New Field Methods Lab

Physical Geology cadets ventured outside for a field methods lab. The lab introduced cadets to the Brunton Compass, which has a few additional features not available on a standard military issue compass. In the lab, cadets adjusted the compass for the local magnetic declination, learned how to measure the "strike" of a planar feature (essentially it's azimuth as the plane intersects with the horizon), and the "dip" (the angle that the plane makes with the horizontal). As they measured strike and dip on features around the cadet area, they also answered questions about rock types and rock mechanics. Several cadets enjoyed using the geology pun "It's gneiss, don't take it for granite!"