FG lecture 1.pdf - University of Sulaimani

Field Geology 

2010-2011 

Lecture 1 

Ibrahim M.J. Mohialdeen, 

MSc,PhD

* Subject: Introduction and Instruments 

* lecturer’s name: Ibrahim M.J. Mohialdeen 

* Contacts: Tel: 0770 142 6262, Email: ibrahim.jaza@univsul.net 

* Subject objective: 

This lecture is an introduction to the course of Field Geology. The main 

safety processes will be discussed. The main instruments including 

compasses are discussed. The last part will be focused on the GPS and 

how to be used by geologists in the field. 

* Scientific content of the subject: 

Introduction 

Safety 

Compasses 

Equipment and Instruments 

GPS 

* Subject references: 

 

- Compton, R.R., 1962, Manual of Filed Geology, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 378p. 

- Lahee, F.H., 1961, Field Geology,6 th ed., McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 926p. 

Field Geology 2010-2011

UNIVERSITY OF SULAIMANI 

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE 

DEPT. OF GEOLOGY 

2010-2011 

Field Geology 

3 rd Year Geology 

( One semester ) 

Ibrahim M.J.Mohialdeen, M Sc, Ph D 

E-mail: ibrahim.jaza@univsul.net 

Hall No. : 10 Date: Monday Time: 8:30-10:30 


Two hours/week 

An outline of the course (Theory): 

• Introduction 

Outline and approach, Safety in the field, Filed maps, Field notebooks, Field clothing 

• Instruments and equipment 

Hammers and chisels, Compasses and clinometers, Handlenses, Tapes, Map cases, 

Protractors, Pencils and erasers, Acid bottles 

• Geological maps and base maps 

Types of geological map, Topographic base maps, Geographic coordinates and 

metric grids, Position finding on maps, Global positioning systems (GPS) 

• Methods of geological mapping 

Traversing, Following contacts, Mapping in poorly exposed regions, Drilling, 

Geophysical aids to mapping, Photogeology 

• Field measurements and techniques 

Measuring strike and dip, Plotting strike and dip, Recording strike and dip, 

Measuring linear features, Specimen collecting, Field photography, Map symbols 

• Rocks, fossils and ores 

Field work with sedimentary rocks, Field work with igneous rocks, 

Field work with metamorphic rocks, Fossils, Economic geology 

• Cross-sections and three-dimensional illustration 

Cross-sections, Columnar sections, Three-dimensional illustration 

• Geological reports 

Preparation, Layout, Introduction, Main body of the report, Conclusions, References 


An outline of the course (Practice): 

For detailed of the practical work see the website: shadan.hamakhan@univsul.net 

3hours/week 

• 1- Field instruments; compass, clinometers, hand level, GPS 

• 2-Base maps; topographic map, scales, geographic 

coordinates, position finding on maps 

• 3-Traversing; close traverse, road traverse, stream traverse, 

following contacts 

• 4-Field measurements; measuring, plotting and recording 

strike and dip, measuring linear features 

• 5-Sample collecting; rocks, fossils and ores 

• 6-Drawing sections; cross-sections, columnar sections, 

models 

• 7-Writing geological reports and presentation 

• Note: The course contains many field trips for applying 

all lectures.

Marks 

Theory : 

Quizzes 

Written Exams 

5marks 

5marks 

Practice: 

Reports: 

Final Exams: 

Final Exam: 

5marks 

10marks 

25marks 


Welcome to the Field work..

Lecture 1: 

Introduction 

• Outline and approach 

This course is arranged in order to give you the necessary 

information about going to the field and how to do mapping. It 

describes the instruments and equipment he/she will need in 

the field. Methods of finding himself on his maps are also 

described. Measurement methods, drawing cross-sections and 

the preparation of other diagrams for geological features are 

explained. Sample collecting and description of rocks will be 

discussed in detail. The last chapter will discuss on the writing 

the report and how to do presentation of data and results. 

The approach throughout is practical. The main object is to tell 

the student what to do in the field to collect the evidence from 

which to draw his conclusions. The detailed program of the 

course is given in the attached sheet. 


Safety in the field: 

• -Geological fieldwork is not without hazards. A brief list of do's 

and don't s for the field is given: 

1-Do not run down the hills. 

2-Do not climb rock faces unless it is essential to do so. 

3-Do not enter old mine workings or cave systems except by 

arrangement, and always in company. 

4- Always work in pairs or in close association in rugged 

mountains. Wear easily seen clothing. 

5-Never use one hammer as a chisel and hit it with another. 

6- Do not hammer close to other people. 

• -All geologists should take a course in first aid and keep a first 

aid kit and manual in camp with 

them. 

• -Distress signals 

• -Exposure 

• -Lightening 

• -Students in the field.

• Filed maps and Field notebooks: 

• Field maps and notebooks are valuable documents 

which constitute part of the record of the field 

evidence on which the interpretation of geology 

depends. Keeping both of them clean and clear is 

important and necessary. 

