Engineering Encyclopedia

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Geology For Engineers And

Scientists Geologic Map Reading

Note: The source of the technical material in this volume is the Professional
Engineering Development Program (PEDP) of Engineering Services.
Warning: The material contained in this document was developed for Saudi
Aramco and is intended for the exclusive use of Saudi Aramco’s
employees. Any material contained in this document which is not
already in the public domain may not be copied, reproduced, sold, given,
or disclosed to third parties, or otherwise used in whole, or in part,
without the written permission of the Vice President, Engineering
Services, Saudi Aramco.

Chapter : Geology For additional information on this subject, contact

File Reference: AGE10705 J.L. McKissack on 874-2514
Engineering Encyclopedia Geology
Geology for Engineers and Scientists/ Geologic Map Reading

CONTENTS PAGES
GEOLOGIC TIME.................................................................................................. 1

LEGEND................................................................................................................. 2

MAP PROPER........................................................................................................ 3

GEOLOGIC EXPLANATION ............................................................................... 4

GEOLOGIC PROFILE ........................................................................................... 5

LITHOLOGIC SYMBOLS..................................................................................... 6

Geologic Time and Rock Formation ........................................................... 6

Quarternary Formations for Map I-210 A ................................................... 6
Quarternary and Tertiary Formations for Map I-210 A............................... 6
Tertiary Formations for Map I-210 A.......................................................... 6
Other Formations for Map I-210 A ............................................................. 6
Other Formations for Map I-210 A ............................................................. 6
Other Formations for Map I-210 A ............................................................. 7
Other Formations for Map I-210 A ............................................................. 7
Miscellaneous Symbols for Map I-210-A ................................................... 7
Quarternary Formations for Map I-208 A ................................................... 7
Tertiary Formations for Map I-208 A.......................................................... 8
Tertiary Formations for Map I-208 A.......................................................... 8

WORK AID ............................................................................................................ 9

GLOSSARY ......................................................................................................... 11

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Engineering Encyclopedia Geology
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Geologic Time
The bulk of the land mass now known as Saudi Arabia started to emerge, as seawater receded,
about 1.5 to 2 million years ago. This accounts for most of the rocks and formations found on
the land surface today.
Figure 1 shows a generally accepted chart used by scientists to date rocks and geologic
formations. Geologic time is divided into four major parts called eons. Eons are further
broken down into eras, and eras are further broken down into periods. Quarternary refers to
the last 1.6 million years or the most recent time. Tertiary refers to that period of time from
66.4 million years ago to 1.6 million years ago. The cretacious period started about
144,000,000 years ago and ended about 66.4 million years ago. Most of the rocks and
formations you will see fit into one or more of these time frames. The scope of this module
does not allow a thorough discussion of geologic time. A short bibliography follows that does
cover geologic time in more depth:
Books: 551. series located in the Technical Information Center, Dhahran.
Physical Geology, Brian J. Skinner/ Stephen C. Porter, John Wiley & Sons,1987.
Quaternary Period in Saudi Arabia, Saad S. Al-Sayari/Josef G. Zotl, Springer-Verlay,
Wien/New York. 1978.
Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions, George H. Davis, John Wiley & Sons, 1984.
Sample Examination Manual, R. G. Swanson, Petroleum Geologists ,Methods of Exploration
Series, American Association of Exploration Series
Two United States Geological Survey maps will be used in this module:
• U.S.G.S. I-208 A and
• U.S.G.S. I-210 A.
Open map I-210 A and orient it to north. This map has four basic parts:
• The legend
• The map proper
• The geologic explanation
• A geologic profile

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Legend
Geologic maps have a legend on the right side of the map. This part of the map is very
similar to the geographic map studied in module AGE 107.04, for that reason these items will
not be discussed further.

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Map Proper
In addition to all of the pertinent geographic data, these geologic maps give the age and
outline of geologic formations in various colors. Letter codes appear as well. Letter codes
give information about the type and age of rocks. These codes are shown in picture forms
called "lithologic symbols".

