Structural Geology and Structural Geology for Engineers
Geology 341/342  

 Fall 2007
Geology 341
-For Geologists
 Geology 342
-For Engineers
Lecture Schedule
Test Reviews
-Test 1 Outline
-Test 1 Sample
-Test 2 Outline
-Test 2 Sample
-Test 3 Outline
 Lab
Grades

Instructor: Dr. Jaime Toro

Office: G39 Brooks Hall Phone: 293-9817 email: jtoro@wvu.edu

 Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday at 2:30-3:45, Brooks 125.  

Lab: GEO 341 Wednesday, 3:30-5:20, Room 103

Texts:

Lecture: Earth Structure, by Van der Pluijm, and Marshak
Lab Geol341: Structural Analysis and Synthesis, 2nd edition by S. M. Rowland and E. M. Duebendorfer.
Lab GEOL342: An Introduction to Structural Methods, CD ROM by H.R Burger and T.A Harms (available in the Brooks 419 computer lab)

Prerequisites:

Attendance: Required in Lecture and Lab.

Goals of this class:

  1. To gain an understanding of the structures of the Earth’s crust and the processes that lead to their development.
  2. To learn the techniques necessary for analyzing and interpreting geological structures.
  3. To learn to make field observations and to draw conclusions about the structural and tectonic history of an area.

LECTURE SCHEDULE

B&H= Burger and Harms, Introduction to Structural Methods interactive software (Computer Lab).

Date

Introduction

Reading

Aug. 22

Introduction to Structural Geology

Ch. 1

Aug. 24

Structure of the Earth

Ch. 14, p. 336-354

Aug. 29

Plate Tectonics Structural Environments

Ch. 14, p. 355-367

Sept. 31

Structures in the Field and Contact Relationships

Ch. 2

Sept. 3 Sat.

Field Trip # 1- Otter Ck. For Geol. 341 students   - Bring swimming suit

 

Kinematic Analysis

 

Sept. 5

 Geometry of Deformation

Ch. 4 (skip 4.8), B&H- 12

Sept. 7

Strain

Ch. 4 (skip 4.8), B&H- 12

 

Dynamic Analysis

 

Sept. 12

Stress I

Ch. 3,  B&H- 11

Sept. 14

Stress II, Mohr Circle

Ch. 3,  B&H- 11

Sept. 19

    

Sept. 21

    

 

Brittle Structures

 

Sept. 26

Brittle Failure

Ch. 6

Sept.28

Review

 

Sept. 24 Sat.

Field Trip #2 - Hancock for Geol 341 students

Oct. 3

Test 1

 

Oct. 5

Cracks, Veins, and Joints

Ch. 7

Oct. 10

Introduction to Faults

Ch. 8

Oct. 12

Thrust Faults I, Movie: sandbox models

Ch. 18, B&H -9

Oct. 17

Thrust Faults II: fold and thrust belts

Ch. 18, B&H -9

Oct. 19

Normal Faults I, Movie: Sandbox models

Ch. 16

Oct. 15 Sat.

Field Trip #3 to Greenland Gap for Geol 341

Oct. 24

Normal Faults II, Extensional tectonics

Ch. 16

Oct. 26

Strike Slip Faults

Ch. 19

Oct. 31

Review

 

Nov. 2

Test 2

 

Nov. 7

Earthquakes and Elastic behavior

 

Folds and Ductile Structures

 

Nov. 9

Rheology: Material Properties

Ductile Deformation Processes

Ch. 5

Nov. 14

Folds, Geometric Analysis

Ch. 10, 10.1-10.6

Nov. 16

Folds, Kinematics and Mechanics

Ch. 10, 10.7-10.10

 

Thanksgiving break

 

Nov. 28

 Metamorphic fabrics

Ch. 11

Nov. 30

Role of Structures in petroleum exploration (review)

Actual Lecture Powerpoint

www.geo.wvu.edu/~jtoro/Structure/petroleum.html

Nov. 5

Structure of North America

Ch. 22

Dec. 7

 Review

Fri.. Dec. 12

Final Exam, 8-10 AM

 

GEOLOGY 341 - Structural Geology Laboratory Schedule Fall 2007  

Lab

Date

Topic

Reading

1
 
W- Aug. 24
Attitudes of Lines and Planes, Use of the Silva Compass
Rowland, Ch. 1
 Problems 1.1
2 W- Aug 31
Visualizing Topography
 computer lab- meet in 310

Field Trip

Sat. Sept. 3
Otter Creek- mapping of Joint Sets
Bring Swim suit

VDP&M, p.138-152

3
W-Sep 7

Visualizing simple structures

Geo Blocks 3D
 computer lab- meet in 310

4
W-Sep 14
Visualizing outcrop patterns and structure contours
 
Outcrop Patterns
Rowland, Ch. 2
 Problems 2.2 and 2.4

5
W-Sep 21

Strain
Rowland, Ch. 14
 Problems 14.1 , 14.2
 Experiments 14.1, 14.4
B&H - 12

Field Trip

Sat. Sep 24

Hancock, MD-Field description of folded rocks

VDP&M, p.238-249

6
W-Sep 28
Interpretation of Geologic Maps
Put together Breek Ck. Quadrangle

Rowland, Ch. 3

7
W-Oct 5

Geologic Structural Cross Sections I

Rowland, Ch. 4

8
W-Oct 12

Geologic Structural Cross Sections II

Rowland, Ch. 4

Field Trip

Sat. Oct. 15

Greenland Gap-Geological Mapping

 
W-Oct 19 Making a Geological Map Greenland Gap data

9
W-Oct 26

Sandbox experiments, Faults

Rowland, Ch. 9

10
W-Nov 2

Stereographic Projections

 

Rowland, Ch. 5

B&H - 3

11
W- Nov 9

Folds

Rowland, Ch. 6

12
W-Nov 16

Seismic Interpretation

Handout

13
w- Nov 23

Final Project: Cross section of a fold-and-thrust belt

Rowland, Ch. 15, p. 197-199.

