University of SouthAlabama Course Syllabus

Course Information

Term: Spring 2017

GY403, section 101, Structural Geology (4 semester credits)

Course Format: Web-enhanced

Class days and time: Lecture: MWF, 9:05-9:55; Lab: Th2:00-4:30

Building/Room number: LSCB 316/LSCB337 (Lecture/ Lab)

Instructor Information

  • David T. Allison, Ph.D.
  • 460-6381 (Earth Sciences mainoffice)
  • Office hours: (updated each term)
  • Life Sciences Bld. #344

Course Description GY403

(4 semester credits) Study of the application of deforming forces to earth materials and the structures resulting from that deformation. Prerequisites: GY301, PH114 or permission of instructor.

Course Topical Outline

The following chapters will be covered during the semester:
WEEK 1: / Detailed Structural Analysis: Descriptive Analysis
(Jan 9-13)
WEEK 2: / Descriptive Analysis: Base maps and mapping procedures
(Jan 17-20; Jan 16 MLK Holiday)
WEEK 3: / Primary contact relationships
(Jan 23 – Jan 27)
WEEK 4: / Secondary structures
(Jan 30- Feb 3)
WEEK 5: / Geologic time and measurement; Exam 1 Feb 10
(Feb 6-10)
WEEK 6: / Kinematic Analysis
(Feb 13-17)
WEEK 7: / Kinematic Analysis continued
(Feb 20- Feb24)
WEEK 8: / Dynamic Analysis
(Feb27- March 3)
WEEK 9: / Dynamic Analysis continued; Exam 2 March 10
(March 6-10)
WEEK 10: / Spring Break
(March 13-17)
WEEK 11: / Dynamic Analysis continued
(March 20 – 24)
WEEK 12: / Joints and Faults
(March 27- 31)
WEEK 13 / Folds
(April 2-6)
WEEK 14: / Tectonite Fabrics: Cleavage, Lineation & Foliation
(April 10-14)
WEEK 15 / Student Presentations
(April 17-21)
WEEK 16 / Student Presentations and Final Exam Review
(April 24- April 28) Last Day of Class: April 28
FINAL EXAM- Wed May 3, 8:00-10:00
Laboratory Topics
WEEK 1: / Geological Attitudes & 3D Block Diagram Interpretation
(Jan 12)
WEEK 2: / Apparent Dip and Three-Point Problems
(Jan 19)
WEEK 3: / Stereographic Projection Problems I: App dips & Geometry
(Jan 26)
WEEK 4: / Stereographic Projection Problems II: Rotations
(Feb 2)
WEEK 5: / Contoured Stereonets
(Feb 9)
WEEK 6: / Campus Geologic Map Exercise
(Feb 16)
WEEK 7: / Thickness and Depth Problems
(Feb 23)
WEEK 8: / Outcrop Prediction
(March 2)
WEEK 9: / Stress Analysis
(March9)
WEEK 10: / Spring Break (March 13-17)
WEEK 11 / Strain Analysis
(March 23)
WEEK 12 / Net Slip Fault Displacement
(March 30)
WEEK 13 / Geological Cross-Sections
(April 6)
WEEK 14 / Field Mapping Exercise: High Fall Branch (April 14-16)
(April 13 Lab meeting: Help Session for mapping exercise)
WEEK 15 / Lab Final Practical Review; Help Session for mapping exercise
(April 20)
WEEK 16: / Lab Final Practical (April 27)

