Geology Fieldwork in Sitges, Barcelona: Faulting and Folding
Faulting and folding in two accessible and adjacent sections of Cretaceous
limestone cliffs at Sitges provide ideal sites for geology teaching in the field
and subsequent field assessment.
Two adjacent locations showing faulting and folding at
Sitges, Barcelona
Grey and black limestones and calcarenites creams. Neritic and brackish.
Cretaceous
Black dolomites, Jurassic
Geology student activities (based on OCR AS GCE Geology
Fieldwork Task Example)
Draw annotated sketches (to scale) of the area to show the main features.
Measure and sketch the fault lines, bedding and mineral veining patterns.
Measure the thickness of a number of different beds.
Faulting and folding at Sitges, Barcelona
Identify and describe each of the different rock types using measurements,
detailed descriptions and sketches.
Measure the angle of the fault.
Estimate the direction and amount of throw on the fault.
Decide what type of fault you have drawn.
Describe any features which are associated with the faulting, making
detailed sketches if appropriate.
Find a mineral vein and describe how it relates to the fault.
Identify a vein mineral.
Measure the direction of joints on both the limb and crest of the fold using
a method that will give a data set of accurate results to plot on a rose
diagram. Describe how you could improve your methods for collecting joint data
and how they could be changed with different equipment. Comment on the
differences between your data and group data. Explain the relationship of the
joints to the fold.
Decide where a fold could be and estimate the dip of the limbs where
possible. Make a sketch of the fold structure shown in the cliff. Measure and
mark your dips on the sketch.
Find and describe mineral veins and slickensides and state how they relate
to the joints.
Describe any field hazards and the safety procedures followed.
