Introduction to Geology and Laboratory
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding Basic knowledge of Earth Sciences and the main processes operating on the surface and within the Earth. Ability to understand the elementary processes that will be deepened and implemented during the following years
Applying knowledge and understanding: Ability to translate the skills acquired in the reading and use of topographic and geological maps, and in the basic description of rocks.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Ability to translate the skills acquired in the reading and use of topographic and geological maps, and in the basic description of rocks.
Expected learning outcomes
Making judgements: Distinction between acquiring data in Earth Sciences and models-interpretations-theories; Evaluation of macroscopic characters of rocks; Understanding of topographic and simple geological maps.
Communication skills: Ability to describe and explain in writing the knowledge gained during the course both in terms of theory and exercises and in the field.
Learning skills: Ability to advancing knowledge in basic geological studies Ability to advance knowledge and processes in the context of subsequent fundamental geological studies.
Communication skills: Ability to describe and explain in writing the knowledge gained during the course both in terms of theory and exercises and in the field.
Learning skills: Ability to advancing knowledge in basic geological studies Ability to advance knowledge and processes in the context of subsequent fundamental geological studies.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
MODULO I (THEORY)
Building a Planet. The origin of our system of planets. Early Earth and the formation of a layered planet. Earth as a system of interacting components. Earth through geologic time.
The Earth System. Componente. Feedbacks. Equilibrium states. Perturbations and forcings. A quantitative approach.
Earth atmosphere and climate. Structure and composition of the atmosphere. Energy distribution and balance. Atmospheric circulation. Climatic zones. Climate natural variability. Introduction to paleoclimatology
Oceanography. Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the oceans., Oceanic circulation.
Exploring Earth's interior. Exploring the interior with seismic waves. Layering and composition of Earth's interior. Earth's internal heat and temperature. The three-dimentional structure of the mantle. Earth's magnetic field.
Plate tectonics. The discovery of plate tectonics. The mosaic of plates. Rates and history of plate motion. The grand reconstruction. Mantle convection: the engine of plate tectonics.
Rocks: records of geological processes. Principal genetic processes. Igneous rocks. Metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary rocks. The rock cycle.
Geological time scale. Chronology of the Earth system. Relative chronology. Radiometric dating. Absolute chronology. Geochronologic time scales (GPTS and ATS)
Folds, faults and other records of rock deformation. How rocks become deformed. How rocks fracture: joints and faults. How rocks fold.
Earth beneath the oceans. Basic differences in the geology of oceans and continents. Introduction to marine geology.
MODULO II
Topographic map reading: contour elevation lines; infrastructures; valley and ridge lines; drainage basin; slope dip; topographic profiles; interpolation of contour lines from elevation points.
Geologic boundary: dip azimuth and dip; construction of a plane boundary from dip azimuth and dip; determination of dip azimuth and dip from the trace of a plane boundary.
Geologic cross sections on simplified maps: plane and parallel surfaces; unconformities; symmetric and asymmetric folds; faults.
MODULO III - FIELDWORK
The purpose of the fieldwork is to read the geological landscape, coupling the evidence of the surface forms with the characteristics of the rocky substrate. The activities during fieldwork intend to stimulate the observation of nature, in a continuous passage of scale, from submillimetric to multi-kilometer, imagining its evolution over time and figuring out a process of characterization and study.
Building a Planet. The origin of our system of planets. Early Earth and the formation of a layered planet. Earth as a system of interacting components. Earth through geologic time.
The Earth System. Componente. Feedbacks. Equilibrium states. Perturbations and forcings. A quantitative approach.
Earth atmosphere and climate. Structure and composition of the atmosphere. Energy distribution and balance. Atmospheric circulation. Climatic zones. Climate natural variability. Introduction to paleoclimatology
Oceanography. Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the oceans., Oceanic circulation.
Exploring Earth's interior. Exploring the interior with seismic waves. Layering and composition of Earth's interior. Earth's internal heat and temperature. The three-dimentional structure of the mantle. Earth's magnetic field.
Plate tectonics. The discovery of plate tectonics. The mosaic of plates. Rates and history of plate motion. The grand reconstruction. Mantle convection: the engine of plate tectonics.
Rocks: records of geological processes. Principal genetic processes. Igneous rocks. Metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary rocks. The rock cycle.
Geological time scale. Chronology of the Earth system. Relative chronology. Radiometric dating. Absolute chronology. Geochronologic time scales (GPTS and ATS)
Folds, faults and other records of rock deformation. How rocks become deformed. How rocks fracture: joints and faults. How rocks fold.
Earth beneath the oceans. Basic differences in the geology of oceans and continents. Introduction to marine geology.
MODULO II
Topographic map reading: contour elevation lines; infrastructures; valley and ridge lines; drainage basin; slope dip; topographic profiles; interpolation of contour lines from elevation points.
Geologic boundary: dip azimuth and dip; construction of a plane boundary from dip azimuth and dip; determination of dip azimuth and dip from the trace of a plane boundary.
Geologic cross sections on simplified maps: plane and parallel surfaces; unconformities; symmetric and asymmetric folds; faults.
