Name_______________
Geologic Structures
Constructing Structures: Playing With Clay
STUDENT HANDOUT
Standards
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Describe the composition and structure of Earth’s materials
Describe the internal structure of Earth and the structure of Earth’s plates
Faults and Folds result from deformation of rocks on/in the Earths crust due to stresses
associated with movement of tectonic plates. The objective of this activity is to help visualize
these structures in three dimensions and understand how they can be recognized on the surface
by age relationships between rock units.
Each group will make one the following structures:
 Anticline
 Syncline
 Normal Fault
 Reverse Fault
 Thrust Fault
 Strike Slip Fault
 To make your structure:
1. 4 layers of clay on wax paper. Each a different color. No more than 2" X 4" & .25” thick
2. Stack the four layers with wax paper between
3. Draw a strat column (cross-section profile) of your horizontal layers in the box labeled
“original stratigraphy”
4. Deform your layers to form the structure. If you are deforming layers along a fault, first
use a knife to cut the fault through your clay.
5. Draw a profile (cross-section view) of your structure after deformation
6. Erode the top layer(s) off your structure. Sketch the map view of your structure.
 As an individual you are responsible for
3 sketches for each structure: neatly done: in color
1. Original stratigraphic column (profile) for each structure (you only have to draw this once):
indicate relative ages on strat column
2. Profile of each structure after deformation. Make sure to draw dip of fault correctly and
color layers.
3. Map view of each structure after erosion.
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1.
2.
3.
Answer the following questions for each structure:
What type of stress created this structure (i.e.: tensional, compressive or shear)?
What type of rock behavior created this structure (i.e.: brittle or ductile)?
Name the type of boundary where you would find this structure (i.e.: convergent, divergent
or transform).
4. Name a specific plate boundary (name two plates on either side of an actual example of this
boundary) where this structure may be found (you will need to use the plate tectonics map in
your textbook).
Geologic Structures
Playing With Clay
STUDENT WORKSHEET
There are 6 structures that you are responsible for:
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Anticline
Syncline
Normal Fault
Reverse Fault
Strike Slip Fault
Thrust Fault
For each structure you need to have
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Original Stratigraphy in color (only need 1): Colors need to correlate between views:
Profile (cross-section) of stratigraphy after deformation
Map view of structure after erosion: Indicate relative ages of rock units on the map view:
Strike Slip Fault, indicate Right or Left Lateral
Original Stratigraphy
Anticline
Profile after Deformation
Map view after Erosion:
Questions:
1234-
Syncline
Profile after
Map view after Erosion:
Deformation
Questions:
1234-
Normal Fault
Questions:
1234-
Reverse Fault
Profile after Deformation
Map view after Erosion:
Questions:
1234-
Strike Slip Fault
Questions:
1234-
Thrust Fault
Profile after Deformation
Questions:
1234-
Map view after Erosion: