1.

Dip and Strike problems ( Surface )

Dip and Strike problems (Surface) problems are solved by two methods.

A. Graphical ( or Geometric ) Method

This method consists of constructing right angle triangles to scale along lines of given or required
directions of Td and Ad from an observation point as the base with the angles of actual dip amount
in degrees ( 90o – θ) at the other end, and the vertical side corresponding to the contour or strike
interval ( usually 2.5 cm) The hypotenuse represents the dip slope (Td / Ad). The triangles then
appear to be folded along side the base or direction line between two consecutive strikes in the plane
of the paper. Next the required dip and strike parameters ( trend or direction of strike, amount and
direction of dip) are obtained by measuring the angle on the lower strike line. (F and C)

Note: The values of consecutive strike lines are assumed to be 3 for higher strike passing through O
and 2 m for lower strike passing through point (s) one unit ( contour or strike interval) below (scale
CI – 2.5 cm) for convenience.

B. Mathematical ( or trigonometric ) Method

This method consists of laying off lines along given or required directions to scale in units
(usually 1 cm = 1 unit) corresponding to either the cotangent of the given dip amount in degrees or
the gradient – horizontal equivalent – from the observation point S. Two consecutive strike lines
then are drawn through) (higher strike) and through points one unit below (lower strike). Next the
required amount and direction of dip (Td / Ad) are obtained from the directions and lengths of lines
drawn from O which cut the lower strike line, measured in the same units (fig.). (Scale 1 unit =
1cm).

Type 1. Given the amount and direction of the true dip – it is required to find the amount of apparent
dip in required directions.

A. Graphical Method

Example: A sandstone is found to be dipping in a hill side at 30o along N15 o E. Find the
amount of its apparent dip along N 30o W. Give Procedure. State strike. Scale C1=2.5
cm.

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Solution Procedure

1. Draw north line ( about 10 cm) and mark O, the observation point, and directions.
2. Draw OA direction of Td, along N 15o E with an arrow (to indicate the direction of
Td) and the higher 3 m strike exactly at right angle to AO through O.

3. Cut OB, strike or contour interval (CI) = 2.5 cm on 3 m strike on the right side of O
and construct the complementary angle of true 90o – 30o at B. Draw BC to cut OA at
C. BC is the true dip slope. Td = C= 30o.
4. Draw the 2 m lower strike through C parallel to 3 m strike.
5. Draw OD direction of Ad, along N 30oW which cuts the 2 m strike at F.
6. Draw OG (CI) = 2.5 cm perpendicular to OD to the left and join GF. GF is the
apparent dip slope.
7. Measure the angle GFO, which in the amount of Ad along N 30o W.
8. Measure the direction of 3 m strike.
9. Write down the answer.

Answer : Strike N 75o W – S75oE

Ad along N 50o W = 20o

Mathematical method

Example: A limestone bed is dipping in a dam site at the rate of 1 in 4 along N 15 oW.
Find its apparent dip along N 50oW. Give procedure. State strike. Scale 1 unit = 1 cm.

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 Solution Procedure
Note: If the dip amount is given in angular values (degrees) convert it into gradient (by
referring to the cotangent table. Example: 30 dip = 1 in 7 (units), 18o dip = 1 in 15 units).
If the amount of dip is given in gradient draw lines in the given or required direction(s) of
corresponding lengths in units. Example. Dip 1 in 8, length of line = 8 units to scale 1 cm
= 1 unit.

(1) Draw north line and mark O and directions.

(2) Draw OA along N 15o W, the direction of Td and 3 m strike perpendicular to
OA and measure the directions of strike.
(3) Cut OB = 4 units ( amount of Td) on OA and draw 2 m lower strike parallel to
3 m strike through it.
(4) Draw OC direction of Ad along N 50o W which cuts the 2 m strike at D, D on
2 m strike is one unit below O.
(5) Measure OD in the same units. This is the amount of Ad along N 50o W = 5
units.
(6) Write down the answer.

Answer : Strike 875oW – N 72o

Ad along N50o al

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 2. Dip and strike (Under ground) and Depth Problems

( 3 Point and Borehole problems)

The depth to and attitude ( dip and strike ) of rock masses below the ground surface can be
computed on the basis of data obtained from at least three rest boreholes, in a triangular layout or
grind drilled from the ground surface vertically downward to reach the rock.

The borehole parameters include the surface elevation, number of holes, grid pattern (layout)
Triangular or square, identification number or designation, location, coordinates, distance and
depth.

