The University of Montana offers a comprehensive 6-credit Field Geology Course in geologically spectacular western Montana. Deadline for registration is May 8, 2001. We schedule five five-day periods of field work, with one day off between each period.
Students typically complete one or two field exercises during each five-day period.
Private vehicles are not allowed in the field areas. Evenings are usually unstructured, allowing students to continue assigned work on the field project. Geological problems Our course begins with geologic mapping of beautifully exposed Mesozoic strata in a semi-arid part of the Rocky Mountain thrust belt. After the students are introduced to the geologic units and learn basic field techniques, they map in pairs across a designated area of classic fold-thrust structure. The emphases of the project are field recognition of sedimentary and igneous rocks, scientific note-taking, mapping of stratigraphic units, and recognition and interpretation of basic geologic structures.