Academic Year:
2023/24
26442 - Tectonics: Basins and Orogens
Teaching Plan Information
Academic year:
2023/24
Subject:
26442 - Tectonics: Basins and Orogens
Faculty / School:
100 - Facultad de Ciencias
Degree:
296 - Degree in Geology
588 - Degree in Geology
ECTS:
5.0
Year:
4
Semester:
Second semester
Subject type:
Optional
Module:
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1. General information
Approaches and objectives:
1- To provide knowledge about crustal deformation processes on a regional scale.
2- To interpret tectonic structures in terms of these processes.
3- To make cuts as correct and accurate as possible from the geometric point of view in any structural domain.
4- To teach and apply the basic techniques for the restitution of geological slices.
5- To incorporate geophysical data to perform deep cuts.
6- To provide knowledge of the fundamentals and basic techniques of analogical modelling of tectonic processes.
7- To show in the field the structural features of a basin and/or chain.
These approaches and objectives are aligned with these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda of United Nations: Goal 4: Quality education.
2. Learning results
Upon completion of this subject, the student will be able to:
- Know the processes by which crustal deformation occurs on a regional scale.
- Interpret the structures observed on a regional scale in terms of these processes.
- Perform geometrically correct geological cuts respecting the structural style of the area.
- Know and applies the basic techniques of restitution of geological sections.
- Know the fundamentals and basic techniques of analogical modelling of tectonic processes.
- Manage bibliography in Spanish and English on the evolution of orogens, basins, and intraplate deformation.
3. Syllabus
1- Convergence. Subduction.
2- Collision. The Himalayas.
3- Anatomy of an orogen. The alpine orogenic belt. Circum-Pacific mountain ranges.
4- The European Hercynian orogen. The Caledonian chain. Precambrian tectonics.
5- Geometry of dipping faults.
6- Sedimentation in thrust systems.
7- Compensated cuts.
8- Experimental tectonics.
9- Transforming and transcurrent faults. Transtension and transpression.
10- Rift zones. Aulacogens and passive margins. Saline tectonics.
11- Extensional tectonics. Geometry of normal fault systems.
12- Intraplate deformation. Intracontinental basins. Socket Uplifts.
13- Inversion tectonics.
14- Folds with schistosity. Overlapping folds. Migmatitic domes and plutons.
15- Recent tectonics. Neotectonics. Seismotectonics.
4. Academic activities
50 hours of face-to-face activities, organized in theoretical sessions, guided practices and field work. The students will have notes as a basis for learning, and must complete the information received in the classroom by consulting technical books and scientific articles.
The material necessary for the development of the classes will be available via Moodle.
The program offered to the student includes the following activities:
1- Master classes (15 hours)
2- Papers and Seminars (2 hours)
3- Practical sessions of geological slices in different structural domains (20 hours)
4- Practical work in the modelling laboratory (3 hours)
5- Field practice: Pyrenean traverse (10 hours)
5. Assessment system
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
1- Resolution of two questionnaires and oral presentation in the seminars (each one groups half of the topics), and reading and commentary of a scientific paper published in an international journal on the evolution of orogens, basins or intraplate deformation (35%)
2- Delivery of the practices carried out in class (geological cuts and report of the experiment) (45%).
3- Delivery of a field trip report, in which the data and observations taken in the field are presented (20%). The field attendance is mandatory.
GLOBAL ASSESSMENT
1- Theoretical exam on the concepts explained in class and worked on in the questionnaires and seminars, and reading and commentary on a short scientific article (e.g. "extended abstract") presented at an international congress on the evolution of orogens, basins or intraplate deformation.
2- Practical exam: realization of a geological section.
3- Delivery of the report of the field trip, in which the data and observations taken in the field are explained, or examination on aspects of the structure and evolution of the Pyrenean mountain range (if for justified reasons it has not been possible to attend the field trip).