31426 - Geology T

Learning outcomes

Providing bases for geological corps knowledge and composing  rocks. Reading and interpretation of geological papers.

Course contents

Terrestrial globe. Origin of solar system. Earth evolution. Earth differentiation. Chemical composition. Earth form. Orientation.

Seismology. Earth quakes. Seismographs. Magnitude and Intensity. Physical properties and rocks behaviour. Types of seismic waves. Epicentres location and their disposition in Italy. Distribution of seismic waves velocity. Internal structure of Earth.

Physical characteristics of Earth. Physical properties. Isostasy. Internal heat of Earth. Heat flow. Heat transport.

Minerals and magmas. Rocks minerals. Properties and methods of study. Silicates. Minerals of terrestrial crust. Rocks. Magmas. Bowen series. Magmatic differentiation. Solidification times.

Igneous rocks. Textures. Nomenclature standards. Modal analyses and classification.

Sedimentary rocks. Lithification. Classification. Sedimentary rocks: clastic, chemical and organogenic. Hydrocarbons. Limestone classification of marine origin. Main sedimentary structures. Postdepositional sedimentary structures. Formation environments. Sedimentation velocity. Tables.

Metamorphic rock.  Metamorphism types. Structures and textures. Lineations. Foliation. Cleavage, slaty cleavage. Schistosity, Isotropic or massive texture. Classification of metamorphic rocks. Schistose and not schistose (granoblastic) rocks. Isograds and metamorphic zoning. Index minerals, metamorphic degree and metamorphic facies. Anatexis, magma origin. Rocks cycle.

Volcans and Plutons. Volcanism. Products of volcanic activity. Volcanic gas. Lavas. Pyroclasts. Volcano structures and shapes. Central and linear eruptions. Plutons.

Morphology. Rocks degradation. Physical degradation, chemical and organic modification. Soil. Earth surface modelling, fluvial and lacustrine environments. Karstic morphology, lakes evolution, glacial erosion, Aeolian transport, transition environments.

Magnetism. Rocks magnetization. Terrestrial magnetic field. Paleomagnetism. Reversal time scale geomagnetism. Paleomagnetism and continental drift. Origin of terrestrial magnetism.

Stratigraphy. Lithostratigraphic units. Biostratigraphic units. Other stratigraphic units. Stratigraphic discontinuity. Cyclic and sequential Stratigraphy.

Geologic Chronology. Relative chronology. Absolute chronology. Radiometric dating.

Italian and global evolution. From 4.6 to 3.8 Ga. Precambrian (3.8 – 2.5 Ga). Archeozoic, life appearance. Proterozoic (2.5 – 0.54 Ga). Paleozoic (540 – 250 Ma), Cambrian, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian. Geologic events. Mesozoic (250 – 65 Ma), Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous. Geologic events. Cenozoic (65 – 0 Ma), Tertiary, Palaeogene (Palaeocene, Eocene, Oligocene), Neocene (Miocene, Pliocene). Geologic events of Tertiary. Quaternary, Pleistocene, Olocene. Glaciations.  

Tectonics. Rheology, stresses and deformations, rocks deformations. Structures, Rigid structural elements, faults, faults types, faults associations, cinematic indicators,. Folds, geometrical aspects, gravity deformations, sedimentary folds, dislocations of rocky mass, over thrusts, continental drift.

Plates tectonics. Oceanic crust spread, study methods. Middle oceanic ridge. Plates tectonics, plates movements, seismic zones, plates margins, continental margins, continents, oceanic basins and lithologic associations, plates convergences, continental and oceanic plates, continental plates, Alpine chain, Apenninic chain.

Geologicmaps.Different strata orientation. Horizontal and vertical surfaces. Synclines and anticlines. Faults and over thrusts. Stratigraphic discontinuity. Lateral terminations of formations. Geological sections.

Practicals. Rocky samples knowledge and lecture of geologic maps, in laboratory. At field, knowledge of geological structures.

Readings/Bibliography

 Notes supplied by teacher at lecture hall.

Casati P., 2004. Scienze della Terra, Vol. I. Elementi di Geologia Generale. Città Studi. Edizioni/UTET, Torino.

Press F. e Siever R. et al., 2006. Capire la Terra. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Other lectures

Trevisan L. e Giglia G., 1978. Introduzione alla Geologia. Pacini Editore. Pisa.

Accordi B. e Lupia Palmieri E., 1973. Il Globo Terrestre e la sua evoluzione. Zanichelli. Bologna.

Morrison P. e P., 1976. Potenze di dieci. Zanichelli, Bologna.

Teaching methods

Oral checking about themes set at lecture hall, and practical about rocks recognition and geological maps lectures.

Assessment methods

Oral checking about themes set at lecture hall, and practical about rocks recognition and geological maps lectures.

Teaching tools

Theory lessons at lecture hall and practice at laboratory and, possibly, in field.

Office hours

See the website of Pietro Curzi