Day in the Life of a Field Geologist 

Thank you so much for the words--my hope with any of my videos is to inspire people to become Earth scientists!

@@cadenhowlett sir from which university you did your masters in geology

@@adithyadev4645 I did my Masters at Montana State University in Bozeman

@@cadenhowlett Sir iam a bsc ongoing student,,can you suggest me the best university to do my masters

Few geologists go in to the field

hope you're able to explore this passion !

hell yeah dude that's great. Lara bars have a great size/calorie ratio haha

@@cadenhowlett What flavor do you go for?? I couldn't see it!

@@mrreinark3388 dude cashew cookie and blueberry muffin are the best. I recently learned that they have a peanut butter and jelly Lara Bar. I need to get my hands on this.

@@cadenhowlett oh my god I need that peanut butter and jelly especially

That is great to hear. They will just keep getting better as you work your way through. It is an amazing science

Yo cuz! Thanks for the words, dude. I miss ya, hope we can link up soon.

thanks for watching :)

Thanks for the sub! More field videos soon.

Cool! Glad you enjoyed--there will be much more geoscience content in the future. Thanks for the nice words :)

Thanks! Stay tuned for more field content :)

Love to hear it! Stay tuned :)

hell yeah! nothing better than a day on the trails

Both paleo and geology are rich and interesting disciplines! I highly recommend.

Hey thanks a lot for the comment - those are the kinds of comments that keep me motivated.

Thanks Tom! I will keep them coming.

Thanks for the comment Dan, it means a lot. I love maps too. Do you have an instagram account? If so, there are a few accounts I recommend that share interesting maps of all kinds. The handles are: @amapaday @maps.are.amazing @natgeomaps @ifuckinglovemaps Have a good day my friend

get out there buddy!

Yooo that’s great to hear. It is a fun lifestyle that u can make happen! In chile right now and will have some new vids in late Feb 🤝

haha fair enough...I dig them both

Yooo that’s fantastic enjoy the ride

You could always go back to school! Thanks for the kind words.

Awesome! Are you a grad student? What part of the Belt do you work on?

@@cadenhowlett No, I wish! I’m a Forest Service geologist doing mining admin/AML/CERCLA work in N Idaho!

@@GeoRockNerd oh cool! Do you live in ID?

@@cadenhowlett Yeah I do, I’m in the Coeur d’Alene area! Amazing geology here and in Washington too!

Parker that is honestly the best possible comment I could receive. Your words keep me going. And I bet u a nickle we will cross paths someday ~

thanks for joining :)

haha thanks for the nice words. And hell ya, glad to hear you're studying geology.

That's a nice outcrop isn't it? Wonderful and old sedimentary rocks

that is great to hear. good luck finishing

that is great to hear! Geology is a wonderful discipline. And your experiences in mining will help you a lot.

thanks for subscribing! Geology is amazing :)

Yo thanks Eric--new field vids coming soon

Feel free to ask any questions you might have !

@@cadenhowlett thank u ..the 1st question is about ohm magic ... sure u know it .. ?

yo yo thanks for watching!

Yes, it is a great lifestyle. This is only one side of the discipline, however. Important to note that a solid amount of the work is laboratory and on the computer. It is a cool balance of field and office work.

@@cadenhowlett awesome thank you for answering! So if I want to do stuff with rocks and dirt, idk I guess environmental type of work? What is it like through college with the math side of it? Pretty hard and if you don’t have a good grasp should I forget about it?

@@RequisiteSkyPeople there is a decent amount of math involved in obtaining any degree in the physical sciences. Basic stuff like calculus and some statistics. DEFINITELY don't avoid pursuing a degree in geosciences if you are uncomfortable with math. I am doing a PhD in geoscience and math has always been my worst subject. It has never come easy to me. You can still succeed in earth/environmental science with no math background.

@@cadenhowlett that’s awesome to hear. I really appreciate that, I’m going to look into this. Thank you Caden 😃✌🏻

😂😂😂😂

more content in the future!! keep your eyes peeled

hahah a non-subtle flex. Miss u dog!

Good question. The Madison group is not deposited directly on the gneissic basement rock, just to be clear. There is a Cambrian unit called the Flathead Sandstone that is deposited unconformably atop the basement rocks (lots of missing geologic timescale between the two). The Madison Group that you mention is Mississippian in age (~350 Myr old) and is part of the Paleozoic passive margin sequence, deposited in a shallow sea environment (platform) along the western margin of the continent. So not a transgressive sequence in the sense that you imply (since the Madison is not directly on top of basement rock. But of course, sea level at the time of Madison deposition was relatively high (since the western margin of the continent was under water).

yay! thanks for watching. Grad school for geoscience is super fun. Let me know if you have any questions on the process.

