Contents i

GEOL 326

Cornell University

Introduction to Structural Geology

Spring 1999

by

Richard W. Allmendinger
Department of Geological Sciences
Snee Hall
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-1504 USA

rwa1@cornell.edu

R. W. Allmendinger © 1999

Economic Geo. _ JH
Contents ii

Contents

Lecture 1—Introduction, Scale, & Basic Terminology...............................................1

1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Levels of Structural Study............................................................................................................ 2
1.3 Types of Structural Study............................................................................................................. 2
1.4 Importance of Scale..................................................................................................................... 3
1.4.1 Scale Terms .................................................................................................................... 3
1.4.2 Scale Invariance, Fractals............................................................................................... 4

Lecture 2 —Coordinate Systems, etc....................................................................... 8

2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 8
2.2 Three types of physical entities.................................................................................................... 8
2.3 Coordinate Systems..................................................................................................................... 9
2.3.1 Spherical versus Cartesian Coordinate Systems..........................................................10
2.3.2 Right-handed and Left-handed Coordinate Systems.................................................... 10
2.3.3 Cartesian Coordinate Systems in Geology ................................................................... 11
2.4 Vectors.......................................................................................................................................12
2.4.1 Vectors vs. Axes ........................................................................................................... 12
2.4.2 Basic Properties of Vectors........................................................................................... 12
2.4.3 Geologic Features as Vectors....................................................................................... 14
2.4.4 Simple Vector Operations ............................................................................................. 17
2.4.5 Dot Product and Cross Product .................................................................................... 18

Lecture 3 — Descriptive Geometry: Seismic Reflection .......................................... 2 1

3.1 Echo Sounding........................................................................................................................... 21
3.2 Common Depth Point (CDP) Method......................................................................................... 23
3.3 Migration .................................................................................................................................... 25
3.4 Resolution of Seismic Reflection Data....................................................................................... 26
3.4.1 Vertical Resolution ........................................................................................................26
3.4.2 Horizontal Resolution .................................................................................................... 27
3.5 Diffractions................................................................................................................................. 28
3.6 Artifacts...................................................................................................................................... 29

Economic Geo. _ JH