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| Unit name |
Structural Geology |
| Unit code |
EASC20006 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
I/5
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2D (weeks 19 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Cooper |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
EASC10001 Geology 1
|
| Co-requisites |
n/a
|
| School/department |
School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit will provide a solid grounding in fundamental concepts of structural geology and rock deformation. Building on structural geology skills and knowledge developed in the first year, the unit will examine deformational structures in a more quantitative manner and in three dimensions.
Lectures will cover elements of stress, strain, and rock mechanics; brittle and ductile deformation (faulting and folding); macro- and microscopic aspects of rock deformation; and rheology and kinematics.
Practicals will focus on visualising and analysing structural data using stereographic projections and Mohr circles. Relevant concepts will be put into a broader tectonic context, and the relationships between brittle and ductile deformation in the Earth's crust will be explored.
A 3-day field trip to Pembrokeshire in Wales will put the lecture and practical material into a real-world context, giving students a chance to measure, plot, and interpret structural data and use them to develop a structural history for the area.
The main aims are to:
- develop skills in recording the principal field attributes of most naturally occurring tectonic structures
- generate skills in the quantitative and semi-quantitative methods of palaeostress and palaeostrain analysis
- interpret geological structures in terms of process and tectonic regimes.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion you will be able to:
- understand the three dimensional nature of structural geology
- recognise commonly occurring natural structures linked to deformation
- describe the principles of stress and strain analysis and show how these can be applied in understanding rock deformation
- apply Mohr circle analysis to determine the state of stress of a rock and calculate the stress required for brittle failure
- undertake qualitative and quantitative evaluation of strain developed during deformation of rock sequences
- determine the chronological sequence in which an exposed assemblage of structures was formed and to recognise superimposed deformation
- describe the principles of stereographic projection involving graphical plotting of 3-D geometric data in 2-D, and have skills in reading and using such projections
- apply stereographic projection as a means of representing the three-dimensional orientations of planar and linear structures; to use such methods to investigate and analyse three dimensional structures.
- critically analyse the character of deformation structures and to interpret the causal deformation process and tectonic regime in which they formed
- understand the continuum in rock deformation between brittle and ductile regimes in the Earth's crust and the implications for global tectonics
Teaching Information
Lectures, practicals and a field trip.
Assessment Information
Assessment will comprise two parts:
- A closed 2-hour examination that will cover material from both the lectures and practicals (70%)
- A written report containing a structural analysis and interpretation of data collected during the field trip (3 pages including text and figures), plus structural maps, cross-sections, and stereonets. (30%)
Reading and References
