Geological Sciences

- Physical characters of the planet and their geological significance. 2 hours - Rocks deformation: rheology (brittle and ductile behaviour), principal tectonic elements (faults, folds and fractures) and their associations in extensional, strike-slip and compressional regimes. 20 hours -Relationships between tectonics and sedimentation, tectonics and magmatism, tectonics and metamorphism. 4 hours - Build up of a global model: direct observations and interpretation of geophysical data (heat flow, gravimetry and isostasy, paleomagnetism, seismology). Oceanic and continental crust, mantle and core. 6 hours -Plate tectonics: physical characters and evolution of lithospheric plates and of their margins. Mid-ocean ridges, transform, convergent and divergent margins. Subductions, arc-trench systems, backarc basins, accretionary prisms, ophiolites, orogenic belts, vergence and timing of deformation. 14 hours - The Earth through time: the Wilson’s cycle. Principal Phanerozoic events (Caledonian, Variscan and Alpine cycles). Notions on the geology of Italy and Mediterranean area and on the sedimentary successions of Central Italy. Seismicity of the Mediterranean region. 16 hours Practicals: -Discussion of sedimentary successions. 4 hours -Discussion of deformations at variable scale, with the use of outcrop pictures. 4 hours -Processing of data acquired during the excursions; interpretation of focal mechanisms; discussion of rock samples. 4 hours -Reconstruction of the geological history of a region from sedimentary successions; reconstruction of the relative age o sedimentary, magmatic and metamorphic rocks and of tectonics structures. 4 hours -Geological maps: outcrop shape; reading of geological maps; interpretation of geological structures. 4 hours Laboratory: -Elements of stratimetry. 8 hours -Construction of geological cross-sections from geological maps and subsurface data. 20 hours Excursions: - Daily excursions will allow the teacher to illustrate in the field the stratigraphic and tectonic issues discussed during lectures. In the field the students will build geological maps based on observations. The participants will be required to write a brief report. 40 hours

From all previous courses: ability to recognize common (sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic) rocks. From Physics: conversion o measurement units, concept of force, stress and deformation, potential energy. From Geografia fisica con elementi di Cartografia: construction of a topographic profile, formation of Universe and Earth. From Paleontologia: Concepts of biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy, paleobathymetric and paleoenvironmental significance of principal fossils, use of compass and basic knowledge on the Umbria-Marche sedimentary succession. From Geomorfologia: relationship between tectonics, erosion and morphology. From Geologia I: Composition and classification of sedimentary rocks, main depositional environments, kinds of stratigraphic contacts, main principles of stratigraphy, intersection principle, basic knowledge on paleobathymetry, use of compass, basic knowledge of the Lazio-Abruzzi sedimentary succession and of the clastic rocks of the Central Apennines. From Mineralogia: main rock forming minerals From Petrografia: interior of the Earth (from petrographic constraints), geothermal and adiabatic gradient, mineralogical composition of igneous rocks and their classification, metamorphic facies (index minerals), petrogenetic grids, concept of kinetics of metamorphic reactions. From Fisica terrestre: Interior of the Earth (geophysical contraints), stress ellipsoid and stress principal axes.

A fundamental source for the preparation of the exam consists in the lecture slides, which are provided in electronic form to the students. The arguments treated in the course cannot be found in a unique book. The basic notions are contained in a few chapters of the following volumes: -Casati P. (1996) - Scienze della Terra vol. I, Elementi di geologia generale. Ed. città studi. -Bosellini A., Mutti E., Ricci Lucchi F. (1995) - Rocce e successioni sedimentarie. ed. utet. -Haakon Fossen (2020) - Geologia strutturale , Ed Zanichelli. The reading of scientific papers will be suggested to the students. In addition, the students will have to practice in reading geological maps, which can be borrowed from the library.

It is highly recomended to attend the lectures, expecially the practise lessons and the field works.

The final exam consists of a practical and an oral test. Practical test. Building of a geological cross-section from a geological map. Only the students that will pass the practical test will be allowed to the oral test. The practical test is valid for the exam session in which it is done and in the following session. Oral test. The oral test will deal with the subjects discussed in the lectures and during practicals. In particular, the test will include a discussion of a geological map and of the cross-section from the practical test, the recognition of a rock and a discussion on its geological significance and a general discussion on the issues treated during the course. In case of failure, the student will have to repeat the practical test. The student will pass the evaluation when the following knowledge will be demostrated: - Use of compass. - Recognition of the elements of a fold (axis, axial plane, limbs), their measurement and use for the classification of faults. Parasitic faults. - Geometric elements of faults (hangingwall, footwall, fault surface, throw). - Normal faults: geometry, classification (planar, rotational and listric faults) and associated structures (drag folds and rollover anticlines). -Reverse/thrust faults: geometry (tectonic windows, klippe, frontal, oblique and lateral ramps), classification (planar and ondulated faults, duplex, imbricate fans) and associated structures (drag folds, fault propagation and fault bend folds). - Strike-slip faults: geometries (en-echelon, braided, relay), and associated structures (negative and positive flower structures, restraining steopvers e releasing stepovers [pull-apart basins]). - Representation in geological maps of attitude, stratigraphic boundaries (stratimetry), folds and faults. Construction of geological cross-sections - Reconstruction of the evolution of a given region (variation in time of depositional environments, age of faults and folds, magmatism/metamorphism and their age) from a geological map.

A fundamental source for the preparation of the exam consists in the lecture slides, which are provided in electronic form to the students. The arguments treated in the course cannot be found in a unique book. The basic notions are contained in a few chapters of the following volumes: -Casati P. (1996) - Scienze della Terra vol. I, Elementi di geologia generale. Ed. città studi. -Bosellini A., Mutti E., Ricci Lucchi F. (1995) - Rocce e successioni sedimentarie. ed. utet. -Haakon Fossen (2020) - Geologia strutturale , Ed Zanichelli. The reading of scientific papers will be suggested to the students. In addition, the students will have to practice in reading geological maps, which can be borrowed from the library.

Lectures will consist of frontal teaching, practicals and fielwork.