Scope of Class

Structural Geology is the science that describes geometric elements of rocks, rock masses, continents and oceans, and seeks ways to interpret the kinematic and mechanical history of the Earth's rock masses. Structural geology is the study of the deformation of the earth's crust and lithosphere.

The laboratory portion of the structural geology class will give practical experience in the techniques of structural geology, and is where you will learn to apply the principles and theories you hear about in the lecture.

 Prerequisite: EAS-A220, concurrent registration in EAS 430. Laboratory two hours per week.

 Description of Class: The laboratory will closely (more or less) follow the book "Basic Methods of Structural Geology" by Steve Marshak and Gautam Mitra.  Some labs will deviate from the book for topics especially related to the class, for field trip, and other topics.

 The main purpose of the laboratory is to investigate and learn the basic techniques of analyzing the structural history of the Earth's crust.  You will learn (or at least be taught) how to observe, measure, describe, and interpret basic structural elements in field outcrops, and how to analyize these data in the laboratory.  The plotting and display of quantitative structural data will be covered, as will graphical techniques of portraying structural concepts.  Emphasis will be placed on making and interpreting geological maps.

 Provisional Syllabus

 Lab 1

Jan 28 Introduction to Lab.  Introduction to Techniques of Structural  geology

 - planar features

-linear features

-geological maps

-cross sections

-fence diagrams

-graphical presentation of orientation data (rose diagrams, stereographic projections)

 Lab 2 Measurement of Attitude and Location continued

 Lab 3 Contour Maps and 3 point problems

 Lab 4 Stereographic projections - practice

 Lab 5 Poles and rotations

 Lab 6 equal area projections and structural analysis

 Lab 7 Geologic Maps

 Lab 8 Description of folds

 Lab 9 Description of faults and shear zones

 Lab 10 fracture array interpretation 

 Lab 11 cross-section construction 

 Lab 12 Strain Analysis  

 Lab 13 Polydeformed terrane analysis

 Field Trips (subject to weather) 

 If you have questions about the lab, please stop by or e-mail me at raharit@slu.edu, I will try to answer your questions as soon as I can.

NOTE: All of our Ptt presentations are in our department intranet: PC User on Sds