We are pleased to confirm that in conjunction with the 2009 MetSoc meeting in Nancy, the pre-conference field trip to the Rochechouart impact will be happening.

Pre registered will be contacted individually with further instructions. Instructions will also be released on line (coming soon). Those who have not pre registered and who are interested in joining the trip are welcome and are kindly requested to contact directly Philippe Lambert at lambertbdx@numericable.fr along with a copy of your message for the organization committee at metsoc09@crpg.cnrs-nancy.fr

Payment can be done through the registration pages. To register, you need a login and password (if you have not some already), then go to page 2 of the registration form and tick the appropriate box.

Two fundamental aspects of the formation of large meteorite impact are the excavation stage generating ejecta deposits and the crater readjustment leading to the final morphology. Rochechouart is unique among terrestrial impact craters as both are readily and simultaneously accessible for studies. Owing to morphology and erosion, the Rochechouart-Chassenon area in France exposes both the target and the proximal impact deposits over a 12 km diameter central zone. The whole series of known shock metamorphic features are present and the impact deposit sequence is complete, including the very top of the suevite deposit. A comparison of similarities and differences between the similar sized Rochechouart  and Ries craters will be emphasized during the field trip.

Besides geology, the field trip will stop at some of the cultural, archeological and historical sites of the area and at (near Poitiers) for an overnight stay before joining Nancy by TGV. Although being an amusement Park (the second largest in France), Futuroscope is very different from others such as EuroDisney near Paris, as it is specifically dedicated to science and technology.