Stereonet Techniques

Ridho K. Wattimena
Department of Mining Engineering
Institut Teknologi Bandung

Plot a Plane Given its Strike and Dip

(072 / 24 SE)
1. Mark off the strike of the
plane on the circumference
of the stereonet. It's a good
idea to mark both ends of
the strike, and also sketch a
little strike and dip symbol
with the right orientation.
2. Rotate the overlay so that
the strike line is north-
south. Count in the dip
angle along the equator.
3. Trace the appropriate great
circle.
4. Return the overlay to its
upright position.

1
 Find the Strike and Dip of a Plane
Plotted on a Stereonet
1. Find the strike and dip of
the plotted plane.
2. Count off the strike. Note
that there are two possible
answers differing by 180
degrees.
3. Rotate the overlay so the
strike is north-south and
count in along the equator
to find the dip.
4. Final result.

Plot a Line Given its Trend and Plunge

(222 / 37)
1. Count off the trend around
the circumference of the
stereonet and mark it.
2. Rotate the overlay so the
trend lies along one of the
vertical great circles. It
does not matter which one.
3. Count in along the great
circle and plot the point at
the appropriate plunge.
4. Rotate the overlay to its
original position.

2
 Find the Trend and Plunge of a Line
Plotted on a Stereonet
1. Find the trend and plunge
of the plotted line.
2. Rotate the plotted point to
one of the vertical great
circles (it does not matter
which one). Draw a tick
mark to indicate the trend.
3. Count in along the great
circle to find the plunge.
4. Return the overlay to its
original orientation and
count off the trend.

Find the Intersection of Two Planes

(012 E / 60 ESE and 107 / 41 SSW)
1. Plot the two desired planes
as great circles.
2. Rotate the intersection of
the two great circles until it
lies on a vertical great circle
(it does not matter which
one). Make a tick mark to
mark the trend.
3. Count in along the vertical
great circle to find the
plunge.
4. Return the overlay to its
original orientation and
count off the trend.

3
 Find the Angle Between Two Lines
(124 / 40 and 038 / 50)
1. Plot the first line (red).
2. Plot the second line
(green).
3. Rotate the overlay so the
two points lie on a common
great circle (purple). Count
the degrees along the
circle.
4. Rotate the overlay to its
original position.

Find the Plane Containing Two Lines

(214 / 40 and 128 / 50)
1. Plot the first line (red).
2. Plot the second line
(green).
3. Rotate the overlay so the
two points lie on a
common great circle
(purple). Draw the great
circle and count the dip in
from the primitive circle.
4. Rotate the overlay to its
original position and
measure the strike.

4
 Plot the Pole to a Plane
(072 / 24 SE)
1. Mark the strike of the
plane and sketch a strike
and dip symbol.
2. Rotate the strike until it is
north-south. Count off the
dip of the plane. An
additional 90 degrees in
the same direction locates
the pole.
3. Mark the pole. The
corresponding great circle
is shown in light green.
4. Rotate the overlay to its
original position.

Rotate Points Around

a Vertical Axis
1. Rotate the point shown by
50 degrees clockwise.
2. Calculate the trend of the
rotated point (purple).
3. You can draw a radius
through the new trend,
then use a compass to
transfer the plunge (open
circle).
4. Alternatively, you can
rotate the new trend to a
vertical great circle, and
count off the plunge to
locate the rotated point
(open circle).

5
 Rotate Points Around
a Horizontal Axis
1. Rotate the points around
the purple horizontal axis
as shown.
2. Rotate the overlay so the
rotation axis is north-
south.
3. Count off the desired
rotation along the small
circles corresponding to
each point. Rotated points
are shown as open
squares.
4. Return the overlay to its
original position.