Field Studies B - Field Techniques

Geological mapping involves the observation, recording and interpretation of field data, and is a fundamental skill required by all practicing geologists. GEOL241 introduces field techniques to students – these include identification and description of metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary rocks, measuring stratigraphic columns, collection and interpretation of rock deformation structures. GEOL 241 comprises 7 days field geology, based in Westport, during August/September, and 6 x 2½ hour laboratory classes, before and after the field trip – as an introduction to field techniques, and as post-trip interpretation of collected field data.


Marks and Grades
The Department of Geological Sciences uses the following scale to convert marks into grades:
100 – 90 A+ 74 – 70 B 54 – 50 C-
89 – 85 A 69 – 65 B- 49 – 40 D
84 – 80 A- 64 – 60 C+ Below 40 E
79 – 75 B+ 59 – 55 C

The Department of Geological Sciences reserves the right to adjust this mark/grade conversion, when deemed necessary.

Late Work
It is the policy for this course that late work is not accepted. Or, late work should be accompanied with a detailed explanation of why the work is late. The work will be marked and marks will be subtracted for each day the work is late. Days late include week-end and holidays.

Academic Liaison
Travis Horton (Room Von Haast 339), is in charge of liaison with students in geology courses. Each year level will appoint a student representative(s) to the liaison committee at the start of the semester. Please feel free to talk to the Academic Liaison or the student rep about any problems or concerns that you might have.

Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities should speak with someone at Disability Resource Service. Their office is room 317 in the Rutherford Building. Phone: 364 2350 (or ext. 6350), email: disabilities@canterbury.ac.nz

Policy on Dishonest Practice
Plagiarism, collusion, copying and ghost writing are unacceptable and dishonest practices.
• Plagiarism is the presentation of any material (text, data, figures or drawings, on any medium including computer files) from any other source without clear and adequate acknowledgement of the source.
• Collusion is the presentation of work performed in conjunction with another person or persons, but submitted as if it has been completed only by the names author(s).
• Copying is the use of material (in any medium, including computer files) produced by another person(s) with or without their knowledge and approval.
• Ghost writing is the use of another person(s) (with or without payment) to prepare all or part of an item submitted for assessment.

In cases where dishonest practice is involved in tests or other work submitted for credit, the student will be referred to the University Proctor. The instructor may choose to not mark the work.

Reconsideration of Grades
Students should, in the first instance, speak to the course co-ordinator about their marks. If they cannot reach an agreeable solution, students should then speak to the Head of the Geological Sciences Department. Students can appeal any decision made on their final grade. You can apply at the Registry to appeal the final grade within 4 weeks of the end of the semester. Be aware that there are time limits for each step of the appeals process.

Aegrotat Applications
If you feel that illness, injury, bereavement or other critical circumstances has prevented you from completing an item of assessment or affected your performance, you should complete an aegrotat application form, available from the Registry or the Student Health and Counselling Service. This should be within seven days of the due date for the required work or the date of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, medical consultation should normally have taken place shortly before or within 24 hours after the due date for the required work, or the date of the test or examination. For further details on aegrotat applications, please refer to the Enrolment Handbook. You have the right to appeal any decision made, including aegrotat decisions.

Missing of Tests
In rare cases a student will not be able to sit a test. In such cases, the student should consult with the course co-ordinator or the Head of the Department of Geological Sciences to arrange alternative procedures. This must be done well in advance of the set date for the test.

Laboratory timetable:
Week # Dates Lecturer Laboratory

Three streams each week
29 17th July PA Stratigraphic logs
30 24th July PA Rock description and interpretation in the field and Health and Safety while on fieldtrip
31 31st July PA Cross section
32 7th Aug PA Stereonets
33 14th Aug No lab
34 21st Aug No lab
35 28th Aug Group A Westport
36 4th Sept Group B Westport
37 11th Sept No lab
38 18th Sept PA Igneous petrology exercise
39 25th Sept PA Leapfrog 3D modelling exercise
40 2nd Oct PA Leapfrog 3D modelling exercise
41 9th Oct No lab
42 16th Oct No lab

The 200 level lab is your place to study, and as long as it is not in use for another class, you may use it to revise or study.  However, the lab contains a lot of expensive equipment and so we require you to adhere to some simple lab safety rules:

1) No open toed shoes allowed in the lab – so no jandals or sandals and especially no bare feet.  If you attend a lab wearing inappropriate footwear, you will be asked to leave and return only wearing shoes.  THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE!!

2) No food, and only WATER in a sipper bottle (i.e. one that you can click closed when not drinking) are allowed.  This means no coffee, no V or lift, no coca cola – not even if it is put in a sipper bottle.  Water is easy to clean up, sticky drinks are not.  If you are using a microscope at any time THEN NO FOOD OR DRINK WHATSOEVER!  Feel free to leave the lab for 5 mins to have a drink or snack in the atrium.

3) If you are using a microscope then treat it with respect and handle as you have been shown in GEOL242.  Remember to lift the microscope using the neck at the back AS WELL AS having a hand under the base.  DO NOT TOUCH the lens of each objective, instead use the ring above them to change objectives.  Finally, be very careful with thin sections!  Each thin section takes several hours of work by Rob Spiers, and then are very delicate!  Only ever take 1 thin section and NEVER place it down on the bench.

