The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Yarmouk University organized a scientific field trip for students in the Applied Geology program on Saturday, December 6, 2025. The trip was a requirement for the courses Industrial Minerals and Rocks and Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks. The destination was the Umm Qais area in Irbid Governorate, aiming to enhance the practical application of studying geological phenomena in their real-world environments.

The trip was supervised by Dr. Talal Al-Momani, Professor of Industrial Minerals, Economic Geology, and Rocks.

Dr. Al-Momani guided the students through a comprehensive field tour, highlighting the unique geological characteristics of the rocks used in the construction of the buildings, theatre, streets, floors, columns, and capitals of the ancient city of Umm Qais.

The trip's objectives focused on deepening students' understanding of the nature of the igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks used in the construction of the city and linking rock types to their geological properties, and leveraging this knowledge in construction practices. Key activities included:

• Studying one of Jordan's prominent areas built using volcanic Basalt rock and metamorphic Marble rock, in addition to sedimentary limestone rocks, and identifying them on-site.
• Applying practical field work skills and techniques, such as photographing different rocks using an appropriate scale and documenting and describing the rock types representative of the study area.
• Connecting the geological factors responsible for the genesis and formation of the local rocks with their resistance to different weathering and erosion processes.
• Understanding the economic value of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks and studying their various industrial applications, such as construction materials, and their use as building stone for structures, theatres, columns, capitals, and streets.
• Visiting the ancient city of Umm Qais, which is primarily built from Basalt, and linking the cultural and archaeological heritage with the unique geological nature of the area's rocks.
• Developing students' practical skills in teamwork, data recording, and preparing geological field reports.

The trip concluded with an open scientific discussion, featuring the presentation of the geological observations collected and a discussion on how to utilize them in future courses and projects, thereby enhancing their practical experience and readiness for scientific research and field work.