6. Geological fieldwork

Abstract

The rare, exotic, and wonderful has been one of the great attractions of geology, often being the ‘hook’ that initially attracted the attention of many a geological enthusiast. Dating back to at least Greek and Roman times, explorers went in search of mammoth and dinosaur bones, and prospectors targeted precious gems and metal ores. ‘Geological fieldwork’ explains, though, that systematically working out the total geology of a landscape requires a very different approach. It outlines the work of William Smith, who from the late 18th century produced the first geological maps of Great Britain, and describes some of the new technology used in modern geological fieldwork.