Basic Geological Mapping

01. Introduction
KRET Kakda (PhD)
Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Faculty of Geo-Resources and Geo-Technical Engineering

Institute of Technology of Cambodia

2023-2024
 Background

✓ 2016-2019: Ph.D. Economic Geology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka,

Japan

✓ 2015-2016: Geologist, Angkor Gold Corp. Ltd

✓ 2013-2015: M.Eng. Geological Engineering, Gadjah Mada

University, Indonesia.

✓ 2010-2013: B. Eng. Geo-resources and Geotechnical Engineering,

Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Cambodia.

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Score

✓ Final Exam: 50%

✓ Midterm: 20%
✓ Assignments:15%
✓ Quiz: 5%
✓ Attendance: 10%

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Group Discussion
1. What are geological maps?
2. What is a geological map used for?

• Download a paper related geological mapping (e.g.,

structural, lithological map, … etc.
• Present your findings from that paper using PPT file for 15
min (each group)

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 Reference books
Students are encouraged to read these books:
Barnes, J.W. and Richard J. L. (2003) Basic Geological Mapping, 199 p.
Lisle, R. J. (1996). Geological structures and maps: A practical guide. Butterworth-
Heinemann.

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Contents
1. Introduction
2. Field equipment and safety
3. Measuring and plotting
4. Field Notebook
5. Making Geologic Map by using GIS
6. Cross Section and Stratigraphic Laws
7. Recording Sedimentary Rocks
8. Recording Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks
9. Recording geological structures
10. Geological mapping

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Set Outcomes

• To read and interpret geological map

• To understand contacts and contour lines
• To locate and identify rock unite and geologic structures
on map
• To recognize unconformities and intrusion on map
• To interpret geologic history from geological map
• To create a geological map and cross section map

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Introduction:
➢ What is a geological map used for?

A geological map shows the distribution of various types of bedrock in

an area. It usually consists of a topographic map (a map giving
information about the form of the earth’s surface). This is clearly of
great importance to civil engineers who, for example, have to advise
on the excavation of road cuttings or on the sitting of bridges; to
geographers studying the use of land and to companies exploiting
minerals (Lisle, 1996).

Geologic mapping is a highly interpretive, scientific process that can

produce a range of map products for many different uses including
assessing ground-water quality and contamination risks, predicting
earthquake, volcano, and landslide hazards, characterizing energy
and mineral resources and their extraction costs; waste repository
siting; land management and land-use planning; and general
education (Soller, 2002).
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 shddin © 2013
Introduction
Geologists collecting data for a graphic log to record how a
sedimentary succession has changed through time and to
understand the overall depositional environment. By working
together they can share tasks and discuss their observations.

As a geologist, you must

also remember that
accurate geological
maps are the basis of all
geological work, even
laboratory work, for it is
pointless to make a
detailed investigation of
a specimen whose
provenance is uncertain
(Barnes & Lisle, 2004).

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 shddin © 2013
Introduction
❖ The main aim of field geology is to observe and collect data from
rocks and/or unconsolidated deposits, which will further our
understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes
that have occurred over geological time.

❖ Field geology presents four main intellectual challenges. These

are:
✓ Deciding what data to collect in order to address the
scientific question(s).
✓ Finding the most suitable exposures from which to collect the
data.
✓ Making a good record of the data collected; preferably a
record that can be understood by others and can be used
years after the data were collected.
✓ Understanding and interpreting the basic observations that
you make.
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The mapping procedure includes

The mapping procedure includes:

(i) pre-field preparatory steps,

(ii) the actual field work and

(iii) post mapping activities that result in the creation of a

publishable final map

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Pre-Mapping:

▪ Identify region of interest

▪ Identify purpose or goal of mapping
▪ Obtain remote sensing data
▪ Obtain geological and soils mapping information
▪ Design and create a GIS database
▪ Compose a field mapping protocol (official procedure )
▪ Create draft map at a suitable scale for field mapping
▪ Prepare legend systems and symbols
▪ Obtain permission for access to the mapping region
▪ Conduct risk assessment for the planned activities
▪ Obtain weather forecast

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During the field

▪ Conduct field mapping following the protocol, including

walking the area
▪ Use hand-held GPS to mark the waypoints
▪ Write notes and take photos, positioned using GPS
▪ Adhere to health and safety issues and/or update the risk
estimation

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Post-Mapping:

▪ Download and integrate GPS data with the existing GIS

database
▪ Compare field and remote sensing mapping in order to
validate remotely sensed observations
▪ Write up notes and integrate notes with photos
▪ Produce final geological map in the GIS software
▪ Draw final map using digital cartographic symbols either
using the GIS software, or graphic design software
▪ Write and present explanatory notes accompanying the
map
▪ Publish the map

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 shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map

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 shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map
What is a Geologic Map?
▪Geologic maps are not like other
maps.
▪Geologic maps, like all maps, are
designed to show where things are.
But, whereas the maps we know best
show the distribution of roads or
rivers or county boundaries, a
geologic map shows the distribution
of geologic features, including
different kinds of rocks and faults.
▪A geologic map is usually printed on
top of a regular map (called a base
map) to help you locate yourself on
the map. The base map is printed
with light colors, so it doesn’t interfere
with seeing the geologic features on
the map.
▪The geology is represented by
colors, lines, and special symbols
unique to geologic maps. 16
 shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map
Characteristics:
1.Colored Areas
✓ The most striking
features of geologic
maps are its colors.
Each color
represents a
different geologic
unit. A geologic unit
is a volume of a
certain kind of rock
of a given age
range.

