THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Structural Geology (EASC09002)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryStructural Geology is concerned with characterising and understanding deformation of the lithosphere.
This comprehensive course aims to cover all relevant aspects of rock deformation from the driving forces of rock deformation to the emergence of small- to large scale structures across all crustal levels. It will relate to field areas the students have already visited and train how to recognise structures and interpret structural data in terms of the tectonic setting in which the deformation occurred. The interpretation aspect depends crucially on recognising deformation mechanisms that occur on different scales, and understanding how these processes are controlled (primarily) by pressure-temperature conditions within the lithosphere, and thus the rheology of the rocks at the time they were deformed. We will also be concerned with sub-surface structural extrapolation, quantifying the amount of deformation that has occurred, and understanding the growth of geological structures. The course finds an optional extension in the Kinlochleven structural mapping exercise in Semester 2.
Course description Week 1
Setting the Scene

Week 2
Stress

Week 3
Rock Deformation Processes 1

Week 4
Rock Deformation Processes 2

Week 5
Rheology

Week 6
Macroscopic Strain

Week 7
Folds

Week 8
Foliations, Lineations

Week 9
Strain Localisation Across the Crust 1

Week 10
Strain Localisation Across the Crust 2
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Global Tectonics and the Rock Cycle (EASC08020)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 58 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 30 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam: 70%, Course Work: 30 %, Practical Exam: 0%.
An average of the marks on four practicals will count towards the final marks.
Feedback Continuous feedback can be obtained during the weekly tutorials or during individual meetings in my student contact hours (Mon 2-3, Thu 4-5), foyer of Noreen and Kenneth Murray library.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Structural Geology2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Evaluate stress as a driving force of rock deformation
  2. Predict rock behaviour at a variety of boundary conditions
  3. Evaluate rock deformation on the microscale
  4. Recognise and describe deformation in rock hand specimens
  5. Analyse large-scale deformation structures and derive the tectonic history of an area
Reading List
There is no specific textbook for the course, most reasonably comprehensive textbooks cover the subject sufficiently. A number of textbooks will be highlighted in the first lecture. Additional reading material will be made available on LEARN.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information Lectures Mondays at 10:00-12:00, Weeks 1-11.
Laboratory session on Thursday at 09.00 - 10.00, Weeks 1-11.
Tutorial Thursdays at 10.00 - 11.00, Weeks 1-11.
KeywordsStructural_Geology,Rock deformation,Tectonics,Microstructures,Material Science
Contacts
Course organiserDr Florian Fusseis
Tel: (0131 6)50 6755
Email: florian.fusseis@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Casey Hollway
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: Casey.Hollway@ed.ac.uk
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