GEOL 3402 Structural Geology Schedule, Fall 2015 •. Page 1 of 3
GEOL 3402-001 • Structural Geology • Fall 2015
Lecture:
MWF, 1-1:50 PM, SCI 234
Lab: SCI 201, “the Structure Lab”
GEOL 3402-501, T 2-4:50 PM, room SCI 201
GEOL 3402-502, TH 2-4:50 PM, room SCI 201
GEOL 3402-503, W 2-4:50 PM, room SCI 201
TAs:
Matt Garnett. Office: SCI-227
Jenna Hessert Office: SCI-228
Jeremy Deans Office: SCI-228
Professor: Dr. Aaron Yoshinobu, Email: aaron.yoshinobu@ttu.edu;
Course Webpage: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gesc/Faculty-Staff/Yoshinobu-index.php
Office: SCI 231 and/or 201
Office hours: T 1-2 PM, 4-5 PM (in 231 or 201), or by appointment.
Course Description: This course will introduce students to the concepts and application of geological structural
analysis. The course fills the “writing intensive” requirement of the university Core Curriculum.
Prerequisites: GEOL 1303; 2303 (and their pre-reqs.).
Co-requisites: GEOL 3402 Lab (no credit lab; meaning the grade received in lab contributes to your grade for the
entire 3402-001 course).
REQUIRED Textbooks & Readings:
• Earth Structure by Ben van der Pluijm.
• Communicating Rocks by Copeland, Pearson Publishing.
• Modern Structural Practice by Rick Allmendinger, available as a FREE pdf at:
http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/RWA/structure-lab-manual/
• Various journal articles provided as pdf’s from the Uni library, including AAPG archive materials.
Required Supplies For LECTURE, LAB and FIELD TRIP:
Colored Pencils
scissors
metric and American ruler
4H or 5H pencils with erasers
protractor
calculator with trig functions
drawing compass
pad of tracing paper
mechanical divider
scotch-tape
stapler
field book (may have one from
previous GEOL courses)
field pouch
map board
Required Field Trips:
4-day field trip to some cool place in NM or TX 8-11 October (THURS-SUN). We will leave at approximately 7 AM on
Thursday, 8 Oct. and return at approximately 11 PM on Sunday, 11 October.
1-day field trip to Cap Rock Canyon State Park, date TBA.
Learning Objectives for Structural Geology: At the end of this course, students should be able to:
• apply scientific methodologies to evaluate structural features.
• distinguish the components of kinematic and dynamic analysis in structural geology.
• derive the conditions of rock deformation based on observational data and experiments.
• interpret unfamiliar geologic maps and cross sections.
• analyze a set of structures and evaluate kinematic compatibility.
• develop and utilize 3-D visualization skills to understand geologic spatial relationships.
• predict the orientation and type of fault that predominates in a given tectonic context.
• visualize and construct a basic geologic cross section that depicts the geometry of structures in the subsurface.
• construct a basic balanced cross section.
• describe, graphically illustrate, and interpret various types of structural data.
• Given an outcrop, cross section, correlation diagram, or other representation of a stratigraphic section, interpret the depositional history of the
sequence and develop a testable hypothesis about the relative importance of sediment supply, subsidence, and/or base level change in
creating the sequence.
• plot, contour, and rotate linear and planar data on a stereonet.
• create, read, and evaluate topographic, geologic, structural, and subsurface contour maps.
• calculate the orientation of a plane from a three-point problem.
GEOL 3402 Structural Geology Schedule, Fall 2015 •. Page 2 of 3
• analyze stress states and resolve normal and shear stresses using 2-D Mohr circle analyses.
• evaluate the displacement of subsurface faults on the basis of subsurface core and seismic data.
• evaluate the links between structural geology and formation of hydrocarbon traps.
• communicate hypotheses, methods of analysis, results, and interpretations based on a set of geological data sets to a wider audience including
non-geoscientists and petroleum engineers.
Grading: Grading is based the percentage of points earned divided by points possible.
2 Mid-Term Exams (approx. 100 pts. Each)
Homework Exercises (variable pts.)
1 Final Exam (approx. 200 pts.)
Field Report, inc. geologic maps, & geologic cross sections
Approximately 12 Labs (30 pts. Each)
(approx. 200 pts.)
Approximately 12 “What is it?” and/or “Rock of the Week”
Pop Quizzes. (variable pts.)
exercises (5 pts. each)
Grades scale : 90-100% A, 80 to <90% B, 70 to <80% C, 60 to <70% D, < 60% F.
You will be given ONE TO THREE DAYS prior warning of Exams/Assignments and due dates. Assessments will be reasonable in
length and expectation.
Exams and quizzes will be derived from lecture and lab material. Assigned reading from the discussion textbook is provided to give reference
and background information to the discussions. However, the lectures will be derived from a variety of sources.
Absences and late assignments will not be excused unless the Professor/TA is given PRIOR notice (i.e., excused absence from
University Administrator, etc.) or is provided with adequate explanation of the absence (i.e., Drs. note, etc.). Late assignments will be
docked 2 points/day after the due date. Students shall be excused from attending classes or other required activities, including exams, during
time needed for travel for the purpose of the observance of a religious holy day.
