Geology 103
Hometown Geology Library Guide (International Edition)
Getting Started
This webpage is for International Students seeking geologic maps from their home country.
The hometown geology assignment is to research and write about the geologic setting of your hometown or another location of interest to you. Your primary resources for this assignment will be at least one topographic map and one geologic map of your area.
Although the ASU Libraries try to collect high quality geological and topographic maps of areas outside the U.S., we may not have them available for everywhere in the world. During this exercise, if you do not find a quality geologic map for your country, you may want to select a place of interest within the U.S.
Prior to your lab meeting in the Map Collection, you need to:
- Choose the location you want to study
- Identify a topographic map for your location
- Identify a geologic map for your location
- Fill out the Library Guide Worksheet with your search results
Scroll down to complete these steps. Bring your completed Library Guide Worksheet with you to your lab session. The Map Collection staff then will help you locate the maps you need.
Identifying an International Topographic Map
International students do not need to locate a topographic map for their country. On the day of your lab, someone from the Map Collection will help you select a topographic map.
Identifying an International Geologic Map
All geologic maps in the Map Collection are organized by call number. To find a geologic map of your area in the Map Collection:
- Go to the Libraries’ Map Index: http://www.asu.edu/lib/resources/db/mapindex.htm (A new browser window will open.)
- Click on the
button near the top of the page for the ASU Map Index. - In the Term(s) textbox, type in the name of your country and the word geology. Use the English language spelling of the country.
Check the results of your search. Try to find two geologic maps that cover your location. If nothing matches, search for a larger geographic location, such as the county, state, or a nearby city. Remember to include the world geology in your search terms. For international locations, try searching by province or by continent. When selecting a geology map, be sure to find a map that:
- shares the same location as your hometown or geographic feature.
- has .C5 as part of the call number. In the Map Index example below, 6041S.C5 1942 is the call number:
Be sure to avoid:
- Geologic maps in a different area from your location.
- Maps that do not have .C5 in the call number.
- Specialized geologic maps. Avoid map titles containing phrases such as Surficial Geology or Quaternary Geology or Radiometric Geology within the title.
Find at least one geologic map. Finding a second map is encouraged - just in case the first map does not suit your lab assignment.
On your worksheet, write down the title, call number and circle whether the map is located on the shelf or in the case.
It does not matter whether you find the second map in the Map Index or the Library Catalog.
For smaller countries, try just searching the name of the continent with the word geology.
If you do not find two different geology maps, try searching in the Library Catalog:
Search the terms like you did in the Map Index. First try typing the name of your home country, and geology. Separate each word with the word “and.”
If that doesn’t work, try the name of the region or the continent (such as Central America or Europe). Be sure to include the word geology in your search. Use the same selection process as you did with the Map Index (for example, select a map that has .C5 in the call number).
Remember to write down the entire call number and whether the map is located on the shelf or in the case:
Too many results? Click the 
button at the top of the page.
You can limit your search to just maps located in the Noble Science and Engineering Library Map Collection using the Location and Material Type menus:
Keep looking through the results to find a map. Be sure to complete your worksheet in your lab manual before arriving at the Map Collection for your Hometown Geology Lab.
Although the Collection has a wide variety of topographic and geologic maps, maps may not be available for your specific area. The Map Collection staff can help find a nearby or alternative site for which there are maps.
For assistance in finding maps, call the Map Collection at 480-965-3582.
