How can you collect and analyze geological data in the field?

It is important to understand what are the objective(s) of the survey being planned, What are the expected deliverables. Understanding this is important to planning your survey since this will guide your research, aid in determining your requirements (human resource, tools, equipment ect.), guide your methodology and inform your data acquisitions.

When it comes to data consider whether data being requested is a "need to know" or "nice to know". Many times money is spent on collecting data that is placed in well files and never reviewed again.

Revision of historical geological data aids in fieldwork planning by providing crucial context and identifying knowledge gaps. This helps optimize site selection, sampling strategies, and resource allocation, resulting in more effective and informed geological investigations.

One problem with reviewing existing literature is that someone else's ideas have now biased your own. You should always review literature for quality and accuracy which means field checks. Being able to adapt your plan in the field is also important as rarely does everything go to plan. Have contingencies for when sites are inaccessible via the planned route.

Generally the amount of data and type of data you collect depends upon how much money you have for your project. Grants and fixed-price contracts for geological work have a fixed, finite sum of money available for the project. So during the proposal stage, you need to tailor your data needs and costs to the money you are asking for or have available. Assuming that you get the money that you need, typically there is little contingency for things to go wrong, as in taking a whole lot longer than originally planned, or various direct costs escalating in unforeseen ways. Have a back-up for these contingencies. Really understand your costs. Understand what data you have to have, as opposed to what you can live without. Good luck!

The key is in being open mindedness and unbiased. Do proper desktop studies and know what to expect. Always correct your instruments for declination. You must know exactly what you are looking for and how to physically identify it by its unique properties. Minimize any surprises but record all that you encounter. Put the geological observations in the correct perspective, geology, mineralization, alteration, structures, timing and relative ages. Collect the data that is only specific to your scope of work. Record your observations only not your interpretations. Try to determine the controls of mineralization, relate your observations to known or classic deposit models. Quality data will lead to correct interpretation.

I have found it useful and much more efficient to use QGIS and Qfield to collect exploration data. If you know how to create the data collection files then you can collect all of your sampling, mapping, and structural data in the field this way. The biggest bonus of using this method is having all of your maps and data on hand in real time in the field, meaning you can have geology maps, geophysics, LiDAR, etc... Showing your location in real time. Qfield also allows you to synchronize multiple people's data back to the main QGIS project without having to re-copy information, thus avoiding any typos or human error in creation of your database.

Document, document, document. Document time of day, weather, how were you feeling, something interesting that happened during the day. Usually, & according to some scientists, it will be easier to recall specific outcrops if you can link it to a feeling, experience, etc..

Field Data Collection including, Geological Mapping: Create geological maps by documenting the distribution of rock types, orientation of rock layers, faults, and folds. Sample Collection: Collect rock, mineral, and sediment samples for laboratory analysis. Stratigraphy: Examine the sequence and relationships of rock layers, noting their lithology, thickness, and fossil content. Paleontology: Identify and collect fossils, to determine the age of rock formations and reconstruct ancient environments. Hydrogeology: Measure water levels, collect water samples and assess water quality. Geophysical Surveys: Conduct geophysical surveys, such as seismic, resistivity, or gravity surveys, to investigate subsurface features and properties.

I generally use historical and local information as the basis to plan the multidisciplinary geological data acquisition in a proper format. One of the key consideration is to validate the previous information on the ground, and especially wherever airborne magnetic data is available, it helps to validate the geology, and in many cases provide upgrading of the geology map to remodel the property/area. Additionally, the commodity and understanding the type of geological model is very important. Alteration mineralogy and it's ground truthing is very important for specific deposit styles to vector the exploration approach - what and where the concealed deposit could be and what techniques will be employed... for a mineral system approach.

In the field, rapid analysis of outcrop data is best done with a good sketched cross section in your notebook, tablet or however you are collecting data. One should always be thinking in 3D - this will aid in better data collection and later analysis back in the office - whether you're doing it the old fashioned way by hand, or putting it in 3D software.