Writing Intensive Requirement. Structural Geology 3402 is a Writing Intensive course.
“Each degree program will include six hours of writing intensive coursework in the specific area of study. The fundamental objective of a writing
intensive course is for students to write often and receive critical review from the course instructor. Students should be required to rewrite,
based on the instructor’s critique.
The writing intensive course emphasizes the process as well as the products of writing. Faculty use writing to reinforce student learning.
Students’ writing should formulate ideas, raise questions, and express considered opinions. Students’ written work should analyze, integrate,
and synthesize as well as communicate.”
- from: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/catalog/_Academics.php#Writing
TTU Operating Policies relating to course syllabi:
Student Absence for Observance of Religious Holy Day (OP 34.19)
1.
"Religious holy day" means a holy day observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Texas
Tax Code §11.20.
2.
A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the instructor prior to the
absence. A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete
an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence.
3.
A student who is excused under section 2 may not be penalized for the absence; however, the instructor may respond appropriately if
the student fails to complete the assignment satisfactorily.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (OP 10.08)
Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the
instructor as possible to make necessary arrangements. Students must present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during
the instructor’s office hours. Please note that instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodation to a student until appropriate
verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services office in
335 West Hall or call 806-742-2405.
Faculty members are required to announce the following within the first two class periods:
"I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has a disability that may require special accommodation. I am sure we can work out whatever
arrangements are necessary. Please make an appointment with me during my office hours."
Academic Honesty & Integrity (OP 34.12)
From OP 34.12: “It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and high standard of integrity. The
attempt of students to present as their own any work not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a most serious
offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension.
“Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but it not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any
act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of essentially the same written
assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor) or the attempt to commit such an act.”
Evidence of academic dishonesty will be dealt with following TTU protocols followed here:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/studentconduct/academicinteg.php and in related TTU Opperating Policies.
For additional information refer to TTU OP: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/
GEOL 3402 Structural Geology Schedule, Fall 2015 •. Page 3 of 3
Structural Geology 3402 Lecture & Lab Schedule • Fall 2015 – Subject to change
Week
Date
Topic
1
24 Aug.
Course Organization, Introduction
Methods of structural analysis, primary
secondary structures
Deformation, displacement, vectors
Lab 1: Attitudes, orientations, lines & planes
vdp: ch1
vdp: ch1
vdp: ch2
vdp: ch3,4; ALL ch1,2
ALL Ch1, handouts
Readings (see references below)
2
31 Aug.
Labor Day Holiday – No Class
Faults
Lab 2: Lines & planes as direction cosines
vdp: ch8
ALL ch2
Stone
3
7 Sept.
Faults
Lab 3: Outcrop Patterns, Structure Contours
vdp: chs8,16
handouts
4
14 Sept.
Faults
Lab 4: Geologic Maps
vdp: chs8,18
ALL ch3, handouts
5
21 Sept.
Fault-fold relationships
Lab 5: Analysis of Analog FTB’s with CT Scans
vdp: chs8,10,18
handouts
6
28 Sept.
Conditions of Ductile Deformation
***MID-TERM 1, Sept. 30 on material through 28 Sept.***
Lab 6: Poly deformed terranes
7
5 Oct.
Foliations, lineations, ductile deformation
Fabrics as records of rheology
***8-11 OCT.
FIELD TRIP TO SOMEWHERE REALLY COOL!!!!!!!!!!
No Lab Meeting
8
12 Oct.
Field trip post-mortem, Strain
Lab 7: Constructing Geologic Cross Sections
9
19 Oct.
Force, Stress, Strength
Lab 8: Stereonets
10
26 Oct.
Rheology, failure, flow, creep, brittle,
ductile plastic, viscous…
Lab 9: Mohr-Coulomb Failure Experiment
11
2 Nov.
Deformation mechanisms
***MIDTERM 2, Nov. 4 on material up through 2 Nov.***
Lab 10: Kinematic Analysis Of Faults
12
9 Nov.
The sound of fracturing: CRACK!!!!!!!!
Dynamic vs. Kinematic Analysis of faults
Lab 11: Analog Fracture Experiment
handouts
13
16 Nov.
Dynamic vs. Kinematic Analysis of faults
Lab 12: Fracture analysis
handouts
14
23 Nov.
25 Nov.
Ancient & Modern Convergent Plate Boundaries:
25-29 Nov. Thanksgiving Holiday Break
No Lab – Thanksgiving Holiday
15
30 Nov.
Ancient and Modern Divergent Plate Boundaries
No Lab. Last day of classes is Wednesday 2 Dec.
***Comprehensive Lecture Final 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM Tuesday December 8***
References
ALL = Allmendinger, Modern Structural Practice lab manual
vdp = van der Pluijm, Earth Structure text book
cop = Copeland’s Communicating Rocks
Stone = Don Stone’s cool paper on the necessity of drawing 3D geometries
Stone
Stone