Strike and dip

This episode, the fifth in our Structural Geology course, explains strike and dip, essential measurements for describing the orientation of geological features. Building upon our understanding of structural geology, faults, folds, and joints, we will learn how strike and dip are measured and represented on maps. We will explore how these measurements help geologists understand the three-dimensional structure of rock units and interpret their deformational history. This episode provides a foundation for visualizing and analyzing geological structures.

Check your understanding

These are the same multiple-choice questions you will see in the Quiz section after you listen to the episode. Use them here to preview or review the answers.

What do strike and dip describe?

  1. The age of a rock unit
  2. The chemical composition of a rock
  3. The orientation of a geological feature
  4. The size of a geological feature

What is strike?

  1. The angle of inclination of a plane
  2. The direction of a horizontal line on an inclined plane
  3. The angle measured clockwise from north
  4. The angle measured perpendicular to the strike line

What is dip?

  1. The angle of inclination of a plane
  2. The direction of a horizontal line on an inclined plane
  3. The angle measured clockwise from north
  4. The angle measured parallel to the strike line

How is strike typically expressed?

  1. As an angle measured downward from the horizontal
  2. As an azimuth, measured clockwise from north
  3. As a percentage
  4. As a ratio

What instrument is used to measure strike and dip?

  1. Brunton compass
  2. GPS device
  3. Compass clinometer
  4. Tape measure

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