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The Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago hosted its First Geological Conference in 1985
July 10 - 12. This Conference examined aspects of geology of Trinidad andTobago and reviewed their setting in the
Southeast Caribbean. The Conference comprised two days of Technical Sessions and a one day Symposium on the SoutheastCaribbean.
Three post-Conference field-trips were held. 'Me first two trips visited the southwest and southeast parts of Trinidad,
while the other trip examined the geology ofTobago.
Among the participants at this Conference were internationally renowned geologists from the Caribbean, South America,
the United States of America, and Europe. As withany conference, these geologist,-., who have been working on the
geology of Trinidad and of the southeast Caribbean, but in countries far-removed from one another, cametogether
to exchange and consolidate the results of their efforts.
The feature address at the opening ceremony was given by the Hon. Mr. Patrick Manning, Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources. In his address, Mr. Manning lamentedon the failure of some sectors in the mining industry to use geologists
in order to improve the efficiency of their operations. Also addressing the gathering of local and foreign geologists
was the President of the Geological Society, Mr Lennox Algoo.
The technical programme was divided into seven sessions over the first two days. The final day was devoted to a
Symposium on the Geology of the SouthEastern comer ofthe Caribbean. During the technical sessions twenty-nine papers
covering various aspects of the geology of Trinidad and Tobago were presented. Of these twenty-ninepapers, twelve
were by local geologists and five were co-authored by nationals of Trinidad and Tobago Local authors were drawn
largely from the Institute of Marine Affairs,the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the 00 Companies.
The University of the West Indies' Geology Department at Mona and the Civil Engineering Departmentat St. Augustine
were also noteworthy contributors.
The Symposium on the third d4y looked at the geological relationship of Trinidad and Tobago with that of the Caribbean
area. The symposium consisted of (8) eightinternational and local contributions. The local paper was authored by
geologist and geophysicist of Trintoc, and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources respectively'The other
contributions came largely from research institutions such as the Woods Hold oceanographic Institute, the Natural
History Museum, Switzerland, Lamont -Doherty Geological Observatory, University Of Colorado and the Venezuelan
Institute for Scientific Research.
The efforts of the G.S.T.T., in organising such a conference came in for high praises during the closing remarks
by geoscientist, Mr. J.B. Saunders, who had been one ofthe early geologists, working on the geology of Trinidad
and the Caribbean. The Organising committee was also congratulated on the smooth, well-coordinated flow of theentire
conference and our local geologists were encouraged to make this Geological Conference ' a regular feature on the
international geologic-calendar.
This Conference is the fifth Geological Conference to be held in this country to date, but is the first by the
Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago. The First was held inApril 1939 and large numbers of Geologists from
Trinidad, Venezuela and the West Indies participated. In December 1955, the Conference held at Pointe-a-Pierre,discussed
and defined type localities, type sections and the designation of formations, all being important geological considerations.
The Fourth Caribbean geologicalConference was held In Port of Spain in 1965. A total of seventy-two papers were
presented and eight field-trips throughout Trinidad, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Vincentwere held. In 1979, the
Fourth Latin American Conference was held in Port of Spain and attracted geologists world-wide. I am sure that
it is the opinion Of many geologists that a meeting of this type was needed. It was about one year ago that the
Geological Society was able to put themachinery in gear to organize their first conference.
The Conference programme featured all aspects of Trinidad geology including petroleum geology, marine geology,
geochemistry, palaeontology, palynology,sedimentology, structural geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology and
regional geology. The society attracted a participation of one hundred geologists and personsinterested in geology.
Twenty-nine papers were presented and will be Included in a post-Conference publication of the proceedings of the
Conference. Society has beenassisted in its efforts by the support of a number of individuals and organizations,
without whom this venture would not have been possible,
Oil & Gas | GSTT
Store | Geology of T&T |Teaching Resources| Virtual Field Trip| Careers
THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
P.O. Box 3524, La Romaine, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
or
c/o Trinidad & Tobago Institute of Technology,
Esperanza Road, Brechin Castle, Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
1-868-679-6064 or 1-868-761-7680
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