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 shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map
2. Letter Symbols
✓ In addition to color, each
geologic unit is assigned
a set of letters to
symbolize it on the map.
✓ Usually the symbol is the
combination of an initial
capital letter followed by
one or more small letters.
The capital letter
represents the age of the
geologic unit.
✓ Two capital letters
indicate the age of a rock
unit will span more than
one period.
✓ The few geologic units
formed an unknown
amount of time ago have
letter symbols with no
capital letters. 18
 shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map
3. Lines on the map
✓ Depositional
(lithological) contact
(thin lines). [4]
✓ Faults (thick lines
with/without symbols).
[5,9]
✓ Folds (thinner than
fault lines, but thicker
than contact lines). [6]
✓ Degrees of
uncertainty (solid –
certain data, dashed -
uncertain, or dotted
lines – covered by
younger units). [7,8]

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 shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map
4. Strike and dip

5. Map key

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 Homework
shddin © 2013
A Glance to Geological Map
5. Map key

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(Lisle, 2004) 20
Components of Geological Map

Australian Geological. Survey Organisation, 1997 22

Geological Reliability Diagram
A Geological Reliability Diagram shows which parts of the map
have been mapped using which method. The area marked B1 has
been mapped using detailed reconnaissance. The area marked B2
has been mapped using air-photo interpretations.

Australian Geological. Survey Organisation, 1997 23

Geological Cross-sections

A cross-section is used to show the relationship of the rock units

in an area. A cross-section clearly shows the rock units, faults,
folds and erosion. It also shows the order in which these
processes occurred. Usually, the rock unit on the bottom of the
cross-section is the oldest rock, and the rock unit on the top is
the youngest.

The data used to draw a cross-section can be obtained from

outcrops (dip and strike), road cuttings etc. It is really an
interpretation by a geologist of what happens to the rock units
under the surface (AGSO, 1997).

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 Geological Cross-sections
Cross Section shows a more complicated geological history.
Rocks have been deposited, folded, faulted then eroded.
Hundreds of millions of years may have passed before the
deposition of the younger rock layers. This represents an
unconformity.

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(AGSO, 1997)
 Geological Cross-sections
This represents an unconformity. A more detailed history of this
cross-section is
1. Deposition of siltstone
2. Deposition of mudstone
3. Deposition of sandstone
4. Deposition of tuff
5. Eruption of lava, cooled to produce basalt
6. Folding
7. Faulting (normal fault)
8. Erosion (unconformity)
9. Deposition of siltstone
10. Deposition of shale
11. Deposition of sandstone
12. Erosion to present-day landscape
Notice that in this cross-section, the faulting occurred after the folding. This is evident because the fault line is
unbroken. If the folding had occurred after the faulting, the fault line would have been broken or distorted.
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 How to make Geological Cross-sections?
How to draw cross section
Step 1: Determine the line along
which to draw the section (AA’).

Step 2: Draw axes of an

appropriate scale with the
topographic values. Unless there is
a reason to do otherwise, draw a
true scale section.

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 How to make Geological Cross-sections?
How to draw cross section
Step 3:

Transfer the topographic

information from the map to the
section. Project the height of each
topographic contour, where it
crosses the line of section, on to
the section and draw in the
topography.

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 How to make Geological Cross-sections?
How to draw cross section

Step 4:
Transfer the lithological
boundaries, faults etc on to the
cross section in the same way.

Step 5:
Transfer bedding readings on to
the section, correcting for apparent
dip if necessary.

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 How to make Geological Cross-sections?
How to draw cross section
Step 6: Using the bedding
readings as a guide, draw in the
lithological boundaries both above
and below the surface. Geology
extended above the topography is
shown by dashed lines. When
drawing the section always
consider what is geologically
reasonable behavior for the layers

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 References:

Hunsen S. 24-28 June, 2013. Workshop on Basic Geological Mapping.

Institute of Technology of Cambodia.

Barnes, J.W. and Richard J. L. (2003) Basic Geological Mapping, 199

p.

Lisle, R. J. (1996). Geological structures and maps: A practical guide.

Butterworth-Heinemann.

Soller, D. R., 2002, Digital Mapping Techniques '02-Workshop

Proceedings, USGS Open-file Report. 02-370.

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 Homework

• Chose 1 geological map with cross

section and try to understand about it.
• Explain how to make geological cross-
section.

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The Geological time scale.

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The Geological time scale.

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