Stereonet

Plotting planes and lines

Boris Natalin
Conventional lettering on stereonet
My lettering (on the stereonet)

90 27
Lettering on the overlay

Use marks
that are
shown by
red
 Plotting plane
Plotting:
1) Rotate the
overlay to Dip direction
the mark that and dip
correspond angle of
to 55º bedding
 Plotting plane
2) Keep the
overlay in this
position 3) Plot the
plane and
pole on the
overlay
(blue)

Great circle
4) Check
plotting
rotating the
overlay
to the initial
position.
Done!
 Plotting a line
Plotting:
1) Rotate the
overlay to the
mark that
correspond to
50º
 Plotting a line
2) Keep the
3) Plot the line
overlay in on the overlay
this position (blue dot)
4) Check
plotting
rotating the
overlay
to the initial
position.
Done!
Small circles
 Rotation about vertical axis

Trace of the rotation of a

line about vertical axis
(Fig. a) makes small circle
 Rotate a line 60/30
clockwise for 45º

Red mark
Red mark
 Rotate a line 60/30
clockwise for 45º

Plotting the line:

1) Rotate red mark on
the overlay to plunge
direction of 60º

2) Plot the line counting

30º from the periphery
of stereonet
 Rotate a line 60/30
clockwise for 45º
3) Keep the
position of the
overlay
4) Visualize Vertical
axis
clockwise
rotation for 45º
5) Plot a blue
mark onto the
overlay, which
is the plunge blue
direction after mark

rotation
 Rotate a line 60/30
clockwise for 45º

6) Rotate the
blue mark to
the horizontal
diameter of
the stereonet
 Rotate a line 60/30
clockwise for 45º

7) Plot the line

counting 30°.
Rotation about
the vertical
axis does not
change the
plunge!
Line is rotated!
Clockwise rotation of
the plane 60/30 about
the vertical axis for 45º

1) Plot the plane

rotating red
mark to 60º
2) Keep the Clockwise rotation of
the plane 60/30 about
position of the the vertical axis for 45º
overlay
3) Visualize
clockwise
rotation for 45º
4) Plot a blue
mark onto the
overlay either
for the new
plunge direction
of the pole or for
the strike line
 Clockwise rotation of the
plane 60/30 about the
The new plunge vertical axis for 45º
direction of the
pole is used.
5) Rotate it to the
horizontal
diameter
6) Plot the new
pole (red).
Rotation about the
vertical axis does
not change its
plunge!
7) Plot the new
plane (red)
Rotation is done!

Clockwise rotation of
the plane 60/30 about
the vertical axis for 45º
Examine the results
Where horizontal
axis is?

Where vertical
diameter of
stereonet is?

1) Plot the line

2) Visualize the
problem. The axis of
the rotation is vertical
diameter of
stereonet. Clockwise
rotation should be
about the northern
end of this axis.
3) Count 45º along
the small circle in the
proper direction.
4) Plot the rotated
line (red).
The problem is
solved!
 plane 60/30

1) Plot the plane 60/30

 plane 60/30

2) Visualize the
problem. The axis of
the rotation is vertical
diameter of
stereonet. Clockwise
rotation should be
about the northern
end of this axis.
3) For the pole (blue
dot) count 45º along
the small circle in the
proper direction.
4) Plot the rotated
pole (red dot).
 plane 60/30

5) Rotate the
overlay until the new
(rotated) pole (red
dot) occur on the
horizontal diameter.
 plane 60/30

6) Plot the plane

for the rotated
pole
 plane 60/30

7) Rotate the
overlay in the
initial position.

The problem is
solved!!
Rotation about axis of any orientation

Red mark on overlay

Plunge
direction
245º
Plotting the
axis of
rotation,
which is
determined

245
Plotting the
line, which
we will
rotate
Checking
• Rotation is
counterclockwise
• Rotations about
vertical or
horizontal axis are
simple
• We will use both
of them
• Move the
determined axis of
rotation to
horizontal diameter
(rotate overlay)
• Then use vertical
diameter as the
axis of rotation and
move blue mark to
the periphery of
stereonet (33º)
• Move the line in
the same direction
along the small
circle for 33º
• Rotate stereonet
about the vertical axis
for 90º

In this position, the

vertical diameter of
stereonet coincide with
the determined axis of
rotation
Rotate the line for 45º
(move red mark along
the small circle in
accord with the sense
of rotation)
 Rotate stereonet back
for 90º about the vertical
axis (blue mark must be
on the horizontal
diameter)

• Use horizontal axis

(vertical diameter) to rotate
the determined axis of the
rotation to its original
position
• The line should also be
rotated (move red mark for
33º)
• Return
stereonet to the
initial position
• Rotation is
done