Borehole problems are also solved by two methods.

A. Graphical ( or geometrical Method)

This method consists of constructing a triangular or square grid ( plan view) to scale
according to the plan layout of exploratory boreholes and drawing a number of stratum
contours ( strike lines) between borehole station points of the least and greatest depth to the
rock surface and extending beyond the station point if necessary. By these the attitude (dip
and strike) of the rock mass is computed and also the depth at a nearby or distant fourth or
further station(s) is reckoned.

B. Mathematical ( or Trigonometric ) Method

This method consists of computing the gradient along two directions from the least depth
borehole towards deeper ones. Dip and strike then are reckoned by the usual method of lying off
lines, in corresponding directions, and lengths in units and drawing strike lines. Depth at the fourth
or further stratum(s) is then determined by multiplying the gradient towards that stratum(s) and the
distance from the least depth borehole station. In case of level ground add to this the depth to rock at
the least depth station. In case of uneven ground add the elevation of the fourth or further station(s).

(a) Level ground

Df = g X df + DL

(b) Uneven ground

Df = g X df + el + DI

Where

Df = depth to rock at the fourth or further stations.

g = Gradient in the direction of the fourth or further stations.
Df = distance between least depth station and the fourth or further stations
El = elevation of the fourth or further station(s)
Dl = depth to rock at he least depth station from the level ground or datum line.

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TYPE I TRIANGULAR GRID – (a) Level ground

A. Graphical Method

Example: Three trial boreholes XYZ, X N 30o E of Y and N 30o w of Z at the apices of an
equilateral triangular grid of 900 m sides in an engineering construction site intersected
sandstone bedrock at depth 5 m, 30 m and 25 m respectively. Determine (I) the attitude of the
bedrock and 2 the depths to bedrock at station D in the centre of the grid. Give procedure. Scale:
1cm = 100 m.

Solution Procedure

(1) Draw an equilateral triangular grid of 9 cm to scale, the plan view of the borehole stations.
Locate the stations XYZ at the spices and d at the centre of the grid.
(2) Mark distances and depth to bedrock at the stations.
(3) Divide XY side of the grid between the least depth and greatest depth stations into 5 equal
parts and mark contour or strike volume.
(4) Join Z25m and 25 m point on XY. This is the 25 m strike. Draw 5 m parallel strike through
X. measure the direction of the strike.
(5) Draw XP perpendicular to the strike lines and mark with an arrow. XP is the direction of Td.
(6) Draw the other consecutive strike lines at 5 m intervals ( in this case).
Next cut XQ = 1 cm on the 5 m strike and join Q and R at the intersection of 15 m strike with
XP. Now in the right angle triangle QXR, QR is the true dip slope, QX, the ventral side is the CI
and XR is the base. Angle ∟QRX is the amount of Td.
(7) Reckon the depth to bed rock at station D at the centre of the grid. D is now located on 20 m
strike. Therefore depth to rock at D is 20m.
(8) Write down the answer.

Answer: Strike N80oW – S 80o E

Td = 16o S 10o W

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B. Mathematical Method

Example: In a dam site a cavernous limestone was struck by three test boreholes ABC at the
apices of a triangular grid ABS 55oW = 600 m ACS 30o E = 800 m, at depths 35 m, 155 m and
180 m respectively.

Determine (1) the attitude of limestone formation, and (2) the depth at which the same limestone
is met with by a fourth confirmatory borehole D sunk 700 m S40o W of A. Give procedure. Scale
: 1 cm = 100 m and 1 unit = 1 cm.

(1) Attitude of limestone

From Bore hole data—

Station A is least depth station

Therefore (1) gradient along AB =

155
-35
-----
120
---- = 1 in 5
600

(2) gradient along AC=

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 180
-35
----
145
---- = 1 in 5.5
800

2) Depth at D

Gradient along AD = S40o W = 1 in 4.25 by construction.

Therefore Df = g x df +Dl
= 1/ 4.25 x 700 + 35 ( at A)
= 164 + 35 = 199 m.

Solution Procedure

1) Draw the plan of the borehole grid and mark the stations, distances and depth to rock. This is
essential to compute gradient. This may be drawn to scale ( sometimes even a rough diagram
will do).

2) Draw the depth diagram from borehole data.

