Sunday, 29 March 2015

How to create a simple Contour Map in Surfer?

Contour Map is a map that shows lines of equal magnitude (like elevation, concentration, precipitation etc.). Contour map for required parameter (Z) can be plotted with respect to coordinate data (X,Y). Different set of contour maps can be plotted if one has multiple Z values for X, Y coordinates.

Uses of Contour Maps

Contour maps are extremely useful in various fields like Meteorology, Environmental science, Physical Geography and Oceanography, Ecology, Social Sciences, Civil Engineering and Geology. In geology contouring is mostly used in structural geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy and economic geology. One of very common example is topographic map where elevation is used to show topography of area. Another example is Isopach maps to illustrate variations in thickness of geologic units. An example of simple contour map is given below -
Simple Contour
In Surfer contour map can be prepared based on a grid file. We have already discussed about grid file creation.
If you already well versed with Grid file creation then you can download Demo Grid file for practice.
Download grd
To create contour map one has to perform following steps:
Step 1: Click the Map ↦ New ↦ Contour Map command, or click the button contour_icon in the map toolbar. Then Open Grid dialog will be displayed.
2.1
Step 2: Select the grid file you created in previous tutorial (Demo Data.grd) by clicking once on its name. The file name is entered in the File name box.
2.2
Step 3: Click on Open Button or alternatively Double Click on file name.
Step 4: In the Assign Coordinate System dialog, accept the default Unreferenced local system and click OK. The map is created using the default contour map properties.
2.3 
Step 5: If you wish to save contour map; by default it will be saved in the same directory in which grid file was present with extension .srf.
2.4

Sunday, 22 March 2015

How to Create Grid File in Surfer ?

A grid is a series of vertical and horizontal lines that are used to subdivide XY plane into number of blocks. Intersection of vertical and horizontal lines are called Grid Node. Each grid node is represented by a Z value. These rectangular array of Z values are used to generate maps. In Surfer, each grid node is indicated with a "+" in the grid editor window. Each blanked node is indicated with a "x" in the grid node editor. The selected grid node is displayed with a red diamond around the grid node.
surfer 7
To prepare Grid File in Surfer one has to do these five steps.
Step 1: Go to your Desktop or Start Menu click on Surfer icon surfer_icon . Following dialog box will be open by default.
Surfer 1
Step 2: Now locate Grid menu in top Menu Bar and click on Data. Alternatively you can also click on Grid icon Grid Icon.

Surfer A
Step 3: After clicking; Open Data dialog box will be opened that is to load the data. If you are in the right directory then simply select data file and click open button. Otherwise use windows explorer to locate your data file and load the data. For tutorial  purpose a data file Demo Data has been prepared.
You can download format of data file from here Download Demo Data File.
 Picture11
Step 4: After clicking on Open button Grid Data dialog box will be opened. The Grid Data dialog allows you to control the gridding parameters.

Surfer 4
Here you will see following options-
  • The Data Columns section is used to specify the columns containing the X and Y coordinates, and the Z values in the data file.
  • The Filter Data button is used to filter your data set.
  • The View Data button is used to see a worksheet preview of your data.
  • The Statistics button is used to open a statistics report for your data.
  • The Grid Report option is used to specify whether to create a statistical report for the data.
  • The Gridding Method option is used to specify the interpolation gridding method.
  • The Advanced Options button is used to specify advanced settings for the selected Gridding Method.
  • The Cross Validate button is used to assess the quality of the gridding method.
  • The Output Grid File displays the path and file name for the grid file.
  • The Grid Line Geometry section is used to specify the XY grid limits, grid spacing, and number of grid nodes (also referred to as rows and columns) in the grid file.
  • The Blank grid outside convex hull of data automatically blanks any locations that are outside the data area.
  • Click OK. By accepting the defaults, the grid file uses the same path and file name as the data file, but the grid file has a .GRD extension.
Step 5: By default, a Surfer dialog appears after gridding the data with the full path and file name of the grid file that was created. Click OK in the Surfer dialog. The Demo Data.grd grid file is created.

Picture1b
If Grid Report was checked in the Grid Data dialog, a report is displayed. You can minimize or close this report. This report contains detailed information about the gridding process.

