Time Table 2-1 Regular and 1st year Supply.

Lab External Dates: 2-1(PTME)

Lab External Dates:

8th November,2012(Thursday)
I.C. Engines/E.E. Lab 
9th November, 2012(Friday)
Surveying/Geology Lab

Topographic Profile

Topographic Profile(examples)

Example 1:



Example 2:

Example 3:



Example 4:

Structure contour mapping

Structure contour mapping (20 pts.):

• know the definition of a structure contour.
• be able to hand contour data.
• be able to calculate surface traits (e.g. local strike and dip) from structure contours.
• construct map pattern of a contact from structure and topographic contours.
• be able to use Surfer (or equivalent software) to contour data.
• be able to interpret the structure contours geologically.

Structure contour maps are basically the same as topographic maps, where the surface being mapped is some geologic surface. Geologic surfaces commonly mapped in this way are:

• a stratigraphic horizon.
• a fault surface.
• top of the groundwater table.
• a seismic reflection surface.

There are some differences with standard topographic maps. Your surface does not have to be continuous everywhere, but can be truncated. For example the surface created by the top of a sill can be truncated by a fault.
You can also contour and 'map' other features than a physical surface. In this case the z axis instead of being elevation can be any physical/chemical parameter. For example, you can contour geophysical parameters such as the acceleration of gravity, or the strength of a magnetic field. When working with contaminant plumes the z parameter is the concentration of some contaminant. Isopach maps are where you are contouring the thickness of some unit.
When contouring you are assuming that for some x,y area the z values form a smooth continous surface.

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Structure contours of a plane:

• straight lines with a trend parallel to the strike of the plane.
• lines evenly spaced with spacing distance that is a function of the dip.
• from strike and dip can construct the structure contours if you know the x,y,z position of one point, or can calculate strike and dip if giving the structure contours.
• Powerpoint presentation that goes through the mechanics of working with structure contours on a plane.

Trig functions for a right triangle:

• tan (angle) = opposite / adjacent.
• sin (angle) = opposite / hypotenuse.
• cos (angle = adjacent / hypotenuse.
• These are amazingly useful - commit them to memory!
• distance between contour strike lines = contour interval / tan of the dip angle.

Exercise 1: Use the structure contour map below to answer the following questions.
a) The contours shown are on a fault surface and the numbers are meters above sea level. What is the strike of the fault (you will need a protractor to answer this)?
b) What direction does the fault dip in?
c) What is the dip angle? You will need to measure the spacing between the strike lines and then use the appropriate trig function above to compute the dip amount. Remember to measure the distance between the strike lines in a direction perpendicular to the strike lines.
d) The center of the star marks a point on the top of a stratigraphic formation. This planar surface is oriented N20E - 40SE. Draw and label a strike line so that the strike line truncates against the 300 m struccture contour for the fault.
e) Compute the map distance between strike lines with a 100 m contour interval for the stratigraphic formation top using the appropriate trig function above.
f) Draw the 500, 400, 200 and 100 structure contour for the stratigraphic formation top truncating them against the equivalent fault structure contour.
g) Draw and label the cut-off line, the line formed by the truncation of the stratigraphic formation top surface against the fault surface.

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Relationships between structure contours for a planar surface, a topographic surface and the map expression on the map of the planar surface.
You saw in the above exercise how one can map the line created by the intersection of two surfaces. You basically connect the points created by the intersection of the contours of equal elevation of the two respective surfaces to create what the map pattern should be. You of course can do the opposite, connect the points where the line representing the map expression crosses the same contour to estimate the structure contour line at the elevation of the contour.
Exercise 2: Use the map diagram below to complete the following. The thicker dotted line represents topographic contour lines, the thinner continuous line represent the same fault surface as depicted above, and the red (grey in b&w) represents the map expression of the fault surface.
a) A second fault surface exists exactly 100 meters elevation above the one depicted below. Draw its map expression.
b) A horizontal bed is cut by these faults. In the footwall of the lowest fault it is at an elevation of 250 m. In the footwall of the higher fault it is at an elevation of 350 m, and in the hanging wall of the higher fault it is at 450 m elevation. Draw in the map expression of the horizontal bed as it is cut by these two faults. You will need to interpolate between the given contour lines. Remember that the footwall is the block beneath a dipping fault, and the hanging wall is that above.

