February 10, 2014

A Request: Mauritius Geology

Posted by Evelyn Mervine

The Mauritius guidebook I recently purchased. This guidebook skims over some very interesting geology-- I hope to learn more!

The Mauritius guidebook I recently purchased. This guidebook skims over some very interesting geology– I hope to learn more!

My husband and I have had quite a busy few months of work. We only took one day of leave over the recent December holiday, so we’ve decided that we need a short break before I start a new position at the beginning of April. So, we’ve booked a week’s vacation on the lovely island of Mauritius in late March. We’ll be traveling through Johannesburg on the way to visit some family and attend my sister-in-law’s university graduation ceremony.

I’m very excited about our upcoming trip to Mauritius. We plan to spend a significant amount of time relaxing on the beach, snorkelling, and kayaking. However, I also hope that we can explore some of the island’s geological wonders. I’m particularly interested in learning more about the Dodo bird, which lived on Mauritius before it became extinct. I’m also very interested in learning more about the island’s volcanic geology. Apparently there are some lava tubes on the island, among other interesting volcanic features.

Here’s my request: Can anyone help me learn more about Mauritius geology before my trip? Can anyone suggest any good papers to read about Dodo bird fossils or general Mauritian geology? Furthermore, does anyone know of any geologists (in Mauritius, maybe?) who might be able to provide advice on good places to see geology and/or fossil collections in Mauritius?

Any information that anyone can provide on Mauritius geology would be most appreciated. Many thanks in advance!