STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
Instructor,Zeng Zuoxun
Chapter One Introduction
? Goals
? Outline
? Two supports
? Types of structures
? Quantitative techniques
? Application
? Suggestion
GOALS
Study and Learn
1) Techniques of structural analysis
2) Types of natural structures
3) Problem solving,3D geometry,
mechanics of materials,basic field
methods
4) Applications to applied and basic
earth science
OUTLINE OF THE COURSE
1) GEOMETRY AND GEOMETRICAL
TECHNIQUES
2) COMMON STRUCTURES – JOINTS,FAULTS,
FOLDS
3) MECHANICS – FORCES,STRESSES &
DEFORMATION
4) APPLICATIONS AND FIELD EXPERIENCE
TERMINOLOGY
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY – study of deformed rocks and
processes of deformation at atomic to regional scale
(kilometers).
TECTONICS – study of deformed rocks and processes of
deformation at regional to global scale,
Dimensions of Observation and Measurement
1) Atomic – below resolution of optical microscope
[ ‘microns’ ]
2) Microscopic,< centimeters
3) Mesoscopic,centimeters to tens of meters [ ‘outcrop’ ]
4) Megascopic,> tens of meters [‘ large ’ ]
FRACTURING &
Planet-scale Veining?
[Europa,moon of Jupiter,
NASA Image]
Key Words:
Structure
Mechanics
Tectonics
SLOPE STABILITY & GEOMORPHOLOGY
A STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY PROBLEM
NASA
IMAGE
MARS
TYPES OF STRUCTURES
1) PRIMARY,Part of rock forming process
2) TECTONIC,Forms during subsequent
deformation of the rock or deposit
Examples:
Sedimentary bedding – Primary
Igneous flow banding – Primary
Thrust fault – Tectonic
Anticline - Tectonic
PRIMARY SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES
FOLDING &
FRACTURING
(composite behavior)
Key Words:
Folding & Flow
Fracturing
Rheology – ductile and brittle
[MALASPINA GLACIER,
Southern Alaska]
RLB
Two Supports of Structural Geology
? Geometry （ be used to portray and to
reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of
geological bodies）
? Mechanics（ be used to analyze the
mechanism and process of formation of
different structures）
What is mechanics?
Mechanics is a branch of physics,which
study the law of mechanical movement of
matter.
How many kinds of movement form of
matter are there?
The movement of matter include
five forms:
Mechanical movement,physical movement,chemical
movement,biologic movement and social movement.
What is mechanical movement?
Mechanical movement
means the change of the relative
position of materials
DEFORMATION
1) Translation – Change in position by lateral motion
2) Rotation – Rigid body spin about 1 or more axes
3) Strain - Change in shape or distortion
4) Dilation-Volume change
1
2
3
Quantitative Research Techniques For
Structural Geology
? Determination of strain in rocks
? Determination of stress in the earth
? Determination of rheological parameters of rocks
? Isotope dating
? GPS displacement measurement
? Remote sensing
? Geophysical exploration
? Geochemical analysis
? Physical modeling and mathematical modeling
? Computer techniques
Application of Structural Geology to
Other Earth Sciences
? Engineering geology
? Hydrological geology
? Environmental geology
? Petroleum geology
? Ore field
? Seismology
Suggestions
☆ Use the text in English and the reference book in
Chinese (by Zhu Zhicheng et al) together
☆ preview the text and reference book before class
☆ be active and try to take notes in class
☆ finish exercises and laboratory work in time
☆ observe and record phenomena carefully in field
and laboratory practice
☆ read literature after class
☆ borrow a hammer,a compass,a magnifier,a
tapeline,and a geological bag from the Equipment
Office
Compass,‘Brunton’
Problems
? What is structural geology?
? Why to learn and study structural geology？
? How to learn and study structural geology？
Instructor,Zeng Zuoxun
Chapter One Introduction
? Goals
? Outline
? Two supports
? Types of structures
? Quantitative techniques
? Application
? Suggestion
GOALS
Study and Learn
1) Techniques of structural analysis
2) Types of natural structures
3) Problem solving,3D geometry,
mechanics of materials,basic field
methods
4) Applications to applied and basic
earth science
OUTLINE OF THE COURSE
1) GEOMETRY AND GEOMETRICAL
TECHNIQUES
2) COMMON STRUCTURES – JOINTS,FAULTS,
FOLDS
3) MECHANICS – FORCES,STRESSES &
DEFORMATION
4) APPLICATIONS AND FIELD EXPERIENCE
TERMINOLOGY
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY – study of deformed rocks and
processes of deformation at atomic to regional scale
(kilometers).
TECTONICS – study of deformed rocks and processes of
deformation at regional to global scale,
Dimensions of Observation and Measurement
1) Atomic – below resolution of optical microscope
[ ‘microns’ ]
2) Microscopic,< centimeters
3) Mesoscopic,centimeters to tens of meters [ ‘outcrop’ ]
4) Megascopic,> tens of meters [‘ large ’ ]
FRACTURING &
Planet-scale Veining?
[Europa,moon of Jupiter,
NASA Image]
Key Words:
Structure
Mechanics
Tectonics
SLOPE STABILITY & GEOMORPHOLOGY
A STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY PROBLEM
NASA
IMAGE
MARS
TYPES OF STRUCTURES
1) PRIMARY,Part of rock forming process
2) TECTONIC,Forms during subsequent
deformation of the rock or deposit
Examples:
Sedimentary bedding – Primary
Igneous flow banding – Primary
Thrust fault – Tectonic
Anticline - Tectonic
PRIMARY SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES
FOLDING &
FRACTURING
(composite behavior)
Key Words:
Folding & Flow
Fracturing
Rheology – ductile and brittle
[MALASPINA GLACIER,
Southern Alaska]
RLB
Two Supports of Structural Geology
? Geometry （ be used to portray and to
reconstruct the three-dimensional shape of
geological bodies）
? Mechanics（ be used to analyze the
mechanism and process of formation of
different structures）
What is mechanics?
Mechanics is a branch of physics,which
study the law of mechanical movement of
matter.
How many kinds of movement form of
matter are there?
The movement of matter include
five forms:
Mechanical movement,physical movement,chemical
movement,biologic movement and social movement.
What is mechanical movement?
Mechanical movement
means the change of the relative
position of materials
DEFORMATION
1) Translation – Change in position by lateral motion
2) Rotation – Rigid body spin about 1 or more axes
3) Strain - Change in shape or distortion
4) Dilation-Volume change
1
2
3
Quantitative Research Techniques For
Structural Geology
? Determination of strain in rocks
? Determination of stress in the earth
? Determination of rheological parameters of rocks
? Isotope dating
? GPS displacement measurement
? Remote sensing
? Geophysical exploration
? Geochemical analysis
? Physical modeling and mathematical modeling
? Computer techniques
Application of Structural Geology to
Other Earth Sciences
? Engineering geology
? Hydrological geology
? Environmental geology
? Petroleum geology
? Ore field
? Seismology
Suggestions
☆ Use the text in English and the reference book in
Chinese (by Zhu Zhicheng et al) together
☆ preview the text and reference book before class
☆ be active and try to take notes in class
☆ finish exercises and laboratory work in time
☆ observe and record phenomena carefully in field
and laboratory practice
☆ read literature after class
☆ borrow a hammer,a compass,a magnifier,a
tapeline,and a geological bag from the Equipment
Office
Compass,‘Brunton’
Problems
? What is structural geology?
? Why to learn and study structural geology？
? How to learn and study structural geology？
