EPS 50 Lab 6: Maps Topography, Geologic Structures and Relative Age Determinations
Name:_________________________ EPS 50 Lab 6: Maps Topography, geologic structures and relative age determinations Introduction: Maps are some of the most interesting and informative printed documents available. We are familiar with simple maps that indicate places and the roads you are going to take from one place to another, but maps can reveal much more information. In this lab we will learn to interpret two very important types of maps used in geology and related disciplines: topographic maps and geologic maps. We will also learn to interpret geologic structures, and learn how they can be inferred from geologic maps. Objective: This laboratory will introduce you to topographic and geologic maps and also cover some geologic structures associated with folding and faulting. You will practice making relative age determinations of rocks and structures, and you will construct a geologic cross-section based on information you obtain from maps. Answers: All answers should be your own, but we encourage you to discuss and check your answers with other students. This lab will be graded out of 100 points. Part 1: Topographic maps (21 points) Topographic maps provide information about Earth’s surface. The main feature of topographic maps is topography: ridges, valleys, mountains, plains and other Earth surface features. Maps usually contain a lot of information (i.e. roads, highways, buildings, water bodies, railroads, etc.), but for this exercise we will focus only on topography, (i.e. elevation data). Changes in elevation are depicted on topographic maps using contour lines. Contour lines are lines representing equal elevation across the landscape. Contours are drawn at regular intervals of elevation; these intervals vary between maps, but are typically specified at the bottom of the map or in the map legend.
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