Initial Publication Date: June 26, 2012

Using Google Earth to teach geologic map interpretation, cross section construction, and geologic mapping

Barbara Tewksbury (Hamilton College)

Files for download:

A file of placemarks for teaching interpretation of structures (KMZ File 13kB Oct18 14). The placemarks in this kmz file are organized in a sequence that introduces students to geologic mapping and map interpretation. The placemarks are color coded red and green. The red ones are specifically addressed in a PowerPoint presentation on Using Google Earth to Teach Interpretation of Geologic Processes, Bedrock Structures, and Geologic History (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 46MB Oct27 14) from the GSA 2014 GEODE workshop. The PowerPoint explains the approach and sequence (see also the poster below). Although the placemarks and the approach were developed for a structural geology course, they could easily be used for intro geo.
Additional structural geology placemarks (KMZ File 6kB Oct17 14). In combination with the placemarks above, these locations provide a huge collection of places for building interpretation and mapping assignments for students.
A poster describing this approach (Acrobat (PDF) 6.6MB Oct17 14). This poster describes the approach for using Google Earth to teach mapping and structural interpretation.

The approach that I used to use

Define strike and dip and the various types of contacts. Help students visualize with Play-Doh.
Start with planar contacts in areas having no topography; use lots of Play-Doh and paper models of inclined planar contacts to teach cross sections and apparent dip.
Add topographic relief, and teach about the outcrop pattern of horizontal contacts, move on to vertical contacts, and then address inclined contacts and derive the rule of Vs.
Bring out real world geologic maps, and have students apply what they have learned to interpret the maps and to draw cross sections.
Move on to maps with folded contacts.
Give students the opportunity to do their own mapping in the field.

Raplee Anticline, Monument Upwarp, near Mexican Hat, Utah (37 09 15.44N, 109 49 20.24W). Click image to enlarge.

Emphasize mapping before map interpretation in order to help students visualize, rather than memorize.
Start by having students do geologic mapping in Google Earth before they know anything about strike, dip, or types of contacts.
Have students work first with inclined units and contacts in areas with topographic relief, using Google Earth 3D view to develop an understanding of dip.
Have students sketch simple cross sections of their own geologic maps and use Google Earth 3D view to help them visualize the relationships.
Derive strike after students understand dip.
Have students work with vertical contacts next, then horizontal contacts, and, finally, folded and faulted contacts.
Give students lots of practice in mapping in Google Earth and creating their own cross sections in areas of increasing complexity.
Follow with interpretation of existing geologic maps coupled with use of maps in the field.

Go to the first step: Visualizing inclined contacts

Download a kmz file of Google Earth placemarks (Zip Archive 3kB Aug26 10) that includes the places described in this set of web pages and in the Powerpoint presentation (PowerPoint 34.2MB Sep22 10) that describes this approach. if you are unable to download this .kmz file, you can copy the latitudes and longitudes of mapping examples and paste them into the "fly to" box in Google Earth.

Download a kmz file of other great locations for mapping (Zip Archive 5kB Aug26 10)