MODULO III - FIELDWORK
The purpose of the fieldwork is to read the geological landscape, coupling the evidence of the surface forms with the characteristics of the rocky substrate. The activities during fieldwork intend to stimulate the observation of nature, in a continuous passage of scale, from submillimetric to multi-kilometer, imagining its evolution over time and figuring out a process of characterization and study.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for the three modules.
To take the compulsory excursion test, the student must have attended the activity.
To take the compulsory excursion test, the student must have attended the activity.
Teaching methods
The course consists of 3 teaching modules:
Module I (theory) - 4 credits of FRONTAL LESSONS = 32 hours
Module II (cartography laboratory) - 2 cfu classroom and online EXERCISES = 24 hours: exercises on topographic and geological maps
Module III (excursions) - 1 cfu - field activity = 2 days
Geomorphological and geological observations; reading and exercises of topographic and geological maps; drawings and exercises using the field notebook
Module I (theory) - 4 credits of FRONTAL LESSONS = 32 hours
Module II (cartography laboratory) - 2 cfu classroom and online EXERCISES = 24 hours: exercises on topographic and geological maps
Module III (excursions) - 1 cfu - field activity = 2 days
Geomorphological and geological observations; reading and exercises of topographic and geological maps; drawings and exercises using the field notebook
Teaching Resources
MODULO I (THEORY)
* PPTs of all the lessons available on the ARIEL platform
* Registered online lessons
* textbook:
PRESS FRANK; JORDAN THOMAS H. UNDERSTANDING THE EARTH
THIRD ITALIAN EDITION CONDUCTED ON THE SEVENTH AMERICAN Edited by Elvidio Lupia Palmieri, Maurizio Parotto, Publisher: ZANICHELLI: 06/2016 Number of pages: 650, ISBN: 9788808821232
(Please note: the original American version can be consulted upon request to the teacher)
MODULO II - CARTOGRAPHY LABORATORY
* Text: L. Aruta & P. Marescalchi, Cartography, D. Flaccovio Editore
* Text: B. Simpson, Reading geological maps, D. Flaccovio Editore
* Didactic material distributed by the teacher
MODULE III - FIELD ACTIVITIES
Specific material prepared by the teachers, including topographic maps, geological maps and diagrams to be used during the excursions
* PPTs of all the lessons available on the ARIEL platform
* Registered online lessons
* textbook:
PRESS FRANK; JORDAN THOMAS H. UNDERSTANDING THE EARTH
THIRD ITALIAN EDITION CONDUCTED ON THE SEVENTH AMERICAN Edited by Elvidio Lupia Palmieri, Maurizio Parotto, Publisher: ZANICHELLI: 06/2016 Number of pages: 650, ISBN: 9788808821232
(Please note: the original American version can be consulted upon request to the teacher)
MODULO II - CARTOGRAPHY LABORATORY
* Text: L. Aruta & P. Marescalchi, Cartography, D. Flaccovio Editore
* Text: B. Simpson, Reading geological maps, D. Flaccovio Editore
* Didactic material distributed by the teacher
MODULE III - FIELD ACTIVITIES
Specific material prepared by the teachers, including topographic maps, geological maps and diagrams to be used during the excursions
Assessment methods and Criteria
Modalità di esame: Scritto.
L'esame prevede 2 prove distinte relative rispettivamente alla TEORIA e al LABORATORIO DI CARTOGRAFIA. Ciascuna prova prevede una valutazione (in 30simi): ciascuna delle due prove d'esame si intende superata se si ottiene una valutazione di almeno 18/30.
La validità della valutazione parziale di ciascuna prova è di 1 anno.
L'esame complessivo è superato quando per entrambe le prove (teoria e pratica) è stata ottenuta una valutazione di almeno 18/30. Inoltre, devono essere state fatte le escursioni obbligatorie che vengono valutate sulla base dei quaderno di campagna e di test specifico.
La valutazione finale corrisponde alla media delle singole valutazioni (teoria, laboratorio, escursioni)
L'esame prevede 2 prove distinte relative rispettivamente alla TEORIA e al LABORATORIO DI CARTOGRAFIA. Ciascuna prova prevede una valutazione (in 30simi): ciascuna delle due prove d'esame si intende superata se si ottiene una valutazione di almeno 18/30.
La validità della valutazione parziale di ciascuna prova è di 1 anno.
L'esame complessivo è superato quando per entrambe le prove (teoria e pratica) è stata ottenuta una valutazione di almeno 18/30. Inoltre, devono essere state fatte le escursioni obbligatorie che vengono valutate sulla base dei quaderno di campagna e di test specifico.
La valutazione finale corrisponde alla media delle singole valutazioni (teoria, laboratorio, escursioni)
GEO/01 - PALEONTOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY
GEO/03 - STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
GEO/07 - PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY
GEO/03 - STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
GEO/07 - PETROLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY
Field activity: 12 hours
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Shifts:
Professor:
Erba Elisabetta
Didattica Obbligatoria di Terreno
Professors:
Bollati Irene Maria, Erba Elisabetta, Poli Stefano, Zanoni DavideTurno I
Professor:
Zanoni DavideTurno II
Professor:
Zanoni DavideEducational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Upon appointment arranged through e-mail
Room 54 or 59, First Floor
Reception:
Monday, 12.30 - 13.30
Via Botticelli 23, Milano
Reception:
Ask for an appointment via email
Via Mangiagalli 34, 3rd floor