Syllabus (GEOLOGY)

Course Type: MAJ-3

Semester: 3

Course Code: BGELMAJ03C

Course Title: Structural Geology

(L-P-Tu): 4-2-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Combined

Course Objective: Structural geology is to apprise students of knowledge regarding impact of pressure, tension in the earth interior.

Learning Outcome: Students will learn the types of deformation pattern that rocks experience within earth’s interior and surface.

Theory

Unit I: Basics of Structural Geology

1. Scope of structural geology and tectonics.

2. Structural elements: Linear and planar structure. Representation of linear and planar structural elements: strike, dip, pitch and plunge.

3. Diastrophic and non- diastrophic structures. Concept and application of primary igneous and sedimentary structure in structural geology. Unconformity and its types, recognition of unconformity

4. Structural analysis and scale of observation.

Unit II: Stress and Strain in rocks

1. Concept of stress. Components of stress: normal stress, shear stress; stress tensor. Stress at a point: Concept of stress ellipse, principal stresses, principal axes of stress, differential stress, isotropic stress, deviatoric stress. Plane of maximum shear stress. Representation of stress in Mohr’s circle

2. Concept of deformation and distortion: rigid body translation, rigid body rotation and strain. Longitudinal, shear and volumetric strain.principal axes of strain, strain ellipse; homogeneous and inhomogeneous strain; rotational and irrotational strain;Finite and infinitesimal strain.Types of Strain ellipsoids and their geological significance, Flinn and Ramsay’s diagram, coaxial and non-coaxial deformation, progressive deformation.

3. Deformation behaviour of rock: Concept of rock deformation- brittle and ductile deformation. Rheological properties of rocks. Elastic, viscous and plastic behaviour of rock. Factors controlling the deformation behaviour of rock: temperature, pressure, time.

Unit III: Folds and Folding

1. Morphology and anatomy of fold and it’s structural elements

2. Morphological, geometric and genetic classification of folds. Ramsay’s classification of folds.

3. Outcrop patterns of folds. Minor folds and their relation with major folds

4. Mechanism of folding: Buckling, Bending, Flexural slip and flow

Unit IV: Foliation and Lineation

1. Concept of penetrative and non-penetrative structure. Concept of rock cleavage.

2. Morphological classification of foliation. Types of lineation. Relation of foliation and lineation with folds.

Unit V: Fractures and Shear zone

1. Type of fractures: tension and shear fracture. Fault and joints

2. Fault zone terminology, Geometric classification of faults. Criteria for recognition of faults, Fault zone rocks. Anderson dynamic analysis of faulting, Characteristics of Normal, Thrust and Strike slip fault systems

3. Basic concept of shear zone.Shear zone rocks and shear sense indicators

List of Practicals:

1. Stereographic projections of planes and lines

2. Graphical method of solution of True dip and apparent dip problems, 3-point problems, fold-fault problems and their solutions through stereographic projection methods, simple problems of tilt corrections

3. Use of topographic map. Outcrop patterns of different structures

4. Interpretation of geological maps containing unconformity, fault, fold and igneous bodies. Construction of structural cross section.

Suggested Reference Books:

• Davis, H.G,‎ Reynolds, S.J,‎ Kluth, C. F. (2011), Structural Geology of Rocks and Region, John Wiley

• Ragan, D. M. (2009) Structural Geology: an introduction to geometrical techniques (4th. Ed.) Cambridge University Press (For Practical)

• Twiss, R. J. and Moores, E. M (2007) Structural Geology, Second Edition. W. H. Freeman and Company.

• Fossen, H (2010), Structural Geology, Cambridge University Press.

• Marshak, S and Mitra G. (1988) Basic Methods in Structural Geology, Prentice Hall.

• Ben A. van der Pluijm and Stephen Marshak (2004) Earth Structure: An Introduction to Structural Geology and Tectonics (Second Edition) 2nd Edition

• Ghosh, S.K., 1993. Structural Geology: Fundamentals, and modern developments, Pergamon Press.

• Passhier, C. and Trouw, RAJ, 2005. Microtectonics. Springer, Berlin.

• Ramsay, J.G and Huber, M.I., 1983. Techniques of Modern Structural Geology: Vol.I & 11. Academic Press

• Ramsay, J. G, 1967. Folding and Fracturing of Rocks, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.