User talk:Awickert/Sandbox/Methods of geology

Hi Awickert, this looks good. I am a bit shy to edit a page in your user space, so I will put the result of my personal brainstorm session here. If you like it you can put it in the sandbox yourself or cherrypick from it.

I think it is important to keep in mind we want to show how geologist work, instead of giving a sort of manual or course in geology. Let's keep it simple though, too much detail makes it unclear and should go into the subarticles. I would divide "methods of geology" into four parts, containing the following concepts/methods:

1) the study of rocks (petrography, petrology, mineralogy)

rock types (explaining about the three rock types and perhaps a few subdivisions, something about rock textures, something about the rock-forming minerals, ores). Theory on rock formation can be included in the "Modern geology" section (Bowen's series, the rock cycle and all processes it includes). It is a theory, not a method.
thin sections, basic explanation of optical mineralogy, perhaps discuss a few lab methods as well (SEM, spectrometry, EMP?)

2) the study of rock strata (stratigraphy, sedimentology)

rock strata (only in sedimentary or volcanic rocks), Steno's laws, top-bottom criteria, unconformities, stratigraphic hiatuses
concept of sedimentary facies, lithostratigraphy
the study of basin fill and basin development (wedging of sedimentary strata, onlap, toplap, influence of the relative sea level on that, etc)
relative dating techniques (index fossils, magnetic polarities, and others), absolute dating techniques

3) the study of geological structures (field geology)

folds, faults, the concept of outcrops and how geologists map them
intrusions and cross-cutting relationships (igneous rocks in relation to others)
stereographic methods in geology

4) the study of tectonic phases (structural geology, petrology)

concept of metamorphic and tectonic phases
tectonic rocks and their structures and textures
concept of metamorphic facies, index minerals and metamorphic gradients
relative and absolute dating of (micro-)structures and minerals in metamorphic rocks

That's all I can think of right now for the "methods" section. At the "modern geology" section we could include a new section on the rock cycle and maybe one on geochemical cycles (or is that geochemistry?). This is a huge task and especially on field geology, we need better figures too. If you like I can help writing, drawing, etc. Tell me when and where I can do something and if I have time, I will help! Woodwalker (talk) 21:40, 25 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for all the help! I like your outline better than mine; I'm going to start working with it. And no need to feel shy about editing my userspace - you're invitied, if you like. And anything that you could do for the geology article would be an improvement. I'll tell you if I think of anything in particular. Awickert (talk) 22:41, 25 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

New tack

I'm thinking of charting a slightly new course. I'll make the methods section about the actual methods, but won't discuss any theory (or at least, as little as possible) there. I'll make a section on theory/concepts, and put those there, possibly organized by discipline. Awickert (talk) 04:49, 30 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]