Deformation and structural geology

Overview
Basic terminology
Stress, strain and deformation
Strike and dip
Folds, joints and faults
Know:
Structure types (and how to draw them)
Figures 10.3 and 10.4
Map symbols for structure

Deformation
Structural geology
Rocks at depth are subject to a lithostatic or ambient pressure
In order to fold or fault rocks
Stress is a differential pressure
Stress
Force per unit area
I.e. pressure or gravity
3 types: tensional; compressional; shear

Types of Stress

Strain
A measure of the extent to which an object is deformed when subject to a stress

Example:
A coiled spring 10 cm long
Apply compressional stress (squish it together)
Now 8 cm long
Strain =(original length resultant length)/original length

Rock Deformation
Three possible states of behaviour:
Elastic
Ductile (aka plastic)
Brittle

Behaviour is determined by the stress strain relationship
Resulting deformation can be temporary or permanent

Stress and Strain



Temporary Deformation
Elastic behaviour
Ratio of stress to strain is constant
If you remove the stress (stress =0)
Solid will return to its original shape
Hookes Law

Permanent Deformation
Ductile behaviour
Aka plastic
Pull a spring too far?
Behaviour changes from elastic to plastic

Brittle behaviour
Fractures and joints
Rocks crack or fracture under stress

Fault or Fold?
Reaction of the rocks depends on:
Temperature
Pressure

Deformation

Strike and Dip
Dip
Maximum angle of a planar surface by which the stratum deviates from a
horizontal
Dip is always measured perpendicular to strike

Strike
Measures trend of a line
Perpendicular to dip

Strike and dip
On a map?
Folds, Faults and Joints
Folds, Faults and Joints

Folds
Simple or composite
Many styles
Syncline (Trough or valley)
Anticline (arch)


Terminology
Limbs (of a fold)
Fold axis
An imaginary line that bisects the limbs
Axial plane
An imaginary planar surface that divides the fold

Fold Types
Plunging folds
Domes and basins

Joints
Fracture or crack
No appreciable movement along the break
Product of tectonic forces or weathering

Faults
Hanging wall and foot wall displacement
Offset
Horizontal displacement along a fault

Stress and Faults
Faults are affected by:
Tension
Compression
Shear, or a combination of stresses

Normal Fault
Dip-slip
Foot wall moves up with respect to the hanging wall
Due to tensional forces
Horizontal extension

Complex Fault Structures
Rift Valley
Series of grabens
A down thrown block of rock between two normal faults that are facing
each other
Horst
Opposite of a graben
Block of rock between the faults moves up

Grabens - Rift Valley



Listric growth faults
Type of normal fault
Develops during sedimentation
Continuous movement (slip downwards) allows more room for sediment deposition
Common in river slumping and deltas

Reverse Fault
Dip-slip (reverse)
Hanging wall moves up with respect to the foot wall
Due to compression
Horizontal shortening

Thrust and Overthrust Faults
Reverse faults with a very low angle fault plane

Strike-slip Faults
San Andreas transform fault
Lateral movement of rock due to shear forces
Divided based on direction of movement:
Left lateral (sinistral)
Right lateral (dextral)

Oblique-slip Faults