Field experiences are the cornerstone of a successful geoscience education, but these activities can be difficult (if not impossible) to include in many geoscience courses due to practical concerns. Virtual field exercises, presented through a series of high-resolution zoomable panoramas created with a GigaPan® robotic camera mount and associated software, allow students to gain experience interpreting outcrops and landscapes when physical travel to a site is not feasible. Exercises incorporating GigaPan panoramas have been developed for a number of undergraduate courses at different levels within the geoscience curriculum. Students in introductory-level courses are presented with exercises that explore local geology and illustrate basic concepts such as faulting and cross-bedding. Exercises for intermediate-level courses include analysis of geomorphic features in relation to bedrock type, the influence of landforms on historical events, and interpretation of shear stress orientations and magnitudes from small-scale structural features in outcrop. More advanced exercises, utilizing multiple-tier panoramas that range from outcrop to thin-section scales, have been developed from existing field research projects. These examples represent the initial effort to develop an extensive catalog of interactive self-paced exercises that will be incorporated into classes across the geoscience curriculum.

Abstract Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are ubiquitous and crucial components of modern dryland ecosystems and probably were the first community type to colonize the Precambrian land surface. BSCs are complex symbioses of eubacteria, cyanobacteria, green algae, mosses, lichens, and fungi. BSCs, having adapted to intense ultraviolet radiation and drastic variations in precipitation and temperature, have likely been prevalent in terrestrial environments since the Precambrian and are undoubtedly under-reported in the rock record. This is probably due to the crusts’ inconspicuous appearance and preservational taphonomy. In order to improve understanding of the diverse appearances of BSCs in sedimentary strata, this study reviews the biology, biologically produced structures, and morphological variation of modern BSCs using examples from Colorado Plateau BSC of southern Utah (Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument). Sediment coring into modern BSCs identified a variety of pedogenic features. Simple compaction experiments on the cores illustrate the taphonomic destruction of pedogenic features. In addition, a comparison of the modern BSC features to those preserved in a Cretaceous BSC found in Utah demonstrates the utility of understanding the nature of the various stages of development of modern BSCs. These descriptions of potentially preserved expressions of BSCs should facilitate identification and separation of fossilized BSCs from other physical sedimentary structures.

Abstract Accurate three-dimensional description of reservoir architecture using outcrop analogs is hampered by limited exposure of essentially two-dimensional outcrops. This study contains the first fully three-dimensional description of ancient marine-influenced point bar sandstones of lower delta-plain distributary channels and is based on the integration of detailed outcrop and drill-hole data, and two-and three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar data. The studied outcrops are in the Cretaceous Ferron Sandstone of east-central Utah. Point bars deposited in marine-influenced, lower delta-plain channels show complex facies and geometries that resemble both fluvial point bars (upward-fining grain-size distribution and laterally stacked inclined bedsets), and tidally influenced point bars (extensive mud drapes on the inclined bedset surfaces and upstream migration of inclined bedsets). The bankfull width and mean bankfull depth were estimated at 225-150 m (738-492 ft) and at 3.9-5.2 m (12.8-17.1 ft), respectively. The heterogeneities in these point-bar deposits include mudstone drapes on the upper bounding surfaces of the inclined bedsets, and mudstone intraclast conglomerates lying on basal erosional scours of inclined bedsets. The spatial distribution of these heterogeneities is determined by direct mapping in outcrop in conjunction with modeling ground-penetrating radar amplitudes by geostatistical techniques. Mudstone layers are generally 5 m (16 ft) in length in the direction parallel to flow with a small percentage of mudstone layers 15 m (49 ft) in length, and 10 m (33 ft) perpendicular to flow, downdip along the inclined beds. The detailed distribution of heterogeneities inside reservoirs potentially affects flow behaviour.

Abstract Photomosaics can be useful tools for understanding and communicating geologic features expressed on outcrop faces. In order to utilize photomosaics properly, maximum resolution and minimum geometric distortion of the features is necessary. Maximum resolution is best obtained by using quality equipment and by attending to proper technique. In some cases increasing contrast will improve resolution; various methods can be utilized. Sufficient overlap of photographs in the construction of photomosaics will remove distortion in most situations. A common problem is perspective distortion, the convergence of vertical lines. This occurs when the film plane and outcrop face are not parallel and results in curved or "smiling" mosaics. When it is not feasible to obtain parallelism, several methods can be used to help correct this problem. In many situations fitting a 35-mm camera with a perspective control lens is the simplest and most economical strategy for reducing or eliminating the problem.