Learning To Use A Geologic Map

By Betty Allen


When you are studying geology but are still learning some of the technical aspects of the field, a few things will help you make sense of it all. A solid geologic map, for example, will show you which rocks are visible in which locations within the United States and indeed the world. You can use these images for special projects that will uncover what happened in the past.

Most maps will be color coded so that you can see which rock layers belong to which era. In fact, if you want to know where Jurassic outcrops are located within the United States, for example, you can quickly look for the appropriate color. This should help you find the areas where Jurassic rocks occur at the surface, which will be key if you are researching dinosaurs.

Learning to protect your maps while you are out in the field is a crucial part of the process. Most professional geologists roll up their paper maps and bind them with a rubber band while they are hiking in the wilderness. When they get to their stopping point, they can set up a table or some other flat surface and set up the paper to look at with the rest of their team.

You can order specialty maps online for the regions you'll be working in. Certain sites offer plenty of options, and you can expect your order to be shipped to your home within a week or so. It is sometimes better to order maps in bulk, as this way you'll get a better per unit price. This is how it usually occurs at colleges and universities.

Becoming familiar with some basic geologic concepts can help you reach your educational goals. Volcanoes, especially ones that spew beautiful lava into the air, are often in the news. When volcanoes erupt and lava flows out and eventually hardens, it can create unique rock formations that is recorded in the history of the Earth for geologists to discover and analyze.

Mountain building episodes are also fascinating and offer a way to learn about how the great ranges of the Earth came together. If you are going to be doing a bit of geologic work in the Appalachians, you'll want to learn about how stress and strain can create metamorphic rocks. Some minerals are often closely associated with certain kinds of mountain building events.

Any good geologist will delve deep into Earth's history to learn about how the planet actually formed. The commonly accepted theory is that the planets formed out of the collapse of the solar nebula, which occurred between four and five billion years ago. As the inner rocky planets gained mass, they fell into orbits around the sun, where they still exist today.

You will want to find a map that has created with detail in mind. As long as the various geologic epochs and eras are color coded in the correct manner, you can use it the field whenever you are doing some research. By maintaining your maps well, you can ensure that they will be usable for many more years down the road.




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