GEOS 301(F) Structural Geology
The structure of the Earth's crust is constantly changing and the rocks making up the crust must deform to accommodate these changes. Rock deformation occurs over many scales ranging from individual mineral grains to mountain belts. This course deals with the geometric description of structures, stress and strain analysis, deformation mechanisms in rocks, and the large-scale forces responsible for crustal deformation. The laboratories cover geologic maps, rock structures and fabrics in hand samples and thin sections, and basic field techniques. Format: lectures/discussion, three hours a week; laboratory, three hours a week. Evaluation will be based on laboratory work, problem sets, four quizzes, and a final exam. Prerequisites: one 100-level Geosciences course or consent of instructor. No enrollment limit (expected: 12).