[Geology Honours Course] | [Geology General Course]

PROPOSED SYLLABUS FOR THREE-YEAR GENERL COURSE IN GEOLOGY (C.U.)

Geology General | Full Marks – 400

Distribution of papers, marks and lectures/periods
PART - I
Full Marks 100
(Examination at the end of the first year)

PART -I
General Course Theoretical

Paper - I, Group A (Physical Geology)
Full Marks - 40, Periods - 45

1. Science of the earth. Men's natural environments. The domains of earth science and geology. Principle of Uniformitarianism. Relation of Geology to other sciences. Major Branches of Geology.
2. Important facts and figures of the Earth rotation, revolution, size, shape, mass, density and gravity. Elementary ideas of the nature of the atmosphere, crust, mantle and core.
3. Major surface features of the Earth continents, ocean, continental margin, geomorphic features of continents and oceans, mountain ranges, plateaus, valleys, plains, basins, continental shelf, continental slope, island arch, trenches, ocean basins, mid-oceanic ridges.
4. Sculpturing of the land surface: weathering, erosion and sedimentation - geological action of river, glacier, wind and ocean. Regolith and bedrock; soils, concept of soil profile.
5. Major internal processes: igneous activity, volcanism and volcanoes, earthquake - causes and effects, intensity and magnitude, earthquake belts.
6. Internal constitution of the earth: use of seismic waves in the study of the earth.
7. Age of the Earth: use of radioactivity in dating rocks and minerals with example of Rb-Sr method of dating.
8. Isostasy and its use in explaining the relief of the earth's surface.
9. Elementary concepts of continental drift, sea-floor spreading and plate tectonics - different types of plate boundaries and related major earth features.

   

Paper - I, Group B (Mineralogy)
Full Marks - 30, Periods - 30

1. Definitions of minerals and crystals: crystalline and noncrystalline states of matter; crystal forms, habit, zone, elements of symmetry. Law of constancy of interfacial angles in crystals; parameters and Miller indices. Axial elements and diagnostic symmetry elements of seven crystal systems: symmetry of normal classes; crystal aggregates: parallel growth and twins; twine plane and composition plane; image twin laws in feldspars.
2. Polarization of light; principles of construction of polars; parts of polarized microscope. Isotropic and anisotropic media; double refraction; birefringence; pleochroism. Interference phenomena in crystals; extinction in crystals.
3. Important physical characters of minerals - methods of their determination. Classification of minerals into broad divisions on the basis of chemical composition. Structural framework of silicates and their broad classification.
4. Elementary knowledge of the physical properties and general chemical composition of the following rock-forming minerals; Quartz, Feldspar group, Pyroxene group, Amphibole group, Mica group, Calcite-Dolomite.

   

Paper - I, Group C (Petrology)
Full Marks - 30, Periods - 40

1. Average major element composition of the crust. Broad sub-division of rocks: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
2. Forms of igneous rock bodies: extrusive (lava flows and pyroclastic) and intrusive (sill, dyke, lacolith, batholith) types, classification of igneous rocks ??
3. Textures and microstructures of igneous rocks in terms of the following: crystallinity, granularity, shape of grains and mutual relation of grains. Description of the following textures/structures: equigranular, inequigranular, porphyritic poikilitic, ophitic, perthitic, graphic, flow structures.
4. Petrography of the following rocks: granite, granodiorite, pegmatite, rhyolite, syenite, trachyte, diorite, gabbro, anorthosite, basalt, dolerite, peridotite.
5. Clastic and non-clastic sedimentary rocks, Textural characteristics of the sedimentary rocks, introduction of the concept of size, sphericity and roundness. Petrography of shale, sandstones, limestones, sandstones.
6. Concept of metamorphism, factors and kinds of metamorphism, concept of grade of metamorphism with the help of Barrovian index minerals. Textures and structures of metamorphic rocks , granoblastic, porphiroblastic, hornfelsic, schistose, gneissose, cataclastic.
7. Petrography of image metamorphic rocks produced from shale (slates, phyllite, mica-schists), sandstone (quartzites), limestones (marbles), mafic igneous rocks (amphibolites).
8. Distribution, association and brief petrography of charnockite, khondalite, Deccan basalt.

