Skills Needed For Geology

Mineralogy have completed the introductory geoscience course(s) and lab(s)!!

Be familiar with/able to identify basic minerals in hand sample

Be familiar with Excel or another graphing program
Have taken at least some chemistry (high school or preferably college level)
Be familiar with basic microscope operation

Petrology

Have completed Mineralogy

Be familiar with basic optical mineralogy (using a petrographic microscope,
identifying minerals in thin section)
Be able to identify minerals in hand sample
Have a basic knowledge of different rock types and their tectonic environments
Be familiar with Excel or another graphing program
solving. [to be filled in by a chemist], inorganic chemistry
Reseknow the geologic time scale! basics of age dating, know which technique
is most
Obtain subsurface data from cores and cuttings, plot the data in a standardized
format, read core data prepappropriate for problem at handarch methodology
and ethics (e.g. quote correctly sources and refs...)
basics of plate tectonics and earth system (meteorology, climatology,
oceanography, astronomy)

remote sensing, types, sources, image processing (envi), applications

Interpret and construct a topographic map, understand coordinate systems, map

datums and projections, GPS
Interpret and construct a geologic map, using GIS
Interpret and construct a cross section
Use a Brunton (or other surveying) compass (transit)
Identify basic rock-forming minerals and rocks in the field, in hand sample and in
thin section, including economic minerals ...and have a grasp of what this means
for ancient conditions (P, T, tectonic or igneous environment, precursor rock type)
understand and apply fundamentals of stratigraphy, geomorphology and
structural geology, relationship to subsurface geologyxahuiatdxjsaiy6fowq9835j
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Recognize basic fossil types and how to use them for age dating...and some
sense of when and how they lived (basic groups only)
Use standard GIS software (ArcGIS or similar) to display and interpret
geographic and geologic data
Use a general-purpose scripting language (Python, R, Matlab or similar) to read
data, do basic data analysis (simple statistics and arithmetic), generate a plot.
Computing basics: Files, folders, use a text editor, organise and manage data,
have heard of version control - and of backups!.

Locate, use and manage scientific literature (Sciencedirect, Mendeley, GeoRef...

Use standard vector graphics software (Adobe Illustrator or similar) to create
figures and maps, but know when to let a skilled illustrator take over to do the job
right
Recognize different tectonic environments
Recognize different types of natural hazards and zonation
Demonstrate basic field and laboratory safety techniques
Communicate their science clearly and concisely both verbally.
You have no sedimentology! -> Understand how to read an ancient environment
(quantitatively?) from sedimentary rocks, and have some grasp of facies
Logics behind sampling rocks, water, fossils (...), field data: how much/many, for
what purposes (repeat 100 times A pea-sized, weathered sample is of no use!)
Get a sense of geologic (deep) time: speed and duration of processes,
incompleteness of records, how are things dated, how old are eons/eras
Math: some college-level calculus and linear algebra; statistics and data analysis
including error propagation. Undergraduates should consult advisors as to the
level of math expected for a field they might be interested in going to.
Physics: general physics, including electromagnetism, radioactivity
Chemistry: Basic college-level physical and organic chemistry; some general
familiarity with practical analytical chemistry with regards to various geological
sampling techniques and how to apply these concepts to real world problem
ared by others.
Know how to use public databases that contain information about earthquakes,
stream flow, groundwater levels, volcanic activity, geodetic control, journal
articles, mineralogy, land ownership, well records, mineral production data, etc.
Have had basic introduction to computer programming, such as Matlab, ideally
used also in a courses lab, such as Geomorphology.
Geomorphology class.
Know how to formulate a hypothesis statement and find the hypothesis in a
paper and explain how one would test.

Sediment

Be able to identify basic rock-forming minerals

Have a basic knowledge of sedimentary rock types and their environments of
formation
Be familiar with Excel or another graphing program
Elementary mathematics
Understand reworking of sediments - MJR
Have taken Mineralogy, at least!

Structure

Have some sort of field mapping experience (field course, mapping course)
disagree - mapping in/after structure makes more sense
Be able to read a geologic and topographic map
Be able to identify basic rock types and compositions

Know basic tectonic environments

recognize stratigraphic up

Hydrology/Hydrogeology

Have completed, (mastered and internalized the material in) introductory

geoscience course(s) and lab(s)
Have taken a basic chemistry course
Basic physics, including classical mechanics and heat transfer
Be familiar with Excel or another graphing program. Be able to calculate and
interpret the slope of a line.
Basic math, again, including algebra, dimensional analysis and significant
figures. Some exposure to calculus (would be nice) is necessary.
Be able to construct a simple cross section
Be able to interpret a geologic map
Be able to con(cross sections, contouring, mstruct and interpret contours
Understand basics of structure & sedimentation (not necessary for surface water
hydrology)
aps, structure & sed are covered in Intro lecture and lab, but will need
reinforcement in other courses so skills dont atrophy!)
Understand simple statistics, including confidence intervals.

Surface Processes/Surficial Geologyedqwio fugjqeygur

Have completed the introductory geoscience course(s) and lab(s)

Understand the basics of the hydrologic cycle
Basic math, again; some physics probably sensible
Know how to make and read graphs

Paleontology

Have completed the introductory geoscience course(s) and lab(s) *including

Historical (not required everywhere, so must be specified!)
Minimal biology and taxonomy (binomial system etc.)
Know how to identify basic fossil types
Be exposed to sed lab techniques
Know the basics of dating techniques and stratigraphy

GIS

Be able to read a map

Have some basic experience with a graphics program (Adobe, etc.)
Basic physics
Understand methods for basic spatial analysis

Know how to find public data to make basic maps

Have an understanding of coordinate systems

Remote Sensing

Know the basics about the electromagnetic spectrum

Classical electrodynamics
Be able to read a map
Be familiar with some form of photo processing software (GIMP, Adobe, etc.)
Basic coding in a scripting language - irrelevant as too many platforms, however
all platforms generally are more similar than never learning any programming
before. It is easier to switch to a newer specific one than to learn one for the first
time while trying to apply it to a different subject area.

Field mapping / Field course (possibly field school?)

Know how to read a map (understand latitude/longitude and other coordinate ms,
how to interpret basic map keys and symbology)
Have a basic understanding of rock and mineral types
Know how to not kill self and others(!) in field - water, altitude, sensible clothing,
tool safety, respect the environment etc. Field Rule #1 - Dont die. Field Rule #2Dont let anyone else die.
Surely this requires the fundamentals of much of the above also? Mapping
without an understanding of tectonics, seds, and petrology would be... foolish
agree - most field courses require structure, sed/strat, min/pet
Have inquired well in advance what the physical fitness requirements are and
maybe consult a fitness expert on how to get in shape for a particular field campc