Geology 40413
Map Interpretation

COURSE OUTLINE: This course is designed to develop a practical and theoretical understanding of geometrical concepts in geology. A skill in understanding spatial relationships is critical to a comprehension of geology. One part of the course will utilize the geometrical techniques needed in order to decipher and interpret individual spacial entities likely to be encountered in basin analysis. Within this context the following specific problems will be studied:
  1. Determination of dip and strike
  2. Intersections of planar unconformities in the subsurface
  3. The examination of fault outcrop patterns
  4. The behavior of faults at depth
  5. Problems associated with overthrust terrains
  6. Problems and techniques encountered in industrial geology
  7. Problems associated with folded terrains
In this part of the course you will be required to answer about 25 - 30 map problems; these problems start off easy but finish up hard, developing skills sequentially. This means that you must keep up to date in this course: you cannot afford to put things off. The maps are grouped into assignments of 2, 3, or 4 maps per week. Unless otherwise indicated each assignment is due to me one week after you receive it. For each map problem you will receive a correct solution sheet; thus it should be possible to build for yourselves a file which hopefully will be of use in the hereafter.

Another part of the course will concentrate on problems associated with real maps. You will examine large scale maps produced by various Geological Surveys which have been selected for study because they display fundamental geological problems. You will be required to write formalized reports on these maps. It will help to review your knowledge of stereonets.

STYLE OF TEACHING: This course will be rather different to courses which you have taken previously in the Geology Department. There will be no formal lecture period; instead we will meet once a week and I will go over the solutions to the previous week's work with you. You will then collect another assignment and disappear into the wilds of wherever it is you live and solve the problems given . Thus in a sense this course will be run as a seminar. I consider the work load to be reasonably hard; if you are having trouble meeting deadlines, please see me immediately and we can come to some reasoned amicable arrangement.

There are no theoretical exams in this course. Instead your grade will be determined as follows:

  1. Each piece of work that you submit to me will receive a mark that I will acquaint you with, as appropriate.
  2. For the final (Tuesday May 9 at 3:00 pm), you will be required to write a formal description of a survey map. This description will constitute 15% of your final grade.
  3. By the date of the final you will have developed a graphical problem map of your own construction. This map must depict an unconformity, both normal and reverse faults and folds. The map must "work"; i.e., obey the geometric constraints inherent in the concepts of original horizontality, superposition and cross cutting relationships. This map will constitute 15% of your final grade.

GRADE SCALE:

A: 90%+
B: 80-89%
C: 70-79%
D: 60-69%
F: <60%


NOTE: The prime goal of this course is to develop critical thinking skills in dealing with spatial relationships. Thus I am concerned with the development of qualitative conceptual skills rather than a quantitative data base. You can obviously learn a lot from each other so that if you are stuck, then I really don't mind if you talk to each other about problems and try to work them out together. In this context, my sole concern is that you do not freeload off each other - if you do so you will defeat the purpose of the course and be wasting your time.

 

This page created 8-20-02 by Sara Donaldson
Last revised 8-31-02
© 2002, Nowell Donovan
Maintained by Sara Donaldson