ALES BASIN MULTI-SCALE INTEGRATED STUDY (Gard, FRANCE)

Enjoy the fascinating geological history of the Alès Basin and its surroundings displayed on various outcrops from the Palaeozoic to the Miocene, in various depositional environments and lithologies. 

This small territory in the South-East of France has a strong analogy with the great geological systems of the world. The obvious relationship between tectonics and sedimentation as well as the outcrop analogue approach will appeal to many geologists, geophysicists and engineers from oil and mining companies. 

This geological wealth has triggered a strong production of geo-resources over the ages: copper in Roman times, iron in the Middle Ages, bitumen during the Second World War or coal throughout the last century. 

It will also be an opportunity to discuss the potential use and re-exploitation of old quarries and mining sites in a spirit of reasoned and responsible use of geological resources by developing them as they should.

1. Acquire a good understanding of geological and sedimentological principles.
2. Understand the distribution of geo-resources in a rich region (coal, bitumen, asphalt, phosphate, lead, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold …)
3. Extrapolate observations and interpretations to other fields as analogue.
4. Become familiar with some sedimentary objects and their heterogeneities (sedimentary, stratigraphic, diagenetic or structural).
5. Work on a real active petroleum system.
6. Use onshore observations for offshore prediction.

At the end of the Course you will have studied progressive tectonic, clastic and carbonate sedimentology, reservoir analogues, petroleum system and geo-resources.

The learning approach involves observation, the use of adequate concepts, interpretation and supervised teamwork in order to develop coherent and therefore predictive geological models. 

A field guide is distributed to all participants with all the main information and various exercises will be offered during the course.

The field course is designed for an audience of 8 to 16 people organized in small groups of 2 to 3 people that share the field exercise notebook. In order to favour group interactions, we recommend that groups are constituted of people from different disciplines. 

Daily summaries in a relaxed pre-dinner atmosphere will provide an update on achievements and prospects.

In the end, each group of participants will have to use the results of the week to predict an offshore petroleum system (source rocks, traps, seals and reservoirs).

Each participant is required to provide a yearly medical certificate before attending this field course. Participants must be in good health and physical conditions to attend.  Yet, every outcrop or panorama is easily accessible, and do not require specific training.

Attendees must also wear adapted shoes (suitable for pebbly hiking) and bring clothing for hot day time temperatures (sun hat, sun glasses, etc.), and potential rainfalls
Safety helmet and jacket are provided.
In the city of Alès there is a public hospital, private clinics, doctors, police, firefighters etc.

The person in charge of the course has a first aid training carried out with the Croix Rouge.

Panorama of the basin – Folds / Faults / Sedimentation processes - The Cevennes Fault network.

Metamorphic basement: “les schistes des Cevennes” - Fluvial braided deposits architecture - Visit of the witness coal mine of Alès.

Climatic changes / Eustatism / Depositional environments - A/S concept – Diagenesis – Faults / Fluid circulations / Mineralizations.

Analogy with the Middle East carbonated platforms - Sedimentary evolution/Pyrenean deformations - Porous/Fractured reservoirs - Outcrops/Quarries - Visit of the Salamandre natural cave (Urgonian karst)

Source rocks/Migrations / Reservoirs - Eocene lacustrine sedimentation - Oligocene rifting (alluvial fans & meandering rivers).

Mediterranean drying up (Messinian event) - Miocene bioclastic seas - Visit of the “Pont du Gard” - Onshore/Offshore transition (Gulf of Lion).

Note:
The normal course duration is 6 days / 5 nights with arrival Sunday noon and departure Friday noon.
However, a five days program is also available on purpose, and some topics such as guided tours or others are removed according to requests.