CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF GEOTECHNICS

What is Geology?

Geology - (Geo means earth and logy means science/or study). Geology- is the science that
deals with the earth as a whole. That is, it is the science of earth that deals with the origin,
age, structure of the earth, earth process, composition and its history including past plant and
animal’s life. Therefore, geology deals the Evolution, modification & extinction of surface
and sub-surface features of earth.

Engineering geology is: - Application of Geology to engineering practice, the application

of geological data, techniques and principles. It is a branch of science which deals with the
application of geology with, Safe, Stable, economical design and construction of civil
engineering projects. Engineering Geology is applied science that deals with the application
of geologic fundamentals to Civil Engineering (location of major Engineering Structures,
availability and suitability of Geological Construction Materials etc…), Is defined also as a
branch of science which deals with the study of the construction site & construction material,
It has a great important in safety, economical & stability of the design engineering project.

Civil engineering and hydraulics works are all carried out on or in the ground, its properties
and processes are therefore significant.

Geology is further divided into a number of branches according to subject matter and
industrial or commercial applications

Based on Subject Matter geology Implication

Physical geology – it deals with the origin, development and fate of various physical features
on the surface of the earth such as mountains, plateaus, valleys, rivers, lakes, glaciers and
volcanoes. The role played by external agents (wind, water, and ice) and internal agents
(volcanism and earthquake) on the physical features of the earth makes major areas of study
in physical geology. Similarly, the disposition of rock bodies, water bodies and huge moving
deposits of ice on the surface and their structures also form important subjects of physical
geology. Physical geology is also variously described as dynamic geology, geomorphology,
etc.
Petrology – petro means rock, logos means study. Petrology deals with study of rocks, rock
formation, and their mode of occurrence, their composition, and texture.

Mineralogy – it deals with the study of minerals, mineral formation, occurrence, properties.
Minerals are the basic units with which different rocks and ores of the earth are made up of.
Details of mode of formation, composition, occurrence, association, properties and uses of
minerals are studied. Knowledge of mineralogy is necessary for a civil engineer because the
properties of rocks are to a large extent contributed by the properties and composition of their
constituent minerals. For example, sometimes quartzite and marble resemble one another in
shine, color and appearance. But quartzite by virtue of its mineral composition is very hard,
tough, strong, and durable, while marble disintegrates and discomposes in a shorter period
because of its mineral composition and properties.

Geochemistry – it is a branch of geological science dealing with chemical composition of the

earth as a planet and also of its various parts. It deals with occurrence, distribution,
abundance, mobility, etc. of different elements in the earth crust. It is not important from civil
engineering point of view.

Structural Geology - Studies the geometry of geologic structures (such as faults, folds,
joints, intrusive bodies, etc) and how these structures form, their significance to the geologic
history of an area, and their relationship to plate-tectonic motions. The rocks which form the
earth’s crust undergo various deformations, dislocations and disturbances under the actions of
tectonic forces. The result is the occurrence of different geological structures like folds,
faults, joints and unconformities in rocks. The details of mode of formation, causes, types,
classification, importance, etc. of these geological structures are studied under the branch
structural geology. From civil engineering point of view, structural geology is important
because these geological structures modify the inherent physical character of rocks rendering
them more suitable or unsuitable for civil engineering purposes. For example, at a dam site,
sedimentary rocks with upstream dip provide a desirable geological set up, while the same
rocks with downstream dip make the geological set up most undesirable.

Geophysics – deals with the Earth's internal structure and processes by applying the
principles of physics. It is the study of the physics of the earth and its environment in space

We can measure the physical properties of rocks that can be used to investigate the
subsurface properties of the planet with a variety of methods, Seismic, Gravity, and
Electromagnetic

Hydrogeology - deals with surface and underground water management

Environmental geology: Deals with Geological, climatic and man-made hazards

Paleontology: Deals with ancient fossils

Economic Geology: Deals with geologic resources having economic value. This branch
deals with the study of those minerals and rocks and other materials (fuels, etc) occurring on
and in the earth that can be exploited for the benefit of man. These include a variety of ores of
all the metals and non-metals, building stones, salt deposits, fuels (coal, petroleum, natural
gas and atomic minerals) and industrial minerals for refractories, abrasives and insulations.
The details of their mode of formation, occurrence, classification, association, varieties,
concentration, properties, uses, etc. form the subject matter of economic geology.

Volcanology: Monitor (detect) active volcanoes, Predict eruptions

The Importance of Engineering Geologist to Civil Engineers