Advanced Structural Geology and Geotectonics
1 Course Name: Advanced Structural Geology and Geotectonics
2 Course Code: MGLO7202
3 Course Description
This is an advanced course in structural geology, which exposes the student to the different structural features, both
micro- and macro-scopic; how they develop, analysis techniques, interpretation of structures with respect to tectonic
processes. The practical aspect enables a student to work backward thereby unravelling the deformational history of
the rocks.
The course is divided into four as seen below:
 Rock mechanics
 Fabrics and structural analysis
 Geotectonics
 Practical
4. Course Objectives
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To reconstruct the conditions and processes that control the development of complex plastic and brittle
deformation systems
To deduce large structures of the earth from small –scale geologic structures
To understand the concepts and criteria for rock deformation
To understand the structure of the earth and the controls for distribution of the structures.
To investigate the concepts of stress, strain, deformation mechanisms and methods of strain measurement.
5. Teaching and assessment pattern
Duration of course
The content of the course will be covered in one 15-week academic semester with 3 hours of instruction per week
and weekly one-hour practical sessions.
Mode of instruction
 Part of the instruction will be lecture oriented especially introductory sessions, and the students are allowed
to ask questions
 The students will for certain topics be required to research and discuss during the lecture hours or take the
work as assignments
 There will be at least three major assignments and two tests
 There will be a series of practical sessions, four of which will be considered as coursework.
Assessment Pattern
The students’ abilities and progress in understanding the course will be judged as follows:
Requirements
No. of Units
Contribution
Assignments
(3)
10%
Practical
(4)
10%
Tests
(2)
20%
Final examinations
(1)
60%
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Total
100%
6. Reading list
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Collinson & Thomson D. B.1987. Sedimentary Structures.
Davis G. H. 1984. Structural Geology of Rocks.
Gilbert W.1982. Introduction to small-scale geological structures
Hills E. S. 1970. Elements of Structural Geology.
Hatcher D. R. 1995. Structural geology: principles, concepts and problems. 2 nd edition.
Hobbs, Means & Williams1976. An Outline of Structural Geology.
Jaegar & Cook 1969. Fundamentals of Rock Mechanics.
Park R. G. 1989. Foundations of Structural Geology.
Passchier C. W. and Trouw R. A. J. 1996. Micro-tectonics
Phillips F. C. The Use of Stratigraphic Projection in Structural Geology. 3 rd Edition.
Price N. J. 1966. Fault and Joint Development in Brittle and Semi-Brittle Rock.
Ragan M. D. 1985. Structural Geology: An Introduction to Geometric Techniques. 3 rd Edition.
Ramsay 1967. Folding and Fracturing of Rocks.
Ramsay 1983. Stress and Strain Analysis.
Rowland M. S. and Duebendorfer M. E. 1994. Structural analysis and synthesis: A laboratory course in
structural geology. 2nd edition.
Suppe J. 1985. Principles of structural geology.
7. Course Outline
Rock mechanics:
[5 weeks]
[Assignment 1]
Complex plastic and brittle deformation systems, stress and strain, strain analysis, joints, shear fractures, shear
zones, fault mechanics, fault classification &terminology, fold geometry and classification, fold mechanics,
complex folds.
Fabrics and structural analysis: [4 weeks]
[Assignment 2]
Foliations- cleavage, lineations, lineament analysis, diagram techniques, construction and interpretation of
block diagrams and contour maps
[Test 1]
Geotectonics:
[3 weeks]
[Assignment 3]
Global geotectonic hypotheses, regional tectonic analysis of Precambrian shields and platforms, orogenic belts
& rift zones, magma associations related to plate tectonics, structural framework of Africa.
[Test 2]
Practical:
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[10 weeks]
[4 assignments]
Analysis of planar surfaces (assignment 1)
Calculation of true and apparent dips (assignment 2),
Handling contour maps (assignment 3),
Methods of contouring, calculating true and apparent thicknesses (assignment 4)
9. Responsibility of the student
Attend all lectures and practical sessions regularly, do and submit all assignments, homework, tests and final
examinations
10. Responsibility of the course lecturer
Regular and punctual teaching, arrange for practical sessions, be available to assist students outside formal lectures,
accurate and prompt grading of assignments, homework, tests and final examinations.