Description and analysis of 3D rock's structures and microstructures (Structural Geology).

•Microtectonic analysis involves the study of structures at microscopic scale (performed on thin sections) and mesoscopic scale performed on hand specimens and outcrops.
•Tectonic analysis considers structures at hectometric to kilometric scale. It is performed on maps and cross-sections. It leads to understand deformation in terms of processes (i.e. subduction, obduction, collision, extension etc.).
•Geotectonics or global tectonics analyses the relationship and interaction between lithospheric plates and the convective mantle. It makes use of geophysical methods in addition to structural and tectonics analyses.

Design of tectonic models (tectonics).

The purpose of these models is to explain the deformation history that led to the observed 3D "architecture" of a piece of lithosphere. No matter how tectonicists design these models (following hours of pure rational thinking or flashes of insight after a heavy night), tectonic models should always be:

•PHYSICALLY VALID: They must be obey the law of physics,
•TESTABLE: They must provide testable predictions,
•ROBUST: They must explain a large number of unrelated facts,
•LEAN: Hypothesis should be kept at a minimum compared to the amount of fact models explain.