GEOLOGY WITH LABORATORYModule GEOLOGY
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: STEFANO CATALANOExpected Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course the student will achieve:
Knowledge and understanding of the essential characteristics, processes, and history of the Earth System.
Knowledge and understanding the spatial and temporal dimensions of geological processes and their effects on the planet.
Knowledge and understanding on observation of the environment.
Knowledge and understanding the natural hazards and their origins
Knowledge and understanding the cartography in the field of Earth Sciences (e.g., reading maps, geological mapping, drawing geological sections and columns).
with adequate communication and learning skills supported by making judgement and ability in applying knowledge and understanding:
- geological processes and their relation with the geodynamic contexts;
- the primary and the deformed geometries of rock bodies;
- criteria and methods in reconstructing 2D and 3D stratigraphic and structural data;
- regional geology;
- in using and interpreting geological maps;
- in constructing 2D geometries by using surface and subsurface data and drawing geological cross-sections.
Course Structure
The course consists of a series of lectures totaling 42 hours, during which theoretical concepts will be covered; these will be further developed through in-class exercises totaling 48 hours, designed to provide guided learning of the topics and reinforce skills.
An additional 24 hours of guided exercises will focus specifically on drawing geological profiles at different scales.
Required Prerequisites
Knowledge and skills acquired by attending the first year courses:
· Physical geology knowledge and skills
· knowledge of stratigraphic geology
Knowledge acquired from attending second year courses:
· Petrography with laboratory
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Topic 1: Review of the principles of stratigraphy and examples of their application in the reconstruction of the subsurface (introductory lecture, 3 hours; with exercises or, if necessary, activities to address knowledge gaps);
Topic 2: Sedimentary rocks: a record of surface geological processes
Topic 3: Sedimentation and tectonics; principles and criteria for interpreting stratigraphic sequences
Topic 4: Definition, geometry, and recognition of multiscale tectonic structures and their relationships with global tectonics and syn-tectonic sedimentation—introduction to geological maps
Topic 5: Reconstruction of 3D subsurface geometries using surface data and one- and two-dimensional subsurface data
Topic 6: Geological maps and the reconstruction of subsurface models
Series of guided practice sessions to reinforce the skills and competencies related to Topics 1–6 covered in the lectures.
Series of exercises (8 in-class sessions, 3 hours each) for creating geological profiles on geological maps at different scales
Textbook Information
1. E) R.J. Lisle Geological Structures and Maps - Ed. Elsevier
2. E) G. M. Bennison - An Introduction to Geological Structures and Maps - Edward Arnold Ed.
3. E) M. Tucker - Sedimentary Rocks in the Field - Wiley
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A review of the principles of stratigraphy and examples of their application in the reconstruction of the subsurface | power point presentation and exercises |
| 2 | tools of the geological investigation: rocks and stratigraphic sequence | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 3 | Geography and paleogeography: constraints from global tectonics | power point presentation and exercises |
| 4 | the sedimentary rocks: archive of geological processes | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 5 | rock components and geological meaning | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 6 | Classification of sedimentary rocks | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 7 | Global tectonics and sedimentary basin evolution | power point presentation and exercises |
| 8 | Allochemical rocks | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 9 | stratigraphic records of geological events | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 10 | Transition from pelagic to terrigenous sedimentary regime | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 11 | sedimentary cycles and tectonics | power point presentation and exercises |
| 12 | Geometry of unconformities | power point presentation and exercises |
| 13 | extensional tectonics and sedimentary basin | power point presentation and exercises |
| 14 | Normal faults: models and deformation | power point presentation and exercises |
| 15 | normal faulting and syn-tectonic sedimentation | power point presentation and exercises |
| 16 | post-rift deposition on passive margins | power point presentation and exercises |
| 17 | exercise on Sicily and southern Apennines | exercises |
| 18 | Tectonic inversion of passive margin and mountain building in Southern Apennines | power point presentation and exercises |
| 19 | Anatomy of orogens and paleogeography inheritances | power point presentation and exercises |
| 20 | Geological processes at convergent margins: subduction and collision tectonics | power point presentation and exercises |
