Tag Archives: geology

Earth Science

Samples for Lab Midterm GLGY381



Table: Trace fossils, toponomical, morphological and ethological data
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Ichogenus Topo Morphology Nature of Fill Ethology
Bergaueria
 HR rounded pits, cms in diameter and depth, unlined Same as overlaying unit Resting or Drewlling
Chondrites
 FR (SR) regular, root-like branching burrow system, tunnels of uniform diameter, mm-scale, unlined Mud fill in sand host or sand fill in mud host Feeding
Cruziana
 HR v-shape(bi-lobed), furrow with scratch marks same as overlaying unit crawling or grazing
Cylindrichnus
 FR vertical to inclined, concentrically lined, flares upwards, never branch tube usually filled with massive sand Dwelling
Diplocraterion
(bad images, to be replaced)
 FR vertical U-shaped, spreiten borrows, “3D” tubes filled with massive sand Dwelling
Entobia
 FR (SR) very small sharp-walled/tunnels, usually found on calcareous shells unfilled, sediment or cement Dewlling, Feeding
Helminthopsis
 FR (SR) horizontal to inclined, sometimes branched, J-shape hooks and arcs, mm-size Usually mud fill in sand host Feeding or Grazing
Macaronichnus
 FR (SR) horizontal to inclined, rarely branched tunnels that almost never overlap or touch, lining is caused by the qz-rich sand core and lithic-rich outer core sand fill in sand Feeding
Ophiomorpha
 HR “poop”-like, cm-scale, vertical, inclined – horizontal borrow system, lined with agglutinated pelletoidal sediment/fecal pellet mixture, “Y” or “T” shaped branching usually sand fill (same as host) Dwelling
Palaeophycus
 FR (SR) horizontal tunnels, never branch, think mud lining, often small scale and can cross over same fill as host Dwelling
Phycosiphon
 HR un-branched, light coloured halo(too small to see), mm-scale, horizontal to inclined, J-shaped/hooks mud fill silty halo Feeding or Grazing
Planolites
 FR (SR) overlapping horizontal tunnels, unlined, sometimes branching, , looks like palaeophycus, but sinusoidal Mud fill in sand or sand fill in mud Feeding
Rhizocorallium


 FR (SR) horizontal to inclined burrow with spreite, unlined or sometimes thin mud lining Tubes filled with massive sand, “2D”(horizontal to bedding) Feeding or Dwelling
Rusophycus
 HR or ER bi-lobed, round, oval to heart shaped, shallow pits with scratch marks, lava like lumpy Same as overlaying unit Resting
Skolithos
 FR vertical to inclined shaft, sharp walled, sometimes thinly mud lined tube usually filled with massive sand Dwelling
Teichichnus
 FR horizontal to inclined tube upward-migratied to produce spreite, unlined, never branched alternating sand/slit/mud (massive sand) Feeding or Dwelling
Teredolites
 FR cm-scaled tunnels/shafts or club shaped burrows, sharp walled, never branch, never overlap, small bumps sand fill in with woody or coal material Dwelling or Feeding
Thalassinoides
 FR cm-scale, Y or T shaped branches, horizontal to inclined vertical burrow system, smooth/sharp wall, unlined or very thin mud lining usually sand fill in mud (different from host) Dwelling or Feeding
Zoophycos
 FR fan like circular shape, flat, curved or inclined, spreite in the xsection, causive burrow is cm-scale vertical shaft alternating mud fill, sand and poop Feeding or Grazing

Earth Science

Stratigraphic cross section at Exshaw, Alberta


Exshaw, Alberta. Copyright © 2012

Location: 11 U 0627438 E / 5658531 N (UTM-WGS-84 with ~4m accuracy)

Total thickness: 205.57 m

Average strike and dip: about ~ 150/50 (using the University of Calgary right-hand rule)

Notice: Data is based on Continue reading Stratigraphic cross section at Exshaw, Alberta →

Earth Science

Core of Geoscience

As a second year Geology Undergraduate I am in the middle of my journey towards becoming a professional in the field of Geoscience. One of the things a student in geology compared to a student in another scientific field would notice is that after elementary geology classes, the Geoscience spread in to a wide range of different academic disciplines. Geology program covers, material science, engineering/physics, chemistry, actuarial science and even art. Other than engineering, the geological applications of these subjects are the most practical use of these fields. For example, geochemistry has more practical real world applications than general chemistry or there are more jobs for geophysics majors than physics majors. Continue reading Core of Geoscience →