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

A Breif Introduction to Surfer


About Surfer

Surfer is a grid-based mapping program that interpolates irregularly spaced XYZ data into a regularly spaced grid. Grids may also be imported from other sources. Surfer uses these grid files to produce different types of maps. Different methods of gridding (like Kriging, Nearest Neighbor, Minimum Curvature, Inverse distance to a power and many more ... ) and mapping options are available allowing you to produce the map that best represents your data. In addition, data metrics allow you to gather information about your gridded data in the form of report. The grid files themselves can be edited, combined, filtered, sliced, queried, and mathematically transformed.

What for Surfer can be used ?

Frankly speaking Surfer is one of the best and robust package when it comes in preparation of contour diagram. Surfer basically interpolates a Z data that may be elevation, assay value, stratum thickness, grade etc. spaced in XY plane (e.g. Easting & Northing). The following output can be generated from Surfer.
  • A contour diagram for XYZ data.
  • Prepare 3-D Wireframe for XYZ data.
  • Can create Base Map from XY data.
  • Create watershed map types that calculate and display drainage areas and watershed boundaries.
  • Create profiles automatically from map layers.
  • Can create 3-D Surface map.
  • Can create Post map for overlay purpose.
  • Shaded Relief Map can be created.
  • Can create Grid Vector Map.

Conclusion

Surfer is a powerful and user friendly package for Geology. Here one can play with polyline and polygon. Polyline can be converted in polygon and vice versa. Polygons can be combined together to a single polygon. Data can be imported in Excel, GPX, ASCII, and GRIB formats. It can also import attribute information from files that contain attributes, such as TIF, GPX, or SHP. Files can be exported in Image, PDF, BLN, BNA, GSB, GSI, KML, KMZ, MIF, and SHP file formats. Symbols, texts, scale bar, direction, legend, colour scale etc. can be incorporated to enhance the map presentation.

Friday, 13 March 2015

Sedimentology and Stratigraphy



Author(s):Gary Nichols
Royal Holloway University of London, UK.

About this Book
This fully revised and updated edition introduces the reader to sedimentology and stratigraphic principles, and provides tools for the interpretation of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The processes of formation, transport and deposition of sediment are considered and then applied to develop conceptual models for the full range of sedimentary environments, from deserts to deep seas and reefs to rivers. Different approaches to using stratigraphic principles to date and correlate strata are also considered, in order to provide a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of sedimentology and stratigraphy. The text and figures are designed to be accessible to anyone completely new to the subject, and all of the illustrative material is provided in an accompanying CD-ROM. High-resolution versions of these images can also be downloaded from the companion website for this book at: www.wiley.com/go/nicholssedimentology.

Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction: sedimentology and stratigraphy.
1.1. Sedimentary processes.
1.2 Sedimentary environments and facies.
1.3 The spectrum of environments and facies.
1.4 Stratigraphy.
1.5 The structure of this book.
2 Terrigenous clastic sediments: gravel, sand and mud.
2.1 Classification of sediments and sedimentary rocks.
2.2 Gravel and conglomerate.
2.3 Sand and sandstone.
2.4 Clay, silt and mudrock.
2.5 Textures and analysis of terrigenous clastic sedimentary rocks.
2.6 Terrigenous clastic sediments: summary.
3 Biogenic, chemical and volcanogenic sediments.
3.1 Limestone.
3.2 Evaporite minerals.
3.3 Cherts.
3.4 Sedimentary phosphates.
3.5 Sedimentary ironstone.
3.6 Carbonaceous (organic) deposits.
3.7 Volcaniclastic rocks.
4 Processes of transport and sedimentary structures.
4.1 Transport media.
4.2 The behaviour of fluids and particles in fluids.
4.3 Flows, sediment and bedforms.
4.4 Waves.
4.5 Mass flows.
4.6 Mudcracks.
4.7 Erosional sedimentary structures.
4.8 Teminology for sedimentary structures and beds.
4.9 Sedimentary structures and sedimentary environments.
5 Field sedimentology, facies and environments.
5.1 Field sedimentology.
5.2 Graphic sedimentary logs.
5.3 Palaeocurrents.
5.4 Collection of rock samples.
5.5 Description of core.
5.6 Interpreting past depositional environments.
5.7 Reconstructing palaeoenvironments in space and time.
5.8 Summary: facies and environments.
6 Continents: sources of sediment.
6.1 From source of sediment to formation of strata.
6.2 Mountain building processes.
6.3 Global climate.
6.4 Weathering processes.
6.5 Erosion and transport.
6.6 Denudation and landscape evolution.
6.7 Tectonics and denudation.
6.8 Measuring rates of denudation.
6.9 Denudation and sediment supply: summary.
7 Glacial environments.
7.1 Distribution of glacial environments.
7.2 Glacial ice.
7.3 Glaciers.
7.4 Continental glacial deposition.
7.5 Marine glacial environments.
7.6 Distribution of glacial deposits.
7.7 Ice, climate and tectonics.
7.8 Summary of glacial environments.
8 Aeolian processes.
8.1 Aeolian transport.
8.2 Deserts and ergs.
8.3 Characteristics of wind-blown particles.
8.4 Aeolian bedforms.
8.5 Desert environments.
8.6 Aeolian deposits outside deserts.
8.7 Summary.
9 Rivers and alluvial fans.
9.1 Fluvial and alluvial systems.
9.2 River forms.
9.3 Floodplain deposition.
9.4 Architecture of fluvial deposits.
9.5 Alluvial fans.
9.6 Fossils in fluvial and alluvial environments.
9.7 Soils and palaeosols.
9.8 Fluvial and alluvial fan deposition: summary.
10 Lakes.
10.1 Lakes and lacustrine environments.
10.2 Freshwater lakes.
10.3 Saline Lakes.
10.4 Ephemeral lakes.
10.5 Controls on lacustrine deposition.
10.6 Life in lakes and fossils in lacustrine deposits.
10.7 Recognition of lacustrine facies.
11 The marine realm: morphology and processes.
11.1 Divisions of the marine realm.
11.2 Tides.
11.3 Wave and storm processes.
11.4 Thermo-haline and geostrophic currents.
11.5 Chemical and biochemical sedimentation in oceans.
11.6 Marine fossils.
11.7 Trace fossils.
11.8 Marine environments: summary.
12 Deltas.
12.1 River mouths, deltas and estuaries.
12.2 Types of delta.
12.3 Delta environments and successions.
12.4 Variations in delta morphology and facies.
12.5 Deltaic cycles and stratigraphy.
12.6 Syn-depositional deformation in deltas.
12.7 Recognition of deltaic deposits.
13 Clastic coasts and estuaries.
13.1 Coasts.
13.2 Beaches.
13.3 Barrier and lagoon systems.
13.4 Tides and coastal systems.
13.5 Coastal successions.
13.6 Estuaries.
13.7 Fossils in coastal and estuarine environments.
14 Shallow sandy seas.
14.1 Shallow marine environments of terrigenous clastic deposition.
14.2 Storm-dominated shallow clastic seas.
14.3 Tide-dominated clastic shallow seas.
14.4 Responses to change in sea level.
14.5 Criteria for the recognition of sandy shallow marine sediments.
15 Shallow marine carbonate and evaporite environments.
15.2 Coastal environments.
15.3 Shelf environments.
15.4 Types of carbonate platform.
15.5 Evaporitic basins.
16 Deep marine environments.
16.1 Ocean basins.
16.2 Submarine Fans.
16.3 Slope aprons.
16.4 Contourites.
16. 5 Oceanic sediments.
16.6 Fossils in deep ocean sediments.
16.7 Recognition of deep ocean deposits: summary.
17 Volcanic environments.
17.1 Volcanic rocks and sediment.
17.2 Transport and deposition of volcaniclastic material.
17.3 Eruption styles.
17.4 Facies associations in volcanic successions.
17.5 Volcanic material in other environments.
17.6 Volcanic rocks in Earth history.
17.7 Recognition of volcanic deposits: summary.
18 Post-depositional structures and diagenesis.
18.1 Post-depositional modification of sedimentary layers.
18.2 Diagenetic processes.
18.3 Clastic diagenesis.
18.4 Carbonate diagenesis.
18.5 Post-depositional changes to evaporites.
18.6 Diagenesis of volcaniclastic sediments.
18.7 Formation of coal, oil and gas.
19 Stratigraphy: concepts and lithostratigraphy.
19.1 Geologic time.
19.2 Stratigraphic units.
19.3 Lithostratigraphy.
19.4 Applications of lithostratigraphy.
20 Biostratigraphy.
20.1 Fossils and stratigraphy.
20.2 Classification of organisms.
20.3 Evolutionary trends.
20.4 Biozones and zone fossils.
20.5 Taxa used in biostratigraphy.
20.6 Biostratigraphic correlation.
20.7 Biostratigraphy in relation to other stratigraphic techniques.
21 Dating and correlation techniques.
21.1 Dating and correlation techniques.
21.2 Radiometric dating.
21.3 Other isotopic and chemical techniques.
21.4 Magnetostratigraphy.
21.5 Dating in the Quaternary.
22 Subsurface stratigraphy and sedimentology.
22.1 Introduction to subsurface stratigraphy and sedimentology.
22.2 Seismic reflection data.
22.3 Borehole stratigraphy and sedimentology.
22.4 Geophysical logging.
22.5 Subsurface facies and basin analysis.
23 Sequence stratigraphy and sea level changes.
23.1 Sea level changes and sedimentation.
23.2 Depositional sequences and systems tracts.
23.3 Parasequences: components of systems tracts.
23.4 Carbonate sequence stratigraphy.
23.5 Sequence stratigraphy in non-marine basins.
23.6 Alternative schemes in sequence stratigraphy.
23.7 Applications of sequence stratigraphy.
23.8 Causes of sea level fluctuations.
23.9 Summary.
24 Sedimentary basins.
24.1 Controls on sediment accumulation.
24.2 Basins related to lithospheric extension.
24.3 Basins related to subduction.
24.4 Basins related to crustal loading.
24.5 Basins related to strike-slip plate boundaries.
24.6 Complex and hybrid basins.
24.7 The record of tectonics in stratigraphy.
24.8 Sedimentary basin analysis.
24.9 The sedimentary record.
References.
Index

