into1geology notes

8/12/2019 into1Geology Notes

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GEOLOGY

DEFINITION

The word GEOLOGY has been derived from the Greek words GEOmeaning the Earth and LOGOS meaning discourse ( gagia or ge , theancestral Earth-goddess of Greek mythology, logy , a suffix denotingknowledge of).

Geology is therefore the science of the earth.

The science of geology includes the study of the earth as a whole.The study includes its origin, structure, composition, and history(including the development of life) and the nature of the processeswhich have given rise to its present state.

Recently, GEOLOGY has been defined as approximately synonymouswith SOLID EARTH SCIENCES

Earth Sciences are those sciences that deal with the earth: Theyinclude:

GEOLOGYGEOPHYSICSMETEOROLOGY, ANDPARTS OF OCEANOGRAPHY

GEOLOGY


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M JOR DIVISION OF SCIENCES

EARTH SCIENCES

Geology Study of lithosphereGeophysics Study of physical

properties of the earthOceanography Study of oceans

Meteorology andClimatology Study of atmosphere

SPACE SCIENCE Study of spaceASTRONOMY Study of interstellar spaceLIFE SCIENCE Zoology and BotanyPHYSICAL SCIENCE Physics and Chemistry


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PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

PHYSICAL GEOLOGY is the study of the dynamics of the planetEarth.It is concerned with all the terrestrial agents and processes of changeand with the effects brought about by them

The objectives of s tudying Physical Geology are to:

1. Learn about the major interior and exterior features of theearth and how these features respond to the sources of

available energy,2. How human activities have affected the earth,

3. How geology must be applied to the searches of new supplies ofnatural resources

4. How geologic features record the passage of time5. How principles of geology learned with examples on the earth

can be applied to other planetary bodies.


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M JOR CONCE PTS IN GEOLOGY

1. THE EARTH IS A DYNAMIC BODY EVOLVINGTHROUGH TIME

The idea that the earth is dynamic implies that it is supplied with

sources of energy which can drive chemical reactions and physicalreactions

The earth is subjected both to

a. External supplies of energy and forces ( from the Sun)b. Internal supplies of energy (outflow of earths internal heat)

2. GEOLOGIC CYCLE

The concept was developed by James Hutton (1726-1797) in 1785

Huttons doctrine Present is the key to the past was expounded andillustrated by Charles Lyell as the Principles of uniformitarianism

Hydrologic cycleRock cycle


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The interaction between the solid earth and the hydrosphere and atmosp here.

BRANCHES OF GEOLOGY Geology is such a large subject that it has inevitably been subdivided into many branches.But these subdivisions are arbitrary and overlap with each other. The major branches are:

1. Physical Geology2. Crystallography and Mineralogy3. Petrology4. Structural Geology5. Historical Geology

StratigraphyPaleontology.

6. Economic Geology7. Geophysics9. Geochemistry10. Hydrogeology

Engineering Geology: The knowledge of geology has also been utilized in cases of Engineering problems and this branch of geology is known as Engineering Geology.Here, the principles and methods of geology for the purpose of civil engineering has beenapplied.Broadly speaking there are two main divisions:

The study of raw materials e.g. aggregates etc.The study of the geological characteristics of the immediate area where engineering

operations are to be carries out e.g. ground-water characterist ics, the load bearingcapacity , the stability of slope, the excavation problems etc. (Rock mechanics).

PHYSIC L GEOLOGY

Physical Geology is the study of t he dynamics of the planet earth.The objective of studying physical geology are to:

a) Learn about the major interior and exterior features of the earth andhow these features respond to the sources of available energy,

b) How human activities have affected the earth,

c) How geology must be app lied to the searches of new supplies ofnatural resources,

d) How geologic features record the passage of time,e) How principles of geology learned with examples on the earth can beapp lied to other planetary bodies.

Major concepts (The science dealing with time )The most fundamental principle of geology is that the earth is a dynamic body evolvingthrough time.The earth undergoes important reactions driven by various energy sources.The concept of the geologic cycle developed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenthcentury, became the basis of one of geologys greatest t riumph, the proof of enormousage of the earth.


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