Further Reading

Textbooks

General References

  • Geology in the Field (1985). Compton, 1985 Textbook for instructors: summarizes field and lab techniques, interpretation, and the art of writing a report. (citation and description)
  • Maley, Terry S., 2005, Field Geology Illustrated: Mineral Land Publications, 704 p.
  • Walker, J. Douglas and Harvey A. Cohen, compilers, 2006, Geoscience Handbook: The AGI Data Sheets, 4th Edition: American Geological Institute, 316 p.
  • Freeman, Tom, 1999, Procedures in Field Geology: Blackwell, 128 p. (Reference for use of compasses and measuring attitudes on the outcrop).

References on specific topics

Wiley has issued a series of Geological Field Guides on special topics in field geoscience that includes the following titles (in print as of July 26, 2007):

  • Barnes, John W. and Richard J. Lisle, 2004, Basic Geological Mapping (Geological Field Guide), 4th Edition: Wiley, 196 p.
  • Brassington, Rick, 2007, Field Hydrogeology (Geological Field Guide): Wiley, 276 p.
  • Milsom, John, 2003, Field Geophysics (Geological Field Guide), 3rd edition: Wiley, 244 p.
  • Tucker, Maurice E., 2003, Sedimentary Rocks in the Field (Geological Field Guide), 3rd Edition: Wiley, 244 p.

Though not in the "Geological Field Guide" series, the following book is similar in format:

  • Hubbard, Bryn and Neil F. Glasser, 2005, Field Techniques in Glaciology and Glacial Geomorphology: Wiley, 412 p.

Other, older, titles in the Wiley catalog include:

  • Fry, Norman, 1991, The Field Description of Metamorphic Rocks, New ed.: Wiley, 128 p.
  • Thorpe, Richard and Geoffrey Brown, 1991, The Field Description of Igneous Rocks, New ed.: Wiley, 160 p.
  • McClay, K. R., 1991, The Mapping of Geological Structures, New Ed., 168 p.

From another publisher:

  • Stow, Dorrick A. W., 2005, Sedimentary Rocks in the Field: A Color Guide : Academic Press, 352 p.

Finally, a unique way of presenting information about field skills in the context of the geology of a specific area:

  • Nicholas, C. J. 2000, Exploring Geology on the Isle of Arran: A Set of Field Exercises that Introduce the Practical Skills of Geological Science : Cambridge University Press, 248 p.

Journal Articles

Kendra adds an outcrop to her map
  • Developing successful learning strategies in structural geology. De Caprariis, 2002 In order to learn from field projects such as structure mapping, students need the conceptual tools (especially the mathematical background) to understand what they are seeing in the field. (Full Text Online)
  • A two-week guided inquiry project for an undergraduate geomorphology course. Field, 2003 Field's example deals with braided and meandering rivers. He maintains a balance between structure and freedom within the assignment and gives resources for field and lab studies, with a whole section on logistics and suggestions for other guided-inquiry projects in field geology. (Full Text Online)
  • The use of information technology to enhance learning in geological field trips. Hesthammer et al., 2002 Students prepared for a field trip using a field simulator, which provided them with a variety of 3-D visualizations of the area and incorporated different kinds of geologic information (including seismic data). They documented their learning using a digital camera and an MS Powerpoint presentation. (Full Text Online)
  • Regional geology as a unifying theme and a springboard to Deep Time. Miller, 2001 The National Parks offer a wide variety of geologic processes and strata of different ages. Miller has his students work out how long it would take to deposit various formations, given modern deposition rates, then asks why rocks of a given age are thicker in one area than at another. The discussion of unconformities and variable deposition rates reminds the students that even the Grand Canyon, which exposes tens of millions of years of sedimentation, only represents a fraction of Earth's total history. (citation and description)
  • Factors That Influence Learning during a Scientific Field Trip in a Natural Environment. Orion and Avi, 1994 Reports on the findings of a study designed to investigate factors that influence the educational effectiveness of field trips for students. This study offers insight into the outdoors as a learning environment. (citation and description)
  • Using Field and Laboratory Exercises on Local Water Bodies to Teach Fundamental Concepts in an Introductory Oceanography Course. Smith, 1995 An oceanography class in Wisconsin is centered around boat-based research on Lake Winnebago. Students investigate sediments, water quality, currents, and stratification. (citation and description)
  • Incorporating GPS Technology with a Campus Walking Tour. Weiss and Walters, 2004 This independent assignment has groups of students take a questionnaire and a GPS unit on a geologic walking tour of the campus. (Full Text Online)
  • What is Deep Time and why should anyone care?. Zen, 2001 Zen (2001) recommends a field approach for student inquiry into the concept of Deep Time. He takes his students to complicated sites where a sequence of events have left visible marks on the landscape. For example, at one of the sites he used, a talus into a moraine-dammed lake is encrusted by lichens and disturbed by a century-old wagon track. His students work out which features of the landscape are the oldest and estimate how long each would take to develop, as well as the overall chronology for the landscape. (citation and description)

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