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Geology 111 Lab Fall 2010 Name ________________________________________

Lab #2: Exploring Topographic and Geologic Maps Lab Section (circle one): 8-10 10-12 1-3 3-5 5-7 7-9
(Modified from Dr. Ginny Peterson)

Using Topographic Maps
In answering these problems use pencil and be sure to show all of your work!!!
Conversion Factors:
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters 12 inches = 1 foot 1 mile = 5,280 feet
1 meter = 100 centimeters 1 kilometer = 1000 meters

1. The profiles below show two slopes, a steeper slope (A) and a gentler slope (B).
A B

For a given slope distance, RISE represents the change in elevation and RUN represents the horizontal map distance.
Note that the rise (elevation change or contour interval) is the same for both A and B. Compare the run or map
distance between contours for the two slopes. Is the map distance or horizontal spacing between contour lines
(shown here as the run) greater or less for a steeper slope?


2. On a map, two houses are two inches apart. In real life the two houses are 10 miles apart. What is the verbal scale?

1 inch = _________________________ miles

What is the R.F. of the map? (HINT: convert to same units.) For full credit, show your work.




3. Use a ruler to determine the verbal scale for the graphic scale below.

1 mile .5 0 1 mile




Verbal scale: 1 inch = miles

4. Each table has three maps at different scales (1:24,000, 1:100,000, and 1:250,000) that include the area of the GVSU
Allendale campus. Locate the Grand Valley intersection, just east of the Grand River, on each map. Compare the
three maps in terms of area covered and degree of detail. If you think of the fractional scale as a fraction (e.g.
1:24,000 as 1/24,000), the smaller the number represented by the fraction (the number you get when you divide out
the fraction), the smaller the scale of the map. Remember that 1/4 is a smaller number than 1/2.
Circle the correct choice for each question: 1nlNk c4kluLLY nk
o Which of these three maps is a smaller SCALE map? 1:24,000 1:100,000 1:250,000
run
run
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o Which map covers a larger area? 1:24,000 1:100,000 1:250,000
Use the Rockford Quadrangle for the following questions:
5. What is the contour interval of the map? feet
6. What is the latitude of the northern boundary of the map? N or S?
7. What is the longitude of the western boundary of the map? E or W?
8. What is the approximate maximum relief of this map area (this is the difference in elevation between the highest and
lowest point on the map)?
Highest elevation ____________________ (northwestern region of map)
Lowest elevation _____________________ (lowest point on River)
Total relief
9. Find Barkley Creek in the northeastern part of the map. Use the Rst
dNE NW SE SW (circle one)
10. What is the name of the quadrangle directly WEST of the Rockford 7.5 minute quadrangle? (Names of adjacent
quadrangles are listed in italics within ( ) along the boundaries and corners of the map.) Note that the Cannonsburg
quadrangle lies to the east of the Rockford Quadrangle.


Use the Allendale Quadrangle for the following questions:

11. What geographic place do you find at UTM coordinates: 16
47
52
450
N
5
89
550
E?

12. Find the stream that crosses M-45 (= Lake Michigan Drive this is the E-W road that goes through the town of
Allendale) at UTM coordinates
47
58
040
N
5
84
745
E.
a. Is this point to the EAST or WEST of the center of Allendale?

b. In which direction does the water in this stream flow when it crosses M-45?

dNE NW SE SW (circle one)

13. Give the Public Land System (township and range) description for old GVSU fieldhouse (estimate to the
nearest of a section). Remember to write this in the correct order.

PLS location: _____________________________________________

14. Declination refers to the difference between true north (parallel to the lines of longitude on your map) and magnetic
north (the direction that your compass would indicate as north). The declination varies for different spots on the
Earth and is typically shown graphically at the bottom of the map sheet.
o What is the magnetic declination (in degrees) for the Allendale Quadrangle? _____________
o Is magnetic north (MN) to the west or to the east of True North (shown as a *)? _________
o What year was this Magnetic declination reported? __________
o A map on your table shows how magnetic declination varied for the United States in 2004. Based on this map
what was the magnetic declination for Allendale in 2004? ____________

15. Determine the gradient of Ottawa Creek between the road crossings at A and B as shown on map below. It will be
easier to use the laminated map on your lab table to make the calculations.
o Determine the elevation change (to the nearest 10 ft) between A and B ____________ feet
o Measure the STRAIGHT-LINE distance along the creek from A to B ___________ miles
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o Calculate the gradient (ft/mile) by dividing the elevation drop by the distance _________ ft/mi
o Note that the stream meanders quite a bit over the distance that you measured (it is curvy rather than straight).
Fill in the blanks in the following statement: This means that the distance the stream travels is
____________________(LONGER/SHORTER) than what you measured and that the gradient would be
____________________(STEEPER/GENTLER) than what you calculated.

A
B


16. Neatly draw a contour map using the elevation data provided on the map below. Contour interval = 5 feet. Use a
pencil. Make index contours (multiples of 25 ft) darker and labeled.


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17. Create a topographic profile using the diagrams below. A topographic profile is created to show a side view of the
topographic map along a particular line. USE A PENCIL and have an ERASER handy. Steps:
1. Determine the highest and lowest elevations on the map above.
2. Label the lines on one side of the graph with appropriate elevations.
3. Find the transverse line A-B on the map.
4. Using a ruler place a small mark on the graph for every contour elevation line the A-B line crosses. The mark should
be position directly under the line on the map.
5. Lightly draw in the profile of the map using a pencil. Smooth lines and as change elevation directions up/down-
-B line.

Contour Interval = 20 meters







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Using Geologic Maps
We will use the paper copy of the Geologic Map of the Bright Angel Quadrangle, AZ, which includes part of the Grand
Canyon, to gain familiarity with geologic maps.

18. Look at the Explanation (map key). The rock units found on this map are listed in the explanation and each rock unit is
depicted with a different color. Compare the legend to the Geologic Time scale. Are the units in the legend listed with
the oldest rocks at the top or the bottom of the column?

19. What is the numerical age of the youngest rock unit present on this map (find its geologic age and use the provided
geologic time scale)?

If the oldest rocks on the map are ~1800 million years old, what is the approximate span of time represented by the
units on this map (from oldest to youngest)?

20. Find the Colorado River on the map and look at the rock units that are present in the immediate vicinity of the river.
Are the rocks that are closest to the river generally among the older or younger rocks on the map?

What is the geologic age of the rock units nearest to the river? (see Explanation)

21. Some rock types are better able to resist weathering and erosion than others. The rock types that are more resistant
to weathering tend to form steeper slopes and those that erode more easily would form gentler slopes. How can you
use contour lines to determine which rock units are more resistant?



Hiking out of the canyon is a pretty long and strenuous activity. Some rock units will be easier to walk through
because they form gentle slopes and some will make you huff and puff because of the much steeper slopes. Name
two rock units that will be steep to cross on your way up the canyon.


22. Look at the map pattern of the contacts between the sedimentary rock layers in the Grand Canyon. How do they
compare to the topographic contour lines on the map?




What does this mean about the orientation of the sedimentary rock layers in the canyon?




23. Gold is discovered in the Shinumo Sandstone bedrock. If you were to pan for gold, which of the following creeks do
you think would have the greatest likelihood of having some gold? (choose one more than one correct answer)

Bright Angel Creek Clear Creek Garden Creek Phantom Creek Pipe Creek Salt Creek Trinity Creek