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 EASC20045 Mapping, Tectonics and Remote Sensing |
Co-requisites |
n/a |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
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 relevant first and second year units (Geology 1, Introduction to Field Skills in Earth Sciences, Introduction to Field Mapping and Mapping, Tectonics and Remote Sensing), the unit will examine deformational structures in a more quantitative manner in three dimensions.
Lectures will cover elements of brittle and ductile deformation, faults and folds, macro- and microscopic aspects of rock deformation and kinematic analysis.
Practicals will focus on plotting, visualising and analysing structural data using stereographic projections, and constructing structural maps and cross-sections. 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 2-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, create a structural map and cross-section, and develop a structural history for the area.
The main aims of the field trip are to:
On successful completion you will be able to:
Lectures, practicals and a 2 day field trip.
Examination (50%) - closed 2-hour examination that will cover material from both the lectures and practicals
Coursework (50%) - in the form of two field trip exercises:
The report should comprise no more than 10 pages of text, annotated field sketches and diagrams, and, in addition, the map, cross section and relevant structural data plots.
Failure to attend practicals or to hand in work could bar you from sitting the theory exam.
Essential
Recommended
Further Reading