3) Draw north line separately and mark the least depth station A at the intersection of N-S and
E-W lines.
4) Draw AB5 units along S 55o W and AC 5.5 units along S 30o E as per the gradients. B and C
are 1 unit below A. Join BC and produce both sides. BC is the lower strike. Draw the higher
parallel strike through A and measure the directions.
5) Draw AP perpendicular to the strike which cuts the lower strike at Q. Mark AP with an
arrow, AP is the direction of Td. Measure AQ in the same unit. This is the amount of Td.

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6) Draw AD along S 40o W which cuts the lower strike at D. Measure AD in the same units.
This is the gradient along AD.
7) Next calculate the depth to rock at D.
8) Write down the answer.

Answer: Strike : N75o W – S 75oE

Td = 1 in 4 S 15o W
Depth to rock at D = 199 m.

Thickness of beds

It often becomes necessary to determine the thickness of rock beds in cases like excavations,
quarrying, support and lining of sections of tunnels and canals and for stabilizing rocky slopes.

The thickness is measured perpendicular to the bedding planes. This is called the true thickness.
The thickness measured vertically downwards between the bedding planes in case inclined and
folded beds is called the vertical thickness. The beds may be exposed at the surface so that their
thickness is measured directly by a tape. Commonly in most cases, however, direct measurement
may not be possible. In such cases the thickness is worked out fro, data obtained from a
geological map or field measurement of other parameters such as dip, width (breadth) of outcrop
and nature of the ground surface by constructing the geological conformation graphically to scale
called the graphical method or calculated with the help of trigonometric expressions called the
mathematical method.

Note. There may be a slight variation in the answers of the two methods

Fig. Geological conformation.

Terminology (Fig.)

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 O: Observation point
GL : ground Surface
D: Dip of the rock bed
ώ = Width of the outcrop.
Tt: True thickness . The actual thickness of the bed measured normal (OX) between of bedding
planes.

Vt : Vertical Thickness . The thickness between the bedding planes from the point of
measurement O at the surface vertically downward (OY) like the intersection of a vertical bore
hole with the top and bottom bedding planes.

Problem:
1. The nature of the ground surface level or slopping(s)
2. Amount of dip of the bed in degree (d) and relationship ( direction) with ground, and
3. The width of the outcrop bed (w)

It is required to determine the true and vertical thickness of the bed.

Solution

The problem is solved by two methods.

A. Graphical Method: This method consists of representing the geological conformation by

constructing the ground surface, dip and width of out crop of the rock bed to scale and
measuring the true and vertical thickness directly between the top and bottom bedding planes
(Tt and Vt = OX and OY in Fig.)
B. Mathematical Method : This method consists of solving the problem with the help of
trigonometric expressions ( equations).

Type I Level Ground

Tt = sin (d-s) x w
Vt = tan d x w

Type 2 Sloping ground. Ground slope and the dip of the bed in the same direction.

Tt = sin (d – s ) x w
Vt = tan ( d – s) ) x w

Type 3 Sloping Ground. Ground slope and the dip of the bed in opposite directions.

Tt = Sin ( d + s) x w
Vt = Sin S + ( cos S x tan d ) x w

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 Type I Level Ground

A. Graphical Method

Example: In a level ground a sandstone formation is dipping at 30o east with its out crop 120 m
wide. Find its true thickness and vertical thickness. Scale: 1 cm = 40m, Write procedure.

Solution Procedure

Construct the geological conformation to scale

Hh’ = horizontal
OB = Top bedding plan
AC = bottom bedding plane
AO = w = width to outcrop (w)

1. Draw a horizontal line h h’ to represent the level ground.

2. Mark AO = width of out crop of sandstone (w) = 3 cm = 120 m.
3. At O draw OB the top bedding plane of sandstone at 30o dip eastward and AC the bottom
bedding plane parallel to OB.

Fig. graphical conformation

Scale 1 cm = 40 m

4. Draw OX perpendicular to OB from O. OX is the true thickness of sandstone.

5. Draw OY perpendicular to h h’ from O. This is the vertical thickness of sandstone.
6. Measure OX and OY ( to scale).

Answer : Tt of sandstone OX = 1.5 cm = 60 m

Vt of sandstoneOY= 1.75 cm = 70 m

B. Mathematical Method

True thickness of sandstone

Tt = Sin d x w

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 = sin 30o x 120 m
= 0.5 x 120
= 60 m
Vertical thickness of sandstone
Ft = tan d x w
= tan 30o x 120
= .5774 x 120
= 70 m

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