Geological Field Mapping Report

The report should be laid out in the following manner:

Abstract
The abstract should identify the location and geological setting of your area, the ages of the rocks, the geological observations, their interpretation, and your main conclusions.

Introduction
The introduction should introduce the geographical setting, location, topography, drainage and climate of the mapped area. The introduction should include a brief account of the regional geological setting of the area mapped and may include comment on the terrain and the amount of exposure. The report is not intended to give a review of the history of geological research in the area and reference to previous work should be kept to the minimum necessary. A location map is necessary. You must also discuss the findings of your remote sensing study here. This could be based on an A4 version of your basemap, aerial photographs or Google Earth image with an overlay or annotations.

Lithological Descriptions / Stratigraphy of the Area
You should systematically describe each of your mapping units in turn, starting with the oldest, using correct stratigraphic nomenclature. The stratigraphy should include a description of the principal features of each mapped formation and the nature of the boundaries between each unit. Correlations with any previously established stratigraphy should be noted. Clearly state how your stratigraphy is divided into formations. You might be using the same as outlined by the literature because they are appropriate subdivisions for your area, but you may choose to merge two units into one if they are not clear to distringuish or too small to map individually. Ensure that you separate clearly your own observations and conclusions from information derived from the literature. This section should be clearly linked to your stratigraphic column.Describe the nature of the contacts with preceding and succeeding units if this information is available. Describe the lithologies which comprise each unit, including description of thin sections, fossils, and
any sedimentary structures (note that sedimentary structures are described here, not in the structural section, even though they are sometimes used for structural purposes such as determination of way– up). State the thickness of the unit and the evidence upon which your estimate is based and discuss any lateral variations in thickness. Discuss how you reached your estimate of thicknesses of sedimentary sequences. Identify the fossils contained in the unit. Indicate the age of the formation, and if fossil and try to work out directions. Use information such as grain sizes, lithologies, sedimentary structures and fossils to determine the environment of deposition for each unit (i.e. establish whether the environment of deposition was a river, lake, beach, carbonate shelf and son on, stating what inforamtion your interpretation is based on). For metamorphic rocks what minerals may be used to indicate grade? Intrusive igneous rocks are usually described after all the other units have been described. Thin sections of representative rocks from each mapping area are available with mapping area supervisors. If you use photomicrographs of thin sections make sure that there are appropriate captions, a scale bar and adequate labelling of the features that you wish to draw attention to. After the data have been presented you should make a reasoned interpretation of the conditions in which the unit formed, such as sedimentary environment of deposition, environment of eruption of volcanic rocks, or conditions of metamorphism.

For correct stratigraphical procedure, you can refer to one of the following:
WHITTAKER, A. et al. 1991. A guide to stratigraphical procedure. Journal of the Geological Society of London 148, 813–
824.
RAWSON, P. F. et al. 2002. A guide to stratigraphical procedure. Geological Society of London, Professional Handbook.
HAILE, N. S. 1987. Time and age in geology: the use of Upper/Lower, late/early in stratigraphic nomenclature. Marine and Petroleum Geology 4, 255–257.

Structurql Interpretation of the Mapping Area
This section should give an account of the folds and faults in the area mapped. Diagrams are usually important and helpful here, and make the task of description easier. Illustrate and explain this section with annotated photographs, sketch cross–sections, stereograms and rose diagrams. An attempt should be made to determine the sequence of structural events that have affected the area. This section should be clearly linked to the cross–section(s) and a tectonic summary map. A tectonic sketch map ideally of A4 size, should show the location, distribution and relationships of tectonic elements such as fold axial traces and various kinds of faults. The scale of the tectonic sketch map required depends on the structural complexity of the area mapped. It could require a transparent overlay at the same scale as the fair copy map if the area is structurally complex although in most areas a sketch map as a full page diagram in the report may be sufficient. In more complex structural areas each tectonic block should be named and coloured differently as this will help to describe the sequence of events outlined below. If it is possible to determine the sequence in which the structures formed, discuss them in chronological order. Do stratigraphic sequences separated by unconformities contain different structures? Are there any major structures that are difficult to interpret or any that you have inferred on
your fair copy map or cross–sections? Discuss how the different large scale structures may have evolved and possible alternatives. If there are established structural models for your mapping region do not be afraid to challenge or be
critical of these and put forward your own interpretation as an alternative, particularly if the established interpretation does not fit with the structures and stratigraphy as you have mapped them. This is much better than presenting an existing model without any evidence or trying to force your observations to fit this. Remember that remote sensing images may be helpful in describing some of the structures so you should consider including annotated Google Earth or aerial photo images.

Recent Deposits
If significant areas of your map contain recent deposits then briefly outline where these can be found. These main include glacial deposits (including transported rafts of lithologies), landslides and olistostromes, and recent unconsolidated riverborne alluvial deposits and raised beaches.

Economic Potential
Consider if any of the lithologies in your mapping area have economic potential. This can range from uses for building stone, road stone or cement, to potential source, reservoir and trap rocks for hydrocarbons. If you have mineral veins or disseminations consider what elements they contain and if these have economic uses.

Discussion: Geological History of the Area
Having described the stratigraphic succession and the structures found in your area you can now consider the geological history of your mapping area as a whole. Your discussion should summarise the geological history of the area mapped, based on the evidence described and illustrated more completely in the earlier sections of the report, on the map, stratigraphic column and cross–sections. Start with the oldest events and review the history of sedimentation, metamorphism, igneous activity and deformation. For example, does the stratigraphic sequence indicate any changes in sea level or deposition in any particular tectonic environment? How does this relate to the structural evolution of
the area? As you describe the history of your own area from your own evidence you should also discuss your findings using the published literature about the area. Compare your own mapping units, formations and members with any published stratigraphy for your area. Do you disagree with the accepted wisdom, or is your story broadly consistent with other people’s ideas? How does your area fit in with the wider interpretation of the geological history of the region?

Conclusions
Briefly summarise your main findings and significance of your results. Any difficulties encountered in making your map, alternative interpretations and the reasons for choosing between them, should be mentioned here. Please do not include problems with your mapping partner or health–related extenuating circumstances here (these should be discussed with your supervisor and if you apply for an extension).

Bibliography
Any details or material from the literature which you use must be acknowledged in the text of your report, or in the captions of diagrams which you have modified from other publications. All references cited must be listed at the end of the report giving year of publication, journal, title, volume and page numbers, in the style of journals such as the Journal of the Geological Society. Make sure you list only references which are cited in the report. Do not list references which may have been read by you, or are known to you, but are not cited in the text.

Appendices
Do NOT use them. If material needs to be included in the report it should be properly incorporated at the appropriate place. Drawings, sketches, logs, maps, thin sections descriptions, and any other material which is used should be included as figures and plates, or incorporated in the report. Marks are not awarded for the amount of work done, but the way it is used and interpreted