GEOL.

301: GENERAL GEOLOGY-I (Major and Minor)

2+1Credit Hours

SN Part
Introduction and scope of Geology, its importance and relationship with other sciences. Earth as a
member of solar system, its origin, age, composition and internal structure. Geological time scale.
Agents and processes of weathering, erosion and related landforms. Minerals and their physical
properties. Rock cycle and rock types. Primary structures of rocks.

MN Part
Description, classification and field identification of fold, fault, joint, foliation, lineation and
unconformity. Earthquake and volcanism. Isostasy. Introduction to plate tectonics and mountain
building processes.

LAB: Study of relief and structural features with models and topographic maps, and their
identification in the field. Use of basic field instruments. Study of geological maps and
construction of cross-sections. Identification of selected rocks and minerals.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

1. Billings, M.P. 1974. Structural Geology. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

2. Hamblin, W.K. 1989.The Earth’s Dynamic Systems. MacMillan Publishing, New York.
3. Hobbs, B.E., Means, W.D. and William, P.F. (1976) An Outline of Structural Geology. John Wiley and Sons,
New York.
4. Holmes, A.1978. Principles of Physical Geology. Thomas Nelson and Son Ltd. Edinburgh.
5. Park, R.G.1997.Foundation of Structural Geology. Chapman and Hall, London.
6. Plummer, C. C; McGeary, D. and. CarlsonD.H.2005. Physical Geology, McGraw Hill, New York.
7 Tuzo Wilson, J. 1976Continents Adrift and Continents Aground. W.H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco.

SN Topics

S. No. Topics
1 Introduction and scope of Geology, its importance and relationship with other sciences
2 Age of Universe and its origin, solar system
3 Composition and internal structure of the Earth
4 Rock cycle and rock types
5 Igneous rocks
6 Sedimentary rocks
7 Metamorphic rocks
8 Agents and processes of weathering, erosion
9 Physical and chemical weathering
10 Landforms
11 Minerals and their physical properties
12 Geological time scale
13 Primary structures of rocks.
 Topics

1. Solar System

Big Bang, Universe, Galaxies, Solar system, Earth

Life cycle of a star from birth to death

Planet, Moon, Asteroids, Comets, Meteoroids

Sun and Moon eclipses

Classification of Planets: types, size, composition, Position relative to the Sun

2. Internal structure of the Earth

Seismic waves and their types

Seismic Discontinuity

Structure of the earth, inner and upper core, Lower and Upper Mantle

Continental and Oceanic Crust, Lithosphere and Asthenosphere

3. Igneous rocks

Classification of Igneous Rocks

Textures of igneous rocks

Forms of igneous rocks

4. Sedimentary rocks

4a. Clastic sedimentary rocks, types and classification, sediment transport process

4b. Nonclastic sedimentary rocks

Carbonate, Evaporites, Siliceous Sedimentary Rocks, Organic Deposits

Coal, rank of the coal,

5. Metamorphic rocks

Agents of Metamorphism

Metamorphic grade

Metamorphic Facies
Metamorphic Textures, foliated and non-foliated

Types of Metamorphism: Regional Metamorphism Contact Metamorphism

6. Weathering and Erosion

Agents of Mechanical Weathering: Thermal Expansion, Frost Action, Gravity, Abrasion and
Living organisms

7. Chemical Weathering

Factors in Chemical Weathering, Climate, type and rate of Weathering

Processes of Chemical Weathering: Dissolution, Carbonation, Hydration, Hydrolysis, Oxidation

and Biochemical

8. Major Landforms

1. Constructive and Destructive Landforms formation Processes.

2. Major Types of Landforms: (Mountains, Hills, Plateaus, Plains).

3. Types of Mountains: (Volcanic mountains, Fold mountains, Block mountains)

4. Hills, Pir Mangho

5. Plateau definition and examples: Tibetan Plateau, Potwar Plateau, Kalat Plateau. Other
type: (Butte and Mesa)

6. Plains: Porali Plain

9. Minor Landforms
Valley: Shandoor Yasin Valley, Gilgit
Canyon: Grand Canyon, USA
Gorge: Toshangi Gorge, Larkana
Coast: Karachi coasts
Bay: Hawks Bay, Karachi
Cape: Cape Monze, Karachi
Peninsula: Arabian Peninsula
Delta: Indus Delta
Lagoon: Miani Hor lagoon
Island: Churna Island
Deserts: Thar Desert
10. Geological Time Scale
Division of geological time scale: Eons, Eras, Periods, and Epochs.
Major Extinctions (Unconformities): Permian-Triassic, Cretaceous-Paleocene
 Life through ages

11. Minerals
Mineralogy and minerals
Monomineralic Rocks
Types of minerals
Classification of Minerals: Native elements, Oxides, Sulphides, Sulphates, Carbonate,
Halides, Phosphates, Silicates
Families of Silicates: Olivines, Pyroxenes, Amphiboles, Feldspars, Mica, Quartz
Silicate Structures, Neso, Soro, Cyclo, Ino, Phyllo, Teckto silicates

12. Physical properties of minerals

A. State of Aggregation
1. Form: Crystal, Crystalline, Cryptocrystalline, Amorphous, Massive.
2. Habit: Acicular, Fibrous, Radiating, Prismatic, Bladed, Tabular, Botryoidal, Pisolitic,
Dendritic
B. Colour
1.Colour: Idiochromatic, Allochromatic, Pseudochromatic
2. Streak
3. Lusture:
a. Metallic and Submetallic
b. Nonmetallic: Adamantine, Pearly, Vitreous, Greasy, Resinous, Silky, Dull
4. Diaphaneity: Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

C. Mohs Hardness Scale

D. Fracture: Uneven, Conchoidal, Splintery, Hackly
E. Specific gravity: Low, Medium, Heavy
F. Cleavage: Basal, Prismatic, Pinacoidal, Cubic, Rhombohedral, Octahedral, Dodecahedral
G. Special Properties: Feel, Taste, Odour, Magnetism, Acid reaction