Description
“Paleogeographic and Paleotectonic Maps – Use, Construction, Interpretation, and Example”
Purpose – This course will provide an overview of paleogeographic and paleotectonic maps. These types of maps can only be prepared after much geologic data has been gathered and assimilated and as such, can be considered the ultimate synthesis of spatial geologic data. The purpose of this course is to provide attendees with an appreciation of the use of these maps beginning with examples of how the maps are constructed, how they present data, and what kinds of data they represent.
Methodology – The course will present several PowerPoint presentations and an animation. Material is mostly pictorial as this is the best way to cover the use and utility of paleogeographic maps. Numerous examples will be used to illustrate the various portions of the course; they range in scale from global to regional. Because most of the material from this course is on the CD that all attendees will receive, the paper handout is abbreviated. Attendees are urged to peruse the CD at their leisure to fully appreciate the value of paleogeographic and paleotectonic maps.
Expected outcomes – The course will cover a wide range of topics related to the use of paleogeographic maps. It is hoped that the course will provide a varied menu of ideas for the uses of the maps related to the activities of professional geologists; these can range from planning, communicating, utilizing, and theorizing about geologic projects both large and small. It is also hoped that attendees will learn about and appreciate the incredible complexities of Earth history, in my opinion, something all professional geologists should be aware of.
Use of the CD – The CD is intended for the use of course attendees. Material from the CD may not be resold or used for or reproduced for commercial purposes. The material may be used for purely educational purposes and for professional geologic publication with citation to me. The material may be redrawn or modified for such non-commercial use, again with proper citation. Some of the material on the CD is on my web site http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~rcb7/and additional material can be obtained there. The CD should operate on both Mac and PC platforms.