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Geologic Explanation
The "Geologic Explanation" is located at the top left side of the map.
A three column list gives the lithologic symbol and the Arabic, and English meaning for the
symbol. The primary subject of this module is to find and identify lithologic symbols.
Identification of rocks and formations becomes easier once you understand what the symbols
mean.

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Geologic Profile
Another interesting part of map I-210 A is the geologic profile shown at the bottom of the
map. Two cross sections: points A through A' and B through B' show what the structure of
the land is above and below sea level for these two areas.

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LITHOLOGIC SYMBOLS
Lithologic symbols indicate the type of rock shown on a geologic map. Sandstone is always
shown by dots, as you can see by the examples in Figure 2, even if the pattern differs for the
type of sandstone. Symbols for other rocks may be superimposed on the dotted pattern to
indicate the presence of shale, limestone, quartz, etc. The same is true of the standard symbol
for shale. Lithologic symbols shown in Figure 2 are more or less standard. Different
companies prefer various colors for shading in lithologies (pictures). In general, sandstones
are always yellow and limestones are blue. Shales are shown in various colors, depending on
the type of shale.
Geologic Time and Rock Formation
Refer to handout, Geologic map I-210 A, 1967. The legend on the left side of the map lists all
of the geologic materials shown on this map. The right sides of geographic and geologic maps
are very nearly the same. Since you have had the right side of geographic maps explained in
Module AGE 107.04, it will not be discussed any further. Acquaint yourself with each of the
symbols in the middle column by following the steps in the Work Aid "IDENTIFY
GEOLOGIC MAP SYMBOLS".
In Map I-210A , the first six lithologies from the top use "Q " as the first letter in the code.
The "Q " stands for "Quarternary". The next seven lithologies use the letter "T ". The "T "
stands for "Tertiary". The author determines what further descriptions will be used.
Generally, lower case letters are abbreviations used to describe the type of material.
Quarternary Formations for Map I-210 A
The "es " in Qes stands for Eolian sand. The "s " in Qs stands for silt. The "sb " in Qsb
stands for Sabkhah deposits. The "u " in Qu denotes gravel, sand, silt, and clay. The "t " in
Qt stands for terrace sand. See Figure 3.
Quarternary and Tertiary Formations for Map I-210 A
When two geologic periods overlap both capital letters are used as in QTb the "b " stands for
basalt, therefore, QTb indicates a basalt rock formation that was formed during the
Quartenary and Tertiary Periods. The "uc " in Tuc means unconsolidated clastic. The "lb " in
Tlb stands for lake beds. The "c" in Tc means consolidated clastic. See Figure 4.
Tertiary Formations for Map I-210 A
The "s" in Ts stands for Shumaysi. The "us " in Tus stands for Usfan. The "ka " in Tka
stands for Khurma. See Figure 5.
Other Formations for Map I-210 A
The rtp stands for ryholite, trachyte, and phonolite; sr stands for shammar rhyolite; dikes of
rhyolite, diabase and andesite are shown as slash lines; and gp refers to granite. See Figure 6.
Other Formations for Map I-210 A
The fa and ab stand for Fatima and Abla formations; mu stands for Murdama formation; gb
stands for gabbro, gabbro porphyry and diabase; ha stands for halaban andesite. See Figure
7.