@@cadenhowlett I haven't had any luck with funding yet. Any tips on how to find programs that are likely to have funding? There are too many schools to have to research.

hell yeah! Have fun with it :)

Lolol I think everyone feels that way at field camp. My homies and I used to joke, standing atop ridges during field camp saying, “there is definitely something going on here…” 😂

Thanks for watching Rakshit :)

yooo thanks for watching. No sponsor from Liquid IV (YET) lol maybe some day

haha dude thanks for the words, that means a lot. Let me know if you have any questions about studying/working in geoscience, I'd be glad to discuss. Haha, tuna and cerveza....and bars.

I do have questions! Glad you're down to take them on! How much school did you do before getting a job in the field? I'm really thinking (at this point) that I'll only want to do a bachelor's, but I'm wondering how limited I'll be in work prospects if I go that route.

I am also very curious about how much schooling you did! I am starting college in the spring and am extremely interested in majoring in geology. I'm sure a day in the life of a field geologist would look a little different here in Minnesota, but very cool to see what you are up to! Thanks for sharing with us!

@@shaunfudd I did my BS is four years followed by a MS in two years. This is a common amount of time, some people take longer. I'm now in my third year of my PhD, so entering my ninth year in academia. An important thing: I didn't really "get" a job working in the field. I am a field-based geologist doing academic research (i.e. PhD dissertation). A huge perk of geology (particularly graduate school for geology) is that you can find research projects for your degree that center on geologic mapping and sample collection. To get really amazing field experiences (Andes, Himalaya, etc) you usually need to seek out institutions with impressive potential advisors that have $$ to send you cool places for the sake of science. To your second question: you can definitely find positions that involve fieldwork with only a BS degree. And, if you go to the right school, you will be able to do a field-based research project for your undergrad thesis. Something I always tell prospective geology students: it is almost never a solely field geology position; there will always be a significant component of lab work and/or computer stuff. A good balance in my opinion.

@@neysaatwood4916 hey Neysa, thanks for the reminder. See my response to Shaun.

haha thanks for subscribing! More trotting in the future, for sure.

@@cadenhowlett Hahaa... Loves to see that😆

haha yo thanks for watching

Are you studying geology? Any normal curriculum will introduce you to sedimentology and stratigraphy, structural geology, petrology/geochemistry, and perhaps some GIS and geophysics. Take them all! I did four years for my BSc and two years for my Master’s degree. I’m in the second year of my PhD now. It is a long and wonderful (and difficult) educational process and being a geoscience student is amazing. I hope you keep pursuing your interest.

Thank you caden it helped me alot and it has inspired me to be great!

There are many different directions you can take a career in geology. The work-life balance of an industry job (like oil and gas or mineral exploration) is probably better than that of academia. People seem to work a lot in academia haha. That said, I know lots of field geologists who have families, it is possible. It is hard for me to know exactly however since I do not have a family. The educational aspect might be the most tasking-to get a solid position as a “field geologist” (i.e. USGS or academia) requires at least a MS degree, usually a PhD. But there are lots of other opportunities with a geology degree. I hope you have the luxury of being able to explore the discipline to some degree. Let me know if you have any other questions.

That is awesome my friend. Be patient with the process and let me know if you have any questions!

That's great!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing the enthusiasm

Hell ya Gabe. Be patient and feel out what subdiscipline suits you best :)

Yo Joseph, I usually have a field partner but did this season solo. It was a wild experience to be out for several weeks by myself. Goal of study is determine the structural, kinematic, and thermal history of a Laramide uplift in central Montana. Fieldwork was funded by NSF Tectonics. I've never rocked the hammer on my belt--too heavy and annoying to climb/scramble with. Usually have it on side of pack or in hand or on hammer loop in my Carhartts. Usually carry bear spray when I'm working in Montana, but not always. Bears are low on my list of potential hazards--I've had a dozen grizzly encounters with no problem (some will call me stupid, just a personal preference). Thanks for the nice words dude--keep your eye out for more geology content in the future.

