504418 - INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY

courses

ID:

504418

Duration (hours):

62

CFU:

SSD:

GEOLOGIA STRATIGRAFICA E SEDIMENTOLOGICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (01/10/2025 - 10/01/2026)

Course Objectives

As a first class of Geology, this teaching aims at providing the basis to understanding the Rock’s cycle, the genetic processes and environments of the main rock types (sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic). The laboratory exercises point to the practise with identification and description of rock samples and to the drawing of basic stratigraphic sections. This class also provides the fundamentals of the main concepts of the Geological Sciences. Another important goal of the course is the introduction to the entire degree course, showing how the different classes of Earth sciences are actually peculiar aspects of the same composite system, the planet Earth and how the rocky successions are the product of the interaction through time of its components. Finally, another important goal is to show what are the applications of Earth sciences and therefore the role of the geologist in the study, monitoring and management of the environments in a view of environmental sustainability.

Course Prerequisites

No specific prerequisites are required, because the class is an introduction to the entire degree course. The purpose of this teaching is: to create a cultural geological background for students that never studied Earth sciences; to motivate students to study Geology.

Teaching Methods

Lectures on the different topics scheduled in order to introduce students to Earth sciences and give them the basics to approach the different disciplines; practice on macroscopic rock samples, stratigraphic sections and field excursions aimed at introducing students to observe the outcrops and textural characteristics of the rocks, with exercises to detect the position of the layers. The practical part of the course and in particular the field trips aims to invite students to observe the characteristics of rocks, rocky successions and the landscape to increasing the comprehention of the complexity of the system that will be the object of their studies.

For students included in the categories relating to inclusive teaching, please contact the teacher to obtain the recordings of the exercises

Assessment Methods

Oral Examination composed by five oral questions, of which the first on a topic chosen by the student, which concern the cheking of the knowledge of the basic topics and understanding of the general context of the Earth sciences. Two practical exercises, the first of recognition of a macroscopic rock sample through an expeditious description, among the few described during the exercises; the second related to the interpretation of a schematic stratigraphic section.

Texts

Elvidio Lupia Palmieri – Maurizio Parotto – Il globo terrestre e la sua evoluzione. Sesta Edizione. Zanichelli

Press F., Siever R., Grotzinger J. and Jordan T.H. (2003) - Understanding Earth. Fourth Edition. W.H.Freeman & Company

Lectures: Geology and Earth Sciences: applications to the social welfare; the dynamic Earth: genesis of the endogenous, exogenous and climatic systems; the different subjects of the Earth Sciences. The endogenous system: atoms, chemical elements and minerals; interior of the Earth; features and genesis of the magmatic rocks; features and genesis of the metamorphic rocks; the earth’s surface as results of the interplay between endogenous and exogenous systems: the plate tectonics. Earth deformations: faults, folds and other structures. Plate tectonics and orogeny. Earthquakes and volcanoes. The exogenous system: cratons, mountain ranges and ocean basins; biosphere, cryosphere, idrosphere, atmosphere; the sedimentary rocks: features and genesis; the climatic system: components and perturbations; elements of the climatic history of the Earth; the concept of relative and absolute geological time. Dynamics of the stratigraphic and sedimentary processes; the stratigraphic successions; strata and geometry of the successions; basic concepts of stratigraphy.
Practicals
Description and recognition of hand samples of the different types of rocks: magmatic (intrusive, effusive and pyroclastic), metamorphic (from low to high grade) and sedimentary (clastic, carbonaceous, chemical). Field- excursions. Stratigraphic exercises using the basic principles of stratigraphy on stratigraphic patterns

Course Language

Italian

More information

The course deals with the basic concepts of Geology and is therefore suitable for students enrolled in other scientific degree courses who wish to acquire credits in the geological field for teaching