This page has been developed specifically for the Geology Field Trip assignment (usually used for GEO 1010). It includes recommended resources, examples, and video tutorials specifically for Geology. These resources may support students with the class's Geology Field Trip signature assignment.
When researching, start by finding general information about the geology of your site. Take notes on the site's notable geology. These notes will become the keywords you use to search for more detailed sources. Once you have a basic understanding of the site, start looking for technical sources. Depending on your location, it may be challenging to find articles specifically discussing its geology. You can use the notes you took to look for articles on its geology. Try to find articles that discuss formations present at your site. Even if the article does not mention your site, you can synthesize that information.
A great tactic for beginning your research is to find general information about your selected field trip location. Learning about its basic geology can help you know what to expect when you visit. Use that knowledge to develop a list of keywords for searching for more in-depth sources about your site's geology.
There are a variety of databases and search engines available for you to find scholarly sources and technical reports on your selected locations. If you find an article that is not freely available to you, please contact the Library.
Watch the following videos for demonstrations of searching for Geology Field Trip assignment sources using the Library’s database AAPG Datapages, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Also learn how to use Google Scholar’s citation generator.
Watch this video (4 minutes) for a demonstration of distinguishing between scholarly and popular sources with a sample topic of the geology of Canyonlands National Park.
June 2024 Update: Please note that the EBSCO/OneSearch interface has changed. Demonstrated limiters no longer match the current interface. Also, example articles shown in video may no longer be available.
Contact the Science, Mathematics and Engineering liaison librarian: Amy.Scheelke@slcc.edu.
