California and the Surrounding Regions
A semester-long course followed by a two-week field trip to California. Field work will include a series of exercises ranging in duration from a few minutes to a full day. The goal is to give you practice in field methods and interpretation of data collected from geomorphic, geologic, and tectonic features. The specific skills to be introduced and reinforced during this course include:
1) Accurately locate yourself and geologic features on maps, and interpret map relationships;
2) Measure, estimate, and record basic data on landscape features (distance, area, volume, direction and orientation);
3) Recognize geomorphic surfaces and tectonic features, trace boundaries in the field, and plot their locations on maps;
4) Identify and describe a variety of sedimentary deposits; construct stratigraphic sections and cross-sections;
5) Recognize different rock types and contacts between them; trace contacts in the field; and plot their
locations on maps;
6) Interpret geologic history using data collected, and estimate relative ages and rates of tectonic and
geomorphic processes.
7) Create an organized, thorough record of field observations in a field book
