to make a ClinometerHow to make your own clinometer for measuring the dip of rocks.

A clinometer is used to measure angles. In this case angles that the rocks are found sticking out of the ground. These angles are important to geologists as they enable them to understand whatrocks do beneath the ground. Geologists call these angles “Dip.” Here is how you can make a clinometer and measure the angles/dip of the rocks at Stops 2 and 4.

You will need:One piece of stiff A3 size cardA brass paper fastenerA piece of string A small weight or a small lump of clay

Cut along this dotted line

1. Photocopy this page.

2. Glue the photocopyonto stiff card.

3. Insert paper fastener.

4. Tie 20cm of string tothe paper fastener.

5. Add weight (small lumpof clay) to the end ofthe string.

Resource 11

Geology Map of Wales

CARBONIFEROUS 354 - 256 MaWarwickshire GroupSouth Wales Upper Coal Measures FormationPennine Middle Coal Measures Formationand South Wales Middle Coal MeasuresFormation (undifferentiated)Pennine Lower Coal Measures Formationand South Wales Lower Coal MeasuresMillstone Grit Group (also see MIGR)Bowland High Group and Craven Group(undifferentiated)Dinantian (undifferentiated)

DEVONIAN 417 - 354 MaUpper Devonian Rocks (undifferentiated)Lower Devonian Rocks (undifferentiated)

SILURIAN 443 - 417 MaPridoli Rocks (undifferentiated)Ludlow Rocks (undifferentiated)Wenlock Rocks (undifferentiated)Llandovery Rocks (undifferentiated)Silurian Rocks (undifferentiated)

ORDOVICIAN 485 - 443 MaAshgill Rocks (undifferentiated)Caradoc Rocks (undifferentiated)Llanvirn Rocks (undifferentiated)Arenig Rocks (undifferentiated)Tremadoc (undifferentiated)Ordovician (undifferentiated)

BGS Copyright Permit IPR/123-89CT

SEDIMENTARY AND METAMORPHIC ROCKSEOCENE - MIOCENE 55 - 5 MaEocene to Miocene Rocks (undifferentiated)Jurassic 209 - 176 MaLias GroupTriassic 248 - 205 MaTriassic Rocks (undifferentiated)Permian 290 - 248 MaPermian Rocks (undifferentiated)

CAMBRIAN 545 - 485 MaUpper Cambrian, including TremadocMiddle CambrianLower Cambrian Rocks (undifferentiated)

NEOPROTEROZOIC 1000 - 485 MaUnnamed Metasedimentary Rocks,NeoproterozoicUnnamed Metamorphic Rocks,Neoproterozoic

INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKSUnnamed Igneous Intrusion, Ordovician to SilurianUnnamed Igneous Intrusion, Neoproterozoic

EXTRUSIVE IGNEOUS ROCKSUnnamed Extrusive Rocks, SilurianUnnamed Extrusive Rocks, OrdovicianUnnamed Extrusive Rocks, CambrianUnnamed Extrusive Rocks, Neoproterozoic

Resource 12

Merfyn’s Memory Trail

Resource 13

How to fill out a Risk Assessment

1Slight/minor

injuries/minordamage

2Medium Injuries/

Significant damage

3Major

Injury/ExtensiveDamage

2

4

6

1

2

3

3

6

9

1Unlikely

2Possible

3Very Likely

Likelyhood

Seve

rity

Risk Rating Matrix

Resource 13

Uneven ground -slips and trips.

Cuts, strain bruising, fractures& concussion.

Manage group well. Make aware ofdifficult areas. Ensure group hassuitable sturdy footwear.

2 1 2 M

Steep slopes,cliffs, narrowpaths - falling.

Cuts, strain bruising, fractures& concussion.

Manage group well. Good verbalcommunication. 1 2 2 M

Members of thepublic.

Abuse, assault &abduction.

Be vigilant, manage group well &avoid confrontation. 1 2 2 M

Rivers & pondsDrowning, oralinfection, hyperthermia.

Make aware of danger. Goodgroup management. Wash handsafter activity. Spare blanket.

1 3 3 M

Hazardous waste- syringes &glass.

Cuts & infections. Be vigilant, make group aware.Avoid problem areas. 1 3 3 M

Getting lost. Exposure.Know the site. Carry map. Managegroup.Use a buddy system.Arrange an emergency MeetingPoint.

1 3 3 M

Falling branches.Bruises, cuts,breaks & concussion.

Be aware of wind conditions & bevigilant. 1 3 3 M

Dogs.Cuts & Toxocarainfection fromfaeces.

Be vigilant. Make group aware. 1 3 3 M

Wild animals &plants

Stings, bites,cuts, scratches &eye damage

Make group aware. Point out dangerous plants to avoid. Carrymedical information concerningchildren & carry secateurs.

1 3 3 M

Using geologicalequipment

Stone chips ineye, bruising,breaks to handsand fingers

Good group management andindtruction. Participants to usegoggles and gloves 2 2 4 M

L S RR L/M/H

Risk Assessor(s) Signature(s) Designation

SignificantHazard

Possible injuries Risk control measures Risk Rating Further action requiredWhat is required to bring the riskdown to an acceptable level?

Actioned to:Who will completethe further actionrequired?

Due date:When will the action be done by?

Completion date:Initial and dateonce the action hasbeen completed

See info aftertable

Likelihood (L) Severity (S)L x S = RR

Cwm Gwrelych Site Visit Risk Assessment

Resource 13

L S RR L/M/H

Risk Assessor(s) Signature(s) Designation

SignificantHazard

Possible injuries Risk control measures Risk Rating Further action requiredWhat is required to bring the riskdown to an acceptable level?

Actioned to:Who will completethe further actionrequired?

Due date:When will the action be done by?

Completion date:Initial and dateonce the action hasbeen completed

See info aftertable

Likelihood (L) Severity (S)L x S = RR

Cwm Gwrelych Site Visit Risk Assessment

Documents

C G I B BIG C - Geoconservation Live...Partnership Business Education OCCS Selar Energy, Celtic Glamorgan Mid Partnership Business Education Busnes Addysg Partneriaeth Ganol Morgannwg