Welcome to "the Shear Zone" - a hub for educational videos on geology, developed by Rob Butler of the University of Aberdeen. The materials focus on the interpretation of the geometry and relationships found in and between rocks - topics embraced by the term "structural geology". This involves the study of rock deformation - describing and understanding how rocks are broken, folded and distorted. And this links through the scales, from grains to plates. But it also includes broader ideas on how rock formations are organised - which is fundamental to stratigraphic understanding, deducing earth history and the processes that have shaped it. You can find videos on the interpretation of geological maps, 2D seismic profiles of the subsurface alongside developing ideas on how deformation structures, sedimentary basins, mountain belts and tectonic plates work. Supporting materials (maps, images, course notes) will go up on the companion website: .