Knowra Field geology Field geology Field geology investigates rocks, structures, and geological processes through direct observation and measurement at natural exposures. It connects observations in place to maps, samples, and interpretations of Earth history.
Geological mapping : The depiction of rock units, structures, and geological boundaries on maps using field observations and other data. It organizes observations from separate outcrops into a coherent spatial account.
Rock : A naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals, mineraloids, or other geological material. Field geology identifies rocks and traces their distribution and relationships.
Engineering geology : The application of geological knowledge to the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of engineering works. Site investigations use field observations to assess ground conditions for infrastructure.
Remote sensing : The acquisition of information about places or objects without direct physical contact, commonly using aircraft or satellites. It reveals regional patterns that ground observations can verify and explain.
James Hutton : An eighteenth-century Scottish geologist whose observations helped establish uniformitarian explanations of Earth's history. His field observations of rock relationships supported an ancient, gradually changing Earth.
Geological compass : A field instrument for measuring directions and inclinations of geological features, often combined with a clinometer. It provides repeatable measurements of bedding, joints, and other planar or linear structures.
Mineral : A naturally occurring solid with an ordered atomic structure and a characteristic chemical composition. Mineral properties help identify rocks and infer the conditions under which they formed.
Economic geology : The study of the origin, distribution, and extraction of useful geological materials. Field mapping helps locate and characterize mineral and energy resources.
Geophysics : The study of Earth using physical principles and measurements of properties such as gravity, magnetism, and seismic waves. It probes beneath the surface where field exposures provide no direct view.
William Smith : An English surveyor and geologist who produced an influential geological map of England and Wales in 1815. His work showed how fossil succession and field mapping could organize regional geology.
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