Chapter 8. Geological Structures
Exercises on Geological Structures Part 2: Folds, Faults, and Unconformities
Adapted by Karla Panchuk, Joyce M. McBeth, & Lyndsay R. Hauber (2018) University of Saskatchewan from Deline B, Harris R & Tefend K. (2015) “Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology”. First Edition. Chapter 12 “Crustal Deformation” by Randa Harris and Bradley Deline, CC BY-SA 4.0. View source. Last edited: 18 Oct 2020
In Part 2 of geological structures, students will learn how to interpret more complex geological structures generated by folding and faulting.
Name: _______________
NSID and student number: ____________
Date and lab section time: _____________
TAs’ names: _______________ _______________
Please hand in this lab to your TAs at the end of the lab period.
This lab will take the full amount of lab time to complete. This lab and the second geological structures lab will be on the lab final and students often struggle with this material. Read the lab and overview section online in advance so you can make best use of your time in lab.
8-E3 EXERCISE – GOOGLE EARTH
This exercise is part of your grade for this lab. Open Google Earth or Google Maps and navigate to the location 75°50’18.91″N 101°18’55.83″W. This is a view of part of Bathurst Island, Nunavut, Canada. If you are using Google Maps ensure you have satellite data turned on. Zoom out to about 75 km altitude (45 miles). Note that the landscape is fairly flat in this region, there is only about 400 m of relief (elevations are between 0 m and 400 m). Refer to the figure below (Figure 8-E7) along with Google Earth or Google Maps to answer the following questions.
- (2 pts) Describe the patterns formed by the layers of rock exposed in this image. What do these patterns tell you about the geologic structure(s) formed by the rocks in this area?
- (1 pt) Note the relative ages of the rocks presented in Figure 8-E7. Given this information, what kind of structure do you think is found in the red boxed area of the satellite image?
- (2 pts) Sketch a rough cross-section of your interpretation of the geology in Figure 8-E7, between points X and Y (X-Y).
- (1 pt) Is there data missing from the map that would help you improve the accuracy of your interpretation? If so, what data would help you to understand the geology better?
8-E4 EXERCISES – BLOCK DIAGRAMS
Practice exercises: your TA will walk you through this exercise to help you learn how to interpret block diagrams. Fill in the missing information on the block diagrams below. A key is provided at the end of this lab document for you to check your work. For each diagram, draw in the geological contacts on each side of the block. Add strike and dip symbols, and other symbols to document geologic features (like direction of movement on faults). Also write the name of the geological feature next to each diagram. Presume that the geologic units have not been overturned (i.e., they are not flipped upside down). Note: the blue lines at the t