Data Analysis includes Sample Analysis: In the laboratory, the collected samples are analyzed, to determine mineral composition and rock properties. Interpretation: Analyze collected data to develop a geological model of the area. Identify rock units, their age, origin, and the geological processes that shaped them. Stratigraphic Correlation: Correlate rock units across different outcrops to create a regional stratigraphic framework. Structural Analysis: Use collected structural data to interpret the tectonic history and deformation events that affected the rocks. Geological Mapping: Create detailed geological maps and cross-sections based on field observations and measurements.

One thing I have found helpful is to always validate models developed with in-situ data/information to increase the accuracy and certainty.

A helpful tool in analyzing your data is to have a database where you can store the data - as well as the observations made from the analysis. In order to have a robust conclusion, data integration is key - and with large datasets, especially large and complex data sets, an organized database that can easily recall specific data points and display converging conclusions is extremely helpful. In the end, all earth science relies on extremely complex processes that have various facets that produce what we observe in the geologic record today - having a robust analytical method where analysis of different processes leads to the same conclusion is a sure way to bring confidence in analysis. Data is the path, data analysis is the trek.

Reporting and Documentation: Field Notebook: Maintain a detailed field notebook with accurate notes, sketches, photographs, and GPS coordinates for all observations and sample locations. Reports and Maps: Prepare comprehensive reports, geological maps, and cross-sections that summarize the findings of the fieldwork. Publication: Share your findings through scientific publications, presentations, or educational outreach.

Conduct a detailed and comprehensive analysis to justify why you did a multi-element analysis and avoid focusing on a single element or mineral of interest. Oftentimes, the minor and trace elements do tell their own story. Normalize the data and listen to their story. Anomalous is a relative term. Both positive and negative anomalies need to be looked at and explained. Always establish the background values from the host rocks

Contributions to reporting results include utilizing structural geology software like ArcGIS, QGIS, or CorelDraw to create impactful visuals supporting arguments. Writing a clear, concise report following field standards is crucial. Summarizing methods, data, analysis, and conclusions while addressing limitations, uncertainties, and future directions enhances the effectiveness and credibility of the presented work.

Technically speaking, one is capable of knowing everything out there. By simply knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know. List objectively the skills that you lack or need improvement then map a way forward to address your deficiency. What you lack will always be your blind side. Clear your personal barriers and start to see clearly. No-one is perfect so continual improvement is a must.

Contributions to skill improvement involve continuous learning from mistakes, feedback, and evolving knowledge and technologies. Engaging in online communities, courses, and workshops provides valuable guidance and support, fostering the development of technical, scientific, and personal skills crucial for effective geological data collection and analysis in the field.

In my experience, besides all the tips pretty well appointed above, it's also good to prepare your field trip with geomorphologic-analysis by astrophotographs and satellite images interpretation, aiming to plan specific points to review and update previous geological maps as well. Georerenciate every single observation and data acquired in your GPS, note coordinates, and draw outcrops and geological profiles as well, identifying and characterizing every single relevant topic, not only according to your project goals but also those what can help you to remember details when you back to work on at your office.

In my early career as trainee Geologist, I do remember a precious advice from the Chief Geologist. It is relates about the importance of tape and compass. The first one can help about measuring distance and shaping of areas of interest. It can be trenches, rock occurrences. Compass can help on defining and measuring dip, dip direction and azimuth of structures. This structures should be divided on fold axis, foliations and faults.

During my school days I worked along side with my supervisor in an exploration prospect and learned a very important skill for field mapping. When doing field mapping using field books it is very important to do an accurate field sketch map. In saying that the sketch must be to scale and the drawing must be done with reference to North direction. Moreover, structural drawing must also be inline with the scale and North direction, especially the strike reading of the faults and fold.

Too little attention being paid by modern economic geologists to geomorphic expression in the field of the geology and terrane in and near ore deposits and their host rocks. Open your eyes and minds and question Why? rock outcrops or viewscapes look as they do close up and from a distance. Time has left you clues as to where 'the treasure' may be.