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Thursday, 12 March 2015

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

AMU announces Admissions Notification for B. Sc (Hons.) and M. Sc. Student in Geology

Aligarh Muslim University Accredited by NAAC in 'A' grade having 12 Faculties viz. Agricultural Sciences, Arts, Commerce, Engineering & Technology, Law etc., each comprising of several Departments of Studies.



Course: B. Sc. (Hons.)
Duration Main Subject Course Code Intake Intake
6 Semester Geology GLBB Males Females
120 20
Eligibility-Senior Secondary School Certificate or an equivalent examination with at least 55% marks in aggregate ofEnglish,Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Mathematics.

Note-For admission to B.Sc. (Hons.) with Physics / Mathematics / Statistics / Computer Applications as Main Subject, the candidate should have passed Mathematics at the qualifying examination.

Selection Procedure-Through Admission Test. Subject shall be offered through Counselling. There shall be one objectivetype paper of 100 marks withthe followingcomponents:
SectionI English : 25 Marks
SectionIl Chemistry : 25 Marks
Section Ill Physics : 25 Marks
Section IV Mathematics : 25 Marks
SectionV Biology : 25 Marks

Note: SectionsI, II and III are compulsory. Candidates will have the choice to attempt any one Section from IV and V.
Date Duration Scheduled Start
31-05-2015 2 hours 10:00 AM
A. There shall be a Combined Admission Testfor admission to B.Sc.(Hons.) in the Faculties of Science, Life Sciences and Agricultural Sciences. Candidates applying for admission to B.Sc. (Hons.) in the Faculty of Science can also apply for admission to B.Sc.(Hons.) in the Faculties of Life Sciences and Agricultural Sciences on the same Application Form without paying any additional Test Fee. However, they should clearlyindicate their choices,in order of preference,in the Application Form.

B. Candidate applying for admission to B.Sc.(Hons.) Course should indicate only the main subject in the Application Form which he/she wants to study. Subsidiary subjects shall be allotted at the time of admission, subject to the options available.
Filling of Form Test Fee Submit to Last Date of Receipt
ONLINE Rs. 300.00 AdmissionSection, Office of the Controller of Examinations, AMU, Aligarh -202002 30-03-2015
SyllabusGet Details


Course: M. Sc. (Applied Geology)
Duration Course Code Course Code
4 Semester GLBB 40
Eligibility-B.Sc. (Hons.) with Geology as Main subject or B. Sc. with Geology as one of the subjects of equal weight with not less than 55% marks in the subject concerned and 55% marks in aggregate.

