Grading:

• Test 1, 20%
• Test 2, 20%
• Final Exam, 25%
• Lab exercises, 25%
• Homework, 10%

University Policies

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-62590 at 471-4382.

Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and incidents of dishonesty will be reported. You are expected to do your own work on all of your assignments. You can consult with one another on homeworks and labs, but that does not include copying .

Tentative Course Outline:

• Introduction to Lithospheric Deformation
• structural geology terms and definitions
• buoyancy, subsidence and flexure
• Kinematic Analysis
• translation
• rotation
• strain
• homogeneous vs heterogeneous
• coaxial vs. non-coaxial
• compatibility
• Mechanical Analysis
• force and stress
• stress resolution
• stress-strain relationships
• rock strength and constitutive models
• Deformation Mechanisms and Microstructures
• elastic properties
• theoretical strength of solids
• deformation mechanisms
• Joints and Shear Fractures
• surface morphology
• propagation patterns
• Coulomb failure
• pore pressure
• in situ stress
• Faults
• physical morphology
• map expression
• seismic expression
• mechanics of faulting
• thrust faults
• normal faults
• strike-slip faults
• Folds
• anticlines and synclines
• geometric analysis
• kinematic analysis
• mechanics
• regional tectonic mechanisms
• Plate Tectonics and Regional Structural Geology

Lab Topics: · Geologic and contour maps · Stereonets · Rock property testing (using load frame on 1st floor) · GPS mapping · Fracture identification (core, logs and outcrop) · Seismic interpretation · Scale-model experiments · Cross-section balancing

Saturday Field-trip (to be scheduled): required

Textbooks:

• Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions, George Davis and Stephen Reynolds, John Wiley and Sons, 776 p. (required)
• Basic Methods of Structural Geology, 1988, Stephen Marshak and Gautam Mitra, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 446 p. (optional)