GEL2130 – Structural geology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course gives a fundamental and thorough introduction to structures formed by brittle and ductile deformation. The structures will be discussed in terms of geometrical, kinematical, and mechanical analysis with emphasis on process understanding. Particular subjects that will be taught are: stereonet practice, stress and strain analysis, fractures and faults, folding, diapirism, shear zones, deformation mechanisms and rheology.
The material taught in the lectures will be used in exercises where we will
- practice stress, strain and stereonet analysis
- analyze real rock structures
- perform analogue experiments
- use a finite element model to simulate deforming rocks
A six day field work course in September is an integral part of this course. We will study rock structures in the field, quantify them, and determine how they may have formed. The collected datasets will be further analyzed in the lectures and exercises.
Learning outcome
Knowledge:
The students will
- understand how to quantify the geometry of rock structures
- understand how the geometry evolved during the development of rock structures (kinematics)
- understand the mechanics of the rock structure development
- understand the controlling micro and macro scale deformation mechanisms
- understand how temperature, pressure, stress, strain rate, and fluids influence the mechanical behavior of rocks
Skills:
The students will be able analyze rock structures. In particular they will be able to
- produce geological maps and profiles
- use the stereonet to plot, visualize, and analyse structural data
- to describe the structures and analyze their geometry
- infer the sequence of events
- infer the kinematic development
- infer the mechanical development
- infer the material behavior
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
-
Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2
And in addition one of these:
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
The following course must be taken before the field trip/excursion in GEL2130:
For students taking GEL2130 Autumn 2014 or later, to have GEL2130 included in your degree you must first pass the following HSE courses:
- MNHMS0015 – Introduction to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) (discontinued) OR HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment and HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment and HMS0507 – Fire Safety
- HMS0504 – Field Safety OR MNHMS0015FS – Introduction to Field Safety (discontinued)
For further information se website for transitional arrangements between old and new HSE courses.
Recommended previous knowledge
GEO1010 – Physical geography (discontinued), GEO1020 – Geological processes and materials (discontinued), GEO1030 – Winds, currents and climate (discontinued) eller G 105 / G 100
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with GEO2130 – Structural Geology
G130 6 credit points / G245 3 credit point / G 246 3 credit point
Teaching
Lectures, exercises, field work (5 days).
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet, are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Study administration, email address: studieinfo@geo.uio.no
To attend the field trip/excursion it is required that the following course is passed:
You will need to provide documentation that you have passed HMS0504 when you attend the field trip/excursion.
General information about excursions at the Dept. of Geosciences.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
Field reports count for 30% and final written exam (3 hours) counts for 70%. The field report and exam must be passed separately. At least 80% of the laboratory exercises must be approved in order to sit for final exam.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Exam attempts for this course are counted together with exam attempts in GEO2130 – Structural Geology. The combined upper limit is three attempts.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.