Sun Canyon Virtual Field Trip in Google Earth
Summary
Sun Canyon is a classic traverse through an imbricate fault zone along the Rocky Mountain front in northern Montana. It provides world-class exposures of fold-thrust belt structures in the foothills of the Cordilleran retroarc fold-thrust belt. Drawing on published field trip guides, this Google Earth field trip takes participants on a journey from the Main Ranges, through the foothills, and into the Disturbed Belt. Along the way, students learn about geologic map interpretation, 3D visualization, structural style dependence on rock mechanical properties, structural traps for hydrocarbons, and cross section creation.
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Context
Audience
I utilize this field trip in an upper-level undergraduate Field Methods course. The field trip is an excellent substitute for an in-person visit. It can be taught in a guided fashion in a lecture/lab environment or assigned as homework. There are some question prompts at various field trip stops that require students to synthesize geologic data to derive conclusions and/or graphical products (e.g. cross sections and stratigraphic separation diagrams).
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Geologic map interpretation, structural geology, some background in Cordilleran tectonics.
How the activity is situated in the course
This is a stand-alone exercise.
Activity Length
One day to one week depending on selection of questions.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
Reconnaissance field geology, 3D visualization, fold-thrust belt exploration, Cordilleran tectonics.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Analysis of data, formulation of hypotheses, creation of graphical products to test hypotheses.
Other skills goals for this activity
Using Google Earth for reconnaissance structural analysis.
Description and Teaching Materials
The field trip is hosted on Google Earth and is accessible to anyone with an internet connection and web browser. It can be copied to any Google account and modified as needed. To access the field trip, use the following URL: https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1INb8xuvD4rYi-6INuEUf-Ei9Ctv-cKJ-?usp=sharing
Technology Needs
Computer with internet connection and modern web browser (e.g. Google Chrome)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Before assigning this field trip, make sure students have the necessary background to answer all of the questions. Preceding lectures focused on geologic map interpretation, fold-thrust belts, stratigraphic separation diagrams, and Cordilleran tectonics would be helpful.
Assessment
Students submit the answers to questions posed at the field trip stops. The instructor grades the quality of the answers to gauge the students' understanding of the concepts that are the focus of the field trip.
References and Resources
There are a list of references included in the field trip that support the activity.
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