GEOLOGY WITH LABORATORY

• Understanding geological processes and their relation with the geodynamic contexts;
• Understanding the primary and the deformed geometries of rock bodies;
• Understanding criteria and methods in reconstructing 2D and 3D stratigraphic and structural data;
• Basic Knowledge of regional geology;
• Competence in using and interpreting geological maps;
• Ability in constructing 2D geometries by using surface and subsurface data and drawing geological cross-sections.

The course is divided into 12 topics, each covered by lectures and practical activities, spread over two separate modules for a total of 6 credits (42 hours) of lectures and 6 credits (72 hours) of practical activities.

The lectures, each lasting 3 hours, may be entirely dedicated to lectures or practical activities, or be a mixture of introductory lectures followed by practical activities related to the topics just covered. Details are specified in the course schedule section.

At the end of the course, there will be tutoring activities (optional but strongly recommended) to prepare for the exam, which will be scheduled for the first and second exam sessions. 

Information for students with disabilities and/or SLDs

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.

You can also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLDs) reference teacher of our Department, Prof. Giorgio De Guidi.

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

MODULE 1: READING AND INTERPRETING GEOLOGICAL DATA FROM THE SURFACE AND SUBSOIL: RECONSTRUCTION OF BASIC SUBSOIL STRUCTURES (21 hours of lectures; 30 hours of practical activities)

Classroom activities

Topic 1: review of the principles of stratigraphy and examples of application in the reconstruction of a subsurface (introductory lesson 3 hours; with exercises or activities to fill any gaps in knowledge) 

Topic 2: reconstruction of 3D subsurface geometries using surface data and one- and two-dimensional subsurface data (theory 3 hours; practical activities 3 hours) 

Topic 3: 2D representations of the subsurface and relationships with 3D reality (theory 3 hours; practical activities 3 hours)

Topic 4: Introduction to reading geological maps: geological boundaries and their interpretation (theory 4 hours; practical activities 8 hours)

Topic 5: Continuous sequences and geometric constraints in subsurface reconstruction (theory 3; practical activities 3)

Topic 6: Discordances (theory 3; practical activities 3)

Topic 7: Subsurface geometries and isochronous surfaces and their 2D representation (time lines) (theory 2; practical activities 4).

Topic 8: Execution of elementary profiles (practical activities 6)

MODULE 2: CRITERIA AND TOOLS FOR GEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS (21 hours of lectures; 42 hours of practical activities)

Topic 9: Sedimentary rocks: an archive of surface geological processes (theory 6; practical activities 6).

Topic 10: Sedimentation and tectonics, principles and criteria for interpreting stratigraphic sequences (theory 4; practical activities 4).

Topic 11: Definition, geometry, and recognition of multiscale tectonic structures and their relationship with global tectonics (theory 9; practical activities 8).

Topic 12: elements of regional geology of the central Mediterranean, approach to geological mapping of Sicily and the southern Apennines with a series of exercises in reading geological maps and executing geological profiles (theory 2; practical activities 24).

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 

The valutation is based on results of a pratical test on drawing a geological profile and of an oral examination on all the objects of the course

The exam, among others, consists of at least questions on the following arguments:

tectonics (faults and/or folds)

classification of sedimentary rocks

ability on using and interpreting geological maps

The exam could also include the resolution of basics geological problems, among those object of the practical activities of the course

Questions for the oral exam are selected with the participation of all students in attendance during the final class or in a specially organized meeting and are published on the STUDIUM platform. These questions constitute the minimum cultural knowledge required to pass the exam.

The exam will also include additional questions on related topics in order to determine the merit assessment of the oral exam.