General Geology - JEO 112E
Outline of the course 2015
Instructor:
Prof. Dr. Boris A. Natalin
Office – E 502, Phone – 285 6221, e-mail: natalin@itu.edu.tr
Website: http://web.itu.edu.tr/~natalin/
Assistant: Cengiz Zabci, e-mail zabci@itu.edu.tr
Introduction
Geology is truly an interdisciplinary science, relying on the knowledge of chemistry, physics,
biology and mathematics/statistics to fully understand the processes, which are at work on
the surface of the earth and its interior. Geology is also a multidisciplinary science (e.g.
mineralogy, geophysics, geochemistry, etc.) and each geological discipline relies on its own
method of study and data acquisition. Each of these disciplines requires a narrow
specialization and multiyear training. The aim of this course is twofold. The first is to outline
objects of study, methods, and fundamental achievements of all geological sciences. The
second one is to show that all of these sciences are interconnected and mutually dependent.
During education in this university, you will study many of geological disciplines and
potentially will be a specialist in one or two of them. However, please remember that any
conclusion on presence or absences of a mine or oil field, any conclusion on a possibility of
building, dam, or channel construction, any prediction of landslide or earthquake is not
possible with complete and comprehensive geological information on the region of interest.
The course General geology will at least help to understand what the word complete in this
statement means.
Many of the concepts that will be introduced may seem very unfamiliar and difficult to
grasp, such as the vastness of geologic time, or the complexity of geologic structures. Please
feel free to ask me to elaborate either during or after class on any topic that needs
clarification.
Course Objectives
General Geology is a general science course designed to educate you on basic concepts in
geology such as formation of rocks and minerals, weathering, erosion and soil creation,
activities of water in rivers, seas and glaciers, volcanic processes and causes of earthquakes,
timing and rate of geological processes, elements of the Earth structure and plate motions.
At the end, you will get a basic knowledge about mineral and energy resources.
Lectures schedule
Week
Topics
1
General geology: historical perspective, the nature of scientific
inquiry, origin of the Earth, internal structure, and plate
tectonicss.
2
Minerals: minerals versus rocks, the composition of minerals,
the structure of minerals, mineral groups, common minerals.
1
Reading
Ch. 1; Ch.
2,p. 54-60
Ch. 3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Igneous rocks: crystallization, from magma, igneous textures,
magmatic rock composition and naming, origin and evolution of
magma, Bowen’s reaction series.
Volcanic activity: the nature of volcanic eruptions, erupted
materials, types of volcanoes, volcanic landforms, igneous
bodies (batholiths, dykes, etc.), and igneous activity and plate
boundaries.
Weathering and soil: mechanisms of weathering (e.g.
mechanical. chemical), rates of weathering, soil formation, soil
profiles, soil erosion, and its historical consequences.
Sedimentary rocks: types of sedimentary rocks (detrital,
chemical, organic), diagenesis and lithification, classification,
sedimentary structures, and sedimentary environments.
Metamorphic rocks: agents of metamorphism, metamorphic
texture, common metamorphic rocks, index minerals,
metamorphic facies.
Geological time: absolute and relative time, stratigraphic
successions, unconformities, fossils and correlation, isotopic
dating, geological time scale.
Deformation of rocks: forces, stress, strain, mapping of
geological structures, types of folds, faults, and joints
Earthquakes: what is an earthquake, seismology, earthquake
belts, magnitude of earthquakes, destructions, and prediction.
Earth interior: seismic methods, earth layering (crust, mantle,
core), Earth temperature, magnetic field, and gravity.
Oceans and divergent plate boundaries: passive continental
margins, oceanic ridges, sea flow spreading, and continental
rifts.
Midterm examinations
Convergent plate boundaries, mountain building, and
evolution of continents: Subduction zones and their types,
continental collision and mountain belts (Himalayas), crustal
uplifts, mountain structures.
Mass wasting: slopes and landslides, controls and triggers,
slumps, rockslides, mudflow, earthflow.
Erosion by water: stream erosion, stream valley, drainage
network, and deltas.
Groundwater: Water table, motion of ground water, and karst.
Glaciers and glaciation: types of glaciers, glacial erosion,
glacial landforms, glacial deposits, glaciation in the Earth
history and climatic changes.
Deserts and dry lands: distribution of deserts, transportation of
sediments by wind, wind erosion, wind deposits.
Shorelines: waves and wave erosion, shoreline landforms,
emergent and submergent coasts, tides.
Energy and mineral resources: oil and natural gas, alternative
energy resources, mineral resources, weathering and ore
deposits, nonmetallic resources.
2
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 13
(end)
Ch. 14
Ch. 15 –
17
Ch. 18 –
20
Ch. 23
Text books and papers
1) Tarbuck, E. J. and Lutgens, F. K., 2008, Earth: An introduction to physical geology,
Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersy, 714.
2) Brown, G. C., Hawkesworth, C. J.,, and Wilson, R. C. L., 1992, Understanding the
Earth, Camridge University Press, New York, 551p.
Laboratory
The course structure presumes 2 lecture hours and 1 hour of laboratory work. Because
of the time limitation, few laboratory hours will be replaced by lectures. During the
laboratory work, you will be acquainted with rock-forming minerals, principal rock
types, topographic and geologic maps, and methods of their interpretation.
Grading
The examination at the end of the semester will account for 45% of the final mark. The
midterm examination will share 30%. Your answers to quizzes during the lectures will
give 10% and the homeworks account for 15% of the final mark.
Minimal limit for DD is 40 points and for AA is 85 points. The instructor reserve the
right to rise or reduce by 10% the final mark of any student on the basis of his own
impression of his or her overall performance and enthusiasm for tectonic studies.
Minimal mark for DD is 40 points and for AA is 85 points.
I wish you all a happy and productive semester
Boris Natalin
3