INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL

GEOLOGY

ENGR. KRISTINE R. CERVANCIA

 OBJECTIVE

• Definition of geology, its branches, and its role in

construction industry.
 COURSE OUTLINE

1. Definition
2. Branches in Geology
DEFINITION
 DEFINITION

Geology is a Branch of Natural science deals

with the study of the Earth, It is also known
as Earth science.
 DEFINITION

The word "Geology" is derived from the

Greek word "geo" means globe and "logos"
means logical discourse.
 DEFINITION

• In the past, people divided it into two broad areas,

as physical geology and historical geology.
• The subject of Physical geology deals with the
study of Earth's materials, such as minerals and
rocks, as well as the processes that are operating
on and within the Earth and on its surface.
 DEFINITION

• The subject of Historical geology focuses on the origin and

evolution of life on the Earth, its continents, oceans,
atmosphere, and the life of all ecosystems.
• Historical geology is more than just concentrating on the
past events in geological history. It is the study of the
sequential changes that have happened and evolved
continuously during the past 4.6 billion years on the planet.
 DEFINITION

Geology is the scientific study of the all constituents

of planets, their internal and external forms and
processes. More precisely, it is the study of nature,
structure and history of the planet.
 DEFINITION

Earth is the home to all life, well known to the

humankind. Geology, itself, is a major part of The
Earth and atmospheric sciences, which were born as
twins . The subject of geology encompasses all
aspects including the composition, structure,
physical properties, and history of a planets'( like
Earth's) inter-related components and the processes
that are shaping the features on the surface.
 DEFINITION

Geologists are the scientists who study the origin,

occurrence, distribution and utilities of all
materials(metallic, non-metallic, inorganic, etc),
minerals, rocks, sediments, soils, water, oil and all
other inorganic natural resources.
 DEFINITION

It is a very vast subject covering a wide spectrum of

scientific principles and holding hundred and fifty
plus scientific branches.
 SEATWORK 1

Define, discuss and illustrate at least ten branches

of geology.
You could use PPT, WORD OR OTHER MEDIUM
as long as you submit it in one file, PDF format
with filename:
Surname_Firstname_SW1_Course_Section.pdf
 DEFINITION

Engineering geology may be defined as that of

applied sciences which deals with the
application of geology for a safe, stable land
economical design and construction of a civil
engineering project
BRANCHES OF GEOLOGY
 BRANCHES OF GEOLOGY

1. MINERALOGY 6. ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

2. PETROLOGY 7. STRATIGRAPHY
3. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY 8. PHOTO GEOLOGY
4. CIVIL ENGINEERING 9. PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
GEOLOGY 10.HYDROLOGY
5. MINING GEOLOGY
 SCOPE OF GEOLOGY IN
CIVIL ENGINERRING

• It is defined as that of applied science which

deal with the application of geology for a
safe, stable and economic design and
construction of a civil engineering project.
 SCOPE OF GEOLOGY IN
CIVIL ENGINERRING

• Engineering geology is almost universally

considered as essential as that of soil mechanics,
strength of material, or theory of structures.
 SCOPE OF GEOLOGY IN
CIVIL ENGINERRING

• The application of geological knowledge in

planning, designing and construction of big civil
engineering projects.
 SCOPE OF GEOLOGY IN
CIVIL ENGINERRING

• The basic objects of a course in engineering geology are

two folds.
• It enables a civil engineer to understand the engineering implications
of certain condition should relate to the area of construction which
is essentially geological in nature.
• It enables a geologist to understand the nature of the geological
information that is absolutely essentially for a safe design and
construction of a civil engineering projects.
 SCOPE OF GEOLOGY IN
CIVIL ENGINERRING

• The scope of geology can be studied is best

studied with reference to major activities of the
profession of a civil engineer which are
• Construction
• Water resources development
• Town and regional planning
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

1.Mapping: The engineering geologist has to

prepare a geological map of the area based
on aerial photo and satellite imagery
interpretation and field observation.
Subsurface geological features are also
mapped.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

1.Mapping: The engineering geologist has to

prepare a geological map of the area based
on aerial photo and satellite imagery
interpretation and field observation.
Subsurface geological features are also
mapped.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

2. Exploration: In this stage the engineering

geologist explore the area based on exploration
techniques. The engineering geologist works from
the planning stage. Supervise the exploration works
and records the data for further interpretation.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

3. Project Planning: Project planning is the most

important aspect in civil engineering.The civil
engineer plans the various stages. The engineering
geologists plans and prepares geologic feasibility and
developmental parameters reports, which are useful
to the civil engineer for planning the project
schedule.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

4. Surface water: The engineering geologist and

the civil engineer together prepare surface –water
mapping. Both study the volume of total runoff,
drainage basin characteristics and sedimentary
process in the basin. Weathered areas, silting
potential and erosion potential are also estimated
before planning any hydraulic structure in the basin.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

5. Groundwater: Groundwater is the major

problem in the majority of civil engineering works.
The engineering geologist studies in detail the
occurrence, movement, structural controls and
hydro geological properties of the rocks. Hydro
geological maps are prepared for civil engineering
purposes.
WELL DATA
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

6. Slope Stability: Geological

parameters of possible slide
regions are studies
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

7. Geological Structures: Field investigation is carried out

for selection of a suitable area.
• Detailed surface-subsurface studies are conducted and
surface and subsurface maps are prepared. The engineering
geologist and the civil engineer conduct in-situ tests for
foundation materials, supervise the construction methods
and monitor the structure after completion of the work.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

8. Tunneling: The tunnel site selected is based on a

detailed study of the region. The civil engineer and
the geologist have to conduct in-situ tests for
estimation of weathered zone thickness, depth of
hard rock, structural features etc.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

9. Earthquake: The engineering geologist studies

the seismic nature of the project site. He examines
the seismic zoning map of the country, evaluates
active and inactive faults and keeps the historical
record of the earthquake of the region in which the
civil engineer will prepare a seismic design of
structure.
 APPLICATION OF EARTH SCIENCE
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICES

Geological features of the civil engineering

have to be studied a detail before execution
of the work.The engineering geologist must
work from the exploration stage to the end
of the project.
NEXT: THE EARTH’S STRUCTURE
AND COMPOSITION