GEOL 406 (undergraduate) or 606 (graduate) - Field Studies: Active Tectonics and Surface Processes (4 credits)

Here's the Daily Schedule for this segment.

Students will learn techniques of field work in active tectonics and surface processes. Faults, young volcanic features, landslides, and fluvial terraces will be mapped on air photos, and a detailed topographic map will be made at a critical site using a combination of differential GPS, total station, and plane table and alidade. Two days of field trips will span the Oregon High Lava Plains and Basin and Range Provinces to see spectacular examples of active faulting and recent volcanic activity. The goal of the module is to give students practical experience in recognizing, characterizing and mapping the expression of active geologic processes on the Earth’s surface.

Upper Crooked River Valley. The landscape is shaped by young volcanic flows and deposits, recent faulting, landsliding, fluvial activity, and differential erosion into a variety of rock types. The goal of this module is to map and understand the products of these active surficial processes.

Students should be advised that work will be physically strenuous and will involve hiking on steep and irregular terrain, generally during hot weather. In addition, graduate students will learn to lead a field party, and take responsibility for helping to organize and direct students in the above field activities. Graduate students will also synthesize the results of field work and submit summary maps and/or a report within two weeks after we return from the field.

Prerequisites:

• Introduction to Field Methods (GEOL 318)
  
• Stratigraphy and Sedimentology (GEOL 334) or Structural Geology (GEOL 350)
  
• At least one advanced course in Geomorphology (GEOL 441/541), Surveying (GEOL 410/510), Neotectonics (GEOL 452/542), or a Remote Sensing/Air Photo Interpretation class
  

OR

• Equivalent level of geologic expertise and instructor's permission