Outcrop

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Outcrop

Outcrop is a geological

Geology

Geology is the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitute the Earth. The field of geology encompasses the study of the composition, structural geology, physical properties, dynamics, and History of the Earth of Earth materials, and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed....
term referring to the appearance of bedrock

Bedrock

File:Rockhead1.jpg.JPGIn stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated Rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth....
or superficial deposits

Superficial deposits

Superficial deposits refer to geological deposits typically of Quaternary age. These recent unconsolidated sediments may include stream channel and floodplain deposits, beach sands, talus gravels and glacial drift and moraine....
exposed at the surface of the Earth. In most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil

Soil

Soil is the naturally occurring, unconsolidated or loose covering on the Earth's surface. Soil is composed of particles of broken rock that have been altered by chemical and environmental processes including weathering and erosion....
and vegetation and cannot be seen or examined closely.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Outcrop'

Start a new discussion about 'Outcrop'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Outcrop is a geological

Geology

Bedrock

File:Rockhead1.jpg.JPGIn stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated Rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth....
or superficial deposits

Superficial deposits

Soil

Erosion

For morphological image processing operations, see Erosion 'For use of in dermatopathology, see Erosion Erosion is the removal of solids in the natural environment....
, the rock may be exposed, or crop out. Such exposure will happen most frequently in areas where erosion

Erosion

For morphological image processing operations, see Erosion 'For use of in dermatopathology, see Erosion Erosion is the removal of solids in the natural environment....
is rapid and exceeds the weathering

Weathering

Weathering is the decomposition of earth Rock , soils and their minerals through direct contact with the planet's atmosphere. Weathering occurs in situ, or "with no movement", and thus should not be confused with erosion, which involves the movement of rocks and minerals by agents such as water, ice, wind, and gravity....
rate such as on steep hillsides, river banks, or tectonically active areas. Bedrock and superficial deposits may also be exposed at the earth's surface due to human excavations such as quarrying and building of transport routes.

Outcrops allow direct observation and sampling of the bedrock in situ

In situ

In situ is a Latin phrase meaning in the place. It is used in many different contexts....
for geologic analysis and creating geologic map

Geologic map

A geologic map or geological map is a special-purpose map made to show geological features.The stratigraphic contour lines are drawn on the surface of a selected deep stratum, so that they can show the topographic trends of the strata under the ground....
s. In situ

In situ

In situ is a Latin phrase meaning in the place. It is used in many different contexts....
measurements are critical for proper analysis of geological history

Geological history

Geological history describes geological events that account for the stratigraphy, petrology and structure seen in rocks or earth materials.See geologic timescale....
and outcrops are therefore extremely important for understanding earth history. Some of the types of information that can only be obtained from bedrock outcrops, or through precise drilling and coring operations, are; structural geology

Structural geology

Structural geology is the study of the three-dimensional distribution of Rock units with respect to their deformational histories. The primary goal of structural geology is to use measurements of present-day rock geometries to uncover information about the history of deformation in the rocks, and ultimately, to understand the stress field t...
features orientations (e.g. bedding planes, fold

Fold (geology)

The term fold is used in geology when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary Stratum, are bent or curved as a result of plastic deformation....
axes, foliation

Foliation

In mathematics, a foliation is a geometric device used to study manifold s, consisting of an integrable subbundle of the tangent bundle. A foliation looks locally like a decomposition of the manifold as a union of parallel submanifolds of smaller dimension....
), depositional features orientations (e.g. paleo-current directions, grading, facies

Facies

In geology, facies are a body of rock with specified characteristics. [Reading ] Ideally, a facies is a distinctive rock unit that forms under certain conditions of sedimentation, reflecting a particular process or environment....
changes), paleomagnetic orientations. Outcrops are also critically important for understanding fossil assemblages, paleo-environment, and evolution as they provide a record of relative changes within geologic strata

Stratum

In geology and related fields, a stratum is a layer of rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguishes it from contiguous layers....
.

Accurate description, mapping, and sampling for laboratory analysis of outcrops made possible all of the geologic sciences and the development of fundamental geologic laws such as: law of superposition

Law of superposition

The law of superposition is a key axiom based on observations of natural history that is a foundational principle of sedimentary stratigraphy and so of other geology dependent natural sciences:...
, principle of original horizontality

Principle of original horizontality

The Principle of Original Horizontality was proposed by the Danish geological pioneer Nicholas Steno . This principle states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally....
, principle of lateral continuity

Principle of lateral continuity

The principle of lateral continuity states that layers of sediment initially extend laterally in all directions; in other words, they are laterally continuous....
, and principle of faunal succession. Outcrops can therefore be considered the fundamental element of geologic science.

On Ordnance Survey

Ordnance Survey

Ordnance Survey is an executive agency of the United Kingdom government. It is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, and one of the world's largest producers of maps....
maps in Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain is an island lying to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the List of islands by area, and the largest in Europe. With a population of 58.9 million people it is List of islands by population....
, cliffs are distinguished from outcrops: cliffs have a continuous line along the top edge with lines protruding down, outcrops have a continuous line around each area of bare rock.

Outcrop

External links