Unit 8Sc – 9 Illustrating Geological Features prepared by Jack Graham (Last revision 10/14/12)
Standard 8Sc: The student will demonstrate an understanding of materials that determine the structure
of Earth and the processes that have altered this structure. (Earth Science)
Internet Resources:
9. Identify and illustrate geologic features of regions of the world through the use of imagery
(including aerial photography and satellite imagery) and topographic maps.
9th Essential Question: How can you identify the geologic features of an area on a map or
photograph?

Read the article “How to Read a Geologic Map” By Andrew Alden, from About.com Guide
from http://geology.about.com/od/maps/ss/How-To-Read-A-Geologic-Map.htm. Be sure to
read all seven pages online. Using a topographic map printed at home from
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en showing at least 2 km by 2 km and no more than 10
km by 10 km (on an of the area around your home, identify a feature discussed on each of
the seven pages of Mr. Alden’s article. Each feature correctly marked and identified with
the article page number and terrain feature name gains +10 points.

Read the article “World Topographic Map”, Map
Service by esri
athttp://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=f2498e3d0ff64
2bfb4b155828351ef0e This world topographic map (aka
"the community basemap") includes boundaries, cities,
water features, physiographic features, parks, landmarks,
transportation, and buildings. Visit one or more of the world
“famous locations” listed at the bottom of the article by
clicking on the link to the suggested location. Write a paragraph on what you learned by
studying the map(s) you visited. Each feature of the landmark correctly identified from the
map and described by a sentence is worth 2 points (10 points per average paragraph, 70
points maximum possible.)

Using the following maps found at http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/grcaproj/grcaproj.html
give your best hypotheses for why the under laying strata are not layered like the top layers
in the Grand Canyon. +5 point each plausible
conjecture. +10 points each rational
explanation for selecting one conjecture over
the others.
Unit 8Sc – 9 Illustrating Geological Features prepared by Jack Graham (Last revision 10/14/12)

Read the article “INTRODUCTION TO SURFACE GEOLOGICAL MAPPING IN A
GEOTHERMAL ENVIRONMENT” by Dr. Peter A. Omenda retrievable from
http://www.os.is/gogn/unu-gtp-sc/UNU-GTP-SC-10-0104.pdf to determine the features that
should be included for geothermal area mappings. Use
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en as your source for satellite and topographic maps of
one of Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, or Mount Aso, Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture,
Japan, or similar area around Beppu, Oita Prefecture, Japan. Visit the area of your choice
with your family on a weekend or during the holidays. Take lots of pictures. Mark where
each picture is on your map. From your pictures, your observations, and the information in
the article by Dr. Omenda, mark appropriate geothermal activity on your copy of the Google
topographic map of your area. +10 points each feature photographed, correctly identified,
and marked on your map.

Select an area you are familiar with anywhere in the
world. Make a 3d map out of layers of poster board,
cardboard, or box-board by cutting the poster board to
the shape following the topographic lines on a copy of
the topographic map of your area. Glue the layers
together to make the mountains as in the picture at
the right. Each piece you cut out within ± 1/10th of an
inch of the shape shown by your map is worth one
point. The brown map model at the right is worth 31
points as it is. If you add appropriate color showing
roads, vegetation, etc, each piece doubles in value. If
this model was properly colored as shown in the lower
picture, then it would be worth 62 points. If you also
show geologic data (the white tags) such as hot
springs, volcanic vents, rock strata or rock types in the
location mapped, then each such datum adds 2 points
to the finished model’s score up to 100 points.