• Field clothing: 

(Temperate/cold climates) 

Anorak or cagoule, waterproof jacket, sweaters, 

socks, boots, woolly hat, gloves shirts, trousers 

(Warm climates) 

Long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, loose 

'jeans', jungle hat, sunglasses 


Instruments and equipment 

• Hammers and chisels: 

• Any geologist going into the field needs at 

least one hammer with which to break 

rock. Sometimes a cold chisel is needed to 

break out a specific piece of rock or fossil. 

Some geologists carry their hammers in a 

"frog" or hammer holster, as this leaves 

their hands free for climbing, writing and 

plotting. 


Hammers and chisels 


Compasses and clinometers: 

• The ideal compass should be designed. 

• Brunton type: it is American type (Fig.1) 

• Silva: Swedish compass. 

• Both types are reasonably priced, welldamped 

needle compasses. 

• Compass description: 

• All parts of the Brunton compass are 

explained on the figure. 


Brunton Compass 


Types of Compasses 


Types of Compasses 


Silva Compass 


• Handlenses: A magnification of from 7 to 10 times is probably the 

most useful. 

• Tapes: You can use a 3m tape to measure everything from grain 

size, to bed thickness, and even as scale for close-up photographs 

of rock surfaces and fossils in place. A geologist also occasionally 

needs a 10m or 30m "linen" tape for small surveys. 

• Map cases: a map case is obviously essential where work may 

have to be done in rain or in mist; but even in warmer climes, 

protection from both the sun and sweaty hands is still needed. The 

best are probably home made ( Fig. 2 ) 

• Protractors: Carry at least one small protractor (10 cm diameter) 

and one of 15-20cm . 

• Pencils and erasers: At least three lead pencils are needed in the 

normal course of mapping; a hard pencil (4H or 6H) for plotting 

bearings; a softer pencil (2H or 4H) for plotting strikes and writing 

notes on the map; and a further pencil (2H) for writing in your 

notebook. 



• Acid bottles: Always carry an acid bottle in your 

rucksack. It should contain a small quantity (5ml) of10% 

hydrochloric acid. 

• Global positioning system (GPS): 

• Students should at least know what GPS ( Fig.3). GPS 

uses compact hand-held instruments which lock on to 

US satellites to locate you on the ground to within 10m. 

Functions vary between makes: some give latitude and 

longitude, others grid references, some both. Most show 

your route, speed and bearing, and bleep when you 

reach designated "way points". Altitude is also given. As 

GPS needs line-of- sight to satellites, it does not work in 

forests or steep valleys, and it performs poorly in cold 

weather. 


Global positioning system 


Pressure altimeter 

• Digital barometric pressure sensor for altitude measurement in consumer electronic applications 

• A pressure altimeter (also called barometric altimeter) is the altimeter found in mostaircraftIn it, ananeroid 

barometermeasures theatmospheric pressurefrom astatic portoutside the aircraft. Air pressure decreases with 

an increase of altitude—approximately 100millibarsper 800metersor oneinch of mercuryper 1000feetnearsea 

level 

• The altimeter is calibrated to show the pressure directly as an altitude abovemean sea levelin accordance with a 

mathematical model defined by theInternational Standard AtmosphereISA). Older aircraft used a simpleaneroid 

barometerwhere the needle made less than one revolution around the face from zero to full scale. Modern aircraft 

use a "sensitive altimeter" which has a primary needle that makes multiple revolutions, and one or more secondary 

needles that show the number of revolutions, similar to aclock faceIn other words, each needle points to a 

different digit of the current altitude measurement 

• Diagram showing the internal components of the sensitive aircraft altimeter 

• On a sensitive altimeter, the sea level reference pressure can be adjusted by a setting knob. The reference 

pressure, in inches of mercury inCanadaand theUSand millibars (orhectopascalselsewhere, is displayed in the 

KollsmanWindowvisible at the right side of the aircraft altimeter shown here. This is necessary, since sea level 

reference atmospheric pressure varies with temperature and the movement ofpressure systemsin the 

atmosphere 

• Inaviationterminology, the regional or local air pressure at mean sea level (MSL) is called theQNHor "altimeter 

setting", and the pressure which will calibrate the altimeter to show the height above ground at a givenairfieldis 

called theQFEof the field. An altimeter cannot, however, be adjusted for variations in air temperature. Differences 

in temperature from the ISA model will, therefore, cause errors in indicated altitude 

• Kollsman-type barometric aircraft altimeter as used in North America displaying analtitudeof 80 feet 

• The calibration formula for an altimeter, up to 36,090 feet (11,000 m), can be written as 

• wherehis the indicated altitude in feetPis the static pressure andPrefis the reference pressure (use same units 

• for both). This is derived from thebarometric formulausing the scale height for thetroposphere 


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FG lecture 1.pdf - University of Sulaimani

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