THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
GEOL 260: STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor : Keith Klepeis
TA : Jeffrey Webber
Lecture & Lab: 11:15-2:15 Tues, Thurs Delehanty 101
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This course introduces you to the practical techniques and concepts used in modern structural geology. The analysis of geological structures and the forces that drive crustal deformation represents an important part of interpreting the architecture of our planet and the processes by which it evolves.
This branch of geology also has many practical applications such as evaluating geological hazards, including landslides and earthquakes, engineering geology, hydrogeology, soil and material sciences, and resource exploration. This course builds on many of the analytical techniques and skills you learned in field geology and in other geology courses.
Photograph of a recumbent fold from Patagonia.
COURSE GOALS:
This course is designed to help you develop new analytical techniques and skills that are useful in solving geological problems. We will explore the interpretation of geological maps, theoretical & experimental models of rock deformation and learn to predict the behavior of geologic materials under different geologic conditions. The goals for the course are to:
 Develop an understanding of geological map and cross section analysis.
 Develop an improved ability to visualize and manipulate geological features in 3-D.
 Develop a quantitative understanding of the common geological forces and processes that shape the evolution of the continents.
 Learn to utilize different types of structural data to solve common geological problems.
ASSESSMENT: Problem sets and quizzes....................30%
Examinations (2)................................45%
Final Paper..........................................25%
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PLEASE NOTE: LATE REPORTS WILL BE REDUCED BY ONE LETTER GRADE/DAY
COURSE MATERIALS:
You will be provided with a variety of class notes, exercises, handouts and other materials. In addition we will be using the following textbook available at the bookstore: Davis, G.H., Reynlds, S.J., Kluth,
C.F., Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions, 3 rd
edition, J. Wiley & Sons Inc., 839 pp.
REQUIRED LAB EQUIPMENT:
1. eraser
2. tracing paper
3. ruler
6. compass for circle drawing
7. graph paper and white unlined paper
8. calculator with trig. functions
4. protractor
5. hard lead and colored pencils
9. ALL class handouts
PREREQUISITES AND PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
:
The prerequisites for this course include GEOL 101 (Field Geology) and GEOL 110 (Earth Materials).
I expect you to know how to identify the basic types of rocks and rock structures commonly found in nature, the use basic field tools, such as a hand lens and a compass. I also expect you to recall basic analytical techniques including measuring strikes and dips and the use of stereographic projections.
The textbook reviews of many of these topics.
COURSE OUTLINE
Feb 2, 7 Introduction to geologic map analysis. Topography, structure contours, 3-point
Feb 9, 14
Feb 16, 21
Feb 23, 28
Mar 1 problems, depth and thickness calculations.
Profile construction. Fold description, analysis and visualization. Vergence and facing, map interpretation.
Fold analysis using stereographic projections and subsurface borehole techniques.
Mycheebye Creek project.
Polyphase folding and fold interference patterns. Cleavages and lineations. Hand sample, thin section descriptions. Fergusson Creek project.
EXAM #1
Mar 5-9 SPRING BREAK
Mar 13, 15 Strain and progressive deformation. Applications to brittle and ductile deformation.
Mar 20, 22 Shear zones, fault zones, mylonites. Strain measurement.
Mar 27, 29
Stress and Mohr Circles. Lab: Mohr Circles
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Apr 3, 5 Fracture experiments, Mohr-Coulomb fracture criterion. Lab: Mohr Circles 2.
Apr 10, 12 The effects of pore fluid pressure on faulting. Applications to thrust belt dynamics.
Lab: Mohr Circles 3.
Apr 17, 19 EXAM #2 , Field project
Apr 24, 26 Field Project
May 1 FINAL REPORT DUE May 1st
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