THE PLUNGE

KEY CONCEPTS
Strike and dip: two measures used to fix the position of a plane or a line.

In geology: they determine the

position of the strata, levels and
geological formations.

Strike (or direction): it is the angle

formed by the line of intersection of
the (stratum) stratification plane
with a horizontal plane, respect to
the geographic north. It is measured
with the compass from zero (0°) to
three hundred sixty degrees (360°).

Dip (or maximum inclination) : it is the angle formed by the stratification plane(
stratum) with the horizontal plane, measured perpendicular to the strike. It’s measured
with a clinometer from zero (0°) to ninety (90°)

DESCRIPTION OF PLUNGE AND TREND

Any dipping plane can be thought of as containing a

large number of lines of varying plunge (Fig. 2.4). The
strike line is a non-plunging or horizontal line within a
dipping plane.
The line numbered 5 in is an example of a strike line; it
is not the only one but the other strike lines are all
parallel to it. If we think of the sloping roof of a house
as a dipping plane, the lines of the ridge and the eaves
are equivalent to strike lines. Plunge is used to describe the tilt of lines, the word dip
being reserved for planes. The
plunge fully expresses the three-
dimensional orientation of a line
and has two parts:
(a) the angle of plunge, and
(b) the plunge direction or trend.
Consider the plunging line on the
dipping plane to the right and an
imaginary vertical plane
containing the plunging line.
The plunge direction is the direction in which this vertical plane runs, and is the
direction towards which the line is tilted. The angle of plunge is the amount of tilt; it is
the angle, measured in the vertical plane, that the plunging line makes with the
horizontal. The angle of plunge of a horizontal line is 0° and the angle of plunge of a
vertical line is 90°.

For example, (1): Stretch marks: 217 / 34L of the plane: 148/74

How is a lineation measured with the Freiberger compass? The plate to measure (and
the compass) is located parallel as the lineation; the "body" of the compass of course
has a horizontal orientation. The reading is taken equal of a plane:

Red sector = red needle; black sector = black needle.

dir / mt L: The direction of inclination / manteo and an "L" of lineation. Normally, the
plane where the lineage is located is also measured.
With the Brunton type compass, the "American" concept is a bit more difficult, because
now we need to read a complete circle (lines mark in one direction downwards - the
other direction upwards are not used): The solution is the use of N .... and of S ..... as a
starting point. (with planes it was enough to use N ..., because the course is
bidirectional)

Stretch marks: S37W; 34SW (Lineation) of the N58E plane; 74SE

Lineation with Brunton:

1. Estimation of the direction of the lineage (trend)
Yes it is closer to the South, the first letter = S
If it is closer to the north, the first letter = N
2. Measuring with the compass the address:
the difference is taken towards S or towards N:
S ... E for address lines between S and this
S .... W for directional lines between S and west (w)
N ... E for address lines between N and this
N .... W for directional lines between N and west.

3. Then take the manteo or plunge with the clinometer Example: A lineage that goes
down to NNW with 15º (manteo): A needle marks 330º the other 150º; 330º is closer to
the NNW then this needle is used: N30W. The central point is "north", so the difference
between north (360º) and 330º is taken. Then the mantel is measured with the
clinometer "15": N30W; 15 ... the address is missing in letters: NW

EXAMPLES OF LINEATIONS:

 Tunnel
 Drilling
 Anchorage

LINEAMENTS