4/7/14

What a whirlwind of nearly 2 months with talks in India (6), New Zealand (6) and Australia (15)!  Two lectures in Perth for the Geological Society of Australia Western Australia division and CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization) finished out my tour in Australia. Perth is distant from the rest of Australia, and has a strong contingent of geologists, many in mining.

The tall BHP Billiton tower dominates Perth’s business district skyline.

The tall BHP Billiton tower dominates Perth’s business district skyline.

There are impressive views of Perth from King’s Park with its distinctive botanical gardens.

perth sky3
There are beautiful views of Perth from King’s Park.

Nearby in the Darling Ranges, it was interesting to compare iron-rich pisoliths to the concretions I have been looking at over the years.

My host Dr. Ravi Anand at CSIRO explains the ferruginous pisoliths in complex soil horizons on top of Proterozoic granite.
My host Dr. Ravi Anand at CSIRO explains the ferruginous pisoliths in complex soil horizons on top of Proterozoic granite.
The bottle-shaped boab tree is endemic to Australia. Its leaves have medicinal properties and its swollen trunk has the ability to store water during dry seasons.
The bottle-shaped boab tree is endemic to Australia. Its leaves have medicinal properties and its swollen trunk has the ability to store water during dry seasons.
Two oceans converge at Cape Leeuwin, the southwestern-most point of Australia.
Two oceans converge at Cape Leeuwin, the southwestern-most point of Australia.
Hamelin Bay near Margaret River (S of Perth) is known for stingrays as well as its sunsets.
Hamelin Bay near Margaret River (S of Perth) is known for stingrays as well as its sunsets.
No, I didn't get to the famed stromatolites of Shark's Bay, but I did see these cool microbial thrombolites at Lake Clifton (S of Perth), estimated at ~ 2000 years old.
No, I didn’t get to the famed stromatolites of Shark’s Bay, but I did see these cool microbial thrombolites at Lake Clifton (S of Perth), estimated at ~ 2000 years old.

I am grateful for this enriching experience that was sponsored by GSA, the University of Utah, the Geological Societies of Australia and New Zealand, and many host institutions. Everywhere I visited the response to the lectures was enthusiastic.  Soon I will be home to recoup for a few weeks, and then it will be trip #2 off to Japan and China for the month of May!

One for the road.......
One for the road…….
A last sunset at Canal Rocks north of Margaret River, Western Australia.
A last sunset at Canal Rocks north of Margaret River, Western Australia.

Margie