Kinlochleven
For many Geoscience undergraduates, geological and geophysical fieldwork forms one of the most rewarding centre pieces of their degree. Imperial College graduates have traditionally been highly sought for their fieldwork skills. Field courses provide the real hands-on experience that every Earth Scientist requires whether they are a geologist, geophysicist or an environmental geoscientist. The ability to make good observations and record high quality data in the field are just as important as the ability to interpret data and synthesise genetic models. Field modules taken as part of the degrees offered by the department focus on training in traditional geological skills that compliment modern quantitative analysis and synthesis taught in class.
The second year field course to Kinlochleven is a key module designed to prepare students for their independent projects and focuses on proper recording of lithological and structural data in field notebooks and maps. The field course also provides hands-on experience in interpreting polyphase deformation structures, within the Dalradian sequence of the Grampian Highlands, and interpreting the field relations of igneous rocks of the Glencoe caldera and associated intrusions.
Kinlochleven is split into two parts. The first week examines the igneous rocks of the Glencoe caldera and gives a guided introduction to polyphase deformation in the Darlradian metasediments and the Moine Schists. The second week involves geological mapping of Dalradian quartzites and schists, that are affected by three distinct phases of folding, in the vicinity of Kinlochleven. The mapping week is closely supervised and focuses on quantitative recording and observation skills. The aim of the mapping is to demonstrate to students that with accurate measurements and well recorded data even the most complex of structures are within their capabilities.
This year's second year students have just returned from the Kinlochleven field course and are in the midst of making cross-sections, maps and plotting stereonets, using the data collected in the field. Although Kinlochleven is one of the most challenging field courses and involves much hard work, students agree that it gives them the experience and confidence to conduct their own independent projects over this summer.
Images show: A view from the mapping areas along Loch Leven, A F2 fold in the Moine Schist superimposed on earlier boudinage. The Kinlochleven field course is run by Drs John Cosgrove, Paul Garrard and Matthew Genge.
Experience some of this year's Kinlochleven field course in video below. Download (right click and save as) to the video to view. You may need to manually adjust the size of windows media player to obtain the best video quality.
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High quality windows video (wmv) 200K/sec (11 Mb)
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