Yo! Well it is amazing that you are so young and already exploring this as a possible future direction! I can say with confidence that you are far ahead of where I was at your age haha. If your high school offers an earth or environmental science class, make sure you take it to see if you find it engaging and interesting. Pay attention in math, chemistry, and physics--these are the foundation on which our science is built. Keep reading books, watching vids, and expanding your mind on the topic. At your stage, I recommend reading "Letters to a Young Scientist" by EO Wilson. And perhaps "The Map That Changed the World" for some geo history. Also, go outside regardless of where you live and pick up a rock. Scramble around and find things in nature that capture your attention

@@cadenhowlett much appreciated😀👍

Haha lit indeed 🤝

Hey Jacob ! Absolutely that sounds like the perfect place to be if you are interested in soil science and/or geology! ENJOY learning :)

These two disciplines are becoming more and more integrated. There are definitely people who research the effect of climate on tectonics and vice versa. That said, the main field I would look into would be tectonics. Such a path could involve questions like "how does the uplift of large mountain ranges like the Himalaya impact global atmospheric circulation patterns?", or what is the relationship between climate and the exhumation history of Earth's largest mtn belts?" I recommend doing a google search "climate and tectonics" and reading some articles to find out who is working on these questions and how they are being approached

I grew up in Montana and I have never hesitated to get into any water there--it is almost always extremely clean. No worries there--highly unlikely that swimming will get you in trouble. That said, I've also swam in and drank water all over the world--in Tibet, Chile, Argentina, Switzerland, etc. I've never once had a problem. I usually work high in the mountains, where flowing water is proximal to its source (snow and glacier melt). You're way more likely to get sick in places that are hot and stagnant and filled with life haha. good question tho

@@cadenhowlett Thank You for taking the time to reply ! I know you must be super busy , but thanks for replying :)

Cheeers Komal!

AMAZING. Keep me posted on how it goes and other field adventures :)

I'm doing my PhD in tectonics/structural geology. Our group integrates fieldwork with geo and thermochronology to determine the kinematic evolution of mountain belts. In my case, the first chapter of my dissertation is focused on the timing of basement-rock (gneiss) exhumation in central Montana--this video is just a day from the field this summer doing some mapping and hiking. Geology is a fantastic discipline to study, that's dope you're involved. Have you considered graduate school. A MSc can be very helpful if you want to get a solid job in industry. And a PhD is the route for future work in academia. And your dog (depending on its fitness) would make an excellent field partner haha.

also, check out my other video (Day in the Life of a Geoscience PhD Student) to see a more lab/office-based perspective on post-grad degrees...

@@cadenhowlett Thank you so much for the detailed explanation and elaboration!!! That sounds like you have hot some incredibly interesting work ahead of you! I wish you the best of luck in your studies and travels! Maybe someday I will get to get out there and do some research of my own!

@@cadenhowlett Thank you so much will absolutely check it out

Hmmm, there are not very many cons if you enjoy the work! I will say, what you see in this video is just a tiny fraction of the actual work that field-based geologists do. We spend huge amounts of time working behind screens and in laboratories. There are few positions that just involve field work and nothing else. So you have to be interested in lab work and modeling/data analysis as well. A con of being a PhD student is that you do not make very much money--many PhD students let positions offering $100k+ pass by in order to pursue their degree. The money is to be made in oil and gas and mineral exploration. So you basically have to be willing to make five times less money than you could be. I genuinely love the PhD grind, research, and the academic environment so that trade off is not too difficult. There is increasing need for computer scientists and people who understand big data/machine learning in the geosciences. We are seeing more and more integration of computer science in geology and there is lots of opportunity for people who are gifted on the computer to make an impact in the science.

Hey Yasser, That's cool that you're studying geology! It sounds like you would be most interested in field-based geology (i.e. something that involves a lot of time outside, hiking, camping, etc). As you probably know, there are a ton of different subdisciplines within geology; to name a few: structural geology, geomorphology, geochemistry, sedimentology, geophysics. All of these subdisciplines would allow you to conduct fieldwork if you so desire, you just need to make sure that you find an advisor/mentor that works in the field. I recommend looking into the research that faculty members at your institution conduct--it is likely that some of them have a component of field work. I would say that structural geology and sedimentology are the two fields that are most conducive to doing a lot of fieldwork. All that being said, regardless of the subdiscipline, there is always a large component of computational and/or laboratory work. Geology is a beautiful science because of the balance that one can find between field and lab work. You are very early in your education, so I would be patient and make sure you are exposed to all the different subdisciplines to see which one you like the most. If you want to have a job like the one displayed in this video, you should consider going to graduate school, either for a Master's degree or a PhD. Graduate school allows you to break into conducting your own original research with as much fieldwork as you want. Let me know if you have any other questions, hopefully this was helpful.

