GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
Pre-Cordillera: Patagonian Andes, Argentina Pre-
Stress and Strain Active deformation along faults Geologic maps and cross sections Folding Faulting
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
Architecture of bedrock bedrock
Structural Geology concerned with shapes, arrangement, interrelationships of bedrock units & forces that cause them. Important to understanding: How mountains form How continents evolve How plate tectonics works Safe siting of public facilities, dams, power, etc. Search for energy resources
TECTONIC FORCES AT WORK
Stress & Strain: Strain
Stress (force per unit area)
Compressive stress
Shortening strain
Tensional stress
stretching or extensional strain
Shear stress
Shear strain
Strain (change in size, shape, during stress)
Behavior of rocks under stress
Elastic (recovery to original shape)
Elastic limit Beyond this stress, permanent strain
Plastic (ductile)
Permanent strain by flow, or folding Typical at higher P, T within crust
Brittle
Permanent strain by fracture, failure Typical at lower P, T near surface Rocks fracture when strain rates are high
Present Deformation of the Crust
Active fault
Fracture along which movement has occurred rapidly
Creep
Slow sustained movement along a fault
Structures Record Geologic History
Geologic maps and field methods Observations of outcrops Geologic maps
Observations from many outcrops
Geologic cross section
Vertical slice through portion of Earth Like a roadcut Importantused extensively!
Measuring strike and dip
Geologic map
Cross section
FOLDS
Bends or wave-like features in layered rocks Plastic strain, compressive stress Geometry of folds: Anticline vs. syncline
Hinge line, limb, axial plane
Plunging fold (hinge lines dip) Structural dome Structural basin
Aerial view, Himalayan Foothills, northern Pakistan
Plunging folds
FOLDS
Bends or wave-like features in layered rocks Plastic strain, compressive stress Geometry of folds: Anticline vs. syncline
Hinge line, limb, axial plane
Plunging fold (hinge lines dip) Structural dome Structural basin
East Side of Cerro Chalten, Patagonian Batholith Chalten,
East of Cerro Fitzroy, Patagonian Fold Belt
FOLDS
Interpreting folds Open fold Isoclinal fold Overturned fold Recumbent fold
Swiss Alps
Energy and Structures Recipe for oil
dead plants & animals deposited with sediments sedimentary rock buried (<1000m) cook at 100C for 2-5 million 2years voila!
To trap oil need:
an impermeable layer a structure, e.g. anticline, fault, unconformity
TECTONIC FORCES AT WORK
Stress & Strain: Strain
Stress (force per unit area) Strain (change in size, shape, during stress)
Fractures in rock
Joints
break in rock along which no movement has taken place Columnar jointing Sheet jointing Joint set
versus Faults
break in rock along which movement has taken place
Weathered, jointed rock
Fractures in rock
Faults Dip-slip faults- normal and reverse
Footwall vs. hanging wall
Normal fault
Graben; Rift Horst; fault-block mountain range
Faults
Fault types 1. Dip Slip Faults
Faults
Some fault terminology Hanging wall vs. Footwall
Hanging wall
Footwall
Fault scarp, Death Valley
Rift Valley development
Fractures in rock Faults
Reverse fault
Thrust fault- low angle reverse fault
Strike-Slip fault
Left-lateral vs. right-lateral
What type of fault is this?
Cambrian (530 Ma) limestone
Silurian (430) Ma limestone
Thrust Fault = low angle Reverse Fault
- Alps, Northern Rockies, Appalachians thrust faults with > 50 km of displacement
Swiss Alps
Fractures in rock Faults
Reverse fault
Thrust fault- low angle reverse fault
Strike-Slip fault
Left-lateral vs. right-lateral
San Andreas fault, CA
San Francisco Bay Area San Andreas Strike Slip Fault
San Francisco Bay Bridge, damaged in 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake Please read Chapter 7 (Earthquakes) for next lecture
