00464 - Geology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to practically apply the acquired knowledge and skills in Geological Sciences for a critical analysis of the natural landscape.

Specifically, students will:

• learn basic concepts about composition, structure and evolution of the Earth with a focus on the Lithosphere and the Crust and their geological generating processes;
• acquire theoretical and practical knowledge on the fundamental concepts and principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy;
• acquire basic knowledge on both geological risks and geological resources.

Course contents

Earth's interior, origin of Earth; Geologic time and absolute dating methods; Earth's magnetism; Lithospheric plates (Plate tectonics and kinematics); Hot spots; Igneous rocks (elements); Volcanic processes and products, volcanic risk; Degradation processes, sediment transport and deposition, depositional environments; Hydro-geological risk; Deposits, facies associations and stratigraphic successions; Relative dating methods; Chronostratigraphic chart; Isotope Stratigraphy; Palaeoclimatology and Quaternary record; Orogenetic belts, deformation processes and structures, metamorphic rocks (elements); Earthquakes and seismic risk; Circum-Mediterranean geology.

Laboratory activities:

• Analysis and recognition of the main types of sedimentary rocks
• Topographic and geological map reading
• References and Bibliography

Readings/Bibliography

Presentation slides and bibliographic material will be provided during the course.

Recommended books:

• SI FORMA SI DEFORMA SI MODELLA: come il territorio si modifica attraverso il tempo geologico (C. Venturini, 2010) - Geoworld e Comunità Montana della Carnia
• CAPIRE LA TERRA (J.P. Grotzinger & T. H. Jordan, 2016) - Zanichelli
• STORIA GEOLOGICA d'ITALIA gli ultimi 200 milioni di anni (A. Bosellini, 2005) - Zanichelli

Teaching methods

Lectures, laboratory activities (reading and soft interpretation of geologic maps and empirical analyses of sedimentary rocks).

Assessment methods

Oral examination including exercises about laboratory activities.

Teaching tools

LCD projector, Google Earth, geological thematic maps, geological samples.

Office hours

See the website of Veronica Rossi

See the website of Corrado Venturini

See the website of Corrado Venturini