2024

General Geology

Name: General Geology
Code: GEO12614L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Geology

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

In this training, students develop skills allowing them to understand the mais geological processes actives in our planet as well as the interaction between them. Thus they are able to understand the main Earth cycles developing at different tmporal and spatial scales.

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

Recognize Geology as a historical science with proper rhythms and different from what we are used. Known the inner zonings of our planet and their origins. Understand the Earth as a dynamic body from the past to the present, due to the present of several planetary cycles, involving changes of mater and energy. Understand the relationship between internal and external geodynamic processes. Understand and recognise the interactions between tectonic, rock and hydrological cycles.
Acquire basic tools of field Geology, as the use of the geological principles to interpret outcrops, the drawing of geological schemes and the interpretation of simple geological maps.
Understand that our Society depends of the geological resources and how its extensive use affects some of the geological cycles leading to strong imbalances that affect the way we live.

Contents

1. From the human to the geological time; from calendars to the chronostratigraphy
2. From the solar system origin to Earth compositional zoning; from minerals to rocks
3. From heat transfer to Earth physical zoning; solids, liquids and gases
4. From the atmospheric circulation to the hydrological cycle; a dynamic equilibrium
5. From the inner dynamics to plate tectonics; plate boundaries and related processes
6. From plate tectonics to Wilson cycles; a three-dimensional approach
7. From plate tectonic to the rock cycle; ... and the Portugal geology
8. From plate tectonics to the sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic environments; from processes to rock systematic
9. Basic techniques of field geology; an introduction
10. Fundamentals of geological mapping; a bi-dimensional representation of three-dimensional structures
11. From hydrological cycle to climate change; implications for society
12. From geological resources consumption to geological footprint; implications for society

Teaching Methods

The theoretical classes began with a 15 to 30 minutes of discussion in order to involve the students in the problems that will be addressed in an active way.
In the first part of the practical-laboratory classes the students will acquire competences in the description and classification of the main mineral and rocks by the direct contact with samples. This will be done in connection with the theoretical concepts in order that the rock systematic appears in the context of the geological processes that have originated them.
In the second part of the practical classes the students learn, not only to interpret topographical and geological maps by the resolution of practical exercises, but also some basic field geology concepts (e.g. the use of geological compass or the execution os geological schemes).
The evaluation includes two theoretical-practical tests (35+35% = 70% final grade) and the preparation and presentation of group work (30% final grade). Alternatively: Theoretical-practical