INTRODUCTION TO EARTH SCIENCES
cod. 1005553

Academic year 2015/16
1° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Marco ROVERI
Academic discipline
Geologia stratigrafica e sedimentologica (GEO/02)
Field
Ambito geologico-paleontologico
Type of training activity
Characterising
77 hours
of face-to-face activities
9 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
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Learning objectives

The Geology course is aimed to provide the student with an integrated and dynamic view of the Earth and of its evolution. The final goal of the course is providing an updated framework of the scientific knowledges and of the methodologies necessary for the correct comprehension of natural systems and of the factors controlling their evolution and change through the time. The course deals with basic geology arguments.
Frontal lessons are integrated with seminars of specific arguments, field excursions and exercises.

Prerequisites

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Course unit content

- Time and environmental change: a geological perspective
- The Earth as a self-regulated system: the Gaia hypothesis
- Rocks and geological processes
- Elements of mineralogy
- Rock classification: igneous and metamorphic rocks; sedimentary rocks and surface processes
- Principles of stratigraphy
- Meaning and importance of sedimentary successions
- Rock dating techniques
- The structure and processes of the Earth's interior
- Rock deformation
- Plate tectonics and geodynamics
- The geological evolution of the Alps and the Apennines
- Geological map reading

Full programme

Time and environmental change: a geological perspective
- The Earth as a self-regulated system: the Gaia hypothesis
- Rocks and geological processes
- Elements of mineralogy
- Rock classification: igneous and metamorphic rocks; sedimentary rocks and surface processes
- Principles of stratigraphy
- Meaning and importance of sedimentary successions
- Rock dating techniques
- Origin and meaning of sedimentary cyclicity
- The structure and processes of the Earth's interior
- Rock deformation
- Plate tectonics and geodynamics
- The geological evolution of the Alps and the Apennines
Practical exercises (some of them carried out in the field) concern rock classification, geological map reading

Bibliography

Text book:

Press F., Siever R., Gotzinger J., Jordan T.H. – Capire la Terra - Zanichelli, Bologna

Altri testi consigliati

Ricci Lucchi F. – La Scienza di Gaia – ambienti e sistemi naturali visti da un geologo – Zanichelli, Bologna

Bosellini A., Mutti E. e Ricci Lucchi F. – Rocce e Successioni sedimentarie – UTET, Torino (fuori produzione, disponibile in visione presso la biblioteca del Dip. di Scienze della Terra)

Bosellini A. - Storia geologica d'Italia Gli ultimi 200 milioni di anni - Zanichelli, Bologna

Lovelock J. – Gaia, nuove idee sull’ecologia – Bollati Boringhieri

Lovelock J. – Le nuove eta’ di Gaia – Bollati Boringhieri Altre letture

Ricci Lucchi F. – I ritmi del mare – La Nuova Italia Scientifica, Roma

A.A.V.V – La Vena del Gesso – Regione Emilia-Romagna, Collana naturalistica

Ricci Lucchi F. – Sedimentografia – Zanichelli, Bologna

Hallam A. – Le grandi dispute della Geologia – Zanichelli, Bologna

Teaching methods

frontal lessons, class exercises and field work

Assessment methods and criteria

intermediate test, oral examination

Other information

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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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