Tuesday 25 June 2019

The Ins And Outs Of A Geologic Map

By Betty Allen


If you are majoring in geology or have just obtained a job in natural history, you'll want to learn how to use the tools of the trade. A geologic map will show you the age of rocks in your local area so that you have an easier time exploring. Once you've developed a feel for how geology works, you can head off into the mountains and enjoy your surroundings.

Maps that have been made by someone reputable will always have a color-coded key that will help you quickly and easily spot the geologic areas you want to work on. If you happen to be interested in Jurassic rock layers because you are working on a paper on a certain dinosaur, you can simply look for outcrops that are of the correct age.

Large maps are usually printed on paper that be rolled up and taken with you when you are on an expedition. Keep the paper casually rolled up and then use a rubber band to tie it off. When out in the wilderness, the rubber band can be taken off and the paper unsheathed and set up on a flat surface for everyone to examine. This should keep the material itself from tearing or degrading too fast.

You should always be able to find what you're looking for online. You can buy maps in bulk and then have then delivered to your house or university department within just a few days. University geology professors usually order several at once to get a better price overall. This saves the department money in the long run.

Taking a few classes on the side can help you learn a lot more about things like volcanoes. Volcanoes vary in how explosive they can be, and ones that are located near tectonic boundaries are likely to be more dangerous. Lava flows and other volcanic debris can be quite interesting to study once they have cooled.

Taking a class in how mountain belts form is also interesting. The Appalachians, for example, are an ancient mountain range that has worn down with time. Mountains usually form when plates collide with each other and rub up against each other. Some minerals are associated with different kinds of stresses and strains, and you can analyze in these field.

If you truly become interested in geology, you can also read up on the history of the Earth itself. The planet formed from the solar nebula that gradually collapsed in on itself. As the planets formed, they gradually attracted more matter through gravity and grew to their present sizes. The Earth itself is over four billion years old and has been through several catastrophes along the way.

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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