Students taking the Earth Science Programme must enroll in the Field Skills 172, 272 and 374 modules.

The Field Skills 172 (1st year) module is composed of eight days field work spread over the course of one year on weekends or holidays. These 1st year field trips will cover the following aspects of geological field skills: Defining lithological packages, recognizing map scale; working with topographic maps and aerial photos whilst in the field to record information and to locate yourself; identification of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks and structures in the field and their depositional or emplacement significance, practical consideration of the natural environment.

The Field Skills 272 (2nd year) module is composed of 8 days compulsory field work spread over one year. Field work will cover the following aspects of geological field skills: Defining lithological packages, recognizing map scale; use of structural compasses to record structural information and geological map construction; working with topographic maps and aerial photos whilst in the field to record information and to locate yourself; identification of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks and structures in the field and their depositional or emplacement significance; ore deposit indicators and rock associations; practical consideration of environmental systems to understand the consequences of mining activities.

The Field Skills 374 (3rd year) module is composed of 16 days compulsory field work spread over one year. These field trips will cover the following aspects of geological field skills: Defining lithological packages, recognizing map scale; use of structural compasses to record structural information and geological map construction; working with topographic maps and aerial photos whilst in the field to record information and to locate yourself; identification of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks and structures in the field and their depositional or emplacement significance; ore deposit indicators and rock associations; practical consideration of environmental systems to understand the consequences of mining activities.


1st year field trips (coordinator Dr. René Heyn):

Table Mountain

This field trip visits the famous landmark Seapoint contact followed by a walk up Lions Head. The aim of the visit is to overview the sedimentology of Table Mountain and contact relationships with the Malmesbury Group floor rocks and Peninsula granite. You will be introduced to stratigraphy, sedimentary features, geological contacts, structure, and erosion.

Bloubergstrand

This field trip will look at rocks exposed along the coast line at Bloubergstrand as well as some of the geomorphological processes that have shaped the coast at this point. Here the rocks are mostly Malmesbury Group shales but in contrast to the rocks closer to Cape Town are more highly deformed. Other rock types include unusual "lavas" that form a small island joined to the mainland by a tombolo at small bay.

Catchment to Coast

During this field trip, we will visit an estuary in Western Cape and learn about surface and sub-surface estuarine processes. Estuaries are important ecological systems and are a major contributor to global carbon budget. They are a transitional system between fresh water and marine waters resulting in highly bio-diverse environments.

False Bay Granites

This field trip will investigate the mineralogy and textures of granites of the Cape Granite Suite exposed in coastal outcrops along False Bay. Particular attention will be paid to gradational and cross-cutting relationships between different igneous rock types. We will also examine the different types of igneous and metamorphic rock fragments (enclaves) carried by these granites to determine what they tell us about the geological evolution of the Western Cape.

Hartebeskraal Hydrogeology

Hartebeskraal Farm sits on the edge of the Klein Drakenstein Mountains. These mountains are made up of rocks of the Table Mountain Group (TMG) which, when fractured, make very good aquifers. Hartebeskraal Farm runs a water bottling plant that abstracts water from a contact spring between the Malmesbury Group Shales and the base of the Table Mountain Group in this area. Springs like this occur all along the base of this mountain range between Paarl and Franschhoek and host a number of water bottling plants. This field trip will provide a general overview of the TMG aquifer project and discuss issues surrounding the bottled water industry. We will begin by having a look at the water bottling plant, then walk up the mountain to look at the geology and the source of the springs.

Ponds, streams and the ocean

This field trip first visits ponds in Stellenbosch to learn about biogeochemical processes in well-defined small aquatic systems, and understand the concepts of in- and outflow and residence time. These are important concepts for water quality. We will then walk to the Stellenbosch River to learn more about water sources and discharge patterns in an urban stream. The second half of the field trip will be spent at the sea as an example of a large, open system.


 

Introduction to field work

The Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Kleinmond exposes rocks that formed some 700-450 million years ago. Since then, the rocks have been affected by a number of later events, which also determine the nature of the present-day coastline. This trip examines a number of key outcrops that illustrate some fundamental processes in geology, such as sedimentation, uplift and erosion, folding and faulting. You are expected to describe and document the main features that we visit during the day, providing a summary of the main geological events that have shaped this part of the coastline.


 

2nd year field trips (coordinator Dr. Jodie Miller):

Rooiels

We visit the Rooi Els estuary to analyse parameters controlling water composition and quality. 

 

3rd year field trips (coordinator Dr. Jodie Miller):

West coast

Laingsburg


Honours Mining Tour (Dr. Martin Klausen)

see the 2015 tour here