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

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