Engineering Geology I

Course Objective:   
This course has been designed to provide basic knowledge of geology to the students of civil engineering. It would be helpful for them to understand how to identify the different types of rocks, minerals, geological structures, geological processes and their impacts on engineering structures etc. Furthermore, the course will help students to know about geological setting of Himalaya, geological structures for development of infrastructures.

1. Geology and Civil Engineering  (2 hours)
1. Geology and different branches of science: Introduction and their interrelationships, geology, geography, geophysics, geochemistry, geodetic, climatology, and meteorology, oceanography and astronomical aspects of the earth- moon  system.
2. Different branches of geology and their interrelations
3. Scope, objective and importance of geology in civil engineering
4. Definition of engineering geology (according to IAEG), role and tasks of an engineering geologist, scope, objectives and its importance in the context of Nepal

2. Basic Reviews of the Earth  (3 hours)
1. The Earth:  its origin, age, components, structure
2. Introduction to history of the Earth: Geological time scale, origin and evolution of life
3. Physical features of the earth surface: Continental & oceanic features, mountains, plateau and shields
4. Internal structure of the Earth
5. Plate tectonics and mountain building process and formation of the Himalayas

3. Crystallography & Mineralogy  (4 hours)
1. Introduction and crystal morphology, symmetry elements, crystal form & habits and crystal system
2. Physical, chemical and optical  properties of minerals
3. Classification and identification of  common rock forming minerals

4. Petrology  (6 hours)
1. Introduction: Petrology, petrography and petrogenesis
2. Rock and rock cycle: Introduction
3. Classification, structure, textures of rocks
4. Engineering Significance of three rock classes
5. Macroscopic study of  rocks on the basis of physical and engineering properties of      following common rock types found in earth  crust: Granite, Ryhyollite, Gabbro, Basalt, Pegmatite, Syenite Shale, Siltstone, limestone, Sandstone, Conglomerate, Breccia, slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss, Quartzite, Marble

5. Structural Geology  (5 hours)
1. Rock deformations and reasons
2. Attitude of geological structures: Dip, strike, trend, plunge
3. Measurement of orientation of geological strata using geological maps, geological compass and plotting of data on map.
4. Geological structures: Primary sedimentary structures (bedding plane, lamination, cross bedding, graded bedding ripple marks, mud cracks etc.)
5. Secondary (deformation) structures: Continuous (lineation, foliation, boudinage, crenulation cleavage, folds) and discontinuous (cracks fractures, joints, faults & thrusts)
6. Field identification criteria of geological structures
7. Engineering significance of geological structures

6. Physical Geology  (8 hours)
1. Introduction: Definition, different geological agents
2. Geomorphological processes : Weathering and erosion
3. Geological cycle
4. Geological agents : Running water, glaciers, groundwater, wind and sea water, and various landforms produced by the geomorphological agents
5. Volcanism

7. Geology of Nepal  (2 hours)
1. Introduction to the physiography and tectonic division of the Nepal Himalaya
2. Geology of the Terai Zone
3. Geology of the Siwalik Zone
4. Geology of the Lesser Himalaya Zone
5. Geology of the Higher Himalaya Zone
6. Geology of the Tethys Himalaya Zone
7. Study of Geological Units:  Complex, group, formation, member

Practical:

1. Identification of  common rock forming minerals : Quartz, Plagioclase, Orthoclase, Muccovite, Biotite, Chlorite, Calcite, Dolomite, Mangnesite, Pyroxene, Tourmaline, Pyrite, Gypsum, Talc, Fluorite,Apatite,Topaz,Corundum,Diamond,Kyanite,Silliminite,Garnet and clay minerals
2. Identification of rocks:Granite, Ryhyollite, Gabbro, Basalt, Pegmatite, SyeniteShale, Siltstone, Limestone, Sandstone, Conglomerate, Breccia, Slate, Phyllite, Schist, Gneiss, Quartzite, Marble
3. Study of geological structures in block diagrams
4. Study of Maps: Topographic and geological maps, construction of geological cross-sections and their interpretations

Fieldwork (2 Days)
Demonstration of the use of Geological Compass for the dip/ strike and trend/ plunge measurement, Identification of rocks, study of geological structures in field (Attendance in fieldwork is compulsory)

References:

1. A. Holmes “Principles of Physical Geology”, ELBS English Language Society
2. M.P. Billings “Principles of Structural Geology”, Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi
3. Dr. C.K. Sharma “Geology of Nepal”, Educational Enterprises
4. P.C. Ghimire and M.S. Dhar “Engineering Geology”
5. Dr. R.K. Dahal “Geology for Technical Students”, Bhirkuti Publications
6. Blyth, F.G.H. , Freitas, ”M.H.Geology For Engineers”, ELBS

Evaluation Scheme:
The questions will cover all the chapters of the syllabus. The evaluation scheme will be as indicated in the table below: