GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
Folds and Folding
Tectonism is ubiquitous on Earth, the fundamental process responsible for the terrains we find familiar. In this exercise, you will visit a series of locations where distinctive geologic structures are exposed by geologic processes. Your task will be to identify these structures as best you can.
Fig. 1. Google Earth image of folded and faulted strata, Wyoming, USA Can you determine the type of fold?
In Google Earth, use the coordinates below to locate a variety of geologic structures. Inspect each feature and try to identify as specifically as possible what type of structure is illustrated.
Note: In some instances, it may be helpful to increase the vertical exaggeration of the images.
This can be changed in Google Earth by accessing ‘Tools’ from the main menu bar. Under the
‘Options’ function you will see ‘Elevation Exaggeration:’ in the lower left of the dialogue box.
You can change the vertical exaggeration of the terrain model in Google Earth by typing 1, 2, or
3 (3 is the greatest vertical exaggeration, 1 is the least).

1.
The list of coordinates below will take you to various parts of the world to see examples of different types of geologic structures (folds). Examine each image and identify the type(s) of structure illustrated.
LATITUDE
38.932068
37.291999
41.765396
44.177218
44.527060
44.596521
46.174796
46.02186
69.062638
69.201841
28.963196
21.107109
36.225487
26.073478
27.896530
LONGITUDE
-110.717061
-111.894651
-107.104577
-103.981782
-107.990009
-108.115707
-111.794108
-111.370914
-157.843738
-159.373967
-9.453790
-11.38850
44.8057
65.972516
52.844625
8
25
16
37
6
210
4
14
20
ALTITUDE (km) FOLD TYPE
112 Doubly Plunging Anticline
7
11
Tilted strata, Monocline
Dome
20
30
13
Anticline, Dome
Plunging Syncline
Doubly Plunging Anticline
Plunging Anticline
Plunging Syncline
Basin
Syncline
Anticline
Dome
Anticline
Basin
Syncline
LINKS TO RELATED SITES:
Wikipedia entry on Structural Geology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_geology
Wikipedia entry on Folds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fold_%28geology%29
Wikipedia entry on Faults: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geological_fault
Web Resources in Structural Geology: http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Geology/Structure_Resources/