Structural geology is the study of how rocks deform and the processes that shape the Earth's crust and lithosphere. It is a fundamental discipline in geology, with applications in many fields such as petroleum and groundwater exploration, mineral and ore deposits, geothermal energy, natural hazards, and geodynamics. Structural geology also helps us understand the evolution of mountain ranges, continents, and oceans, as well as the origin and distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and faults.
One of the most comprehensive and up-to-date textbooks on structural geology is Structural Geology by Haakon Fossen, a professor of geology at the University of Bergen, Norway. The book was first published in 2010 and has been revised and updated in a second edition in 2016. The book is lavishly illustrated in color, with over 500 figures and photos that showcase the diversity and beauty of structural features in rocks. The book also provides unique links to industry applications in the upper crust, such as petroleum and groundwater geology, which highlight the importance of structural geology in exploration and exploitation of natural resources.
The book covers a wide range of topics, from the basic principles of deformation, strain, stress, and rheology, to the detailed description and analysis of fractures, faults, folds, foliations, lineations, boudinage, shear zones, and mylonites. The book also discusses the different tectonic regimes that produce these structures, such as contractional, extensional, strike-slip, transpression, transtension, and salt tectonics. The book also introduces the methods and techniques of structural analysis, such as spherical projections, kinematics, paleostress, balancing and restoration, and numerical modeling. The book also provides a glimpse of the larger picture of plate tectonics and geodynamics that drive the deformation of the Earth's crust.
The book is designed for undergraduate students who want to learn the basic concepts and methods of structural geology. The book is also suitable for graduate students and researchers who want to refresh their knowledge or explore new topics in structural geology. The book is accompanied by a website that contains animated e-learning modules to complement the book chapters, downloadable copies of all figures and photos from the book (for instructors only), exercises and solution sets (for instructors only), an online version of the glossary, and links to additional resources.
The book is widely praised by students and instructors alike for its clarity, rigor, relevance, and attractiveness. The book has received several awards and recognitions, such as the 2011 Mary B. Ansari Best Reference Work Award from the Geoscience Information Society, the 2012 PROSE Award for Earth Science from the Association of American Publishers, and the 2017 Outstanding Educator Award from the Geological Society of America's Structural Geology & Tectonics Division. The book has also been translated into several languages, such as Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish, Persian, and Arabic.
If you are interested in learning more about structural geology or improving your skills in this field, you may want to get a copy of this book. However, if you are looking for a free download of the PDF version of this book, you may be disappointed. The book is protected by copyright laws and is not legally available for free download on any website. However, you can access some parts of the book online through Google Books or Cambridge Core. You can also request a copy from your library or purchase one from online or offline retailers.
Structural geology is a fascinating subject that reveals the secrets of how our planet works and changes over time. By reading this book by Haakon Fossen, you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this field.