GENERAL
When: January 7 - April 25, 2008
Lecture: Tues., Thurs., 9:35 - 10:55 am
Lab: Fri.,12:05 - 1:55 am
Where: ES&T L1116
Office Hours:
Instructors: Tuesdays 11:00 am - Noon, Fridays 2:00 - 3:30 pm, and by appointment.
Teaching AssistantTuesdays from 3:00 - 4:30 pm, Fridays from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, and by appointment.
Course Objectives:
This course is designed to engage earth science and engineering students
interested in applying field and theoretical methods to understand the
structural make-up of the earth's crust. Students will develop the essential tools to
reconstruct the dynamic state and history of earth's deformational systems. The
information is useful for a wide range of natural and anthropogenic topics,
including: plate tectonics; earthquake occurrence; landscape evolution;
groundwater and petroleum reservoirs; and mineral resources. For students with
previous coursework in mechanics, this is an opportunity to apply that
knowledge to much larger bodies than the tallest buildings, longest bridges or
widest dams. A greater appreciation of the forces and time involved in
developing faults, folds, basins, and mountains should be a goal of all
students interested in this course.
We will examine the application of stress
and strain on rocks, the development of faults and folds, orogenic belts and
plate tectonics, the construction and interpretation of geologic maps, and
basic field techniques in structural geology (yes, there will be field trips!).
Required Text:
- Twiss, R.J., & E.M. Moores, Structural Geology: 2nd Edition, Freeman Press, 736 pp., 2007.
Class Communications:
You will occasionally receive class information
via email to your prism account. Because this information may not be communicated
in class, you should be sure to read messages identified as [Structure].
In emailing us for class, please add [Structure] to the subject line and
identify yourself by name in the message since not all prism accounts clearly
identify the email's author.
Course Outline:
This is an approximate outline of topics and timing and is subject to change throughout the semester.
| Week | Date | Topic | Chapter | Inst. | Lab |
| 1 | 1/8-1/10 | Introduction to Structural Geology | 1 | KF/AN | none |
| 1/11 (F) | Last day to register | | | |
| 2 | 1/15-1/17 | Stratigraphic principles; Fractures and Joints | 2 | KF | Lines and Planes |
| 3 | 1/22-1/24 | Faults | 3-6 | AN | Topography and Outcrops |
| 4 | 1/29-1/31 | Stress | 7 | AN | Stereographic Projections |
| 5 | 2/5-2/7 | Fracture Mechanics | 8-9 | AN | Mohr Circles |
| 6 | 2/12-2/14 | Folds | 10 | KF | Geologic Maps |
| 7 | 2/19-2/21 | Fault-Related Folds; Midterm Exam | 10 | KF | Geologic Cross-Sections |
| 8 | 2/26-2/28 | Foliations and Lineations | 11 | KF | none |
| 2/29 (F) | last day to drop course with a grade of "W" | | | |
| 9 | 3/1 | Field Trip (Sat) | | KF/AN | |
| 9 | 3/4-3/6 | Strain | 12 | AN | Faults |
| 10 | 3/11 | Kinematic Analysis of Folds (no class on 3/13) | 13 | KF | none |
| 11 | 3/18-3/20 | Spring Break -- No Class | | | |
| 12 | 3/25-3/27 | Foliations and Lineations and observations of strain | 14-15 | AN | Folds |
| 13 | 4/1-4/3 | Rock Rheology; Georgia Structure | 16, H.O. | AN/KF | none |
| 13 | 4/4-4/6 | Field Trip (Friday afternoon to Sunday evening) | | AN/KF | |
| 14 | 4/8-4/10 | Field trip wrap-up; Rheology (contd.) | 16 | KF/AN | Balanced Cross-Sections |
| 15 | 4/15-4/17 | Deformation Mechanisms | 17 | KF | Geophysical Structure |
| 16 | 4/22-4/24 | Tectonics; open (review?) | 19-20 | KF | none |
| 17 | 4/28 (M) | Final Exam (8 - 10:50 am) | | | |
EVALUATION:
Your course grade will be based on three criteria: Midterm Exam (20%), Final Exam (30%), and Lab/Field Exercises (50%).
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
General: It is expected that all students are aware of their individual
responsibilities under the Georgia Tech Academic Honor Code, which will be
strictly adhered to in this class.
Problem Sets: Students are encouraged to work together on developing
solutions to problem sets; however, the solutions/answers that are turned
in must be the work of each individual. Include the name of individuals consulted
for each problem that you sought aid in answering (including instructors or TA).
Project: Each student is expected to develop her/his unique project, thus
there should be no copying from others in class. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden.
Plagiarism
is the act of appropriating the literary composition
of another, or parts of passages of his or her writings,
or language or ideas of the same, and passing them off as
the product of one's own mind. It involves the deliberate
use of any outside source without proper acknowledgment
(as defined by the
Georgia Tech Academic Honor Code).
Exams: All information required for exams will be supplied. Reference
to texts or other documents during exams is strictly forbidden. The use of
electronic devices (e.g. cellular phones, computers etc.) other than
non-programmable calculators during exams and quizzes is not allowed.
The complete text of the Academic Honor Code may be found at http://www.deanofstudents.gatech.edu/integrity/policies/honor_code.html.
|
Geophysics Home | kfrankel  gatech.edu, and anewman gatech.edu | Updated:
Thu Jan 24 13:37:48 EST 2008
|
