INTRODUCTION TO

{ FIELD GEOLOGY

Course Outline : Field Geology

Masood Anwar
SOME BASIC DEFINITIONS

 Field : Where rocks or soils can be observed in their natural

setting.
 Field studies : This is the primary means of obtaining
geological knowledge e.g. by visiting a rock outcrop or
quarry and making notes and sketches. This process may
at times be tedious and involving. It may take weeks or
months.
 Field Geology : When rocks and rock materials are
investigated in their natural environment and in their
natural relations to one another, the study is called field
geology. Field geology seeks to describe and explain the
surface features and underground structure of the
lithosphere.
INTRODUCTION

Geological field works are used as a guide for the search of

minerals and energy resources, to assess and mitigate
potential natural hazards and also to help in the land use
planning.

Number of the projects of field geology focus primarily on

making geologic maps but other field tasks include sampling
of rock types for some specific reasons for examples:
elemental analysis, geo chronology, fossil identification,
measuring the orientation of particular structures in an area
and describing the core at a drill site.
INTRODUCTION

Field work encourages to take every possible opportunity to

increase your field experience and skills and to expand and
enhance your abilities to make and interpret geologic maps.

A geologic map is the clearest and most concise way to

communicate geologic information about a portion of earth’s
surface, based on data available from field.

The whole purpose is to explain the geology of the area and

map is only a part of that process where as reports are also
needed to explain the geological history of the area and the
sequence of geological events.