31426 - Geology T (L-Z)

Learning outcomes

This course gives the student basic information on the following subjects: (a) identifying rocks and soils in hand samples as well as outcrops; (b) interpreting geologic maps, stratigraphic schemes and geologic cross-sections; (c) estimating the effects of the geodynamic processes on volcanic, seismic and hydrogeologic hazards; (d) assessing from a geologic point of view the construction problems and the environmental impact of civil engineering works. At the end of the course, once passed the final assessment, the student is able to understand terminology and contents of the geologic elaborates required for the planning of civil engineering works.

Course contents

Requirements/Prior knowledge.

A high-school level understanding of physics, inorganic chemistry and physical geography is required to attend with profit this course. In addition, the student who knows nothing about Plate Tectonics is recommended to get acquainted with this topic on high-school textbooks. Finally, since all lessons are held in Italian, a good understanding of the Italian language is necessary to follow the course profitably and take advantage of the available teaching material.

Programme

The Geology T course mainly concerns basic geology, but also includes some elements of engineering geology, providing an interface with the Hydraulics, Geotechnics and Topography courses. The course consists of a regular alternation between lessons and exercises, which takes place entirely in the classroom. The use of the University's IT resources not only simplifies classroom activities, but allows non-attending students to follow the entire course whenever and wherever they want, without any integration being necessary. The Geology T course is divided into two parts, known in the past as Lithology and Geological Cartography.

The first part of the course is dedicated to the following topics: (1) macroscopic identification of the main minerals; (2) macroscopic identification of the most common rocks and soils based on texture, structure, composition and easy-to-determine physico-chemical properties; (3) analysis of the lithogenic cycle through the study of plutonic, volcanic, sedimentary, diagenetic and metamorphic processes; (4) framing of the lithogenic cycle in the internal and external dynamics of the Earth.

The second part of the course is dedicated to the following topics: (5) application of the principles of stratigraphy, tectonics and geomorphology to the interpretation of geological maps, stratigraphic schemes and geological cross-sections; (6) review of geological and geomorphological data that contribute to the assessment of volcanic, seismic and flood risk; (7) extraction from geological maps of data relating to hydrogeology, subsidence and slope stability.

Expected results

At the end of the course, the student is expected to understand terminology and contents of the geologic elaborates required for the planning of engineering works.

Readings/Bibliography

Required texts

LANDUZZI A., 2016. Schemi e appunti per le esercitazioni di litologia e cartografia geologica (with appendices 1 to 4). Handout downloadable from Virtuale, useful for taking notes in class and quickly reviewing the main topics of the course.

Required multimedia

Files downloadable from Virtuale and working on any device: materials for carrying out the exercises anywhere; videos of all the lessons and exercises of the academic year 2021-2022.

Recommended multimedia

Files downloadable from Virtuale and working on PC only: virtual DVDs with the materials of all the lessons and exercises.

Recommended texts

JORDAN T.H., GROTZINGER J.P., Capire la Terra, Zanichelli, 2016. Recommended especially to those who do not know what Plate Tectonics is. Alternatively, other high-school level texts can be consulted, asking Alberto Landuzzi an opinion on their geological contents.

Texts for further information

SCESI L., PAPINI M., GATTINONI P., Principi di geologia applicata per ingegneria civile-ambientale e scienze della terra, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2014. Recommended for those who want to deepen the study of Engineering Geology.

Teaching methods

The entire didactic activity is presented in the classroom, on the computer. Lessons alternate with exercises, which the students carry out in the classroom with notebooks, tablets or smartphones. Each exercise has goals to achieve and a mind map to help achieve them. At the end of each exercise, the teacher shows the compiled mind map and describes the achieved results.

In order to allow students to verify their learning on the ground, educational trips will be organized near the end of the course in the southern Alps and/or in the northern Apennines.

Assessment methods

Learning is verified by carrying out two partial oral tests, one on rocks and one on geological maps. The student can choose whether to take the two tests together or separately, knowing that his choice has no influence on either the complexity or the number of questions proposed.

The partial oral tests, which last about 30 minutes each, are performed on the computer in dialogue with the teacher. The first test is done on HD photos of rock samples, and consists in the description of two rocks of different origin. The second test is done on HD scans of geological maps, and consists in the description of two objects of different cartographic significance (stratigraphic, tectonic or geomorphological). The dialogue with the teacher focuses on the genetic and technical characteristics of the objects to be described.

Passing the tests is guaranteed to students who show that they know the origin of the rocks and cartographic objects they have described. A higher score is given to students who understand the technical issues inherent in the rocks and cartographic objects they have described. Failure to pass one or both tests may depend on insufficient knowledge of the key concepts, possibly aggravated by poor command of the technical language.

When the student has achieved at least a passing grade for each partial test, the overall grade is calculated by the arithmetic average of the two partial votes, rounded up or down at the discretion of the teacher.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools

Lessons are always held on the computer, with the equipment available in the classroom. To carry out the exercises, students must have a notebook, a tablet or at least a smartphone with them.

The course participates in the University's teaching innovation project, with a wide range of integrative teaching support.

Downloads from Virtuale [https://virtuale.unibo.it/] : the course handout; virtual DVDs of all the contents screened in the classroom; the material to carry out the exercises, both in the classroom and elsewhere; the video recordings of all lessons and exercises carried out in the academic year 2021-2022.

Mixed mode teaching offer: six hours of assisted review on rocks and maps; three hours of seminar on geognostics and monitoring (tutor is Dr. Paolo Colli).

Online collective reception: students who need clarification are invited to be received in a virtual Teams classroom, so that many other students can assist and participate.

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Landuzzi