Earth Structure

Description and analysis of geological structures of the Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper mantle), and introduction to global tectonics. Three hours lecture and one laboratory session weekly.

These topics are included: description of geological structures; kinematics and dynamics of folding and faulting; stress, strain, deformation and rheology; deformation mechanisms and microstructures; whole-earth structure; principles of plate tectonics; selected tectonic settings.

This is a core course for Geological Sciences concentrators and required for upper-level field camp, but is open to all who want to have a basic knowledge of geology. Non-geology concentrators can also elect the no-lab version of this class (GEOSCI 451).

Check for availability.

GeoSci 451 (meet together)

Description and interpretation of geological structures in the Earth's crust and introduction to global plate tectonics. Topics covered are: mechanics, stress, strain and deformation; hand-specimen and field description of geological structures; the kinematics and dynamics of folding and faulting; flow of rocks (rheology); introduction to dislocation theory; microstructural analysis; principles of plate tectonics; tectonic evolution of selected regions. The course is aimed at those with an interest in geology beyond the introductory level, as well as students who want a basic understanding of the outer Earth's physical properties.

Check for availability.

Textbook

You should consider ordering course texts from the internet, which can offer considerable savings. Use this link to see prices for ES2.

EarthStructure: An Introduction to Structural Geology and Tectonics (2nd edition) by Ben A. van der Pluijm and Stephen Marshak.

WW Norton, 656 p.; 2004; 0-393-92467-X

Website: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/Ben/ES/

Optional text (laboratory only)

Structural Analysis And Synthesis: A Laboratory Course in Structural Geology (3rd edition) by Stephen M. Rowland, Ernest M. Duebendorfer, Ilsa M. Schiefelbein.

Wiley-Blackwell, 2007; 978-1-4051-1652-7.

Lecture Schedule

Lect#	Date	Day	Topic	Reading*	Lab#
1	8-Sep	wed	Introduction and Primary structures	1,2
2	13-Sep	mon	Joints and Veins	7	1
3	15-Sep	wed	Faults and Folds I	8,10	1
4	20-Sep	mon	Faults and Folds II	8,10	2
5	22-Sep	wed	Faults and Folds III	8,10	2
6	27-Sep	mon	Foliations and Lineations	11	3
7	29-Sep	wed	Force and stress I	3	3
8	4-Oct	mon	Force and stress II	3	4
9	6-Oct	wed	Deformation and Strain I	4	4
10	11-Oct	mon	Deformation and Strain II	4	5
11	13-Oct	wed	Exam 1		5
12	18-Oct	mon	No Class
13	20-Oct	wed	Rheology of Crust and Mantle I	5	6
14	25-Oct	mon	Rheology of Crust and Mantle II	5	6
15	27-Oct	wed	Brittle Behavior I	6	7
16	1-Nov	mon	Brittle Behavior II	6,8	7
17	3-Nov	wed	Ductile Behavior I	9	8
18	8-Nov	mon	Ductile Behavior II	9	8
19	10-Nov	wed	Ductile Behavior III	9, 10	9
20	15-Nov	mon	Ductile Shear Zones	12	9
	16-Nov	tue	Optional Exam (7-8:30pm)
21	17-Nov	wed	Earth structure and Plate tectonics	14,15	10
22	22-Nov	mon	Divergent Tectonics	16	10
23	24-Nov	wed	Convergence and Collision	17	take-home
24	29-Nov	mon	Fold-Thrust Belts	18	take-home
25	1-Dec	wed	Strike-slip Tectonics	19	12
26	6-Dec	mon	Western North America	20,22	12
27	8-Dec	wed	Eastern North America	20,22	Lab Exam
28	13-Dec	mon	Exam 2 (offering 1)		LabExam
	15-Dec	wed	Final paper due
	22-Dec	wed	Exam 2 (offering 2)

*van der Pluijm and Marshak, 2004

Laboratory (351 only)

You will need black and colored pencils, eraser, ruler and basic calculator for the labs. Details will be announced in the first laboratory session.

We'll occasionally use software, such as:
StressMohr: stressmohr.zip as zip file or unzipped folder.
GEOrient: http://www.holcombe.net.au/software/rodh_software_georient.htm
(or Stereonet: http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/RWA/RWA.html)
ArcGIS (campus license): http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/index.html

Term paper (451 only)

Post or submit an 8-10 page, illustrated and referenced paper on a topic in earth structure (not regional tectonics). For webposting, use your personal personal web space for the paper and email link to Ben (vdpluijm@umich.edu); otherwise, hand-in a printed copy of the paper or attach as Word file (with figures in the text) to an email.

UPDATED!! Topic selection due on 10/6/2010; first draft due on 11/17/2010; final paper due on 12/15/2010 !

Some examples of suitable topics are:
Fold shape quantification; Dynamic recrystallization; Rheology of olivine; Balanced cross-sections; Thrust belt geometry; Mechanics of normal faults; fFuids in rocks; Mechanics of thrusting; Normal faults systems; Thrust wedge geometries; Disjunctive cleavage; Mineral lineations; Strike-lip faults; Mineral Lineations; Low-angle normal faults; Faults and fluids; Cataclastic flow; Impact structures; Dislocations in quartz; Gold in veins; Stick-slip behavior of faults; Unconformities; Fold classification; Static recrystallization; Dynamic recrystallization; Slaty cleavage; Salt deformation; Gneiss; Accretionary wedge structures; Pseudotachylytes; Hydro-elastic stress failures; Fold classification.

Homework

Assignments to be announced

Class Materials

PDFs of powerpoint slides for each Chapter (or subchapter) are posted on the Earth Structure website (at: http://globalchange.umich.edu/ben/ES/#powerpoints ). PowerPoint originals are available on request for adopters of the textbook, based on WW Norton's records.

Other version of the powerpoint files and supporting documents are posted on the Ctools site for GeoSci 351/451 (U-M only)

Grades

The GS351 final grade is based on: 66 % for two exams (1/2 each); 24 % for graded lab assignments; 10 % for lab exam; additional assignments.

The GS451 final grade is based on: 80 % for two exams (1/2 each); 20 % for term paper; additional assignments.

A straight scoring scale is used to determine letter grade.

Other

Software

We'll occasionally use software, such as:

StressMohr, by Ulrich Kruse: stressmohr.zip as zip file or unzipped folder.

Stereonet for Mac and Windows, by Rick Allmendinger. Go to: http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/faculty/RWA/programs.html

GeoOrient for Windows, by Rod Holcombe. GEOrient plots orientation diagrams (equal area, or equal angle stereographic projections, and rose diagrams). Go to http://www.holcombe.net.au/software/rodh_software_georient.htm