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. During the course, real case studies with examples of applications of the structural geology in different fields of scientific research and profession are proposed and discussed.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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 tecniques of investigation, description and modeling of tectonic structures.

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;
• ability to elaborate geological models;
• 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.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction - Definition of structural geology and tectonics - Fabric and Foliations: Types of foliations, 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  In situ Stress analysis  and analysis of paleostress with applications - Structural analysis of cores and core logging  - Methods for the representation of structural data  - Geo-structural maps - Applications of structural geology in various fields of scientific research and professional practice.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LAURA FEDERICO (President)

PAOLA CIANFARRA

LAURA CRISPINI (President Substitute)

MICHELE LOCATELLI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For lessons start and timetable please go to the following link: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/?view=home&include=homepage&_lang=en

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students will be evaluated by an oral examination. The exam consists of an interview concerning the different topics included in the program and discussed during the frontal lectures and the practical exercises in laboratory and in the field. The oral examination also includes the interpretation of structures on rock samples and the interpretation of geoligical maps.

For students who did not attend the laboratories activities, an additional practical test will be required.

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.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

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

Students with a certification of physical or learning disability filed with the University can find information on support services at the web page https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/studenti-disturbi-specifici-apprendimento-dsa, provided by the "Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with Learning Disorders." They can also contact Prof. Sara Ferrando (sara.ferrando@unige.it), the Distav contact for disabilities.