Go2NZ: Geology of New Zealand Programme Description

This programme is designed specifically for Geology & Earth Science majors.

Field Camp: January 12 to February 15, 2010

For 5 weeks, students will travel throughout the North and South Islands, deciphering the geologic evolution of New Zealand from a series of dedicated and linked field modules.This is a field camp experience with the goal of providing students with a skill base of field focused techniques that will enable them to understand the fundamental causes and timescales of geologic processes.

Field work is complemented by map preparation and exercises in the evenings, as well as lectures that highlight a wide variety of our staff's field and laboratory-based studies. During the campus component, one of the mapping projects will be expanded upon and a professional geologic map will be created by the students. The field camp modules area:

  • Field Module 1: Introduction to geologic field mapping in an uplifted and deformed succession of Oligocene marine strata
  • Field Module 2: Gondwanaland to New Zealand: reconstructing the geologic architecture of the South Island
  • Field Module 3: Volcanoes & Humans - giveth life and taketh away: cone construction, hazards, ancient life and natural resources
  • Field Module 4: The Taupo Volcanic Zone: ignimbrite mapping in the most silicically active region on Earth
  • Field Module 5: Surf and Turf: A study of a Holocene prograding dune system using ground penetrating radar, vibra-core, and total station surveying techniques

To learn more about the Go2NZ field camp, including completed 2009 module descriptions read the 2009 Go2NZ report .

Campus Semester:

February 16 to June 27, 2009 (University of Canterbury)

The field camp experience will transition into a semester at the University of Canterbury. Students will enroll and receive credits for 3 courses of their choosing (as approved by their home college or university) and a required fourth course based on research initiated during the Go2NZ field camp. For more specific and curricular information contact us Darren@frontiersabroad.com.