Concepts of stress, strain, rock mechanics and rheology. Brittle and ductile deformation. Composition of the Earth. Gravimetry, Isostasy, magnetism and paleomagnetism. Seismic activity and earthquakes. Internal structure of the Earth. Continental drift and plate tectonics. Physiography and distribution of current crustal structures: the continental lithosphere and oceanic lithosphere. Regional Geology: Northern Apennines. The structure of the Apennine Mountains. Exercises within and outside.
CASATI P. - Scienze della Terra- CLUED
BOSELLINI A., la Tettonica delle Placche e la Geologia, Bovolenta
GUIDE GEOLOGICHE REGIONALI n° 4 e n° 6 - BEMA
KEAREY P., KlepeisK.A. & VINEF.J. Global Tectonics, Wiley –Blackwell, 482 pp.
TREVISAN L. & GIGLIA G. Introduzione alla geologia, Pacini editore, Pisa, 448 pagine
Learning Objectives
The course aims to complete the preparation of geological base of students. Will provide basic knowledge on the deformation of rocks and structural geology and then move on to the theories of evolution and the geodynamics of the Earth generally. The course ends with the fundamentals of regional geology on predominantly Northern Apennines
Prerequisites
Frequency and assimilation of Geology I course
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 225
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: about 140
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 42
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 16
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours):26
Type of Assessment
Written exam on the construction of a geological cross section. Oral exam, after passing the written test.
Course program
Elements of structural Geology
Definitions, ellipsoids, measures of stress and strain. Rocks mechanics and rehology. Rocks behavior and stress profiles of lithosphere. Brittle and ductile deformations. Fractures and faults. Folds classifications and morphology. Structural associations in contractional, extensional and trnscurrent regimes.
Elements of Geophysics.
Earth origin and Solar system. Earth’s composition. Gravimetry and Isostasis. Earth’s magnetism and paleomagnetism. Heat flow. Seismics and earthquakes.
Internal structure of Earth.
Crust, Mantle and Core.
Geodynamics
Orogenic theories before Plate Tectonics: fissism and mobilism.
Continental drift and Wegener’s revolution. Plate tectonics: physiography of oceans and continents. Oceanic and continental Lithosphere. Cratons and orogenic belts. Oceanic basins. Plate margins divergent, convergent and transform. Hot spots.
Regional Geology
Apennines orogenic system in the frame of central Mediterranean.
Main tectonic units of the Northern Apennines: internal and external Ligurian Units; Sub ligurian and Epiligurian units.
Tuscan metamorphic and non metamorphic units. Umbro-marchean units.
Neogene –Quaternary basins and element of volcanism.
Po Plain. Structure of the Nortehrn Apennines. Main theories about the development and evolution of the Northern Apenniens through time.
Paleogeography of central Mediterranean.