Geological & Geophysical

Geology is a science that uses deductive reasoning and scientific methods to understand geological problems. Geology studies the Earth’s interior and exterior; the soils, sediments, rocks, and other materials that are around us, the processes that have resulted in the formation of those materials, the surface water and groundwater, the physical changes that have occurred over time, and the changes that we can anticipate will take place in the future. Geology is also about discovering natural resources such as water, metals, hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, recognizing and minimizing the environmental implications of our use of those resources, and learning how to mitigate the hazards related to slopes failures and mass-wasting, subsidence, karst environments, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Geological observations have profound impacts on our everyday lives. The generation of geological information is often helpful for decision-making across a wide range of societal activities, such as the development, sustainable use and protection of groundwater; environmental impact assessments and remediation plans; the exploration and development of minerals and energy sources; understanding and managing the causes of geologic hazards; the construction of infrastructure projects; city planning including zoning, land development, and landscaping; and regional planning such as siting and permitting industrial facilities. Geological information plays a crucial role in addressing sustainable development challenges and contributes to enhanced decision-making processes. Significant economic benefits are attached to the use of geological data. Natural processes and human activities often cause stress to the environmental system’s capacity. Therefore, having reliable information about such impacts is a critical input into many decision-making processes involving potentially significant environmental impacts, urban expansion, and the extraction and management of non-renewable resources.

Geophysics studies the Earth by non-invasive, quantitative physical methods, particularly seismic (reflection, refraction, surface waves), electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic, gravity, and radioactivity methods. However, the term often refers to ‘solid earth geophysics’ relying on specific branches like seismology, geothermometry, gravity, atmospheric electricity, terrestrial magnetism, tectonophysics, exploration, engineering, and environmental geophysics. Solid earth geophysics is commonly divided into two main fields of study: (1) global geophysics and (2) exploration geophysics. Global geophysics involves studies of large-scale problems relating to the Earth’s gross structure and dynamic behavior. Exploration geophysics deals mainly with applications of geophysical techniques to solve geothermal, groundwater, hydrocarbon, and mineral exploration challenges and targets of engineering and environmental interest residing at shallower depths.

The breadth of services Cordillera Geo-Services can perform is extensive. Cordillera Geo-Services has the knowledge and expertise to assist you in your projects. Cordillera Geo-Services offers numerous geophysical exploration services to the energy, environmental, mining, groundwater, natural resources, engineering and construction, and cultural resources sectors. Contact us for a free consultation and cost estimate.

Geology describes soils, sediments, rocks, and structures mainly visually. But visual observation of buried earth materials and geological structures is not possible for geophysics. Instead, geophysics measures other physical properties of such earth materials and structures and their spatial variations typically at the Earth’s surface. From surface measurements, the geophysicist deduces the values or variations of various physical properties at depth, which must be related to types of earth materials (i.e., soils, sediments, rocks) and their structures. Geophysics is a source of information for the geologist. Geophysics does not replace geology, but complements it. Geophysics is the only branch of the earth sciences that can genuinely ‘look’ into the solid Earth and remotely detect the presence of buried bodies and structures. In contrast, geology can only infer them. Geophysics ‘sees’ the Earth in terms of its physical properties, which complement the usual types of geological information. Thus, geophysics adds a third dimension, depth, in a way that traditional geology cannot. Geophysics mainly describes the Earth as it is now, but can help reveal current dynamic processes. Geophysical investigations often improve our geological understanding of a project site. Geophysical exploration continuously assists in coping with the increasing needs for natural raw materials and energy sources required to sustain civilization.

Cordillera Geo-Services believes it is imperative that the intimate relationship between humans, the environment and its natural resources be acknowledged, respected and nurtured. It is our desire to develop a similar long-term relationship with like-minded clients in several industries including energy, environmental, mining, natural resources, engineering, construction, and cultural resources.

We are pleased and proud to offer geological and geophysical services to a broad array of commercial, residential and non-profit organizations. The listings below are only a partial representation of everyone we serve. Please contact us for your next project, even if you don’t see your business type named here. Thank you.