https://www.bathgeoenvironmental.co.uk/

Bath Geo-Environmental, Bath (2026)

03/06/2026

🗺️⛰️ What Does a Geologist Do When Mapping an Area? ⛰️🗺️
People often imagine geology as simply “looking at rocks”, but geological mapping and cartography involve much more than that. Before even stepping into the field, there is a huge amount of preparation behind every geological map.
A geologist first studies: 📚 Existing geological information and previous research 🛰️ Aerial photographs and satellite imagery 🧭 Geomorphology and landscape features 🪨 Rock samples and hand specimen identification 📍 Access routes, logistics and safety considerations
In remote or difficult areas, working with local guides is essential — not only for safety, but also for understanding the territory, the environment and the local knowledge connected to the landscape.
Here in the Réserve Naturelle Communautaire de Dindefelo (Senegal), some mornings start very early climbing up towards the plateau before the heat becomes too intense. Along the route, we cross different weathering horizons including: 🟠 Saprolites 🔴 Laterites 🟤 Pisolites
before reaching villages such as Affia and continuing towards the waterfalls and outcrops for field observations.
One of the formations currently being mapped is the Dindefelo Formation, mainly composed of: 🪨 Fine red sandstones 🟣 Thin purple slate/mudstone layers
In the field, the work consists of: 📏 Measuring geological sections 🧭 Recording orientations and structures ✏️ Describing lithology and sedimentary features 🗺️ Correlating observations across the landscape
All these observations are later integrated to help reconstruct the geological history of the area and produce geological cartography.
Sometimes a geological map starts with simply walking for hours, observing carefully and asking questions about why the landscape looks the way it does. 🌍
🪨🌍

01/06/2026

🌟 Reflecting on my journey as an engineer, I began my career in the laboratory — which laid the foundation for my technical expertise! 🧪🔬

During those early years, I gained invaluable experience in:
🔹 Sampling, preparation, and testing of soils, rocks, and materials in the lab, following British Standards (BS).
🔹 Conducting tests like Plastic Limits, Liquid Limits, Wet & Dry Sieve, Particle Density, Triaxials, Vicakits, Flow Channels, Bud Balance, Bleed Tests… you name it!

🧱 These hands-on experiences taught me not only the technical aspects but also the importance of:
✔ Accurate data collection to avoid NCR (Non-Conformance Reports).
✔ Training and mentoring others in these methodologies.
✔ Better soil description techniques based on primary and secondary constituents.
✔ Amending field logs to align with lab results.
✔ Scheduling chemical and geotechnical samples and comparing them against field data for solid geotechnical interpretation.

What many don’t see? The coordination between departments and subcontractors to meet tight deadlines, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

This early stage shaped my understanding of the complexities of geotechnical work, and I’m proud of the foundation it gave me to contribute effectively to larger projects.

🔧🌍If you’re ever in need of advice or want to chat more about this journey, feel free to reach out! Let’s keep building the future — safely and effectively.

🏗📧 Contact: [email protected]

31/05/2026

🌍 What a Geologist does on a weekend – Edition 61
This weekend was a more relaxing one in the local market of Dindefelo 🇸🇳🧺✨ helping my Senegalese mother with some errands and preparations for the great fête of Tabaski 🐑🌙
After weeks of intense fieldwork, mapping and hiking, it was beautiful to slow down a little and experience everyday life within the community 🤍
The local market is full of colours, fabrics, spices, vegetables and smiles 🌶️🧅🧵 One of my favourite parts was seeing all the incredible traditional fabrics and patterns — every colour combination tells a story and reflects such a vibrant culture 🎨✨
Being part of daily life here is teaching me that geology projects are not only about maps and rocks. They are also about understanding communities, traditions and people 🌍⛏️
Tabaski preparations bring families together, and the atmosphere in Dindefelo is full of energy, kindness and excitement 🙌🏾
I feel incredibly grateful for how welcomed I have been here. Little by little, Dindefelo feels like a second home 🏡🤍
❓ Question: What is your favourite way to experience a new culture when travelling or working abroad?
Jarama buy (thank you in Pulaar) to everyone who continues supporting my journey in Senegal 🤍🌍
🌍🧺✨

29/05/2026

🌍 Geology Throwback – Edition 14 | Thrihnukagigur Volcano, Iceland 🇮🇸
Inside a volcano: exploring the magma chamber

🌋 A unique geological experience Did you know that in Iceland you can go inside a volcano? Thrihnukagigur is the only place in the world where the magma chamber can be safely explored from the inside.

🪨 Geological setting This volcano is part of Iceland’s hotspot and rift system, where magma rises due to mantle upwelling and plate separation. Most volcanoes collapse after eruptions, but here the magma drained away, leaving the chamber intact and accessible.

⬇️ Descending into the Earth Visitors are lowered by an open elevator ~120 m down into the chamber. Inside, you can observe:
🎨 Oxidised colours (reds, yellows, blues) from mineral-rich gases
🧱 Volcanic walls formed by cooling magma
🕳️ The empty conduit where magma once flowed

⚡ Why is it special? Instead of collapsing, this volcano preserved its internal structure, offering a rare glimpse into the plumbing system of a volcano — something we usually only infer from surface geology.

✨ A journey into the heart of the Earth, where geology becomes a real, immersive experience.

❓ What do you think happens to most magma chambers after an eruption?

