2/24/2015

Plot Structure Contours on a Plane,

Given Its Strike and Dip
Structure contours are lines of equal elevation,
just like topographic contours, except they are
drawn on the surface of a geologic structure
instead of on the land surface. The simplest
contours are those on a planar
p structure like a
stratum, a fault, or a dike.
Structure contours on a plane are:
Always straight lines
Always parallel to the strike of the structure
Always parallel to each other
Always equally-spaced if the contour
interval is uniform

Equatorial
circle =
Small circles horizontal
(Look like LATITUDES) plane
Straight lines =
vertical planes

0 20 40 60 80 80 60 40 20 0

Great circles
(Look like
LONGITUDES) Dip
angles
Great circles
= inclined
planes

N
20

40

Small circles = Paths of inclined

lines around the N-S axis 60

80

W E

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Sterionet Lower hemisphere of a sphere

projection of 3-D projected onto a flat surface
structural data • a type of ‘3-dimensional protractor’
• allows analysis of structural data in 3-dimensions
• plot data on tracing paper overlaid on net

Two types of stereonets used

geology:

1. Schmidt Net
2. Wulff Net

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LINE

PLANE

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Intersecting
planes

Kinematic Analysis
Plane Failure
Kinematic analysis is a method
used to analyze the potential for
the variouss modes of rock Conditions for the Plane failure:
1. The joint plane and the hill
slope failures (plane, wedge, slope should dip in same
toppling failures), that occur due direction.
to the presence of unfavorably 2. The dipping of the joint should
oriented
i t d didiscontinuities
ti iti b lless th
be than th
the di
dip off th
the hill
slope.
3. The strike difference should be
between 20°.
4. The dip of the joint should be
more than internal friction angle.

Toppling Failure Wedge Failure

Conditions for the Toppling Conditions for the Wedge
failure: failure:
1. The joint plane and the hill 1. The wedge and the hill slope
slope should dip in opposite should dip in same direction.
direction. 2. The dipping of the wedge
2 The strike difference should
2. should
h ld b be lless th
than th
the di
dip off th
the
be between 20°. hill slope.
3. The dip of the joint should be 3. The strike difference should be
more than internal friction angle. between 20°.
4. The dip of the wedge should be
more than internal friction angle.