Customer Reviews

Geology in the Field

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Compton's text is one of those it seems that every geologist has read at some point. Clear, concise and practical, the text covers all the basics of field geology. The text is in three basic parts: Chapters 1-8 cover doing field work, e.g., equipment needed, basic procedures at outcrops, mapping rock units, geologic mapping, use of aerial photos, and mapping with a plane table and alidade. Chapters 9-15 cover describing the basic rock types (sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic) as well as volcanic structures and plutons. I remember well almost memorizing the chapter on Stratigraphic Sections as an undergraduate. The final part of the book is the appendices which contain much valuable information such as percentage diagrams for estimating rock compositions by volume and a table of standard lithologic symbols. I carry photocopies of several of the appendices in my field notebook for reference. (They are lighter than the AGI Data Sheets and on some trips weight is critical.) Use of the book will clearly be dictated by the type of field work one does, however, the entire text is a wealth of information. The book only shows its age (1985) with omission of a couple of important developments in field geology such as GPS, now often used in field reports. However, this is only a minor complaint. Field geology is done in the field, but Compton's manual will give every geologist the necessary information to begin the adventure. And mastering the basics in "Geology in the Field" will provide a solid foundation on which to build all of our individual, personal quirks and habits we seem to evolve while at the outcrops.

I think the true state of field geology is illustrated by the date of this pub and the lack of a much needed revision, the movement towards 'black box' geology in 30 years, an aging cohort of old-timer geologists who have not been able to pass the torch of field work on to a large number of younger generation geologists, in addition to the old timers' inability to keep up with recent technological advances in field methods and techniques (like the laptop!)
How is it that recent field HYDROGEOLOGY books are being published at a rapid pace for practitioners, but Compton's book is still being praised by these other Amazon reviewers as though god him/herself wrote the thing?Useful yes, but if this is the best we're going to get for years, students will need to supplement w/ online field geology developments.

This is a great field guide for new geologists. I just wish I had found it before field camp. It explains everything you need to know in the field clearly and is small enough to take on any day hike. It is rather spendy but totally worth it. I would recommend this book to any of my fellow students or co-workers.

To briefly summarize... Compton's Geology in the Field is the BIBLE for geology field camp students. Don't leave home without it!

Look no further, folks, this is it! You have reached the only exhaustive field manual for serious geological mapping.

you should probably have this as a reference book since everyone else does, but some of the material is out dated and there are more current methods available, but you should still probably have it.

This book does an excellent job of describing and illustrating geologic field methods. I particularly liked the sections on Identifying Rocks in the Field, and Basic Prodedures at Outcrops, as I thought the book covered both without too much or too little detail.

Though about field geology, this is more of a book to remain at the field office and is not made for field durability. The appendices and key diagrams would make great laminated cards.

What a help when out in the field, or in the lab! I review this before every outing. Has great experience with what you need in the field and what might/will go wrong. Excellent companion to your field notebook and map. Small enough to keep with you during field time.

This book was used for Michigan Tech's Field Geology course and was very helpful for everything from the symbols used for geological features to correct field note taking. I have a hard cover which is much more durible than the paperback. I don't know if they still have the hard cover but I would recommend that first.