Hi. Are you in a position where you can explore and perhaps apply to colleges/universities for a degree in geosciences? That's the start of a long journey! Most (almost all) careers in geology require at least a BS in geoscience or a related field. Other than continuing your education--get outside and explore geology in your free time (if possible)! Or dive into some books to see if you are captivated by the science. popular books like "Annals of the Former World" by John McPhee get a lot of people into geology. Also, I remember reading a Smithsonian little handbook on minerals that really stuck in my mind when I was in high school. Just go look thru some books at the library :)

This is the same question I have! I'm starting college in the fall and I am super interested in geology/geoscience/environmentl science, but I just don't want to work for a natural gas or oil company. I know that's where people make pretty good money, but I just morally can't do that lol. Just wondering if it's difficult to get a job outside of that industry that still pays decently. I would love yo do something that is helping our planet and working to fight climate change

Hey Canis, Good questions. First, most of the samples I collect are for various radiometric dating techniques, predominately what is known as low-temperature thermochronology. We extract specific minerals from within rocks (mostly zircon and apatite) and exploit the radioactive decay of Uranium to gain insight into the time a rock was created and the cooling history of the rock. In my "Day in the life of a PhD student", I describe a technique we use called apatite fission track thermochronology--go check that out if you are interested. I am working towards my PhD currently, so I do not work for a company. I work for the University of Arizona, doing a combination of teaching and research. During a PhD, you also take graduate level courses. I understand your deterrence from oil and gas. You probably know that this is where most of the money is to be made in the geosciences, but there are lots of other directions you can take your career with a bachelor's (or grad degree) in geology. There is opportunity in environmental science and reclamation for example. Graduate school is an excellent opportunity to explore more deeply the process of conducting original scientific research. A geology degree is very applicable to jobs outside of oil and gas, and you will get a better idea for what these opportunities are as you progress through your degree.

Hey Kathryn, see my response to Canis for more information. It is worth noting that it is important to have environmentally-conscious people filling roles at oil and gas companies. A common mindset is that those jobs will be filled regardless, and would you rather have them filled by people who don't care about the environment, or people like you (for example).

@@cadenhowlett this is really helpful information and it’s definitely helped change my mindset. Thank you!

Hahah appreciate it, respect the drip as they say

sounds cool Christina! Painting rocks is fun. You should get a rock tumbler for polishing! I used to have this one: www.amazon.com/Rotary-Dual-Tumbler-Lapidary-Polisher/dp/B0011GGL5K.

no I am still a student. Maybe someday I'll be able to map for the USGS - I have some friends who do it and it seems like a really cool job. I do tectonics research, so the mapping I do is usually framed in a broader regional context to address questions of tectonic significance.

You should check out my other videos! I recently published two videos that will help you: one on graduate school and one that is a Q&A that has a lot of tips for success in geology.

I have a Garmin Fenix 5x--it is kind of old now, I think they're on 7 now. They are super nice for the field because they have GPS (you can take coordinates), compass (which has actually been really helpful for orienting myself sometimes), altimeter, etc. Suunto makes solid watches too. But if you don't care about fancy stuff like GPS, honestly basic Timex and Casio watches are great

@@cadenhowlett Yeah, I was thinking more of a simple analog watch, she doesn't likes all those fancy tech.

It is most common to have one or multiple field partners. I prefer having a field partner but this summer was an exception!

Yeah I am a PhD student at U of Arizona. I am technically hired as a research and teaching assistant, but this is how we get a stipend for living while we finish our education.

@@cadenhowlett Wow that is super awesome. I really like the fact that you are actually going out into the field and are physically involved in collecting data. I assumed someone who is pretty close to PhD status would just be in the lab/ on a computer. I am a first generation college student and I am very much considering getting my PhD in geology and staying in research/academia. Your videos are really helpful for getting a grasp on what it is like to be a geologist and a grad student and I thank you so much for sharing!

yeah, normally you can apply for grad programs in a discipline that is different from your undergrad major. There are few exceptions that will normally be outlined in the application process. But it's totally possible to apply for grad school in geology with your degree (you will just have to work a little harder to explain how you undergraduate degree sets you up for success as a geoscientist).

yeahhh I feel this - I usually do field work for 5-10 weeks a year but the other 45 weeks are spent in labs or behind my computer trying to read and write. It is a grind. That said, i wouldn't want to be in the field all the time. It is exausting and challenging in its own ways. And that is one of the beautiful aspects of being fortunate enough to be a field geologist - the balance of field, lab, computer, and office stuff. I hope you enjoy your job, cool to hear that you are a fellow geologist.

Well I’m biased towards the schools I’ve attended haha. University of Arizona and Montana State University. Depends on where you want to live! UT Austin, MIT, U of Utah, Idaho State, etc. lots of good schools in Cali (UCSB, UC San Diego).

U of Arizona is probably the best

haha engineering is cool too. I was never good enough at math. Have you watched the real engineering YT channel, it is amazing.

Black caviar - you ain’t gotta bounce to this

I'm working on a PhD at the University of Arizona. So I work for the university doing research and teaching. No affiliation with industry

There’s the beer! I knew it. Geologist are predicable 😁

a crucial component of the kit ;)

Yes - I think that studying any discipline within geosciences is valuable and has potential for a challenging and important career.