Montana State University

Department of Earth Sciences

Montana State University
P.O. Box 173480
Bozeman, MT 59717-3480

Tel: (406) 994-3331
Fax: (406) 994-6923
Location: 226 Traphagen Hall

Department Chair

Dr. David Mogk

earth@montana.edu

Geology Camp

GEO 429 – Field Geology

Summer 2013

Bringing the Classroom Outdoors

Article by: Nathan Carroll 2011 Field Geology student

 

Instructors: (Instructors from 2012 may differ for 2013)

Dr. Dave Lageson  (lageson@montana.edu)

Dr. Colin Shaw (colin.shaw1@montana.edu)

Dr. Todd Feeley (tfeeley@montana.edu)



Dates: May 20th - June 23th

First Aid Supplies

Field Equipment

Local Stratigraphy


Overview:

Field Geology (GEO 429) is a senior capstone field-mapping course for geology, paleontology and geohydrology majors in the Department of Earth Sciences at MSU and for upper-division geology majors from other institutions. Students are required to have successfully completed courses in sedimentology and stratigraphy, structural geology, and geomorphology. The course covers a variety of field problems and mapping techniques. Extensive hiking and outdoor physical challenges require that students be physically fit. A fee for transportation and materials is required (see fees below). Due to the demands and rigor of this course, it is strongly recommended that students plan no other activities or trips for the entire duration of the field course.  The course studies a variety of field sites at several locations, does not necessarily return to Bozeman (see the schedule below), begins each day early in the morning and returns at the end of the day to a camping site near the field site.  The evenings are spent inking maps, reviewing field notes, and preparing cross sections and reports. 



Tuition and Fees (are expected to be):  In State - 1551.74    Out of State - $4891.04

Class Fees (are expected to be):  $906.60 (covers materials and transportation)


Scholarship Information:

http://nagt.org/nagt/programs/field_scholarships.html 

Registration

Living conditions and meals:

You will need to arrange for lodging while in Bozeman and be prepared to camp in the field at other times, as per the field course schedule. You will be responsible for your own meals throughout the course. Be prepared for extreme weather variability and a variety of topographically challenging, strenuous field localities. Students are required to carry personal first-aid kits at all times.

General field camp conduct and expectations:

  • Mature, responsible behavior in the field and out of the field that reflects positively on the MSU geology program!
  • Absolutely no alcohol drinking in MSU vehicles (and obviously no open containers)
  • Absolutely no smoking in the field (fire hazard)
  • No personal firearms allowed in the field, in the MSU vehicles, or in camp
  • No rock rolling
  • Don’t mess with snakes – it’s their home
  • NO graffiti on rocks (personal initials, etc.)
  • Treat the landscape with respect – tread lightly and don’t leave trash
  • Be on-time at pick-up points – wear a watch and plan your daily traverses accordingly
  • If a gate is open, leave it open; if it is closed, then be sure to re-close it; be careful crossing fences so as not to break them down
  • Dig deep holes for “personal disposal” needs
  • Assignment turn-in deadlines are hard deadlines
  • If you are going to succeed in this course, it is imperative that you work in the evenings on your map, cross-sections, explanations, write-ups, etc.; you will certainly not succeed if you procrastinate till the last day on each exercise

 

Typical mapping products (“deliverables”) to be turned in (note: may vary by project and instructor):

  • Lightly colored (burnished) geologic map
  • Key or explanation for your geologic map and cross-sections showing all units and symbols used on the map and cross-sections
  • One or more structural cross-sections through the field area
  • Stereonets for structural analysis
  • One-page write-up on a topic pertaining to your field area
  • Field notebook

Expectations for all deliverables:

  • Neatness counts - a lot! Sloppy and careless work will receive the grade it deserves.
  • Accuracy of contacts and field relations
  • Thorough, detailed rock descriptions in the key and/or write-up
  • Well-written, well-organized, well-illustrated field notebooks - written in ink or hard pencil that does not smudge nor smear
  • Read your field camp manual for more information…

 DATE-RANGE OF THIS SCHEDULE IS CORRECT BUT DATES OF ACTIVIES MAY CHANGE
(depending on weather)

2013 Field Camp Schedule

Date
Day
Exercise 
Field Location
Instructor
Accomodtions
*arrive at Gaines Hall parking area by 0700 - depart by 0800
1
20-May
Mon
Travel/Intro to Strat
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
2
21-May
Tue
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
3
22-May
Wed
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
4
23-May
Thu
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
5
24-May
Fri
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
6
25-May
Sat
Day off
Dillon area
Barretts CG
7
26-May
Sun
Igneous Mapping
Dillon area
Feeley
BLM Campground
8
27-May
Mon
Igneous Mapping
Dillon area
Feeley
BLM Campground
9
28-May
Tue
Igneous Mapping
Dillon area
Feeley
BLM Campground
10
29-May
Wed
Igneous Mapping
Dillon area
Feeley
BLM Campground
11
30-May
Thu
Metamorphic Fabrics
Madison Valley
Shaw
BLM Campground
12
31-May
Fri
Metamorphic Fabrics
Madison Valley
Shaw
BLM Campground
13
1-Jun
Sat
Metamorphic Fabrics
Madison Valley
Shaw
BLM Campground
14
2-Jun
Sun
Day off
Dillon area
Dillon
15
3-Jun
Mon
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
16
4-Jun
Tue
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
17
5-Jun
Wed
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Barretts CG
18
6-Jun
Thu
Structural Mapping
Dillon area
Shaw
Bozeman
19
7-Jun
Fri
Day off
Bozeman
Bozeman
20
8-Jun
Sat
Structural Mapping
Jefferson Canyon
Lageson
Bozeman
21
9-Jun
Sun
Structural Mapping
Jefferson Canyon
Lageson
Bozeman
22
10-Jun
Mon
Structural Mapping
Jefferson Canyon
Lageson
Bozeman
23
11-Jun
Tue
Structural Mapping
Jefferson Canyon
Lageson
Bozeman
24
12-Jun
Wed
Day off
Bozeman
Feeley
Bozeman
25
13-Jun
Thu
Yellowstone field trip
Yellowstone
Feeley
Madison CG
26
14-Jun
Fri
Yellowstone field trip
Yellowstone
Feeley
Madison CG
27
15-Jun
Sat
Volcanic Mapping
Paradise Valley
Feeley
Bozeman
28
16-Jun
Sun
Volcanic Mapping
Paradise Valley
Feeley
Bozeman
29
17-Jun
Mon
Volcanic Mapping
Paradise Valley
Feeley
Bozeman
30
18-Jun
Tue
Day off
Bozeman
Bozeman
31
19-Jun
Wed
Final Project
Cardwell
Lageson
Bozeman
32
20-Jun
Thu
Final Project
Cardwell
Lageson
Bozeman
33
21-Jun
Fri
Final Project
Cardwell
Lageson
Bozeman
34
22-Jun
Sat
Final Project
Cardwell
Lageson
Bozeman
35
23-Jun
Sun
Final Project
Cardwell
Lageson