Tips for plotting on stereonet: Always mark the N, S, E, and W on your tracing paper!
1. Lines are indicated with (trend, plunge) or alternatively as (plunge, trend) in either Quadrant
or Azimuth format:
Example: 045, 30 or alternatively 30, 045, or N45E, 30 or 30, N45E
To plot a line:
a. First mark the trend (e.g., N45E) on the Primitive with a tick mark.
b. Bring the tick to the nearest E-W diameter of the net, and then count in the angle of the
plunge (e.g., 30) away from the Primitive.
c. Put a symbol at this point (e.g.,  for pole to bedding or  for fold axis).
2. Planes are indicated either as (strike, dip) or alternatively as (dip amount, dip direction)
Case 1: (strike, dip) is given. For example: 060, 40SE.
a. Mark the strike (060) with a tick on the Primitive
b. Bring the tick to the N or S, whichever is closest. (remember: bring strike to N-S)
c. Count in the dip amount (40) on the E-W diameter of the net on the dip direction side
(i.e., SE), away from the Primitive.
d. The plane can be drawn either as:
i. A cyclogram by tracing the whole great circle, or
ii. Its pole. The pole is 90 degrees away from the great circle, counted along E-W.
Case 2: (dip direction, dip amount) or (dip amount, dip direction) are given.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
For example: 150, 40 (or S30E, 40) or 40, 150 (or 40, S30E)
Mark the dip direction with a tick.
Bring the tick to the E-W diameter of the net
Count in the amount of dip.
Trace the whole great circle for this dip amount.
Plot the pole to this great circle (see above)
3. Un-dipping (de-dipping) an inclined plane.
a. Plot the pole to the plane (e.g.,  as the pole to the bedding)
b. Bring the pole () to the E-W diameter of the net.
c. Move the pole () to the center of the net (i.e. move the pole to the vertical position).
4. Un-plunging a line (e.g., fold axis, ).
a. Plot the line (e.g., fold axis, ).
b. Bring the line to the E-W diameter of the net.
c. Move the line () to the Primitive (i.e. ,move it to horizontal).
5. Rotation. Lines and poles to planes can be rotated about an axis.
Case 1: The axis of rotation is horizontal (e.g., 020, 00).
Example: Rotate the plane (045, 60NW) about the 020, 00 axis by 30 CCW.
a. Plot the pole to the plane (see above) with a proper symbol (e.g.,  if it is bedding)
b. Plot the axis of rotation with a symbol, e.g., . This horizontal axis lies on the primitive.
c. Bring the axis () to the N or S of the net, and then rotate the pole to the plane (i.e., )
CCW about this axis by the angle of rotation (e.g., 30) along a small circle.
Case 2: The axis of rotation is not horizontal (i.e.. it is plunging).
a.
b.
c.
d.
Example, rotate the plane (045, 60NW) about an axis oriented: 020, 40 by 30 CCW.
Plot the pole to the plane (see above) with a proper symbol (e.g.,  if it is bedding)
Plot the axis of rotation with the symbol. (e.g., fold axis)
Bring the axis () to the E-W line, and then move it to the primitive (i.e., unplunge it). The
amount of rotation is the same as the plunge. Now the axis is horizontal (see previous case)
e. Rotate the pole to the plane () by an equal amount and in the same sense along a small
circle.
f. Bring the now horizontal axis () to the N or S.
g. Rotate the pole to the plane by 30 CCW.