1-INTRODUCTION-TO-ENGINEERING-GEOLOGY

Introduction to Engineering Geology

Overview

  • Field of study focused on Earth's processes, structure, and composition

  • Investigates rocks, minerals, and earth's interior using systematic methods

  • Supports resource exploration and environmental management

Physical Geology

  • Examines Earth’s structure, composition, and physical properties

  • Involves studying constituent rocks, minerals, and surficial features

Branches of Geology

Crystallography

  • Studies arrangement and bonding of atoms in crystalline solids

  • Focuses on the geometric structure of crystal lattices

Mineralogy

  • Scientific discipline on minerals: properties, composition, structure, and occurrence

  • Investigates physicochemical conditions of formation

Petrology

  • Study of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) and their formation processes

Structural Geology

  • Analyzes the form, arrangement, and internal structure of rocks

  • Represents and describes geological structures

Stratigraphy

  • Describes rock successions and interprets them on a time scale

  • Applies in fields like petroleum geology and archaeology

Paleontology

  • Studies life from geologic past through analysis of plant and animal fossils in rocks

Historical Geology

  • Uses geological principles to reconstruct Earth's geological history

Economic Geology

  • Concerned with distribution and economic recovery of mineral deposits

  • Assesses available reserves

Hydrogeology

  • Focuses on occurrence, distribution, and movement of underground water

Geotechnical Engineering

  • Studies engineering behavior of earth materials

  • Integrates geology, soil mechanics, and hydrology for various applications

  • Applies to foundation engineering and structural design

Rocks vs. Soil

  • Rocks: Aggregates of minerals found in Earth's crust

  • Soil: Unconsolidated materials from rock disintegration containing minerals, organic matter, gases, and organisms

  • Types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic

  • Soil classifications: coarse-grained (gravel, sand), fine-grained (silt, clay), organic (peat)

Rock Cycle Overview

  • Igneous Rocks: Form from crystallization of magma

  • Sedimentary Rocks: Form through sedimentation, compaction, and cementation

  • Metamorphic Rocks: Result from burial, high temperature, and pressure

  • Movement of magma from the Earth’s mantle and crust contributes to rock formation.