Basic Geology
Code: 101039Credits: 8
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Geology | FB | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Eduard Saura Parramon
- Email :
- eduard.saura@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
None
Objectives
Subject of basic training with contents coordinated with other subjects of the first course. It deals with the fundamental aspects of the different fields of study of geology with emphasis on the identification of the different types of geological record, both those related to the genesis of rocks, and those associated with their internal and external transformations. Its objective is to introduce clearly and rigorously the student in the different aspects and fields of geology, so that, upon finishing the course, the student will know the basic concepts that will serve him or her in the future throughout the course of the career.
Learning outcomes
- CM14 (Carry out a preliminary assessment of the potential for exploitation of geological resources in an area, considering their viability within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.) Carry out a preliminary assessment of the potential for exploitation of geological resources in an area, considering their viability within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- KM15 (Differentiate the functions and applications of the main geological disciplines (stratigraphy, petrology, palaeontology, tectonics, mineralogy, external geodynamics) and understand their relationships through the analysis of practical examples and real cases.) Differentiate the functions and applications of the main geological disciplines (stratigraphy, petrology, palaeontology, tectonics, mineralogy, external geodynamics) and understand their relationships through the analysis of practical examples and real cases.
- KM16 (Identify the main types of rocks that can be found on the surface and represent them using cartography.) Identify the main types of rocks that can be found on the surface and represent them using cartography.
- SM14 (Apply the basic principles of geology to reconstruct the natural history of an area based on its geological cartography.) Apply the basic principles of geology to reconstruct the natural history of an area based on its geological cartography.
Contents
GROUP 1: INTRODUCTION AND BASIC CONCEPTS
Introduction and objectives of geology. A vision of the Earth: Hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, solid earth. The origin of the planet. Formation of the layered structure of the Earth: layers defined by their composition and by their physical properties. Characteristics of the continents and ocean floor. The basic types of rocks.
GROUP 2: EXTERNAL PROCESSES OF THE EARTH. SEDIMENTARY ROCKS AND STRATIGRAPHIC AND SEDIMENTOLOGICAL RECORDS.
External processes of the Earth. Mechanical meteorization, chemical weathering. Soils and their formation factors: mother rock, weather, climate, topography, biosphere.
Sedimentary rocks: classification criteria. Main types of sedimentary rocks: detrital sedimentary rocks, sedimentary rocks of chemical origin. Classification of sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary environments. Sedimentary structures. Economic interest of sedimentary rocks.
GROUP 3: GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH
Surface water flows. Erosion, transport and deposit of sediments. Fluvial valleys and drainage networks. Floods and flood control.
Glaciers and glaciations. Forms created by glacial erosion. Causes of glaciations.
Deserts and winds: geological processes in arid climates. Erosion, transport and deposit of wind sediments. Wind deposits.
Coast lines. Wave characteristics. Erosion caused by waves. Characteristic and classification of the coasts.
GROUP 4: THE IGNEOUS ROCKS
The genesis of magmas: causes and context in which they are formed. Geotectonic context of igneous activity. Evolution and diversification of magmas.
Main Igneous rock forming minerals. Classification of igneous rocks: textural, compositional (mineralogical and chemical). Modal classification of volcanic and plutonic rocks.
Vulcanism: location of volcanoes inrelation to tectonic plates. Main volcanic structures and type of eruptions. Location of Tertiary and Quaternary volcanism in Europe.
Recent eruptions and weather.
Plutonic and subvolcanic rocks. Main plutonic structures. Relationship between plutonic and volcanic structures.
GROUP 5: METAMORPHISM AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Metamorphism. Definition, protolith and metamorphic rock. Metamorphism factors. Metamorphic sequences. Metamorphic textures, Minerals that form metamorphic rocks.
Common metamorphic rocks; foliated rocks vs. non-foliated rocks.
Type of metamorphism: regional, contact, etc. Metamorphic zonation. Metamorphism and genesis of magmas. Metamorphism and plate tectonics.
GROUP 6: THE PLATE TECTONICS
Main tectonic plates of the Earth. Plate limits.
Divergent plate boundaries: the ocean ridges and the expansion of the ocean floor. The fragmentation of the continents.
Convergent plate boundaries: ocean-ocean convergence, ocean-continent convergence, continent-continent convergence.
Transform plate boundaries.
Forces that drive tectonic plate movement.
Convection models plate-mantle.
GROUP 7: DEFORMATION OF THE ROCKS
Structural geology: study of terrestrial architecture.
Deformation: Stress types. Deformation: how rocks are deformed.
Mapping of geological structures. Stike and dip direction.
Folds: types of folds. Domes and basins. Growth strata.
Faults and fractures: normal faults, reverse faults and thrusts. Faults with horizontal displacement. Joints. Transform faults.
Salt tectonics: diapirs and other halokinetic structures. Minibasins and halokynetic strata.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory practices | 14 | 0.56 | KM16, SM14 |
| Lectures | 47 | 1.88 | CM14, KM15 |
| Autonomous activities | 122 | 4.88 | CM14, KM15, SM14 |
| Field work | 7 | 0.28 | KM16, SM14 |
The center of the learning process is the student's work. The student learns by working, being the teacher's mission to help him in this task (1) by supplying him with information and showing him the tools to achieve it and (2) directing his steps so that the learning process can be carried out effectively. In line with these ideas, and in accordance with the objectives of the subject, the development of the course is based on the following activities:
Master classes:
The student acquires the knowledge of the subject by attending master classes that are complemented with questions and simple exercises that are interspersed with the explanations. In this way an active participation of the student is pursued with the purpose that the class is not completely unidirectional.