14
W- Nov 30

Final Project: Cross section of a fold-and-thrust belt

VDP&M, p.452-470

15
W- Dec 7

Final project due at the end of lab.

 

 B&H= Burger and Harms, Introduction to Structural Methods interactive software in the computer lab.

VDP&M= Van der Pluijm & Marshak, Earth Structure

Lab hours: Wed 3:30-5:20, Room 309

Instructors:

Dr. Jaime Toro email: jtoro@wvu.edu Office: G39
Dan Harris (T.A.) email: dharri11@mix.wvu.edu Office: G38 Office hours: to be determined

Text: Structural Analysis and Synthesis by S. M. Rowland and E. M. Duebendorfer. Package of photocopies available at the Bookstore (beware of used copies because pages get ripped out and turned in).

Grades: (50% of the total class grade) 12 labs = 60% all labs weighted equally
3 weekend field trip = 20%
Final Project = 20%

Attendance: Required. Many of the labs are impossible to make-up after the fact. Attendance to the field trip is also required. Arrange your schedule now to make sure you are free!

Structural geology is a field-based, hands-on discipline. You will find that much of the learning in this class will take place in the lab and during the field trip. For that reason the laboratory portion is an integral part of the course. We will try to make the exercises fun but challenging at the same time.

Each lab will be due at the beginning of the following lab session. Late labs are not acceptable. If you are having trouble finishing the labs, talk to Mike Field. Don't wait to the last minute. Because the Lab is such a large portion of the grade it can have disastrous consequences if you don't turn in all the exercises.

You ill need the following items at some point during the semester. Bring them to every lab:
· Ruler (cm and inches)
· Straight-edge
· Protractor
· Scissors
· Calculator with trig functions
· Colored pencils
· Tracing paper
· Graph paper
· Mechanical pencil
· Scotch tape
· Black ink drafting pen
· Clipboard for field trips (get one with a small metal clip and a plastic cover if possible)
· Geologist's compass with inclinometer and declination adjustment: You will need to own one for Field Camp. A good compass is also handy for back-packing trips, so it is a good investment. Make sure it is an azimuth compass.
www.benmeadows.com Silva 15CL # 101924 $46 (or equivalent)
Also available at the Pathfinder (~$60)
· Field Notebook- You will also need it for Field Camp, ~$10, available at Barry's

 

 

 Geology 342

 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS LAB
  Fall 2007

Lab hours: Anytime you want. The quiz for each lab will be available during one week only.
Instructor: Jaime Toro
TA: Dan Harris (T.A.) email: dharri11@mix.wvu.edu
Office Hours: Email the TA to make an appointment
Interactive Resource: An Introduction to Structural Methods by H.R Burger and T.A Harms
Grades: 10 computer labs plus a few in-class quizzes and homework sets account for 25% of the final grade.

To help you visualize many of the geological structures and processes discussed in lecture you will be required to carry out interactive computer exercises every week. Most weeks you will use the Introduction to Structural Methods software which is loaded on the computers in the back row of the computer lab in Brooks 419. These computers are accessible whenever there is not a class going on in that lab. A schedule is posted on the door of the lab. You can log onto the GEO domain using:

username: geol342 password: structure

Then go to:
1. Start Menu / Programs / Structure,
2. Choose either Structure Disk 1 or Structure Disk 2, and
3. Choose the appropriate topic for the week from the Table of contents.
4. Take notes as you answer the program's quizzes because you will be tested again later.

These exercises are simple, and self-explanatory. I think you will enjoy them and they will greatly enhance the learning process. You should do each exercise during the week of the assignment. Each lab takes between 45 and 60 minutes. The text in the exercises is accompanied by narration, you can bring your own headphones if you like to listen to it.

After completing each exercise you will log onto ECAMPUS using your MIX account, go to Geol342 and do the on-line assessment quiz for that week's exercise. These quizzes are only available from the Brooks computer labs.

These quizzes will be used to asses your understanding of each topic and to make sure that you have completed the assignment. They will also contribute towards the "homework, quiz, lab" portion of your final grade (25% of the total).

Lab

Week of

Topic

1

Aug 27

1. Elements of lines and planes (disk 1)

2

Sep 3

GeoBlocks 3d . Log onto the website below and complete the worksheet that was handed out in class:


http://reynolds.asu.edu/blocks/103_home.htm

3

Sep 10

2. Map Interpretation: Simple planar surfaces (disk 1)
Do up to frame #106.

4

Sep 17

12. Strain Basic: Principles (disk. 2)

 5

Sep. 24

11. Stress (disk 2)

Oct. 1

Test 1 (no lab that week)

6

Oct. 9

4. Constructing Geologic Cross-sections (disk 1)

7

Oct. 16

5. Map Interpretation: Faults (disk 1) stop at #526

8

 Oct 23

9. Map Interpretation: Thrust Faults (disk 2)

Oct. 29

Test 2 (no lab that week)

9

Nov 5

8. Map interpretation: Unconformities, intrusions (disk 1)

10

Nov 12

3. Stereographic projection 1 (disk 1)

11

Nov 19

Thanksgiving
Nov 26 7. Map interpretation: Folds (disk 1)