Selection Procedure-Through Departmental Test. Test Paper Details There shall be one papercomprising 80 questions withthe following breakup : a) 70 Objective Type Questions (Multiple Choice) : 140 marks. b) 10Short Answer Type Questions : 60 marks

Note: SectionsI, II and III are compulsory. Candidates will have the choice to attempt any one Section from IV and V.
Date Duration Scheduled Start
05-06-2015 2 hours 9:00 AM
Filling of Form Test Fee Submit to Last Date of Receipt
OFFLINE Rs. 300.00 Chairman’s Office, Department of Geology, AMU, Aligarh -202002. 31-03-2015
SyllabusGet Details
For any query post in Comment section below !

Saturday, 7 March 2015

Fundamentals of Geophysics



Author(s):William Lowrie
Professor Emeritus of Geophysics at the Institute of Geophysics at the ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

About this Book
This second edition of Fundamentals of Geophysics has been completely revised and updated, and is the ideal geophysics textbook for undergraduate students of geoscience with an introductory level of knowledge in physics and mathematics. It gives a comprehensive treatment of the fundamental principles of each major branch of geophysics, and presents geophysics within the wider context of plate tectonics, geodynamics and planetary science. Basic principles are explained with the aid of numerous figures and step-by-step mathematical treatments, and important geophysical results are illustrated with examples from the scientific literature. Text-boxes are used for auxiliary explanations and to handle topics of interest for more advanced students. This new edition also includes review questions at the end of each chapter to help assess the reader's understanding of the topics covered and quantitative exercises for more thorough evaluation. Solutions to the exercises and electronic copies of the figures are available at www.cambridge.org/9780521859028.

Contents
Preface
1. The Earth as a planet
2. Gravity and the figure of the Earth
3. Seismology and the internal structure of the Earth
4. Earth's age, thermal and electrical properties
5. Geomagnetism and paleomagnetism
Index

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Sunday, 1 March 2015

Fundamentals of Geomorphology


Author(s): Richard John Huggett
Reader in Physical Geography at the University of Manchester.

About this Book
          This extensively revised and updated edition continues to present an engaging and comprehensive introduction to the subject, exploring the world s landforms from a broad systems perspective. It reflects on the latest developments in the field and includes new chapters on geomorphic materials and processes, hillslopes and changing landscapes. Fundamentals of Geomorphology is an engaging and comprehensive introduction. Starting with a consideration of the nature of geomorphology and the geomorphic system, geomorphic materials and processes, and the quest of process and historical geomorphologists, it moves on to discuss:
           structure: landforms resulting from, or influenced by, the endogenic agencies of tectonic and volcanic processes, geological structures and rock types process and form: landforms resulting from, or influenced by, the exogenic agencies of weathering, running water, flowing ice and meltwater, ground ice and frost, the wind and the sea history: earth surface history, giving a discussion of Quaternary landforms and ancient landforms, including the origin of old plains, relict, exhumed, and stagnant landscape features and evolutionary aspects of landscape change. Fundamentals of Geomorphology provides a stimulating and innovative perspective on the key topics and debates within the field of geomorphology. Written in an accessible and lively manner, it includes guides to further reading, chapter summaries and an extensive glossary of key terms. The book is also illustrated throughout with over 200 informative diagrams and attractive photographs, including a colour plate section.

Contents-
Series editor's preface
Author's preface to second edition
Author's preface to first edition
Acknowledgements
Part I Introducing Landforms and Landscapes
1 What is Geomorphology?
2 The Geomorphic System
3 Geomorphic Materials and Processes
Part II Structure
4 Large-Scale Tectonic and Structural Landforms
5 Small-Scale Tectonic and Structural Landforms
Part III Process and Form
6 Weathering and Related Landforms
7 Hillslopes
8 Karst Landscapes
9 Fluvial Landscapes
10 Glacial and Glaciofluvial Landscapes
11 Periglacial Landscapes
12 Aeolian Landscapes
13 Coastal Landscapes
Part IV History
14 Quaternary Landscapes
15 Ancient Landscapes
Appendix The Geological Timescale
Glossary
References
Index