Universidade Nova de Lisboa

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Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

General Geology

Code

3851

Academic unit

Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Department

Departamento de Ciências da Terra

Credits

4.0

Teacher in charge

Ligia Nunes de Sousa Pereira de Castro

Weekly hours

3

Total hours

58

Teaching language

Português

Objectives

Study the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth in a natural process and considering the Man''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s action.The students are expected to be capable of examine and understand relations among geologic materials in the field. Problem solving and critical thinking will be applied in the classroom, laboratory, and field, and effective communication skills will be expected. The students will demonstrate quantitative understanding of earth materials and processes. They will be able to:

  1. identify and classify basic geological materials, including minerals; rocks, fossils, structures, and landforms;
  2. interpret basic types of geological maps with standard geology symbols;
  3. visualize and comprehend geological materials or structures in 3-D based on 2-D data sets;
  4. analyze, interpret, and integrate diverse datasets;
  5. develop the skills necessary to engage in independent learning;
  6. create effectively in written form through words, graphs, and tables.

Prerequisites

No requisites recommended.

Subject matter

  1. Introduction to basic earth science concepts. Important earth resources that have affected humankind and society.
  2. Minerals and rocks. Origin, characteristics, textures, compositions, and modes of formation of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Methods for interpreting them. How different rock types are distributed on the Earth’s surface.
  3. Sedimentary processes, depositional environments and diagenesis, based on the interpretation and classification of sedimentary rocks.
  4. Processes that create the landforms. Origin and development of landforms, landform classification, and geomorphological processes. Methods of geomorphological analysis and topographic map interpretation.
  5. Origin and evolution of the Earth. Analysis of the concepts of geological time and biological evolution. Concentration on geological field relations and determination of relative history. Geological map of Portugal. 
  6. The deformation of the Earth’s crust. The description and classification of geological structures and theoretical and physical analysis of rock deformations. Neotectonics and sismic risk. Neotectonics moviments in Portugal. 
  7. Water resources. Origin, nature, distribution, movement, exploitation, and conservation of water surface and groundwater.
  8. Applying geological methods, principles and information to engineering and related fields. Analysis of Earth materials, properties and processes significant to modern engineering projects.
  9. Geology of Portugal and “Geomonuments”: A survey of geological processes and phenomena as exemplified by features of our “geological parks” and monuments.

Bibliography

References

Gass, I.G. & Smith, P.J. & Wilson, R.C.L. Vamos compreender a Terra. Almedina Coimbra. Coimbra, 1984. 

Dercourt J. & Paquet J. Geologia, objectivos e métodos. Almedina. Coimbra. 1986.

Carvalho, G. Cristalografia e Mineralogia. Universidade Aberta. Lisboa, 1997. 

Carvalho, G. Geologia, Petrogénese e Orogénese. Universidade Aberta. Lisboa, 1997. 

Antunes T. Ensino de Geologia, perspectivas científicas. Universidade Aberta. Lisboa, 1991. 

Dana-Hurlbut. Manual de Mineralogia. Universidade de São Paulo. Brasil. 1986. 

Borges, F. S. Elementos de Cristalografia. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Lisboa, 1982.  

Wiley, P. A Terra, nova Geologia global. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. Lisboa, 3ª ed., 1995. 

Ribeiro, A. Introduction à la géologie générale du Portugal. Serviços Geológicos de Portugal. Lisboa, 1979. 

Cabral, J. Neotectónica em Portugal continental. Memórias do Instituto Geológico e Mineiro. Lisboa, Nº 31, 1995. 

Costa, B. Estudo e classificação das rochas por exame macroscópico. Calouste Gulbenkian. Lisboa, 8ª ed. 1993. 

Alvarez, M. J. A. Mapas Geológicos. Explicacion e interpretacion. Paraninfo. Madrid, 1985 

Bennison, G. M. Na introduction to geological structures and maps. Edward Arnold. United Sates of America, 4ª ed. 1985. 

Steinbach, G. & Mendenbach, K. O mundo da Natureza, minerais. Editorial Pública. Lisboa, 1982. 

Foucault, A. & Rault, J. F. Coupes et Cartes Géologiques. Dion, Editeurs. Paris. 1975. 

Hamilton, W.R. & Woolley, A. R. & Bishop. Minerals rocks and fossils. Country life guides. England. 1974. 

Archambault. Documents et méthode pour le commentaire de cartes. Masson et C. Editeurs. Paris, Deuxième fascicule. 1974.

Teaching method

The course is characterized by theoretical and practical classes.

  

The students have access to rocks and mineral samples, and maps.

 

This course has assisted on-line methods to complement the classes, using the Moodle tool. 

Evaluation method

Written theoretical (T1 - Part 1, T2 - Part 2) and practical (P1 – Part 1 (rock identification); P2 - Part2 (geological profiles)) examination. 

The final classification (F) is calculated as follows: 

F = 2/3 T + 1/3P   or   F = 3/5T + 2/5P (whichever is best for the student), where

T = T1 + T2 and P = P1 + P2.

For final approval: F> = 9,5 and T1, T2, P1 and P2> = 8,0    (in a 0-20 scale) 

A midterm (and optional) theoretical and practical test is carried out with the subjects given up to the time (T1 and P1). Students who obtain a minimum score (> = 8.0) in both components of the test may perform a 2nd theoretical and practical test at the end of the semester, in order to waive the final exam. Students who do not obtain a minimum score in any of these parts (T1 and P1), may only repeat them in the Second Examination Period (Época de Recurso). The remaining subjects (T2 and P2 can be evaluated in the First Examination Period (Época Normal).

 

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