Interpreting Geologic Sections

The field of Geology studies the various forms of matter that constitute the Earth. Cross sections and maps of specific areas can be analyzed to discover patterns and history of environmental events.

There are two basic tools for interpreting these sections:
1. Superposition - Generally sedimentary rocks are deposited one on top of the other.
2. Crosscutting relations - rock units are often cut across by faults that break the existing rocks, folds that bend them, and igneous intrusions that get squeezed into other rocks.

Here are examples of a fault:






Here are examples of folds and an intrusion: