OVERVIEW

The educational target of the course is to offer to the Master’s students an in-depth coverage of the different aspects of the Structural Geology and its application to various fields from the scientific research to the engineering geology, mining, mineral exploration and others. Focus is on the study of structures dominated by brittle deformation mechanisms from the outcrop scale to the microscale and the use of common tecniques of investigation for Structural Geology.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The educational target of th eteaching is to offer to the Master’s students an in-depth coverage of the different aspects of the Structural Geology and its application to various fields from the scientific research to the engineering geology, mining, mineral exploration and others. Focus is on the study of rock fabrics, and structures dominated by brittle deformation mechanisms from the outcrop scale to the microscale. Case studies will be introduced and discussed with practicals and field activities.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The attendance and active participation to lessons and practical activities will allow the student to acquire the basic knowledge of the methods of structural geology  and their application in different fields of the geologist profession and scientific research.

The aims of this course are:

• to offer an understanding of the aim and use of structural geology.
• to unravel the processes involved in the formation of rocks and unveil the criteria that control the mechanisms of rock deformation 
• to explain the effect of deforming forces on the structure of the rocks and classify the related structures.
• recognize, analyze and interpret the main deformation structures both at the meso- and micro-scale
• ability to recognize and interpret the main geological structures on a meso- and micro- scale;
• knowledge of the main deformation mechanisms;
• ability to elaborate and interpret structural geological data;
• understanding of the occurrence and the role of tectonic structures in different geodynamic environments;
• ability to apply the acquired knowledge to real cases also in the field of the engineering geology or other scientific disciplines.

PREREQUISITES

The students are assumed to know the topics covered by the courses of Geology, Mineralogy, Petrography, Field Geology and Geological Maps, Engineering Geology  acquired during the Bachelor studies.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures and laboratory activities indoor and outdoor. Since activities are planned to develop data analysis skills and to apply the acquired knowledge during practical and methodological activities, attendance at lectures and lab activity is strongly recommended.

Lectures in the classroom are delivered through multimedia presentations.

The lab activities  are aimed at the practical application of the theoretical knowledge acquired during the lectures and also represent a self-assessment test.

Please refer to AulaWeb for further informations about the measures for the prevention and management of the epidemiological emergency caused by Covid-19

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Definition of structural geology and tectonics - Types of foliation, classification and application to rock samples   - Types of lineation, classification and application to rock samples  - Microscale deformation mechanisms and structural levels - Structural analysis of polydeformed areas and applications - Relationships Deformation-metamorphism  - Microstructural analysis and investigation methods  - Natural and induced fractures: definition and classification - Joints - Veins - Fractures in porous rocks and "deformation bands" - - Fracture analysis and structural characterization of rock mass - Fault zones -  Fault rocks: classification fro crystalline rocks and for silicoclastic rocks - Seismotectonics and applications to  peleoseismological research -  Methods for the representation of structural data   -  In situ Stress analysis  and analysis of paleostress with applications - Structural analysis of cores and core logging  - Shear zones and kinematic indicators  - Geo-structural maps - Applications of structural geology in the field

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides and exercises proposed during the course will be available on AulaWeb at the end of each cycle of lessons / laboratory exercises. National and international geological maps that are available online .
The suggested books are referred to as supporting texts, but students can still use other university level texts. Some textbooks recommended:

Fossen H. (2016) - Structural Geology, Cambridge University Press, 524 pp. ; Passchier C.W. & Trow R.A.J. -2005- Microtectonics - Springer 2nd edition; Richard A. Schultz - 2019- Geologic Fracture Mechanics. Cambridge University Press; Van Der Pluijm B.A. & Marshak S. - 2004 - Earth Structure - Norton and Company Ltd. - 656 pp.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LAURA CRISPINI (President)

PAOLA CIANFARRA

LAURA FEDERICO (President Substitute)

MICHELE LOCATELLI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable please go to the following link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students will be evaluated by an oral examination. The exam consists of a 20-30 min.oral test concerning the different topics discussed in the course. The oral test consists of questions related to the topics discussed during frontal lectures and during practical exercises in laboratory or in the field. The oral examination also includes the recognition and interpretation of structures and microstructures on rock samples.

For students who did not attend excercises and/or field practice, an additional practical test will be required.

Please refer to AulaWeb for further informations about the measures for the prevention and management of the epidemiological emergency caused by Covid-19

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The purpose of the oral examination will be to verify if the student has acquired an adequate level of knowledge (theory and practice) of the arguments of the course. The ability to apply theoretical knowledge will also be monitored during field exercises. The ability of the student to discuss properly the arguments and to use an appropriate terminology will also be evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Although attending the module is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to join both classes and practical activities.