Chapter 34 



SEDIMENTARY MATERIALS IN MILITARY GEOLOGY * 

 Frank C. Whitmore, Jr. 



Chief, Military Geology Branch 



U. S. Geological Survey 



Washington, D. C. 



Geology can be profitably utilized in warfare, especially in the fields 

 of military construction and intelligence. 



Knowledge of the principles of sedimentation plays an important 

 part in engineer intelligence, whose function is epitomized in the 

 military term "terrain appreciation." The engineer must know in ad- 

 vance the characteristics of the country to be fought over. In the 

 wars of the last century and before, this meant simply a knowledge 

 of the topography of a relatively small battleground; in modern mili- 

 tary operations, subsurface conditions must be known because of their 

 influence on military construction and troop movement. It is the duty 

 of the geologist and the soil scientist in military intelligence to deduce 

 the characteristics of subsurface and surface materials in inaccessible 

 areas. He must then determine the uses to which these materials can 

 be put in construction of airfields, roads, and surface and underground 

 installations; their effect on the movement of military vehicles across 

 country in any weather; and their characteristics as sources of water 

 supply. These and other applications of geologic reasoning, accurately 

 and succinctly presented, enable the responsible officers to lay out the 

 battle plan in terms of establishing beachheads and airheads; move- 

 ment and supply of troops; construction, repair, or extension of air- 

 strips; maintenance of roads; and securing the objective area. Field 

 geologists act in a consulting capacity during and after the operation. 

 It is desirable for geologists to be assigned as consultants on the opera- 

 tions for which they prepared intelligence studies. 



APPLICATIONS TO MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONS 



The reasoning used in military geology is the same as that in any 

 form of applied geology. In presenting the results of such reasoning 



* Published by permission of the Director, U. S. Geological Survey. 



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