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Hand contouring point x,y,z data.
While computer programs conduct this type of analysis readily, it is useful to hand contour data also. In some cases it can be argued that an experienced geologist might produce a better contour map of a surface than the computer does because they can use their expert knowledge of how that type of geologic surface behaves.
When contouring you will first need to pick a likely contour interval. You want the smallest contour interval possible without overinterpreting the data (producing false accuracy). A general rule of thumb is that if you commonly have several contours passing between two known control points then your interval is too small. You could think of some calculations on the data set that can suggest a good interval (e.g. histogram of neighbor differences). Too large of a contour interval will lead to an oversimplified interpretation.
Use your geologic knowledge to guide your contour construction.
Produce the simplest interpretation (in this case the simplest surface possible). Don't over interpret so that surface features are indicated which could exist, but that the data doesn't constrain to exist.
The contour map product is an interpretation since interpolation and significant discretion of exactly where you draw the lines can exist. What are some rules of interpolation between two constraining control points? A simple approach is to position the contour proportionally. If the control points are at 60 and 30 units, then the 50 unit contour interval should be 2/3rds the way along a line as your travel from the 30 to the 60 point. Other better rules of extrapolation exist.
Where should you start contouring? Where you start can make a difference, since you tend to use the existing contours as a guide to help you draw the contours under construction. One suggestion is to start where the surface is best constrained, where you have the maximum density of points, and then to work to areas where the surface is less constrained. This usually means starting in the middle of the map and in the middle range of the contour elevations being constructed.
Exercise 3: Below is a map of drill hole data, showing the elevation in feet above sea level of the Tarkio limestone. This is in the area of the Humboldt fault zone. Hand contour the data, also interpreting where you think the faults may lie. There will be a lot of interpretation/discretion involved in how this map looks. Make sure your contours and any faults are well labeled 

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Computer contouring:
Computer contouring and visualization of the surfaces created is a marvelous tool. However, don't let it be a black box, magical sort of endeavor. You should understand at some level how the computer is generating that surface. There are different ways and the results can be quite different. For those of you who took geodata you can review, or for those of you who want to learn more about how the computer contours data, you can read material at the relevant geodata lecture notes.
Exercise 3: Below is x,y, z data in feet for the area you hand contoured above.
a) Enter the data into a software package that will contour the data and produce a contour map. If you are using Surface 3 on a Mac, then save this as comma delimited text. Surfer can open it up as an Excel sheet.
b) Compare the computer generated map with your hand contoured map. What is the difference?
c) Generate a 3-D diagram that shows the surface from a instructive vantage point.
d) Describe what can you conclude about any fault in this area?

1884.056	16237.98792	1080
3104.712	15707.33472	1075
2573.992	14115.37512	1090
6819.752	19687.23372	1003
5492.952	18015.67614	1054
8040.408	18201.40476	1010
5201.056	16874.77176	1070
7881.192	17272.76166	1019
9552.96	17352.35964	904
8305.768	16609.44516	1036
5572.56	16237.98792	1074
5890.992	15070.55088	1078
13002.64	20085.22362	681
12684.208	18387.13338	656
11914.664	17272.76166	672
10985.904	16848.2391	598
15656.24	17511.5556	665
12896.496	15442.00812	694
10959.368	14672.56098	738
10879.76	13664.3199	902
11543.16	13160.19936	788
14037.544	13266.33	703
12949.568	12205.0236	693
15470.488	12337.6869	705
17460.688	18201.40476	655
16929.968	15839.99802	659
16001.208	14619.49566	689
18071.016	14486.83236	666
16956.504	12682.61148	708
11967.736	8941.50642	690
10879.76	7747.53672	700
10614.4	7137.28554	763
10295.968	11753.96838	910
7668.904	11833.56636	1060
5201.056	11860.09902	1108
4670.336	6341.30574	1108
7695.44	6447.43638	1080
5147.984	1406.23098	1070
9367.208	2573.66802	1072
10534.792	5810.65254	891
10694.008	3714.5724	1002
13108.784	1645.02492	977
12233.096	769.44714	997
11967.736	557.18586	1002
15284.736	928.6431	925
15815.456	2149.14546	907
14939.768	4643.2155	720
14886.696	5810.65254	703
17726.048	6367.8384	683