ESCI 271 - Structural Geology: Deformation of the Earth

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Structural geology explores the deformation of Earth’s crust caused by the movement of its tectonic plates and the resulting structures that are produced at scales ranging from the microscopic to the mountainous. It underpins the oil and gas industry and mining because fossil fuels and precious metals are commonly associated with folds and faults. It is also important in earthquake and landslide hazard prediction. Lab exercises emphasize the fundamentals of geologic mapping, how to use geometric principles to predict what lies in the subsurface from surface observations, and how rocks behave under varying conditions of stress. Many exercises occur in the field. Ms. Menking.

Prerequisite: ESCI 151 or permission of the instructor.

Satisfies the college requirement for quantitative reasoning.

Two 75-minute periods; one 4-hour laboratory/field period. An overnight weekend field trip may be required.