| 21 | Exercise on Sicily orogen description and analyses | power point presentation and exercises |
| 22 | Thrust belt-Foreland systems: allochthonous units propagatione and syn-orogenic basins | power point presentation and exercises |
| 23 | Introduction to the geological maps | power point presentation and exercises |
| 24 | Classification of syn-orogenic basins | power point presentation and exercises |
| 25 | Terrigenous deposition in the collisional regime | power point presentation and exercises textbook 3 |
| 26 | Exercises on intepretation of geological profiles | power point presentation and exercises |
| 27 | Accretionary wedge features | power point presentation and exercises |
| 28 | Allochthonous units of southern Italy | power point presentation and exercises |
| 29 | Origin of Thrust systems | power point presentation and exercises |
| 30 | Geometry of thrust systems | power point presentation and exercises |
| 31 | thrust and fold systems | power point presentation and exercises |
| 32 | Excercises on thrust systems | power point presentation and exercises |
| 33 | duplexes within collision belt | power point presentation and exercises |
| 34 | Excercises of geological maps and profiles across southern Italy | power point presentation and exercises |
| 35 | folds and 3D and 2D geometrical features | power point presentation and exercises |
| 36 | fold mechanisms | power point presentation and exercises |
| 37 | fold classification | power point presentation and exercises |
| 38 | syn-sedimentary folding and unconformities | power point presentation and exercises |
| 39 | Excercises on recognizing and dating folds by use of geological maps | power point presentation and exercises |
| 40 | Faults: basic definition | power point presentation and exercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 41 | From 3D geometry to 2D visualization on profiles | power point presentation and exercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 42 | fault displacement vs stratigraphic separation | power point presentation and exercises |
| 43 | Analysis of fault kinematics | power point presentation and exercises |
| 44 | Fault rocks and their geological meaning | power point presentation and exercises |
| 45 | seismological fault model | power point presentation and exercises |
| 46 | Faulting and stress | power point presentation and exercises |
| 47 | Excercises on recognizing and characterizing faults by use of geological maps | power point presentation and exercises |
| 48 | Principles of stratimetry | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 49 | Stratigraphic logs and 3D geometry | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 50 | Stratigraphic successions on geological maps | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 51 | Lithological control on topography | power point presentation and exercises |
| 52 | Use and significance of strata attitude | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 53 | surfaces and axes orientation | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 54 | Real and apparent inclination and thickness of strata | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 55 | three points problem | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 56 | significance and use of the geological boundaries on maps | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 57 | Geological boundaries and topography | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 58 | reconstruction of geological sequences | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 59 | Geometry of geological boundaries and strata attitude | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 60 | Structural contours and 3D geometry | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 61 | Excercises of geological boundary analysis | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 62 | Method to reconstruct geological profiles | power point presentation and excercises. textbook 1 and 2 |
| 63 | cycle of eight classroom exercises on reconstructing geological profiles | power point presentation and exercises |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Result and corresponding grade:
Barely Passing to Passing: Knowledge not supported by a satisfactory understanding of the topics (18–19)
Fair: Knowledge and understanding of the topics not supported by adequate application skills (20–24)
Good: Knowledge and understanding of the topics, supported by adequate application skills and the ability to present ideas (25–27)
Very good: extensive knowledge and understanding of the topics, supported by excellent ability to apply and explain them (28–29)
Excellent: thorough knowledge and understanding of the topics, supported by remarkable ability to apply and explain them (30)
with possible mention of honors in cases of particular distinction
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
he questions will cover topics found in the geological maps that will be used for the exam and will refer to the information provided in the legend and the geometries shown on the maps. Supporting instructional materials illustrating the PowerPoint presentations used during lectures and classroom exercises are available to assist students in their responses