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CE 212 GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS - REVIEWER

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY

Structural geology
- is the three-dimensional study of processes and products of deformation of sedimentary, magmatic and
metamorphic rocks.
- is also important for engineering geology, which is concerned with the physical and mechanical properties of
natural rocks.

Geologic Structure
- These are features that are formed in response to pushes and pulls associated with the forces that arise from the
movement of tectonic plates or as a consequence of differential buoyancy between parts of the Lithosphere.
- The most fundamental definition of a geologic structure is a geometric feature in rock whose shape, form, and
distribution can be described.

THREE MAIN TYPES OF GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES

A knowledge of common types of geological structures is also essential. Geologists recognize three main classes
of structure caused by deformation in Earth's crust: unconformities, faults and fractures, and folds. We usually think of
rocks as being very hard and brittle.

What is the importance of structural geology?

An essential importance of structural geology is to know areas that contain folds and faults because they can form
traps in which the accumulation and concentration of fluids such as oil and natural gas occur.

What is stratigraphy in geology?

Stratigraphy
- is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily
used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks.

GRAND CANYON STRATIGRAPHY - THE GREAT UNCONFORMITY

UNCONFORMITIES
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Types of unconformities

1. Angular unconformity

2. Disconformity

3. Local unconformity

4. Non conformity

5. Blended unconformity

6. Para conformity

7. Buttress unconformity

FAULTS AND FRACTURES

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FRACTURES

FOLDS
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EFFECTS OF FAULTS AND THEIR CIVIL ENGINEERING IMPORTANCE

1. Faulted areas are neither safe nor stable for the foundation works because of the various harmful effects
produced by faults.
2. Faults cause considerable fracturing and shattering of rocks along fault zones. This means that are not compact
or massive or strong. Such places are reduced to physically very weak grounds and hence unfit as foundation sites
for withstanding heavy loads of structures like dams.
3. The most dangerous features is its possible reoccurrence at the same place. This means that the fault ground are
unstable as long as faulting remain active there.
4. Generally faults are accompanied by earthquakes. Earthquake cause severe shaking of the groundwater. Such
shaking may cause collapse of civil engineering structures.
5. A formation of physical effects of folds produced in rocks due to folding are very important from the civil
engineering point of view, particularly in the location of dams, reservoirs, tunneling, quarrying, roads and railways
etc. These effects are also important in the occurrence of groundwater, oil and gas and some economically
important ore deposits.
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