Course Goals and Objectives

The objective of this course will be to introduce the fundamentals of structural analysis including kinematic and dynamic analytical techniques. Plate tectonics and its many relationships with structural analysis will also be covered throughout. The important relationship of geologic time with structural geology is covered within the context of radiometric dating techniques. The student will learn to recognize and classify geologic structures associated with folding and fracturing of the lithosphere. Geological contacts and primary structures are covered in detail at the beginning of the course. Fault movement analysis will be covered in lecture and lab. Meso- and micro-fabric elements associated with igneous and metamorphic processes are covered in the latter portion of the lecture. The laboratory portion will be devoted to field and office techniques used in measuring and describing geological structures, including analysis of structures with the stereonet. The student will be introduced to structural analysis with computer software. Field trips will be made to the southern Appalachian geologic province for the purpose of conducting field mapping exercises and observing mesoscopic structures. The Appalachian trip is mandatory because lab 7 is conducted at the camping site.
I plan to spend approximately two weeks per topic during the semester. Some topics will span less than two weeks. The student will need a working knowledge of trigonometry in lab, therefore, a review of basic trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan, etc.) early in the course is recommended.
Computer Skills: students will be required to download lecture and lab assignments from the instructor’s web site. In addition, a significant proportion of the laboratory and lecture assignments will need to be verified with the use of spreadsheet templates made available by the instructor on designated workstations in the department student computer lab. The stereographic projection application NETPROG is used extensively in over half of the lab assignments for plotting structure data and analyzing statistical trends. Students who have a background in CAD and/or GIS software are encouraged to use the GIS lab workstations to complete geologic map projects, and orthographic solutions to apparent dip and three-point problems.
GY480 Field Geology Special Note:
Geology majors should take GY403 Structural Geology the semester before taking GY480 Field Geology. In many regards GY480 is a continuation of GY403 therefore a significant time “gap” between these 2 courses can be very difficult for students to handle. Because of the physical demands of GY480, during the spring semester before GY480 students should be spent getting in the best possible physical fitness for the long-distance hiking done at high altitudes in the latter half of GY480. The USA student recreation center contains a multitude of facilities and expertise that can help students attain this goal. The GY403 instructor may recommend specific meetings with campus recreation personnel for training- it is highly recommended that students take advantage of this resource.

Course Pre-requisites / Co-requisites

Prerequisites: GY301, PH114 or permission of instructor.

Recommended Course Reference Materials:

Davis, George H., and Reynolds, Stephen J., 1996, Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions, 2nd edition: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, New York, 776p.

Class Attendance Policy

  • Students who complete less than 50% of assignments/exams will be assigned an F* grade.
  • Students are expected to have access to an internet-connected computer and be familiar with office productivity applications (spreadsheets, web browser, PDF browser, etc.). All projects will require ArcGIS that is available to GIT461 students in the LSCB 333/ LSCB 146 GIS labs. See the instructor for door code and computer logon password.
  • Late arrivals (> 10 minutes after class begins) will be counted as absent. Attendance is 10% of final grade.
  • You may wish to review the ‘Attendance and Absences Policy’, in the Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures section of the Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin for attendance and absences policy

Important Dates

  • Last day to add/change to audit: Jan 13
  • Last day to drop a course: March 29
  • Holidays: See above weekly schedule

Assessments

  • Make-up exams will be given only in the case of a valid, documented emergency
  • There is a weekly lab assignment
  • Late work is not accepted and will be assigned 0 credit
  • No extra credit will be offered

You will be required to obtain certain materials to complete the laboratory assignments. A list of required material will be included in a separate syllabus for the laboratory. The percentage weightings for exams and assignments are as follows:

LECTURE
Test 1: 10%
Test 2: 10%
Final: 15%
Presentation: 5%

Attendance: 10%

LABORATORY
Average of lab assignments: 15%

Lab Problem Review Participation: 10%
Lab Practical exam: 25%

NOTE: Participation in SouthFit and the Mobile Regional Science & Engineering Fair may result in up to an extra 10 points extra credit on final grade.

The lecture final exam will be cumulative over lecture material. The lecture exams will be composed primarily of essay type questions, with minor portions of multiple choice or true/false questions. The laboratory grade will be composed of weekly exercises, a lab participation component, and a final laboratory practical examination. The laboratory final will be cumulative over the laboratory exercises. Final grade calculation for lecture and laboratory is adjusted to a numerical median of 72 if the median is below that value. The lab participation component will consist of students working lab problem assignments on the class blackboard/whiteboard or overhead projector. I will randomly pick students to work previously assigned lab problems at the beginning of lab as part of the process of going over the answers to the lab assignment.

