GeologicFeatureRelation

The GeologicFeatureRelation class is a concrete subtype of the abstract GeologicRelation class that is used to define relationships between geologic features, ie. structure-structure, unit-unit, and structure-unit relationships. Relationships are always binary and directional. There is always a single source and a single target. The relationship is always defined from the perspective of the Source and is generally an active verb. Example: a Source may point to an intrusive igneous rock body. In this case, the Target would point to the appropriate host rock body and the relationship attribute would be 'intrudes'. Other appropriate relationship attributes might include: overlies, offsets, crosscuts, folds, etc. Two or more GeologicFeatures are associated in a GeologicFeatureRelation; each has a role in the relationship. Examples of geological roles include "overlies", "is overlain by", "is younger", "is older", "intrudes", "is intruded by", and so forth. In a relationship where an igneous unit intrudes a sedimentary unit, the geological relationship is "intrudes", the intruded sedimentary unit has the role "host", and the igneous unit has the role "intrusion".