   

PART - II
Full Marks 200
(Examination at the end of the first year)

PART -II
General Course Theoretical

Paper - II, Group A (Structural Geology)
Full Marks - 25, Periods - 20

1. Scope of structural geology
2. Primary and secondary structural elements: planer and linear; strike and dip; pitch and plunge.
3. Primary structures: stratification, current bedding, graded bedding, ripple marks, pillow structures and vesicular structure. Use of primary structures in determination of top-bottom of a stratified sequence.
4. Fold: definition, parts of a fold: hinge, fold axis, limb, inflexion line, axial surface, interlimb angle. Types of folds: antiform, synform and natural; anticline and syscline, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Classification of fold on the basis of dip of axial plane and plunge of fold axis.
5. Faults and joints: definition; net slip and separation, threw and heave of a fault. Types of faults: dip fault, strike fault, oblique fault, strike-slip fault, dip-slip fault and oblique-slip faults, normal and reverse faults; thrust. Recognition of fault in the field.
6. Foliation: axial plane foliation; brief morphological features of cleavage, schistosity, gneissocity.
7. Unconformity: definition, types of unconformity and their recognition.

   

Paper - II, Group B (Palaeontology)
Full Marks - 25, Periods - 35

1. Fossil and fossilization: definition, condition and modes of preservation; principal uses of fossils. Kinds of fossils: macro and micro fossils.
2. Systematic palaeontology: broad outline of the scheme to classify the organic world upto the level of species. Binomial system of classification. Broad subdivisions (down to the level of phylum) of the organic kingdom. Main characteristics of the following phyla and their geologic range:
3. Fossil as tools of correlation: law of faunal succession; index fossil, zone fossil.
4. Geological time scale and life through ages.
5. Gondwana flora: composition, distribution in India and geologic range.
6. Invertebrates: morphology of the following - Brachiopoda, Pelecypoda, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Echinoidea.
7. An outline of evolution of Ammonoidea and Equidae.

Paper - II, Group C (Strigraphy)
Full Marks - 25, Periods - 35

1. Stratigraphy - definition and scope. Fundamental laws of stratigraphy: superposition, faunal succession and correlation. Principle of Uniformitarianism.
2. Stratigraphic units. Lithostratigraphic, Chronostratigraphic and Biostratigraphic. Definition of Terms: Group, Formation, Bed, System, Series, Stage.
3. Physiographic divisions of India - peninsula, extra-peninsula and Ganga-Brahmaputra alluvial plane.
4. Distribution of Precambrian (Archaean, Proterozoic), Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks in peninsular and in extra-peninsular India.
5. Brief stratigraphic account of succession and lithology of Precambrian rocks of Bihar-Orissa, Vindhyan basins (Sone valley).
6. Brief stratigraphic account succession, lithology and fossil) of Spiti Basin (Palaeozoic and Mesozoic), Cauvery basin (Mesozoic), Assam basin (Cenozoic).
7. Gondwana stratigraphy: geographic distribution, general characteristics, general stratigraphic succession. Stratigraphy of Damodor valley basin (succession, lithology and fossil).
8. Deccan traps: distribution and age (palaeontological and radiometric data).

Paper - II, Group D (Economic Geology)
Full Marks - 25, Periods - 30

1. Scope: Rocks and minerals of economic importance. Usefulness of water and fossil fuels.
2. Definition of the following terms: ore, potore, gangue, tenor, host rock, hypogene and supergene deposits, syngenetic and epigenetic deposits, hydrothermal deposit and wall rock alteration.
3. Forms and structures of ore deposits.
4. Brief outline of the process of formation of mineral deposits: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary.
5. Bateman's scheme of classification of mineral deposits.
6. Geographic distribution of the following deposits in India: Iron ore, Manganese ore, Gold, Copper, Lead-Zinc, Chromium, Uranium, Diamond and Sapphire, Coal and Petroleum, Limestone.
7. Indian mineral deposits: Iron (Bihar-Orissa), Manganese, (M.P and Maharastra), Gold (Hutti), Copper (Singhbhum) and Lead-Zinc (Zawar) under the following heads - mode of occurrence, mineralogy and genesis.

PART - I
General Course Practical

Paper - III
Full Marks - 100, Periods - 160

Minerals

1. Symmetry elements of crystal models - normal classes of isomeric, tetragonal and orthorhombic systems.
2. Systematic study of the following minerals in hand specimen on the following points - mineral form and structure, colour and transperancy, lusture, streak, cleavage, fracture, hardness, specific gravity, magnetism (with addition of HCl, if needed):
   Graphite; Chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena; Haematite, magnetite, chromite, pyrolusite, psilomelane, bauxite; Calcite, dolomite; Quartz, feldspar, garnet beryl, asbestos, muscovite, biotite, talc, keoline, kyanite; Tourmaline; Gypsum; Apatite.
3. Study under petrographic microscope of the following minerals: Quartz, orthoclase, microcline, plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, hornblende, muscovite, biotite, garnet, tourmaline, kyanite, sillimanite, calcite.

