Unit information: Structural Geology in 2013/14

Unit name	Structural Geology
Unit code	EASC20006
Credit points	10
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18)
Unit director	Professor. Hutton
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Successful completion of year 1 of the Geology degree programme curriculum
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Elements of rheology; ductile, brittle and semi-brittle structures; plate tectonics; case studies; stereographic projections; identifying chronological sequence of deformation.

Aims:

This unit builds on the Level 1 Dynamic Interior II-B component by examining deformation structures in a more quantitative manner and in three dimensions. The main aims are i) to enable you to recognise and develop skills in recording the principal field attributes of most naturally occurring tectonic structures, ii) generate skills in the quantative and semi quantative methods of palaeostress and palaeostrain analysis, and iii) to 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

• to analyse which diagnostic characters it is necessary to observe and record in the field as a means of determining the character of the structure and the deformation process giving rise to the structure.

• describe the principles of stress and strain analysis and show how these can be applied in understanding rock deformation

• 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 streographic 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 it operated

Teaching Information

Lectures and practicals.

Assessment Information

The course is examined as a whole in closed session in June (100%). Although there will be no formal practical examination, questions concerning stereographic projection, although not requiring actual formal plotting of data, will appear in the written examination. The written exam will contain approximately 30 questions, all compulsory, to be completed in three hours.

Reading and References

Haakon Fossen, 2010, Structural Geology, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-51661-8