Structural geology is the study of structures produced by deformation of rocks.  We will learn how to identify and interpret geologic structures, primarily those in crustal rocks deformed by the processes of fracture, slip, and flow. Topics covered include rock mechanical properties, stress and strain, brittle and ductile deformation, and plate tectonics.

This course will emphasize aspects of structural geology that are useful in the field, in professional settings, and for map interpretation and production. 

Tectonic systems involve feedbacks between deformational, thermal, depositional, and surface processes. Tectonics cause surface and rock uplift and basin subsidence; surface processes redistribute mass, connecting erosive landscapes to depositional landscapes, moving material from the source to the sink. Processes of melting, cooling, and exhumation create an evolving thermal environment for Earth materials. All these mechanisms are modulated by atmospheric and mantle processes. This course will emphasize the data and analyses used to investigate tectonic systems and work towards understanding how the different components interact.