Ge 111ab: Applied Geophysics Seminar and Field Course

Summer 2003 Field Camp Location:     Fish Lake Valley, Dyer, NV.

collecting ground penetrating radar data surveying a benchmark with RTK GPS collecting resistivity data

Course Description

An introduction to the theory and application of basic geophysical field techniques consisting of a comprehensive survey of a particular field area using a variety of methods (e.g., gravity, magnetic, electrical, GPS, seismic studies, and satellite remote sensing). The course will consist of a seminar (Ge 111a) held in the spring quarter in which we will discuss the scientific background for the chosen field area, along with the theoretical basis and implementation of the various measurement techniques. The field course (Ge 111b) will take place soon after commencement.

Units: 3-3-0 (spring), 0-3-6 (summer). The seminar is graded, with auditing not permitted; The field course must be taken for a grade and the seminar is required for participation in the field component.

Prerequisites: Consent of Instructor(s) Spring/Summer 2003


Homework for Ge111a



Instructors

Mark Simons, 355 South Mudd, simons@gps.caltech.edu, x6984
Robert W. Clayton, 352 South Mudd, clay@gps.caltech.edu, x6909
Joann Stock, 356 South Mudd, jstock@gps.caltech.edu, x6938

Teaching Assistants

Alisa Miller, 364 South Mudd, amiller@gps.caltech.edu, x6931 (Ge 111ab)
Javier Favela, 362 South Mudd, javier@gps.caltech.edu, x6974 (Ge 111b, only)

Ombudsperson

Sara Cina


Course Topics (in no particular order)


Schedule (updated 9 May 2003)

Week Date Room Topic(s) Reading and Homework for following week
1 Fri, April 4 215 N.Mudd Course Admin. (Clayton)
Remote Sensing (Simons)
Read Reheis & Dixon
HWK: Spot Image and DEM (due Tues 15 Apr)
GIS tutorial Tues Apr 8, 3-5 pm, GIS lab
2 Fri, April 11 215 N.Mudd Overview Geology (Stock) Reynolds: Reflection
HWK: Summarize Reheis & Dixon (1 page)
Due Fri April 18, 5pm Alisa's mailbox
3 Tues, April 15 162 S.Mudd Seismic Reflection (Clayton) Reynolds: Magnetics
HWK: Reflection Homework (due Tues Apr 22)
4 Tues, April 22 162 S.Mudd Magnetics (Stock) Reynolds: Gravity
HWK: Magnetics problems (due Tues Apr 29)
5 Fri, May 2 162 S.Mudd Gravity (Simons) Reynolds: GPR
HWK: gravity
6 Fri, May 9  162 S.Mudd Ground Penetrating Radar (Stock) Reynolds: Refraction
HWK: analysis of existing GPR dataset
7 Fri, May 16 162 S.Mudd Refraction (Clayton) READ: Reheis and Sawyer
HWK: analysis of existing refraction dataset
8 Fri, May 23 162 S.Mudd Geology of Fish Lake Valley (Stock) Reynolds: Resistivity
HWK: Intro for Ge 111b paper
9 Fri, May 30
starts @10 am
162 S.Mudd Resistivity (Clayton) ** Intro for Ge 111b paper Due **
10 Fri, June 6 162 S.Mudd OM for GE111b ** Scientific Objectives Due **

Regular class time: Fri 9-11 am, 162 S.Mudd
Alternate class time: Tues 3-4 pm, 162 S.Mudd

The field course will take place from Sunday, June 15 to Saturday, June 21. Reports will be due 5pm Wednesday, June 25. We will be camping in Fish Lake Valley for the entire field course.

Information on field component of class is here




Textbook and Reading List

Reynolds, John M. (1997) An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, John Wiley & Sons.
(on reserve in GPS library)
($60 at Caltech bookstore, ~$50 used with shipping included at several online locations)


Required:

Reheis, Marith. C. and Timothy H. Dixon, Kinematics of the Eastern California shear zone: Evidence for slip transfer from Owens and Saline Valley fault zones to Fish Lake Valley fault zone, Geology, 1996, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 339-342.

Reheis, Marith. C. and Thomas L. Sawyer, Late Cenozoic history and slip rates of the Fish Lake Valley, Emigrant Peak, and Deep Springs fault zones, Nevada and California, GSA Bulletin, 1997, Vol. 109, No. 3, pp. 280-299.


Reference:

Diamond, David S., and Raymond V. Ingersoll, Structural and sedimentologic evolution of a Miocene supradetachment basin, Silver Peak Range and adjacent areas, west-central Nevada, International Geology Review, 2002, Vol. 44, pp. 588-623.

Hearn, Elizabeth H. and Eugene D. Humphreys, Kinematics of the Southern Walker Lane Belt and motion of the Sierra Nevada block, California, JGR, Vol. 103, Nov. 10 1998, pp 27033-27049.

Oldow, J.S., C.L.V. Aiken, J.L. Hare, J.F. Ferguson, and R.F. Hardyman, Active displacement transfer and differential block motion within the central Walker Lane, western Great Basin, Geology, 2001, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp.19-22.

Oldow, John S., Gretchen Kohler, and Raymond A. Donelick, Late Cenozoic extensional transfer in the Walker Lane strike-slip belt, Nevada, Geology, 1994, Vol. 22, pp. 637-640.

Petronis, Michael S., John W. Geissman, John S. Oldow, and William C. McIntosh, Paleomagnetic and 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data bearing on the structural evolution of the Silver Peak extensional complex, west-central Nevada, GSA Bulletin, 2002, Vol. 114, no. 9, pp. 1108-1130.

Reheis et al., A late Pliocene to middle Pleistocene pluvial lake in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada and California, GSA Bulletin, 1993, Vol. 105, pp. 953-967.

Stewart, John H. and David S. Diamond, Changing patterns in extensional tectonics; Overprinting of the basin of the middle and upper Miocene Esmeralda Formation in western Nevada by younger structural basins, in Basin and Range extensional tectonics near the latitude of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1990, GSA Memoir 176, pp. 447-475.

PDFs and postscripts of most papers


Useful links



Previous Class Web Pages and Photos

2002: Fish Lake Valley, CA and NV
2001: Mono Lake, CA
2000: Mono Lake, CA
1999: Blackhawk Landslide, CA
Photos 1 and Photos 2
Photos
Photos
Photos


Last updated, 30 June 2003