Personal work:
The master classes will be complemented with a part of personal and autonomous work outside the classroom for which the students will be provided with didactic material that they will have to work autonomously. This part will include the proposal of different exercises that the students will have to deliver for their evaluation.
Cabinet practices:
They are interspersed within blocks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, and have as their objective that the students connect the explanations with the real geological configurations. Fundamentally it is about the recognition of rocks and structures and their classification, etc. The practices will be materialized with the creation of dossiers that should be presented at the end of each block to be evaluated.
This work approach is oriented to promote active learning and to develop critical reasoning and the ability to analyze and synthesize.
Field work:
This will be carried out in the area of Figaró-Cingles de Bertí. Before and during the exit the student will receive information and proposal of exercises about the area that he/she will have to compile in a notebook forits evaluation. Special emphasis will be placed on the importance of the field notebook as a basic work tool in which the different field observations need to be well georeferenced and documented.The dield notebook may be requested in whole or in part at the end of the exit, although the delivery of the totality for its qualification will be made after the field trip.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field work evaluation (notebook) | 13 % | 0 | 0 | KM16, SM14 |
| Final recovery test | depending on the recovered parts | 0 | 0 | CM14, KM15, KM16, SM14 |
| Test of each thematic group | 72 | 10 | 0.4 | KM15, SM14 |
| Practical laboratory / cabinet evaluation | 10 % | 0 | 0 | KM16, SM14 |
| Class exercices | 5% | 0 | 0 | CM14, SM14 |
- Assessment will be based on a weighted sum of the grades obtained in the four exams (72% of the total), which will be held at the end of each thematic block; the assessment of the laboratory or office-based practical dossier (10% of the total); the in-class individual work exercises (5% of the total); and the grade for the fieldwork component (13% of the total).
- To pass the course, students must obtain a minimum grade of 3.5 in each thematic block and an overall average above 5. The weight of each thematic block will be proportional to its weight within the overall course programme.
- The fieldwork grade (13% of the total) will be based on the submitted materials, as well as on each student’s attitude during field activities.
- During theory classes, some exercises will be proposed and completed in class, and must be submitted at the end of the session. The assessment of these exercises will account for 5% of the final grade. Failure to submit them will result in a deduction of 0.5 points from the final grade.
- Final exam: this will be mandatory for all students who do not have a grade in any of the thematic blocks (i.e. not submitted), for those who obtain a grade below 3.5 in any thematic block, and for those who do not achieve an overall average of 5. Students may choose to sit the parts they wish to improve.
- According to Faculty regulations, if a student has completed more than 35% of the assessment activities, they may no longer be recorded as “not submitted”.
- Failure to attend practical sessions and/or to submit the corresponding deliverables will be penalised with a deduction of 2 points.
- In the event of absence from a practical session or failure to submit an in-class exercise due to not attending the corresponding theory session, a valid justification must be provided.
Bibliography
Basic bibliography:
Ciencias de la Tierra 2013 (10th Edition) F.K. Lutgens, & E.J. Tarbuck. Pearson Educación. Prentice Hall. Hi ha un CD de la vuitena edición. Aquest llibre i Cds es troben a la Biblioteca de Ciències de la UAB.
Other useful books:
Exploring Geology 2008. S.J. Reynolds, J.K. Johnson,M.M. Kelly, P.M.Morin, P.M., and & C.M. Carter, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, Dubuque, Iowa.
Geology 2006 (4th Edition) S. Chernicoff & D. Whitney, Prentice Hall.
The Changing Earth: Exploring Geology and Evolution 2005, J. S. Monroe & R.Wicander Brooks/Cole Pub Co.
The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science 1999 (2nd Edition),B.J. Skinner, S.J. Porter, D.B. Botkin, John Wiley & Sons.
Physical Geology 1996 (7th Edition)1996, Ch.C Plummer, D. McGeary & D.Carlson McGraw-Hill.
Understanding Earth 1993 (3rd Edition) F. Press & R. Siever, W H Freeman.
The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences. Cambridge 1981, D.G. Smith (ed.), Univ. Press, London/New York.
Introducción a las Ciencias de la Tierra, 1980 Gass, I.G., Smith, P.H., Wilson, R.C.L., Ed. Reverté, Barcelona.
Of regional interest are:
Història Natural dels Països Catalans 1990, Folch, R. (Ed.). Enciclopedia Catalana, S. A. Barcelona. Volums de Geologia I i II
Mapa geològic de Catalunya (escala 1: 250000). Servei Geològic de Catalunya
Software
During the development of this course, the following applications may be used:
Googleearth
Field move Clino (Petroleum experts) - or any similar application with compass and clynometre function for cell phone and tablet.
Inkscape - or any other similar graphic design application.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PCAM) Field practices | 1 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PCAMs) Suport a les pràctiques de camp dirigides | 1 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 2 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PCAM) Field practices | 2 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PCAMs) Suport a les pràctiques de camp dirigides | 2 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 3 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PCAM) Field practices | 3 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |
| (PCAMs) Suport a les pràctiques de camp dirigides | 3 | Catalan | annual | morning-mixed |