UGA Bulletin

Course Description

Stress and strain within the earth, and the mechanical properties and behavior of earth materials. Geologic structures, their recognition and interpretation in the field, and solution of structural problems. Framework of the earth's crust; evolution of mountain belts, continents, and basins. Relation between structures, deformation, and plate tectonics.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additonal term project required for graduate credit.

Athena Title

Structural Geology

Prerequisite

GEOL 3010-3010L

Semester Course Offered

Offered spring

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to recognize linear and planar geologic structures and express their orientations in three-dimensional space.
Students will be able to solve stress and strain problems numerically and graphically.
Students will be able to plan, initiate, manage, complete, and evaluate a capstone project in small groups that requires interpretation of a complex geologic map, containing complex geologic history and multiple structural elements that includes the construction of a geologic cross section.
Students will be able to orally communicate structural geologic information contained in rock exposures, rock samples, and on geologic maps using appropriate terminology with clarity and precision.
Students will be able to relate and apply learned structural geologic concepts to plate tectonics, focusing on observations at plate tectonic boundaries.

Topical Outline

Measurement of attitude and location Geologic features and contacts Topographic and geologic maps Introduction to folds Structure contour maps, three point problems, layer thickness Cross-section construction Introduction to faults Introduction to foliations and lineations Stress, rock deformation experiments, and Mohr diagrams Strain Rheology Introduction to stereonets Fracture Mechanics Stereonet applications to tilting, faults and folds Ductile deformation mechanisms Ductilely deformed rocks in hand sample and thin section Fold mechanisms Folds and strain Foliations and strain Lineation mechanisms and strain Structural analysis of folds, foliation and lineation Ductile shear zones and mylonites Mylonites and shear sense indicators

Syllabus

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