4) Finally, treat each other, the lab demonstrators and the staff who use the labs with respect.  You’re all doing the same work and under the same pressure, and we are here to guide and help you with your learning.  Disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated.

The labs at the start of the course are designed to train you in new methods of data collection and analysis before you go to Westport.  You will be undertaking similar exercises on the fieldtrip which will be assessed, and will make up the bulk of your grade.  The first 4 labs of GEOL241 are not themselves assessed, but you will receive a small % by showing that you have completed each one in the time frame given (similar to how each lab of GEOL242 was graded).  These will be pass/ fail, and if you complete all of the exercises and hand in on time, then you will get full marks for that portion of the course (equates to 5% of your overall mark).  It is up to you to ensure that you are doing it correctly.  Some answers will be posted on Learn, but often you will have to check with the lab tutor or the demonstrators to make sure it is correct.  We will then correct you if you are wrong.

Each fieldtrip runs for 7 days, and for all but the last day (when we drive back to Christchurch) we will be stopping at outcrops.  On the fieldtrip there will be 4 assessments:

1) Notebooks:  We will assess your notebooks based upon 1 stop during the week that we will decide (but not tell you), but that can be from ANY stop of the fieldtrip, from the first day to the last.  We will be checking for quality of sketches, descriptions and interpretations in the field.  A well organised and neatly written/ drawn notebook is therefore a great bonus, and will get you high marks.  10%

2) Rock descriptions:  You will be tested on a selection of rock samples that you would have examined at some of the outcrops during the trip.  This will usually take place towards the end of the trip.  You will be marked on the quality and accuracy of your descriptions (i.e. STCs and %!).  20%

3) Structural analysis exercise:  Using stereonets, you will interpret a series of folded rocks in one location, and answer questions based upon your ability to collect and assess structural data.  20%

4) Section measuring exercise:  You will measure a section of sedimentary rocks on the coast and produce a detail stratigraphic column.  This will be done in 2 parts over 2 days.  Clear, concise and easy to read field notes will benefit you in this exercise. 20%

Post fieldtrip exercises (comprising the other 25%) will be introduced later.

The structural analysis exercise and the section measuring exercise will be handed in the morning after they are given to you (in the case of the section measuring exercise, this will be the morning after the second day at the section).  This will require a lot of work in the evenings, and some late nights.  However, if you are efficient with your work, and get started shortly after returning from the field, you shouldn’t have to spend all night on the exercises.

As we will be on the West Coast in August/ September, the weather cannot be relied on.  It is very likely that on at least one of the days we will be working in the cold and rain, and will not stop unless the weather becomes dangerous.  In addition to the right equipment, you need to get into the correct mind-set in order to work in these conditions.  It is unpleasant, but we will always head back to the field station at the end of the day to dry out.

• Rain-proof jacket – Gore-tex or similar fabric will keep you dry, which means you keep warm.  A thin plastic Mac or parka will not suffice in the driving West Coast rain!

• Strong boots with ankle protection – trainers will NOT suffice for this trip.  Be aware that you may not be allowed to come on the trip unless you can show that you have adequate footwear.  If you have bought a new pair of shoes recently, these need to broken in for several weeks before the fieldtrip to avoid blisters.

• Rain-proof over trousers – or polyprop leggings to keep dry/ warm in bad weather.  Hypothermia is a real threat on this trip, and having these with you will make the trip a lot more pleasant.

• Rucksac rain cover or drybags – very useful for keeping extra clothes, food and electrical items (e.g. phone) dry.  We will be near to the vans at all stops, but not necessarily within easy walking distance.  It is therefore worthwhile to carry a dry jacket/top in case you get wet.

• Merino or polyprop under layers – NOT COTTON – Cotton does not retain warmth when it gets wet, and rapidly leads to hypothermia.  The same applies to denim jeans.

• Snacks – chocolate, scroggin etc. – Although you have the option (and you should definitely take it) to be catered, this really only applies to breakfast, dinner and a lunch of sandwiches and fruit.  It is a really good idea to bring a stash of snacks to give you energy and keep warm.

• Camelbak or decent water bottle – Because no one wants to carry a milk carton around as a water bottle.

• Small First aid kit – containing crepe bandage, plasters, Panadol/ibuprofen, antiseptic wipe, emergency blanket.  The trip leaders will also be carrying first aid kits, so not necessary but useful.

We will be split between the Westport field station and the nearby holiday park (in cabins).  You will need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow regardless.  The station is modern and roomy, and we shouldn’t have any problems with space as you might of experienced at Glens of Tekoa.  You will be staying in bunk rooms of 4 to a room, and it would be beneficial if you organise yourself into groups before you arrive at the field station.  The field station also has an efficient drying room.  There is a strict NO ALCOHOL policy at the field station.

Depending on tides and weather, you will need to be very organised in the morning, and be ready to leave, with all your gear, at the vans at the time specified.  

Finally, many students have said that this field trip is the first time they felt like true geologists.  It is an awesome trip, and a perfect chance to put in practice all that you have learnt over the past year and a half.  We hope you will enjoy the trip as much as we enjoy teaching it.