Course leader: Dr Colin Waters

Introduction

Feature mapping is a geological surveying technique that uses topographical and geomorphological landforms to construct a geological map in areas where there is no exposure - be they grassy fields or urban areas. The technique is fundamental to geological mapping in most sedimentary geological terrains where the rocks are not highly deformed, and can also be used, with limitations, to map superficial (Quaternary) deposits.
Feature mapping is the primary technique used by the BGS to survey its large-scale (1:10 000) geological maps of Great Britain. The course gives a thorough introduction to feature mapping and associated data recording methods. Practical fieldwork exercises make up the majority of the training, and each participant will be expected to produce a completed geological field map and associated notebook records at the end of the course. The course is suitable for both students and professionals in the applied geological sciences that need to make, use or understand geological maps.

The venue

The course is based around rural, parkland and urban terrain in the Baslow and Sheffield areas. The bedrock geology comprises Upper Carboniferous Millstone Grit and Coal Measures strata, locally overlain by Quaternary Mass Movement deposits (Head and Landslip). Topographical features in these areas are very strongly controlled by the underlying bedrock geology, to the extent that feature mapping can be used to resolve and map stratigraphic units less than 1 m thick, and map minor faults with displacements of 5 m or less. Course accommodation uses modern, AA 3 star hotels in the Sheffield/Chesterfield area; the choice of individual hotel may vary according to availability. Travel during the course will be by minibus. BGS will provide all specialised mapping and drawing equipment required for the course.

The first day of the course is based at BGS Keyworth, involving a Health and Safety review with trainees, an equipment check and an introduction to feature mapping concepts. Day 2 at Baslow and days 3-6 at Graves Park, Sheffield, involve demonstration of feature mapping techniques in the field, including mapping exercises. The final day will return to BGS KW for a review the latest developments in use of Information Technology for preparing, managing and delivering geological map data.

Duration and number of participants

The course lasts 7 days, including one weekend. The optimum number of participants is 8, with a maximum number of 12.

Course objectives

The course develops skills in highly detailed and accurate mapping of sedimentary bedrock successions based on recording and interpreting landform features. The course also includes elements of landslide recognition and mapping, and mapping of man-made deposits in urban areas. On completion of the course, trainees will be able to:

• Understand subtle relationships between surface landforms and the three dimensional stratigraphy and structure of mildly deformed sedimentary bedrock formations.
• Reconcile accurately logged surface exposures with adjacent feature-mapped geology.
• Use the widely accepted BGS symbols and standards for data recording and field map preparation.
• Understand the strengths and limitations of geological feature mapping and how these impact on the reliability and accuracy of BGS geological maps, especially in urban areas.
• Appreciate how modern, digital methods of data recording, interpretation and map production can enhance and broaden the application and value of geological maps.

Specific objectives

• Provide an introduction to feature mapping concepts, with a series of map interpretation, construction and geometry exercises and depth and stratigraphic thickness calculations.
• Practice at bedding (dip and strike) and palaeocurrent measurements, surveying dip slopes, feature mapping of gently dipping sedimentary rock successions, measuring and calculating stratigraphical thickness, basic geographic location measurement techniques (including GPS) and their accuracy, and use of geometric interpolation for map construction.
• Demonstration of the use of features to recognise and map faults.
• Techniques in detailed logging of stream and quarry sections.
• Geological mapping in urban settings, including techniques of mapping landslides and man-made deposits.
• Carry out mapping exercises (in pairs) and field map compilation.
• Hands on demonstrations in use of digital air photography and Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) for geological mapping, and use of digital toolkit for geological map compilation, the overview of digital map compilation in BGS and use of other baseline data for map construction.

Contact the BGS School of Field Geology for course fees, scheduling and availability

 

• School of Field Geology