Learning objectives
The students are expected to become able to:
- Identifying and describing the main deformation structures occurring in natural rocks;
- Analyzing their geometry and kinematics by stereographic projections;
- Placing deformation structures in the context of the main tectonic systems occurring on Earth;
- Having an introductory knowledge of some natural tectonic systems in contractional, extensional and strike-slip environments.
Prerequisites
Basic geologic information acquired during the first year of the Course of Study.
Course unit content
1 – How rocks deform: stress, strain, deformation mechanisms and rheology;
2 – Brittle deformation structures: faults, joints, veins stylolites, fault-related folds;
3 – Ductile deformation structures: foliations and plastic folds;
4 – Geometric representation and statistical analysis of the orientation of linear and planar geological elements by stereographic projections;
5 – Extensional tectonics, passive and divergent margins;
6 – Contractional tectonics, passive margin inversion and convergent margins;
7 – Strike-slip tectonics and transform margins;
8 – Salt tectonics;
9 – Examples of natural tectonic systems.
Full programme
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Bibliography
1 - Earth Structure, second edition, Ben Van Der Pluijm and Stephen Marshak. Norton & Company, New York, 2004.
2 - Structural Geology of rocks and regions, third edition, George H. Davis, Stephen J. Reynolds and Charles F. Kluth, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2012
Teaching methods
Lectures, classroom and field exercises
Assessment methods and criteria
The final evaluation results from:
1 - written test on the use of stereographic projections;
2 - written reports on the performed field activity;
3 – oral examination.
Other information
Four days will be spent in the field during the teaching period; one week of field work will be organized at the end of the classroom teaching activity.
