Exploration Geology

Earth’s interior, PREM, stratigraphy of the continental and oceanic crust, Moho, age of the Moho, continental and oceanic lithosphere; 1300°C isotherm, asthenosphere, upper and lower mantle, Earth’s core; apparent and true polar wander; geothermal gradient; rheological profile, brittle-ductile regimes; post-glacial rebound; definition of plate; earthquakes at plate boundaries; stress tensors; transtensive and transpressive tectonics; seismic waves, tomography; hotspots and wetspots; Forces acting on the lithosphere; Mantle convention; Slab pull; ridge push; tidal drag; kinematic reference frames, no-net-rotation; Nuvel 1; net-rotation or westward drift of the lithosphere; Euler pole; Mainstream of plate motions; Tectonic equator; Relative and “absolute” plate motion; differential rotation of the core; Slab windows; slab detachment; lithospheric delamination; Secular deceleration of the Earth’s rotation and length of the day (LOD) variation; Moon’s escape; Solid core growth; Astronomical effects on plate tectonics. Sedimentary basins: origins and classification; subsidence rates and geodynamic settings; Intraplate basins; Plate boundary basins and their thermal state; Divergent margins, rifting and drifting stages; breakup unconformity; magnetic anomalies and magnetic field inversions; passive continental margins; sedimentary tripartition; volcanic and non-volcanic margin; oceanic ridges classification; sea-floor spreading; slow and fast oceanic ridges; Sclater curve; extensional models; stretching factor beta; asymmetry of rifts and uplift of continents. Decollement planes; subsidence types: tectonic, thermal, loading, compaction; Transform margins; transform faults; regional examples; Geodynamics of California and San Andreas fault. Convergent margins, subduction zones, backarc basin, orogens and accretionary prisms; tectonic erosion; salients and recesses; different orogenic belts as a function of the subduction polarity; forebelt and retrobelt; decollement planes depth; foredeep and foreland basin; regional monocline and foreland. Interpretation of seismic reflection profiles. Regional examples: differences between Alps and Apennines; Geodynamics and magmatism; Geodynamics and metamorphism; Geodynamics and seismicity; Geodynamics and eustacy; Geodynamics and topography; Geodynamics and sedimentation; Geodynamics and energy resources; Geodynamics and climate.

None for graduates in three three-year courses in geology, but students from different masters are invited to follow basic geology courses. Elements of plate tectonics; programs of the Geology 1 and 2 courses

Anderson D.L. 1989. Theory of the Earth. Blackwell (open access) Bally et al. (1985) - Elementi di tettonica regionale. Ed. Pitagora Editrice, Bologna. Kearey and Vine (1994) - Tettonica globale. Ed. Zanichelli. Doglioni and Flores (1994) An introduction to the Italian geology. Ed. Lamisco (scaricabile in rete); Doglioni and Carminati (2008) Structural styles and Dolomites field trip. Mem. Descrittive Carta Geol. D’Italia (scaricabile in rete). Fowler (1990) - The Solid Earth. Ed. Cambridge University Press. Class notes

Presence in class; formally optional, but practically compulsory to acquire adequate skills

Report on the geodynamics of an area chosen by the student; Oral assessment on the course subject

Traditional lectures in class and exercises