Inglese

The main reference text providing the stratigraphic and sedimentological information required for the analyses to be carried out during the fieldwork is Facies Models 4, published by the Geological Association of Canada. A digital copy of the book is available from the course instructor.
A useful practical manual for geological fieldwork and mapping is Field Geology Illustrated, 2nd edition (2005), by Terry S. Maley, Mineral Land Publications, 704 pp. The book is available from Amazon.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Identify, classify, and describe sedimentary facies, geological structures, and depositional environments in the field using defined sedimentological and stratigraphic criteria.
Record geological field observations using standardised field notes, measurements, photographs, sketches, and stratigraphic logs, documenting rocks, formations, sedimentary structures, and stratigraphic relationships.
Construct a geological map of a Mars-analogue field area from direct observations, measurements, and spatial data, distinguishing and correlating the principal geological units.
Construct and interpret stratigraphic logs and cross-sections from field observations and measurements.
Identify and map geological and geomorphological features in orbital and remote-sensing datasets and relate them to corresponding features observed in the field.
Compare and integrate geological information derived from orbital datasets with observations and measurements representative of those acquired by landers, rovers, and drones.
Interpret depositional and post-depositional processes from field and remote-sensing evidence and use these observations to reconstruct the geological evolution of the investigated area.
Collect geological measurements and spatial data using geological compasses, hand lenses, field notebooks, tablets, and digital mapping tools, and organise the resulting data in a usable field dataset.
Apply terrestrial field-geology methods to a simulated planetary exploration scenario by selecting observation sites, documenting geological units, and testing geological interpretations against the collected evidence.
Produce and present a geological interpretation of the Mars-analogue area that integrates field observations, geological mapping, stratigraphic relationships, and remote-sensing data, and justify the interpretation using the collected evidence.

Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of geological sciences and of the processes involved in the formation and evolution of sedimentary basins. They should also have a sound knowledge of sedimentology and stratigraphy, based on a thorough study of Facies Models 4.

The teaching methodology is based on classroom lectures designed to provide an introduction and preparation for subsequent fieldwork. During the lectures, particular emphasis will be placed on explaining the role and value of fieldwork in acquiring data for the geological analysis of rocks, geological units, and geomorphological and structural features.
This introductory training will enable students to apply the principal methods of geological field data acquisition, including systematic observation of outcrops, detailed written descriptions, field sketches, and geological drawings. Particular attention will be given to recognising and clearly documenting the hierarchical organisation of stratification, sedimentary facies, geological units, and structural elements.
The proper use of field notes for recording, organising, and interpreting geological data will be explained and strongly encouraged. A digital field notebook will also be used alongside conventionally recorded observations and digitally acquired data, allowing students to integrate different types of information directly in the field.
Geological mapping will be carried out using dedicated software on portable digital devices, such as tablets. This approach will allow geological maps to be integrated directly with satellite imagery, digital elevation models and topographic data, as well as the geographical coordinates of sites and features of particular geological interest.

Assessment of learning will be carried out continuously throughout the fieldwork activities. Students will be assessed through their participation in scientific discussions with their peers and/or the teaching staff, as well as through direct observation of their fieldwork.
Particular attention will be given to the students’ ability to produce geological sketches and diagrams and to represent outcrops accurately and effectively. Their ability to recognise and represent the hierarchical organisation of stratification and sedimentary architecture, from individual beds to larger-scale stratigraphic units, will also form an important part of the assessment.
The geological map produced by each student will be assessed both in the field and during a subsequent discussion, in which the mapping choices, interpretation of geological units, and consistency between field observations and the resulting geological reconstruction will be evaluated.
Finally, a concluding discussion will be held as part of the final wrap-up session, allowing students to discuss and critically evaluate the results and geological interpretations developed during the fieldwork.