This geology course enables the student to understand the main geological processes related to Civil Engineering.

In the course we will work on the following transverse competences

T1: an ability to identify, formulate and sovle engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.

T2: An ability to work in a team.

T3: An ability to communicate effectively orally and in a written way.



In the course we will work on the following specific competences



C1.- Know the basic principles of geology in order to understand how do most geological processes work.

C2.- Learn to read geological cartographies in order to know the types of substrates and geological structures with the help of geological maps.

C3.- Distinguish between the different types of materials that we find on Earth in order to classify the different types of rocks and minerals.

C4.- Understand the dimension of time in Geology to be able to order the processes that have occurred throughout the history of the Earth on the time scale.

C5.- Know the internal structure of the Earth in order to understand the geological processes that occur in the earth's crust.

C6.- Know the external structure of the Earth in order to understand the variables that regulate the climate and their relationship with the agents that shape the Earth's surface.

C7.- Know both the basic principles and generalizations of mineralogy, as well as the various mineralogical processes and formation environments, becoming familiar with the different geological disciplines, especially the petrological ones.





The student will obtain the following learning outcomes:



1. Applies the strategies of scientific methodology to solve engineering problems: perform qualitative analysis, use scientific-technical terminology, abstract, formulate hypotheses, build models, apply results, analyze existence, uniqueness, properties and interpretation of solutions, look for generalizations and build proofs.



2. Solve geometry problems graphically on the plane, using the appropriate techniques and methods.



3. Interpret geological cartographies to be able to know the types of substrates and geological structures present with the help of geological maps, and differentiate the different types of materials that we find on Earth in order to classify the different types of rocks and minerals.

Topic 1: Introduction to geology.

Areas of engineering geology

Geology in civil engineering



Topic 2: Mineralogy

Mineral composition

Mineral structure

Physical properties of minerals

Classes of Rock-forming minerals



Topic 3: Petrology

Petrographic cycle

Igneous rocks

Sedimentary rocks

Metamorphic rocks



Topic 4: Internal geodynamics:

Earth´s structure and composition

Continental drift

Plate tectonics

Volcanos

Earthquakes



Topic 5: Geological structures

Stresses and deformations in the crust

Influence factors on rock resistance

Geological structures due to ductile behavior: folds and diapirs

Geological structures due to brittle behavior: faults and joints



Topic 6: time in geology

Geological time scale

Fundamental principles of stratigraphy

Relative and absolute dating



Topic 7: Climatology

Composition and general structure of the atmosphere

Climate and parameters that determine the climate

Global atmospheric circulation and climatic zoning



Topic 8: Geomorphology

Weathering, erosion, transport and sedimentation

Gravitational processes

Surface water streams

Coastal processes

Glaciers

Wind



Topic 9: Hydrogeology

Hydrologic cycle

Groundwater: storage, circulation and extraction

Erosion by gorundwater



Topic 10: Rock mass

Geomechanical classification of the rocky matrix

Geomechanical classification of the rock mass

On-site testing of the rock mass



Topic 11: Geological cartography

In the classes, we will work on theoretical explanations and exercises related to each topic.



Throughout the course, we will propose exercises for learning and continuous self-evaluation of the students, so that they can see the progress in their training process at all times.



We will carry out a midterm exam in the middle of the semester.



We will carry out compulsory laboratory practices.



In all the exams, theoretical, theoretical-practical questions and / or exercises may be proposed.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 80
  • Laboratory practices (%): 20

The evaluation of the course can be continuous or final evaluation for those who give up correctly the continuous evaluation.





FOR THE CASE OF CONTINUOUS EVALUATION, the evaluation will be carried out as indicated below:



a) Classroom exercises

The weekly individual study and the resolution of exercises constitutes a powerful learning tool. For this reason, theoretical-practical or practical exercises of what was seen in class will be proposed and they will be evaluated. It is not compulsory to do the exercises, but they will have quantitative effects on the final mark of the students who have passed the course, by means of a multiplying factor greater than 1, which will be explained in point d) of this section.



b) Laboratory practices (20% of the final mark)

Attendance and presentation of laboratory reports are compulsory. Whoever does the laboratory practices must obtain a minimum grade of 5 to pass the course. Whoever does not carry out the practices or who fails them must present a practical exam in the final exam and must obtain a minimum grade of 5 in this part to pass the course.



c) Written exam(80% of the mark)

There will be a partial exam in the middle of the semester in which the theoretical-practical contents will be evaluated and whose value will be 30% of the grade. To release this part of the final exam, the minimum grade is 5. Whoever releases this part will have to obtain a minimum of 5 in the final test to pass the course.



In the final exam, the theoretical-practical contents of the second part (30% of the mark) and the classroom practices (20% of the mark) will be evaluated. In case of not having released the partial exam, the final exam would have the complete theoretical-practical contents (60% of the mark) and the classroom practices (20% of the mark) and the minimum mark to pass the subject is 5.

The exams propose theoretical, theoretical-practical questions and / or exercises.



d) Final mark:

Once the conditions to pass the course have been completed, the mark for the course will be determined taking into account the mark obtained in the classroom exercises. The mark for the course will be given by:



(mark of the ordinary call)=(Mark of the theoretical exam + laboratory exercises) * (1+f)

where f is a multiplying factor (f<0,2) determined by the mark obtained in the classroom exercises.

For example: Mark of theoretical exam + laboratory practices=6,5; f=0,15. Subject grade= 7,5.





We will not save parts or notes from one academic year to another.





