This module is designed to prepare students in basic geological
field methods before they enter the field, thereby allowing more
efficient use of expensive field time. No prior knowledge is assumed
and it is not necessary for students to have a compass-clinometer
to hand whilst they undertake the tutorial, although it would
be advantageous for them to do so.
This version has been designed around the use of a specific instrument (Silva Type 15), which is in common use in most Earth Science departments.
The module occupies approximately 16.5 Mb, and consists of eight units in total. The units are as follows:
Interactive description of the main parts of the compass-clinometer and their use.
Interactive instruction on how to correct the compass for variation between Grid/True and Magnetic North given the information typically provided on maps, together with a tutorial on the theory of magnetic inclination and declination.
Interactive instruction on how to take and plot a series of sight bearings to find a position accurately on the map. This section uses images of the compass in sighting mode, overlain on field photographs of sighting points. The orientation and position of the compass on the field image are controlled by the student and tested for correctness by the computer. Remediation is provided where appropriate. Similar interactions overlain on map images allow students to simulate the actual plotting of sight bearings to fix their position.
Interactive instruction on how to determine six- and eight-figure grid references from a map and how to locate a position from a grid reference both by eye and by use of the Romer Scales provided on some compass-clinometers. Subsidiary tutorials are provided for students who have no idea what a grid reference is.
Interactive instruction on the methods of using the compass- clinometer to record the attitude of strata, and planar and linear features, etc. Two methods of recording the attitude of planar features are included ('Strike and Dip using the Right Hand Rule' and 'Dip and Dip Direction'). Interactive instruction is also given on how to plot the orientation directly from the compass to the map and into the field notebook.
Interactive instruction on how to use the clinometer to estimate levels and heights of cliffs or quarry faces and calculation of stratal thickness after correction for dip.
An appreciation of the common sources and degree of error associated with measurements using the compass-clinometer. Errors associated with magnetic objects. Errors inherent in the design of the compass-clinometer and errors associated with incomplete recording of data.
A sequence of interactive questions which test the student's understanding of the use of the compass-clinometer. This section provides the facility to output the results in a range of file formats suitable for importing into word processor or spreadsheet packages or to provide a printout to the student if required.
Buttons used for navigating around the module are arranged along the bottom of the screen. General instructions are displayed immediately above the button bar. Once a unit is started, navigation through the pages is by means of buttons. Each unit is divided into sub-units and a sub-menu that appears at the start of each unit is used to navigate around that sub-unit.
Other Modules Available
| Arc Magmatism | Aspects of Earth Resources | Basic Geochemistry | Basic Petrography | Basic Skills for Earth Sciences | Crystallography | Dynamic Stratigraphy: Controls and Products | Exploring the Shallow Subsurface using Geophysics | Field Safety for Geologists | Fossils as Palaeoenvironmental Indicators | Geological Map Skills | Ocean Crust and Ophiolites | Optical Mineralogy | Petrogenesis of Granitic Rocks | Phase Diagrams in Igneous Systems | Radiogenic Isotopes in Geological Sciences | Rock Deformation and Geological Structures | Systematic Palaeontology: the Phylum Mollusca | Using Stereonets in Geology | Visualising Geology in 3D |
