Earth Science 2U - Structure, Maps And Exploration

Short Description
An understanding of structural geology, geological maps, and geophysical exploration, in the context of both the laboratory and field environments.

Course Aims
To provide students with the key principles of structural geology and to demonstrate how geological structures relate to geological maps. To develop the field skills of positioning, observation, recording and interpretation in the context of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, geological maps, landforms and tectonic structures.To provide students with the principles of geological and geophysical exploration for natural resources.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Read 3-D topographic and geological maps, especially the 3-D visualisation of geological relationships and structures using only the outcrop pattern and the shape of the topographic surface.
- Make an elementary geological map by: locating outcrops, recording dip, strike and other directional information; finding, following and extrapolating contacts; making appropriate and neat entries on the map and in the field notebook.
- Use maps and cross-sections to solve geological problems of varying scales from the local distribution of rock-types to terrane boundaries.
- Prepare synoptic maps, and fully integrated, true-scale, vertical cross-sections, to illustrate the geology of an area.
- Use field observations of rocks to interpret sedimentary environments, igneous intrusions, metamorphic facies, and structural evolution.
- Use rigorous terminology to describe the morphology and orientation of structures, and their component parts, in 3-D space.
- Explain how rock materials respond to loading under different conditions within the Earth's crust and to discuss the models and mechanisms which have been proposed for the formation of discontinuities, folds, and fabrics in rocks.
- Use geomorphological features, such as slope gradients, drainage network, river longitudinal profiles, hypsometric curves to identify geological relationships and structures both on the field and on a topographical map.
- Understand the basic principles, practicalities and uses of geophysical techniques, in particular shallow seismics, electrical resistivity, and measurement of the earth's gravity and magnetic field.