Fall 2012 Geo 380C

rev. 8/31/2012 1




Advanced Structural Geology
Geo 380C Fall 2012


Instructors: Randy Marrett: JGB 4.126, 471-2113, marrett@mail.utexas.edu
Peter Eichhubl: BEG 3.102P, 475-8829, peter.eichhubl@beg.utexas.edu

Hours: Lectures TuTh 9:30-11:00 in JGB 2.202
Office hours TuTh 11:00-12:00 in Geo 4.126 (Marrett)
and TuTh 2:00-3:00 in BEG 3.102P, or after class (Eichhubl)

Reading: Ramsay and Huber, The Techniques of Modern Structural Geology
Means, Stress and Strain
Twiss and Moores, Structural Geology
books above on reserve in Geology Library
* other readings available on Blackboard: https://courses.utexas.edu/

Topics: Tensors and transformations; strain ellipsoids, tensors, and measurement; state of
stress and traction, stress tensors and their graphical representation, constitutive
behavior, brittle failure modes, applications to the analysis of deformed rocks

Grading: 1. Seven problem sets handed out in class. (8% each)
2. Two in-class quizzes. October 4 and November 13. (8% each)
3. Abstract of paper indicated in class. Due September 6. (4%)
4. Revised version of abstract. Due September 13. (8%)
5. Research proposal on topic in structural geology/tectonics using GSA
proposal guidelines. Due October 23. (4%)
6. Revised version of research proposal. Due November 27. (8%)
7. Class participation. (4%)

Cheating: None.

Objectives: 1 To think like a scientist instead of a student.
2. To provide graduate students interested in structural geology/tectonics
with an adequate background in continuum mechanics for more advanced
courses and research.
3. To emphasize and practice the fundamentals needed to write quality technical
reports and published papers.



Fall 2012 Geo 380C
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References

* Feynman, R.P., 1985, O Americano, outra vez!: in Leighton, R., ed., Surely youre joking, Mr.
Feynman!: Norton and Co., p. 199-219.
* Hubbert, M.K., 1981, Mechanics of deformation of crustal rocks: historical development: in
Carter, N. L., Friedman, M., and Logan, J. M., eds., Mechanical behavior of crustal rocks,
AGU Geophysical Monograph, v. 24, p. 1-9.
* Loehle, C., 1990, A Guide to Increased Creativity in Research: Inspiration or Perspiration?
BioScience, v. 40, p. 123-129.
* Marrett, R., and Peacock, D.C.P., 1999, Strain and stress: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 21,
p. 1061-1067.
* Means, W.D., 1976, Stress and strain: Springer-Verlag, 339 pp.
* P&T = Passchier, C.W., and Trouw, R.A.J., 2005, Microtectonics, 2
nd
edition: Springer, 366
pp.
* P&F = Pollard, D.D., and Fletcher, R.C., 2005, Fundamentals of structural geology, Cambridge
University Press, 500 pp.
R&H = Ramsay, J.G., and Huber, M.I., 1983, The techniques of modern structural geology,
volume 1: Academic Press, 307 pp.
* Schumm, S.A., 1991, To interpret the Earth, ten ways to be wrong: Cambridge University
Press, 133 pp.
T&M = Twiss, R.J., and Moores, E.M., 2007, Structural geology, 2nd edition: Freeman, 736 pp.

* available on Blackboard: https://courses.utexas.edu/



Fall 2012 Geo 380C
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Schedule for Advanced Structural Geology

class date topic reading (do before class) due dates
_____________________________________________________________________________

1 8/30 introduction, T&M ch. 1.1-1.2, box 1-1
scientific method Schumm (1991) ch. 2

2 9/4 stress and strain Marrett & Peacock (1999)
3 9/6 coordinate systems, Feynman (1985) article abstract
matrix math, tensors T&M box 7-3

4 9/11 coordinate transformations R&H ch. 9, ap. C2
5 9/13 rotation abstract revision

6 9/18 strain introduction T&M ch. 12
7 9/20 simple shear R&H ch. 1 problem set 1

8 9/25 strain tensor R&H ch. 2
9 9/27 strain ellipse R&H ch. 2

10 10/2 brittle structures T&M ch. 1-6
11 10/4 quiz 1; failure modes T&M ch. 7 problem set 2

12 10/9 force & stress Means ch. 1-8
13 10/11 stress Means ch. 9
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Fall 2012 Geo 380C
rev. 8/31/2012 4



Schedule for Advanced Structural Geology

class date topic reading (do before class) due dates
_____________________________________________________________________________

14 10/16 strain heterogeneity R&H ch. 3 research proposal
15 10/18 displacement fields R&H ch. 4

16 10/23 Mohr diagram for stress T&M ch. 8-9
17 10/25 brittle deformation problem set 3

18 10/30 brittle deformation Means ch. 10-13
19 11/1 stress tensor Hubbert (1981) problem set 4

20 11/6 constitutive behavior Means ch. 25-27
21 11/8 deformation mechanisms T&M ch. 16-17

22 11/13 quiz 2; fracture mechanics P&F ch. 9 problem set 5
23 11/15 fracture mechanics

24 11/20 faults Loehle (1990) problem set 6
11/22 holiday: Thanksgiving

25 11/27 faults proposal revisions
26 11/29 strain of circles, lines, angles R&H ch. 5, 6, 8

27 12/4 strain partitioning R&H ch. 7
28 12/6 progressive deformation R&H ch. 12-13 problem set 7
_____________________________________________________________________________