GEOLOGY 331 - STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
FALL 2014
Class: Science 212, 8-915 T,Th; Laboratory: Science 212, 140-420
Text: Structural Geology by Haakon Fossen, 2010
Instructor: Dr. Allen Dennis: Science 224; 803-641-3396; allend@usca.edu
Office Hours W 10-12 or by appt.
Please! Subject line: GEOL 331
Prerequisites: Geology 101 (Physical Geology), one semester Calculus (e.g., 122, 141)
August
Structural Geology and Structural Analysis
26
28
Lab
Deformation (concentrating on 2D)
Ch. 2
Strain in Rock
Ch. 3
Intro to Compass, Lines & Planes, Overprinting relations
September 2
4
Lab
Oct
Class Outline
21
Ch. 1
Stress
Stress in Lithosphere
Joints and foliations at Augusta Quarry*
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
9
10
11
Lab
Rheology
WPP due for Fall 14
Fracture and Brittle Deformation
Introduction to Stereonets
Ch. 6
16
18
Lab
Test 1 - Faults
Faults, continued
Measuring strain in rocks
Ch. 8
23
25
Lab
Kinematics and Paleostress
Folds and Folding
Gundy Creek trip*
Ch. 9
Ch. 11
30
2
Lab
Deformation at µ scale
Foliation and Cleavage
St John Lot*
Ch. 10
Ch. 12
7
9
9
Lab
Test 2
Lineation
Last date to drop with a grade of W
Displacement across faults
14
16
Lab
Shear zones
Shear zones, continued
Mylonites, cont.; Crystal plasticity
Ch. 15
21
23
Contractional Regimes
Fall Break
Ch. 16
28
30
Lab
Extensional Regimes
Test 3
No lab
Ch. 17
Ch. 7
Ch. 13
Nov
Dec
4
6
Lab
Election Day
Strike Slip, Transpression, Transtension
Batesburg mylonites*
11
13
Lab
Salt Tectonics
Salt Tectonics, cont.
Map analysis
18
20
Lab
Thrusting, thin-skinned deformation and basement-cored uplifts
Balancing sections
Ch. 20
Structure Contour/Cross-section construction
24
25
27
Monday 1-6 – Lake Murray Spillway (boudinage)
Test 4
Thanksgiving holiday
Ch. 18
Ch. 19
Ch. 14
2
Bigger Picture
Ch 21
4
Core complexes
Lab
Isopach/Cross-sections cont.
______________________________________________________________
Grading:
A>
4 50 point tests
200
12- 10 point lab exercises
120
Final (last 2 lect. plus cumul.) 80
(Thursday 12/11 8am)
400
360; B > 320; C > 280; D > 240; F < 240.
Objective: The objectives of this course in structural geology are to familiarize you with
the techniques and principles used by earth scientists to understand the deformation of
the earth’s lithosphere. This necessarily involves some mathematics, and the first
semester of calculus is a prerequisite for this class. Quizzes will allow you to monitor
your progress in mastering these ways of thinking and techniques. Lab exercises are
designed to teach techniques, develop problem solving skills and make observations in
the field.
You need to have pencil with eraser, metric ruler, a nice, reliable circle-drawing
compass, a protractor available for lab each week; in the past some students have liked
using a rolling ruler. I have four lab field trips scheduled*. I will do my best to be back
on campus by 420, but we may be as late as 500pm. Additionally I have scheduled an
ICE field trip the afternoon of Monday Nov 24. Participation on these trips is strongly
encouraged. If participation is not possible (in our regularly scheduled Thursday
afternoon lab because you are enrolled in a 430-545 T Th class), a special assignment will
be provided. Dress on field trips is always sturdy shoes and clothes you would not
mind getting dirty. Hat, water bottle, and rain gear is recommended. Field trips will be
taken in University vehicles.
If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your
performance in this class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803)
643-6816, as soon as possible. The Office of Disability Services will determine
appropriate accommodations based on documentation.
We will use blackboard in this class. I will post certain maps, figures, announcements
there. Announcements posted on the blackboard site supercede this hard copy syllabus
distributed 8/21/14.