60/67/89 - TECTONICS AND GEODYNAMICS

Academic Year 2021/2022

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Objectives

Objectives of the course
Acquire the basics of tectonics and geodynamics: knowledge of the internal structure of the Earth and of the main processes that characterize it. Heat flow and variation of the rheological behaviour in depth. Elements of paleomagnetism and isostasy. Main aspects of plate tectonics and geodynamics of the lithosphere.
With this course is meant to give students a guide to the principles of the model of Plate Tectonics, a deepening of the relationship stress / strain at the lithosphere scale and a deepening about the build and restoration of geological cross sections.
Knowledge of the main elements of Plate tectonics and the basic principles of the theory. Ability to trace the geological phenomena to the general model. Knowledge of the main geodynamic settings and elements that characterize them. Ability to make balanced geological sections and reconstruct a three-dimensional geological model of an area.
Ability to connect local geological features to geodynamic environment to validate the proposed hypotheses. Able to assess the kinematics of lithospheric plates. Ability to balance a geological section and outline techniques for construction of subsurface geological maps.
Awareness of the geological complexity of a territory and its relationship with the global environment. Understanding of the depth of geological time.
Ability to communicate the elaborated geological models to other kind of technicians.
Awareness of the way the geological processes ate the geodynamic and tectonic scale , and the basic of subsurface mapping, could be improved and became the basis of other kind ok knowledge.

Prerequisites

Basics of Straigraphic and Structural geology, basics of Physics.

Contents

1-PLATE TECTONICS AND GEODYNAMICS
Earth interior
Stress in the litosphere
Seafloor spreading
- Paleomagnetism.
- Plate tectonics geometry and kinematics. Plate margins. Triple junctions.
-Plate tectonics dynamics.
Divergent margins
Convergent plate margin (subduction and collision).
Transform margins.
2-STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
Construction of geological cross-sections in deformed areas. Introduction to the basics of subsurface geological mapping, balanced sections and validation of geological maps.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and interactive lessons with exercises (6 cfu).
In the case of pandemic emergency COVID-19, lectures could be given also via web streaming.
The teacher receives by appointment via email.

Verification of learning

Requirements to attend the final examination:
Attendance for 60% of the scheduled lessons.
The final exam consists of an oral examination.
No-mandatory midterm tests could be scheduled at the beginning of the class.

Texts

Kearey P. & Vine F.J. - Tettonica globale Zanichelli.
Cox & Hart La tettonica delle placche. Meccanismi e modalità Zanichelli.
Fossen - Structural geology - Cambridge

Altri:
Suppe, J. - Principle of Structural Geology Ed. Prentice-Hall New Jersey, 537 pp
Condie K.C. - Plate Tectonics and Crustal Evolution - Butterworth-Heinemann.
Stuwe K. - Geodynamics of the Lithosphere. An Introduction - Springer-Verlag Berlin
Passchier C.W. and Trouw R.A.J. Microtectonics -1996, Berlin: Springer-Verlag. 289.
Merle O. 1998 - Emplacement mechanism of nappes and thrust sheets. -Kluwer, 159 pp.

More Information

Educational material available to students: slides used during the lessons, geological maps.

The University of Cagliari provides support for students with specific learning disability (SLD). More information can be found at: http://corsi.unica.it/scienzegeologiche/info-dsa/