Board of Geology
Syllabi in Geology Courses
I. General Geology..................................................40%
Its scope, branches and relation to other sciences:
The Planet Earth
Earth’s statistics, size and shape, its atmosphere, hydrosphere, mountain belts, oceanic ridges,
trenches, islands arcs, volcanic chains, earthquake distribution/pattern.
Earth Material Relative abundance of elements in the atmosphere and in the earth’s crust: minerals and
common rock forming minerals: economic values and their occurrences
in the Philippines. Description of the general rock types: Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary. Igneous
rock classes and varieties with emphasis in those found in the Philippines: origin and composition of
magma.
Extrusive phenomena - lava and pyroclastics: eruption types, prediction and related phenomena.
Intrusive phenomena - dikes, sills, batholiths, Philippine examples. Distribution of igneous rocks
in the Philippines.
Weathering - physical and chemical: product of weathering, soil types and profile.
Erosion - hydrosphere, hydrologic cycle, streams and stream erosion, ocean and wave erosion.
Sedimentation and sedimentary rocks - Basins of deposition, geosyneline, transformation of
sedimentary rock, distribution of sedimentary rocks in the Philippines.
Rock Deformation - fractures, folding of rocks, processes affecting sediments, transformation of
sediments into sedimentary rocks, types of sedimentary rocks, distribution of sedimentary rocks.
Fracturing, Faulting and folding of rocks, strike-anddip
concept: geologic maps. Records in rocks: fossils, relative and absolute time scale, geologic age of
Philippine rocks. Mountain building: Geostasy, processes occurring
in the earth’s interior, processes related to uplifting of geosynclinal deposits, continental drift, seaflow
spreading, plate tectonics, and other theories.
Metamorphic rocks and metamorphism – Agents of metamorphism, temperature, pressure, and
chemically active fluids.
Types of metamorphism: contact, regional, isograd.
Geologic evolution of the Philippines
Principles of structural geology
Earthquakes, volcanism and the earth’s interior
Historical geology, stratigraphy, geomorphology
Fieldworks. Report writing
Field methods - geology and geologic mapping
II. Applied Geological Sciences ............................... 30%
A.
Ore Deposits (Economic Mineral Deposits and their Occurrences):
1.
Definitions/Descriptions
2. Metallogenic Provinces and Epochs
3. Ore genesis and concepts, mode of formation of mineral deposits: association of ore
forming mineral with igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.
Chemical depositional controls of mineral deposits.
Physical depositional controls of mineral deposits.
Classification of economic mineral deposits.
Recognition of associated alterations - hypogene, supergene, cappings, wallrock alterations, etc.
Ores guides. Mineralogy and petrology as related to association and genesis of ore deposits.
a.
Use of crystallography, X-ray method, Xray fluorescence, electron microprobe, differential
thermal analysis, etc.
b. Fluid inclusion studies.
c. Polished section and mineragraphic study.
4. Classification of Reserves and Resources: Current classification/definitions/guiding
principles. Significant aspects of existing definitions. Ore reserve and resource
calculation. Categories and aspects. Quantitative aspects.
5. Exploration for Mineral Deposits: General definition/descriptions of different phases of
exploration: Regional, reconnaissance and detailed exploration activities. Organization of
an exploration program. Data compilation/Preparation of base maps.
Geologic features of various economic mineral deposits.
Exploration methods - Search for economic mineral deposits. Mapping, photogeology, geophysical
and geochemical surveys, alteration studies, structural analysis, recognition of path finders, etc. Primary
target investigation. Evaluation of outcrops, surface assessment work, sampling, assays, drilling, core
logging, etc. Interpretation and modeling. Case studies.
The examinee should be able to classify and identify the following:
A. Genetic types of Philippine mineral deposits:
1. Gold - Vein: Placer: Contact Metasomatic; Disseminated and/or Porphyry
2. Iron - Contact metasomatic, Sand deposits, laterite deposits, bedded sedimentary
deposits,spring deposits, bog deposits
3. 3. Chromite - Primary podiform chromite deposits; Residual/transported deposits
4. Nickel - Primary nickel sulphide deposits.Epithermal deposits, Laterite deposits
5. Manganese - Primary and secondary manganese deposits
6. Copper - Porphyry deposits: Vein types; Kuroko-type; Cyprus-type; Besshi-type;
contact metasomatic;
7. Lead and zinc - Vein type
8. Molybdenum - Contact mesatomatic; porphyry type; Vein type
B. Economic (Commercial) Classifications:
1. Precious Metals - Examples: Gold and silver
2. Iron and Ferroalloys - Examples: Iron, chromite, nickel, and manganese
3.Non-ferrous - Examples: Copper, lead and zinc, molybdenum, aluminum,
mercury
4. - Examples: Guano, phosphate rocks, limestone, dolomite, magnesite, peat
5. Industrial and manufacturing materials - Examples: Asbestos, barite, bentomite,
diatomite, feldspar, gypsum, perlite, silica, cement raw materials, etc.
6. Structural and building materials - Examples: Marble, pumice and pumicite, rock
aggregates, rock asphalt, sand and gravel
7. Energy mineral resources - Examples: Hydrocarbons, coal, geothermal energy,
Radioactive minerals
8. Gemstone and decorative materials - Examples: Jade, jasper, tektite, obsidian,
petrifield wood.
C. Organization Exploration Programs
1. Organize an Exploration Program
Objective setting/Exploration strategy
Setting financial goals
Scanning and target generation
Risk evaluation
Timetable
Exploration logistics
Information management
Legal aspects
Environment and the ecosystem
2. Drilling, Sampling and Estimation of Reserves:
Design and financing of drilling program
Diamond drilling - core logging
Estimation of ore reserves – Sampling optimization and assaying: Estimation practices,
geostatistical estimation guides.
Mining and Metallurgical considerations
B. Geophysics
1. Definitions and general principles applied in different geophysical methods in mineral
exploration - gravity, magnetic, electrical, seismic, radiometric, satellite remote
sensing, etc.
2. Geologic and economic considerations.
Classifications and scientific basis of
geophysical methods.
Technique of application
Specific factors governing application and
choice of geophysical methods.
Field application/data interpretation.
Economics of methods.
C. Geochemistry
1. Types of surveys.
2. Identification of primary and secondary
environments.
Primary environment deals with:
-distribution of elements in minerals and igneous
rocks.
-primary haloes and primary dispersion
-pathfinders
-geochemical provinces
-geochemical associations
Secondary environment involves:
-chemical weathering
-physical weathering
-environmental factors affecting weathering
-soil
-application of pH & Eh values
-absorption
-mobility in secondary environment
-ground water, river water, lake water and
sediments
3. Actual application of field methods for stream
sediments, soil, rocks and water and lake
sediments.
Orientation survey
Identification of primary and secondary
dispersion patterns both in regional and
detailed surveys.
Vegetation Survey - geobotany and
biogeocheistry
Analytical methods - collection and preparation
of samples for analysis
Statistical treatment of geochemical data Background values, regional variation,
correlation between elements.
Classification of samples, anomaly
detection and interpretation, etc.
9 Computer application in geochemical
exploration
Design of exploration programs
Data collection
Data reduction and interpretation
D. Environment Protection
Social and political context
Geological and engineering perspective
Regulatory objectives
Corporate strategies
E. Exercise in the Preparation of a
Feasibility Study:
The merit of implementing an exploration
program and
project development on a scale which will
provide
sufficient information to indicate clearly whether
the deposit can be made commercially viable.
Objective of a feasibility study/corporate policy
Date collection/outline layout
Geological and engineering aspects
Economic aspects
Sensitivity analysis
Risk analysis
Financial strategies
Decision making
F. Petroleum Geology
Origin and petroleum generation
Regional geological framework
Identification and classification of depositional
environments and reservoirs.
Lithostratigraphic and structural controls
favorable
for petroleum deposition and accumulation
Migration study
Seismic investigation of target structure/
interpretation
Well and log evaluation
Prognosis of producing Palawan offshore wells
Petroleum geochemistry
G. Technical Report Writing
The examinee should convey a clear and
coherent
level of communication skill and proficiency.
f. Nature of silicate melt
g. Pyroxene -Plagioclase system
h. Magmatic crystallization
i. Minor elements of magmatic crystallization
j. Geochemical process and sedimentation
k. Chemical and Mineralogical composition
of sedimentary rocks
l. Physiochemical factors in sedimentary
colloids and colloidal processes
m. Products of sedimentation
III. Petrology and Mineralogy
4. Identification of common rock forming
minerals
A. Mineralogy
1. Crystallography
a. Internal structure, properties, symmetry
and notation of crystals
b. Measurement of crystal angles and projection
c. Classes of crystal system
d. Isometric; Hexagonal; Tetragonal
Orthorhombic,
Monoclimic; Tryclimic system
2. Physical Properties of Minerals
a. Cleanage, Parting and fracture
b. Tenacity, Sp. Gravity
c. Optical properties of minerals
1. Color, streak, luster
2. Reflection and Refraction, Index of refraction
3. Isotropic crystal and Roche line
method
4. Uniaxial crystals
5. Biaxial crystals
6. Extinction angle
7. Birefringence
d. Electrical and magnetic properties
3. Chemistry of Minerals - Principles of crystal
structure of minerals, coordination principle,
radius ratio, relation of radius ratio and
coordination
number of ions as rigid sphere.
a. Structure of silicates
b. Latice energy of crystals
c. Isomorphism, atomic substitution
d. Basic chemical composition of magma and
igneous rocks
e. Structure of minerals - silica and silicates,
feldspars, felspathoids, pyroxene group,
amphibole group, oblique group
5. Nomenclature and classification of
igneous
rocks
a. Chemical and Quasi chemical classification
b. Textural classification
c. Qualitative mineral classification
d. Calcalic-basic igneous rocks
e. Alkali-rich basic igneous rocks
f. Ultrabasic rocks and lamprophyres
g. Intermediate rocks
h. Acid ingneous rocks
i. Phyroclastic rocks
6. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks
a. Chemical composition of metamorphic rocks
b. Mineralogy of metamorphism
c. Stability of minerals
d. Thermodynamic of metamorphism
e. Phase rule in metamorphism
f. Facies Principle
g. Mineral transformation and the facies
principle
h. Metamorphism and metasomatism
i. Accessory elements in metamorphism
j. Petrographic criteria and products of
metamorphism
k. Conditions controlling metamorphism
l. Types of metamorphism
m. Characteristics of metamorphic Fabric
n. Basis of classification of metamorphic rocks
o. Textural class of metamorphic rocks
p. Chemical classes of metamorphic rocks
q. Hornfelses and slates
r. Cataclasites, mylomites and phyllomites
s. Slates, phyllites and low metamorph schists
t. High grade schists, amphibolites, granulites
and eclogites