Changes in Course Requirements

  • Not all classes progress at the same rate thus course requirements might have to be modified as circumstances dictate. You will be given written notice if the course requirements need to be changed.

Academic Disruption Policy

  • The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found in The Lowdown, the student handbook.

Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges of others, results in or threatens the destruction of property and/or is otherwise prejudicial to the maintenance of order in an academic environment.

  • At all times students to be cordial, courteous and respectful of faculty members and fellow students.
  • Cell phones, laptops, videotaping and other electronic devices are not allowed in lecture or lab

Student Academic Conduct Policy

  • The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct Policy is found in The Lowdown The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained. The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to educating students relative to their responsibilities.
  • Violation of academic conduct policy may result in receiving 0 credit for the affected exam/assignment.
  • Students enrolled in online courses are expected to adhere to the Academic Conduct Policy. In particular, students are expected to complete their own coursework and not provide unauthorized information or materials to another student.
  • Policy on plagiarism software.

Students may learn about the meaning of plagiarism and how to avoid it at the following

link:

Students with Disabilities

  • In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodations. The Office of Special Student Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and advise faculty members of reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide certification from the Office of Special Student Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).
  • Office of Student Disability Services will be located at 320 Alumni Circle, Faculty Court West. The entrance, Suite 19, is on the west side of the building, near the parking area. We are building 40 on USA's campus map.

Course and Teacher Evaluation

  • Student input for course improvement and instructor evaluations are taken seriously and do effect change.

Course Supplements

Additional Requirements and Recommendations

Online Writing Support

  • The University of South Alabama provides online writing tutoring services through

SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring service. SMARTHINKING is available at

Students may enter the site by logging on with their Jag

number and using the last four digits of the social security number as the password. For

log-on problems, technical questions and/or on-campus writing assistance, contact

the USAWritingCenter at 251-460-6480 or e-mail .

  • Information about the UniversityWritingCenter and Online Writing Lab can be found

online at

Smart Phone Applications

Starting with the Spring 2014 semester a variety of smart phone apps will be utilized in lecture and lab for a variety of purposes. The below list contains Android OS apps, however, there are usually equivalent apps for the iPhone OS:

  1. Rocklogger v 1.82: this app will measure planar or linear attitudes with a smart phone or tablet. It can store this data and the GPS coordinates in an Excel-compatible format (.csv). In addition it will plot the structure symbols on a Google-type map, and allows selection of specific data types (bedding, S1, L1, etc.) and records notes. The app can also plot measured data from a traverse on a stereographic projection, and it displays a dynamic representation of the attitude being measured on a stereonet. For more information see the web site:
  2. US Topo Maps ver. 1.1: the extremely useful app has the ability to stream any 1:250K, 1:100K, or 1:24K U.S. Geological Survey topographic map to your phone or tablet, and display your current location using the GPS on the device. You can save waypoints and navigate to the waypoints, and save travel courses. If you purchase the Pro version ($11) you can download the maps for specific areas so that you can use them off-line. When this app is used on a tablet it essentially replaces a paper map. For more information see the web site at:
  3. Quickoffice : a scaled-down version office suite that is Office 2010 compatible. Excel spreadsheets and Word documents can be loaded and edited as long as they don’t contain some of the more complex elements and/or large images. The Excel component can load and execute any of the GY403 spreadsheets designed for smart phones/tablets. These spreadsheets can be useful for processing data in the field or during labs/tests. For more information see the web site:
  4. Mathlab Graphing Calculator: this app basically turns your smart phone/tablet into a sophisticated scientific graphing calculator. Very useful for numerical problems in GY403. Search for “Graphing Calculator” on your phone/tablet app store.

Last Update: 1/7/2017