FOR THE CASE OF FINAL EVALUATION



In order to access this type of evaluation, the student must give up continuous evaluation. To do this, students must submit a written document to the teaching staff responsible for the subject giving up the continuous evaluation, for which they will have a period of 9 weeks from the beginning of the semester corresponding to the subject. This procedure is stated in the agreement on December 15, 2016 of the Governing Council of the University of the Basque Country, and published in the BOPV on March 13, 2017 , chapter II, article 8.



The final evaluation will consist of two parts:

The first part (80% final score) will be an individual written exam corresponding to theoretical and theoretic-practical issues seen in class.



The second part (20% final score) will be an individual written test corresponding to the contents concerning the laboratory practices. For this, the students will contact the professor responsible for the subject (within a period not exceeding 10 weeks from the beginning of the semester corresponding to the subject) in order to specify the content concerning the practices.





WITHDRAWALL:



If the student does not show up to the written final exam, professors will assume that he/she gives up the evaluation call and we will indicate as “Not shown up”.





If the sanitary circumstances so advice, we will assess the students non-face-to-face through the telematic means offered by the e-gela platform.

The evaluation of the course can be continuous or final evaluation for those who give up correctly the continuous evaluation.





FOR THE CASE OF CONTINUOUS EVALUATION, the evaluation will be carried out as indicated below:



a) Classroom exercises

The weekly individual study and the resolution of exercises constitutes a powerful learning tool. For this reason, theoretical-practical or practical exercises of what was seen in class will be proposed and they will be evaluated. It is not compulsory to do the exercises, but they will have quantitative effects on the final mark of the students who have passed the course, by means of a multiplying factor greater than 1, which will be explained in point d) of this section.



b) Laboratory practices (20% of the final mark)

Attendance and presentation of laboratory reports are compulsory. Whoever does the laboratory practices must obtain a minimum grade of 5 to pass the course. Whoever does not carry out the practices or who fails them must present a practical exam in the final exam and must obtain a minimum grade of 5 in this part to pass the course.



c) Written exam(80% of the mark)

There will be a partial exam in the middle of the semester in which the theoretical-practical contents will be evaluated and whose value will be 30% of the grade. To release this part of the final exam, the minimum grade is 5. Whoever releases this part will have to obtain a minimum of 5 in the final test to pass the course.



In the final exam, the theoretical-practical contents of the second part (30% of the mark) and the classroom practices (20% of the mark) will be evaluated. In case of not having released the partial exam, the final exam would have the complete theoretical-practical contents (60% of the mark) and the classroom practices (20% of the mark) and the minimum mark to pass the subject is 5.

The exams propose theoretical, theoretical-practical questions and / or exercises.



d) Final mark:

Once the conditions to pass the course have been completed, the mark for the course will be determined taking into account the mark obtained in the classroom exercises. The mark for the course will be given by:



(mark of the ordinary call)=(Mark of the theoretical exam + laboratory exercises) * (1+f)

where f is a multiplying factor (f<0,2) determined by the mark obtained in the classroom exercises.

For example: Mark of theoretical exam + laboratory practices=6,5; f=0,15. Subject grade= 7,5.





We will not save parts or notes from one academic year to another.





FOR THE CASE OF FINAL EVALUATION



In order to access this type of evaluation, the student must give up continuous evaluation. To do this, students must submit a written document to the teaching staff responsible for the subject giving up the continuous evaluation, for which they will have a period of 9 weeks from the beginning of the semester corresponding to the subject. This procedure is stated in the agreement on December 15, 2016 of the Governing Council of the University of the Basque Country, and published in the BOPV on March 13, 2017 , chapter II, article 8.



The final evaluation will consist of two parts:

The first part (80% final score) will be an individual written exam corresponding to theoretical and theoretic-practical issues seen in class.



The second part (20% final score) will be an individual written test corresponding to the contents concerning the laboratory practices. For this, the students will contact the professor responsible for the subject (within a period not exceeding 10 weeks from the beginning of the semester corresponding to the subject) in order to specify the content concerning the practices.





WITHDRAWALL:



If the student does not show up to the written final exam, professors will assume that he/she gives up the evaluation call and we will indicate as “Not shown up”.





If the sanitary circumstances so advice, we will assess the students non-face-to-face through the telematic means offered by the e-gela platform.

- Notes of the subject.
- Theory and exercises explained in class and proposed to the students.
- Sheets of laboratory practices.
- Theory and exercises explained in laboratory practices and proposed to the students.

Basic bibliography

Grotzinger J, Jordan TH, Press F, Siever R. Understanding Earth. New York: WH Freeman, 2010.



G. M. Bennison, P.A. Olver, K.A. Moseley, An introduction to geological structures and maps, Taylor & Francis, London, 2011.

In-depth bibliography

D.G. Price, Engineering Geology, Springer, 2009.
A. Parriaux, Basics for engineers, CRC Press,London, 2009.
R. M. Busch, Laboratory manual in Physical Geology, Pearson Prentice Hall,. 2011.
A. Ludman, S. Marshak, Laboratory manual for introductory geology, WW Norton & company, New York, 2019.
D. A. V. Stow, Sedimentary rocks in the Field, a colur guide, Manson Publishing, London, 2005.

Journals

- Geological Society of American Bulletin.
- Geology
- Earth and Planetary Science Letters
- American Association of Petroleum Geology Bulletin

Web addresses

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html
Webgeology: http://webgeology.alfaweb.no/
American Museum of Natural History: http://www.amnh.org/