Revised Edition

GUIDE TO
FIELD
GEOLOGY

S.M. Mathur
 GUIDE TO
FIELD GEOLOGY
(Revised Edition)

S.M. MATHUR
Geological Consultant
Formerly, Director, Geological Survey of India

Delhi-110092
2010
GUIDE TO FIELD GEOLOGY (Revised Edition)
S.M. Mathur

© 2001 by PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi. All rights reserved. No part of
this book may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means,
without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN-978-81-203-1915-8

The export rights of this book are vested solely with the publisher.

Second Printing (Revised Edition) . . . . . . May, 2010

Published by Asoke K. Ghosh, PHI Learning Private Limited, Rimjhim House, 111,
Patparganj Industrial Estate, Delhi-110092 and Printed by Meenakshi Art Printers,
Delhi-110006.
 To
the Revered Memory of
William Dixon West
Geologist, Administrator, Teacher
Contents

Preface xi

1. INTRODUCTION 1–13
General 1
Previous Literature and Maps 2
Destruction of Rocks 3
Physiography 5
Topographic Expressions and Relief 6
Inliers and Outliers 8
Soils and Vegetation 9
Requirements for the Field 10
Some Field Suggestions and Precautions 11

2. EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES 14–23

General 14
Basic equipment 14
Additional requirements 15
Supplementary supplies 15
Special requirements 15
Optional 15
For mapping on aerial photographs 16
Geological Hammers 16
Pocket and Hand Lenses 18
Hydrochloric Acid 18
Streak Plate 19
Pocket Magnet 19
Pocket Knife 19
Measuring Tapes and Scales 20
Haversack or Rucksack 20
Mohs Scale of Hardness 21
Cold Chisel 22
v
vi Contents

Protractors 22
Pocket Calculator 22
Cameras 23
Care and Upkeep of Instruments 23

3. THE COMPASS AND CLINOMETER 24–35

The Compass and Its Uses 24
Dip of the Compass Needle 28
Magnetic Declination 28
Clinometer 29
Bearing and Reading Directions 29
Measuring Attitudes 30
Handling of the Compass 32
Finding Direction without a Compass 33

4. TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS 36–47

Base Maps 36
Scale of Maps 37
Depiction of Relief 39
Latitudes and Longitudes 41
Map Grids 42
Measurement of Mapped Areas 44
Mounting and Folding of Field Maps 45
Marking on Maps 46

5. FIELD DOCUMENTATION 48–54

The Notebook 48
Notes 49
Checklist for Notes 51
Writing Materials 52
Field Sketches and Drawings 53
Field Photographs 54

6. BASIC FIELD PROCEDURES 55–69

General 55
Location 57
Soils and Vegetation 59
Measuring Distances 60
 Contents vii

Compass and Tape Traversing 61

Determination of Slopes and Gradients 62
Measuring Difference in Elevation 64
Field Identification of Rocks 65
Drill Core Logging 66
Basic Field Observations 68

7. GEOLOGICAL MAPPING 70–91

General Considerations 70
Reconnaissance 72
Surface Features 73
Cuttings 74
Quarries and Mines 75
Unconsolidated and Residual Deposits 76
Soils 78
Systematic Mapping 79
Strike and Dip 80
Contacts and Boundaries 81
Correlation 83
Geologic Cross-sections 85
Marking the Map 86
Mapping on Aerial Photographs 87

8. SPECIMENS AND SAMPLES 92–98

General 92
Trimming of Hand Specimens 93
Fossil Specimens 94
Mineral Specimens 95
Samples and Sampling 96
Numbering and Labelling of Specimens 96
Packing and Storage 97

9. FOSSILS AND BIOGENIC STRUCTURES 99–107

Palaeontology 99
Preservation and Occurrence 100
Coprolites 101
Field Observations 102
Ichnofossils 103
viii Contents

Stromatolites 106
Oncolites 107

10. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS 108–123

General 108
Classification 108
Bedding 109
Colour 111
Texture 112
Particle Size 112
Sorting 113
Shape of Particles 113
Matrix and Cement 114
Accidental Inclusions 114
Sedimentary Structures 116
Facies 116
Cyclic Sedimentation 118
Rudaceous Rocks 118
Arenites 119
Lutites 120
Turbidites 121
Carbonates or Calcareous Rocks 121
Organic Deposits 122
Other Sedimentary Rocks 123

11. IGNEOUS ROCKS 124–138

General Characters 124
Classification 124
Main Igneous Rock Groups 126
Colour 129
Texture 129
Grain Size and Crystallinity 131
Flows 133
Dykes and Sills 135
Pipes 136
Pegmatites 136
Pyroclastic Rocks 137
 Contents ix

12. METAMORPHIC ROCKS 139–146

General 139
Main Rock Groups 140
Cleavage 142
Textures 143
Foliation 144
Lineation 145
Metamorphic Folding 145
Grain Size 146

13. STRUCTURES 147–164

General 147
Top and Bottom of Strata 147
Joints 148
Unconformities 149
Folds 154
Faults 159

14. MINERAL INVESTIGATION AND

IDENTIFICATION 165–175
General 165
Geological Plan 166
Sampling 167
Pitting and Trenching 167
Mineral Identification 168

15. STRATIGRAPHY 176–187

General 176
Lithostratigraphic Classification 177
Unconformity-bounded Units 179
Categories of Stratigraphic Units 180
Chronostratigraphic Units 180
Geologic Time Scale 181
Biostratigraphy 184
Indian Stratigraphy 185
Graphic Representation 186
 Guide To Field Geology

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