Rocks

1. Recognition of the following rocks in hand specimen:
   Granite, pegmatite, gabbro, anorthosite, rhyolite, basalt, dolerite; shale sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, coal, laterite; gneiss, schist, slate, phyllite, marble quartzite.
2. Study and identification under microscope of those in italics in the above list.

Structural problems and maps

1. Clinometer compass and its uses. Reading of topographic maps.
2. Solutions of simple problems of dip, strike and outcrop.
3. Interpretation of geologic maps containing horizontal beds, homoclines, monoclines, simple folds, faults, unconformities, large intrusives, dykes and sills.

Fossils

Identification of the following genera of fossils by their morphological features:
(a) Cidaris, Hemiaster, Stygmatopygus; (b) Atrypa, Spirifer, Productus, Terebratula; (c) Unio, Cyrena, Pecten, Ostrea; (d) Physa, Natica, Cypraca, Tyrretella; (e) Ceratites, Nautilus; (f) Hipparion, Stegodon; (g) Gangamopteris, Glossopteris, Vertebraria, Schizoneura, Ptilophyllum.

Field Work

Reconnaissance study in the field of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Use of clinometer compass and toposheets; collection of samples and preparation of field report.

Distribution of papers, marks and lectures/periods
PART - III
Full Marks 100

N.B. Each question in thoeritical paper will carry 5 to 10 marks.

Part II
General Course Theoritical

Paper IV. Group A (Petrology and Tectonics)
Full Marks - 25, Periods - 25

1. IUGS Classification of igneous rocks
2. Processes of diversification of igneous rocks: differentiation, assimilation, partial melting.
3. General knowledge of magma genesis with special reference to granite and basalt.
4. image sedimentary structures: bedding and lamination, cross bedding, graded bedding, penecontemporenous deformation structures.
5. Barroian zone of metamorphism. Concept of metamorphic facies. Facies classification of metamorphic rocks. P-T fields of metamorphic facies.
6. Orogeny, epirogeny and mountain building.

   

Paper IV. Group B (Applied Geology)
Full Marks - 45, Periods - 45

1. Desirable specification of the minerals uses as essential raw material in the following industries: iron and steel, cement, refractories, fertilizers.
2. Coal: classification - peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracie. Consistuents of coal viz. vitrain, durain, clarain, fusain. Origin of coal. Industrial uses of coal.
3. Petroleum: indication, migration, accumulation and origin. Use of microfossils in oil exploration.
4. An outline of India's reserve position with regard to supply of fuels (coal, petroleum), iron, alluminium, manganese, uranium, thoium, mica, gold and diamond.
5. Rocks as building materials - Indian occurrence.
6. An elementary idea on the application of Engineering Geology for construction of reservoir dam, tunnel and control of sea beach erosion.
7. Geological Hazards and their management mitigation: Earthquake, Landslides, Land subsidence.
8. Groundwater: definition, water table, aquifer types and different rocks as acquifer - (a) Gravels, sand, sandstone, limestone and glacial deposits. (b) Igneous rocks, (c) Metamorphic rocks. - recharge and discharge of ground water. Quality of ground water, pollution of ground water.
9. Remote sensing: principles and application in geology.

   

Part II
General Course Practical

Paper V
Full Marks - 30, Periods - 60 (Excluding field work)

Rocks (Full Marks - 6)

1. Recognition of the following rocks in hand specimen:
   Granite, pegmatite, gabbro, anorthosite, rhyolite, basalt, dolerite shale, sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, coal, laterite, gneiss, schist, slate, phyllite, marble, quartzite, breccia, banded haematite quartzite, amphibolite, augen gneiss, charnockite, khondalite, calc-gneiss (the underline rocks are also included in the syllabus for B. Sc Part - I General Course Practical)
2. Studies under microscope (Full Marks - 14)
   (a) Study under petrographic microscope of the following minerals:
   Quartz, orthoclase, microcline, plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, hornblende, muscovite, biotite, garnet, tourmaline, kyanite, sillimanite, calcite, staurolite, epidote. (the underline rocks are also included in the syllabus for B. Sc Part - I General Course Practical)
   (b) Estimation of relative refractive indices by Backe test.
   (c) Determination of extinction angle
3. Field work (Full Marks - 5)
   Field investigation of an Economic mineral deposit and preparation of field report.
4. Laboratory Note Books (Full Marks - 5)