Glossary

Mean orientation, mean direction

Borehole image and dipmeter derived orientation data are drawn from distributions that repeat themselves around a sphere or circle. A measure of central tendency, as an average, of such distributions cannot be derived using normal arithmetic. With such oriented data, vector means are calculated from given populations using the vector components of each data point.

SWAN, A. R. H. and SANDILANDS, M. 1995. Introduction to Geological Data Analysis. Blackwell, Oxford, p466.

Search Glossary

About the glossary
This listing is not exhaustive or definitive, do not expect Oxford English Dictionary standards; it is aimed at those who need to understand basic principles and those that read reports on dipmeters and borehole images requiring some technical help to get the most from such documents.

We have attempted to make the descriptions and explanations generic, giving the glossary a wide application and appeal, with minimal, if any, commercial bias. If you spot any mistakes, omissions or any problems with the explanations, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will try to accommodate your comments.

Acknowledgements
This listing has been derived by Task Geoscientists. All external sources are fully acknowledged.