Drawing Geological Structures

Even though visual recording is dominated nowadays by graphic computer programs and the digital camera, manual drawing of geological structures is not a luxury but a necessity. Drawings prove their strength where computer-generated sketches and photographs fail: They serve for quick and simple documentation in the field or at the microscope. They leave out, emphasize and document the main features while the camera only provides a large ‘data salad’. They have a language of their own which can be applied where necessary and which can be flexibly adapted to the requirements of documentation and representation, and they can combine information and arrange information in relation to specific needs. Last but not least, making drawings raises the quality of observation and contributes to the understanding of geological structures and the structure-forming processes. Geological drawing is assisted scientific thinking.