🌋🌍

26/05/2026

📚🌍 Supporting the Next Generation of Geologists 🌍📚
This week in Senegal, besides continuing with fieldwork and remote reporting for my UK clients, I have also been helping my little sister Maria prepare for her geology exams. 😊
The topics included: 🪨 Tectonic plates 📏 Geological faults 🌋 Geological processes ⏳ Geological chronology of events 📚 Principles such as superposition of strata and relative dating
She worked incredibly hard and did very well in her exam — very proud teacher/sister moment! ☺️
Sometimes people think geology is only about rocks in the field, but a big part of being a geologist is understanding how to reconstruct Earth’s history from clues preserved in the ground. From tectonic activity to sedimentary sequences, every structure tells part of the story.
For me, it is also important to encourage the next generation, share knowledge and make geology accessible and interesting for younger students. 🌍✨
Alongside the international collaboration work here in Senegal, I continue assisting clients remotely and will be back in the UK in mid-June for site-based projects and contracting work.
Bath Geo-Environmental can assist with:
📑 Phase 1 Desk Studies 📊 Phase 2 Geo-Environmental Reports 🪓 Site Investigation Supervision & Logging 📏 In-situ Testing & Soakaway Testing 🧪 Laboratory Testing Coordination 📋 Ground Investigation Scoping 🛠️ RAMS Preparation 🌍 Environmental Site Audits ♻️ Remediation Support & Strategies
📩 [email protected]
🌍🪨

25/05/2026

Phase 1 Reporting, let's review and re-post my services awareness/educational post of Phase 1! 🌍🔎

So, here we go - Phase 1: Preliminary Risk Assessment - Desk Studies. This crucial first step is a comprehensive report designed to evaluate potential sources of contamination at a site.

The assessment:
🧐 Identifies possible contamination risks 🌱 Analyses the environmental and health hazards
🛠️ Determines the need for further investigation if required

Why is this phase important?
By addressing potential contamination risks early on, we help ensure that future development is safe and compliant.

This process:
✅ Safeguards the environment
🏗️ Protects public health
🧑‍⚖️ Ensures compliance with regulations
When is it required?

A Preliminary Risk Assessment is typically needed in these situations:
📑 To support planning applications: Ensures the site is suitable for the proposed development.
🏙️ To comply with planning conditions: Meets local authorities' requirements for safe and sustainable development.

Key Benefits:
⚠️ Early identification of risks
✔️ Compliance with local regulations
🛠️ Helps in planning for potential remediation measures

If you need expert advice or have any questions about whether a Preliminary Risk Assessment is necessary for your project, Geo-Environmental is here to assist you!

Feel free to reach out at [email protected] I’m here to help guide you through the process.

24/05/2026

🌍 What a Geologist does on a weekend – Edition 60
First of all… thank you so much to all 4,000 followers! 🤍 I never imagined that sharing geology, fieldwork, landscapes and everyday adventures through the eyes of a geologist would connect with so many people around the world 🌎⛏️
To celebrate this milestone, this weekend I hiked to the plateau (“meseta”) area of Dande 🇸🇳 to admire the incredible landscape of the African savanna and the spectacular “Dientes de Dande” (“Teeth of Dande”) 🏜️⛰️
These impressive rock formations are developed within the red sandstones of the Dindefelo Formation 🔴🪨 and are controlled by a complex family of faults and fractures that shaped this dramatic landscape over millions of years.
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience is that I have already been mapping this area myself — taking structural measurements, describing lithologies and understanding how tectonics and erosion worked together to create these incredible natural features 📐🧭⛏️
Fieldwork in Senegal continues to remind me that geology is not only about rocks… it is also about culture, landscapes, teamwork, resilience and connection with nature 🌍🤍
The hike was intense with the heat and terrain 🥵 but completely worth it for these views.
❓ Open question: Have you ever visited a landscape that made you stop and think about how powerful Earth processes really are?
🌍⛰️🪨

20/05/2026

☀️ The First Traces of Life on Earth – Written in Rocks ☀️

In my previous post I talked about sedimentary structures and how they help us interpret ancient environments.But sedimentary rocks can also preserve something even more fascinating: the first traces of life on our planet.

Do you know what the first living organisms on Earth were?

🦠 Bacteria. They appeared more than 3.5 billion years ago, long before complex organisms existed.In shallow marine environments, communities of bacteria formed layered structures called bacterial mats. Over time these mats trapped sediments and created laminated structures that can be preserved in rocks.
These microbial communities represent some of the oldest biological evidence on Earth.

🌊 Evolution of More Complex Life As life evolved, more complex organisms began to interact with the sediment. Simple marine organisms — such as early worms and primitive mollusc-like creatures — started moving through the soft seabed in search of food. Their movement disturbed the sediment and created galleries and burrows in the mud. When these structures are preserved in the rock record, we call them:
🪨 Bioturbation These traces are not fossils of the organism itself, but evidence of its activity — a record of life interacting with the environment millions of years ago.
🔬 What We See in the Rock Record In the photograph you can observe: 🦠 Bacterial mats – layered microbial communities representing some of the oldest forms of life.

🪨 Bioturbation structures – traces of organisms moving through soft sediments.
These structures help geologists understand:
• Early ecosystems
• Evolution of life
• Environmental conditions of ancient seas It’s incredible to think that rocks formed hundreds of millions — even billions — of years ago can still preserve the first steps of life on our planet.

Bath Geo-Environmental

Bath Geo-Environmental

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