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Other Formations for Map I-210 A

The gr stands for granite; qd stands for quartz diorite; gg stands for granite gneiss; and dg
stands for diorite and granodiorite. See Figure 8.
Other Formations for Map I-210 A
The gd and rs stand for andesite, diabase, slate, greenstone, and andesite porphyry; gs
stands for chlorite schist; sc stands for sericite and chlorite schist; sa stands for amphibolite
schist; wl stands for wadi lith; and the slashed lines show trend lines. See Figure 9.
Miscellaneous Symbols for Map I-210-A
Horizontal dashed lines show geologic contact. Fault or shear zones showing a dip (U
indicates upthrown side and the D indicates the downthrown side) are indicated by a straight
line to show approximate location. The dashed line indicates a concealed fault or shear zone.
A straight line with an arrow that shows direction indicates anticline. The angle of a strike
(measurement) or dip of beds, such as ancient lakes or other depressions, is given a numeric
value as shown by the symbol with the value of 30. A symbol containing a small triangle
shows the direction of a strike or dip of foliation.
The age of rocks can be determined by several processes involving chemical analysis. The
ages of rocks on map I-210 A are specified by rubidium-strontium and potassium-argon
analysis. The symbol "+1050/710" in Figure 10 shows the age of a formation that is between
710 million and 1billion 50 million years old.

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Quarternary Formations for Map I-208 A

In Map I-208 A , the first eight lithologies from the top use "Q", for Quarternary, as the first
letter in the code. The next nine lithologies use the letter "T", for Tertiary, and in the last
lithology "K " stands for the "Cretacious period. Only those items that do not appear for Map
I-210 A will be discussed.
Figure 11 shows several symbols for rocks formed in the Quarternary Period. The "g " in Qg
is the symbol for gravel; Qg1 indicates quartz or mixed limestone and gravel; Qg2 indicates
sheetlike lag gravel; and Qtc indicates beach gravel and sand.
Tertiary Formations for Map I-208 A
Figure 12 shows several symbols for rocks formed in the Tertiary Period. These symbols
indicate rock formations as follows: Tg indicates gravel; Thf indicates Hofuf formation; Td
indicates Hadrukh formations; Th indicates dam formations; and Tsm indicates combined
Hofuf Dam and Hadrukh formations.
Tertiary Formations for Map I-208 A
In Figure 13 the symbol Tdm indicates Dammam formation; Tr indicates Rus formation; Tdr
indicates Dammam and Rus formation. Figure 13 also shows that the symbol for Umm er
Radhuma formation is Tu ; and the symbol for Aruma formation rocks formed in the
Cretacious Period, is Ka.

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WORK AID
IDENTIFY GEOLOGIC MAP SYMBOLS
1. Refer to Geologic map, I-210 A, 1967.
2. Open the map.
3. Orient the map to north.
4. Locate the "GEOLOGIC EXPLANATION" area on the left side of the map.
5. Look for the symbols in the middle column.
6. Read the Arabic definition for each of the specific symbols from the left column.
7. Read the English definition for each of the specific symbols from the right column.

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USE THE LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE SCALE

1. Use the handout scale (provided by the Instructor).
2. The latitude scale is on the right margin of the handout scale. It is to be used with maps
I-208 A and I-210 A. The longitude scale for map I-210 A is located at the top margin
and the longitude scale for map I-208 A is located at the bottom margin.
3. Select a given latitude or longitude from one of the problems in the Exercise or the
Written Evaluation.
4. Find the closest coordinates that fit the problem.
5. Determine if you need to add or subtract. For example, if you need to find 27 minutes
of latitude, then place the 0 of the scale on the 30-minute mark of the closest coordinate,
count down three minutes and mark the location with a straight edge, such as the edge of
rule or paper.
6. Repeat this measurement method for the longitude.
7. Determine the point where the two lines intersect.
8. Read your answer and write it in the space provided.

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GLOSSARY
anticline An upfold in the form of an arch.
clastic Accumulated particles of broken rock and skeletal remains of
dead organisms.
disconformity Parallel layered strata separated by an irregular surface of
erosion having appreciable relief.
downthrown To throw or thrust downward.
eolian Deposited, produced, or eroded by the wind.
lithology The systematic description of rocks in terms of mineral
assemblage and texture.
nonconformity Stratified rocks that unconformably overlie igneous or
metamorphic rocks.
unconformity A substantial break or gap in a stratigraphic sequence that marks
the absence of part of the rock record.
upthrown To throw or thrust upward.

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