GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES

Folds and Folding

Tectonism is ubiquitous on Earth, the fundamental process responsible for the terrains we find familiar. In this exercise, you will visit a series of locations where distinctive geologic structures are exposed by geologic processes. Your task will be to identify these structures as best you can.

Fig. 1. Google Earth image of folded and faulted strata, Wyoming, USA Can you determine the type of fold?

In Google Earth, use the coordinates below to locate a variety of geologic structures. Inspect each feature and try to identify as specifically as possible what type of structure is illustrated. Note: In some instances, it may be helpful to increase the vertical exaggeration of the images. This can be changed in Google Earth by accessing ‘Tools’ from the main menu bar. Under the ‘Options’ function you will see ‘Elevation Exaggeration:’ in the lower left of the dialogue box. You can change the vertical exaggeration of the terrain model in Google Earth by typing 1, 2, or 3 (3 is the greatest vertical exaggeration, 1 is the least).

1.  The list of coordinates below will take you to various parts of the world to see examples of different types of geologic structures (folds). Examine each image and identify the type(s) of structure illustrated.

LATITUDE / LONGITUDE / ALTITUDE (km) / FOLD TYPE
38.932068 / -110.717061 / 112 / Doubly Plunging Anticline
37.291999 / -111.894651 / 7 / Tilted strata, Monocline
41.765396 / -107.104577 / 11 / Dome
44.177218 / -103.981782 / 210 / Anticline, Dome
44.527060 / -107.990009 / 4 / Plunging Syncline
44.596521 / -108.115707 / 14 / Doubly Plunging Anticline
46.174796 / -111.794108 / 20 / Plunging Anticline
46.02186 / -111.370914 / 20 / Plunging Syncline
69.062638 / -157.843738 / 30 / Basin
69.201841 / -159.373967 / 13 / Syncline
28.963196 / -9.453790 / 8 / Anticline
21.107109 / -11.38850 / 25 / Dome
36.225487 / 44.8057 / 16 / Anticline
26.073478 / 65.972516 / 37 / Basin
27.896530 / 52.844625 / 6 / Syncline

LINKS TO RELATED SITES:

Wikipedia entry on Structural Geology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_geology

Wikipedia entry on Folds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fold_%28geology%29

Wikipedia entry on Faults: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geological_fault

Web Resources in Structural Geology: http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Geology/Structure_Resources/

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