ADEWUMI GBENGA TIMILEHIN 6572803121 10/08/23

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Geology

Whenever there is an engineering work or an activity related to ground (sub)surface, either rock or
soil, geology will play an important role in various steps, e.g., design, planning, operation, post operation,
etc. The degree of important depends on type of work, location, terrain characteristics, size, and so on.
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, including its composition, structure, processes, and history.
It is a multidisciplinary field that combines elements of physics, chemistry, biology, and other sciences to
understand the planet’s geological features and phenomena. Geologists study rocks, minerals, fossils,
landforms, and natural resources to gain insights into the Earth’s past, present, and future.
Geology as a scientific field is essential for our understanding of the Earth’s history, structure, and
processes, as well as for locating and managing natural resources, predicting, and mitigating geologic hazards,
and addressing environmental challenges. Geologists use a variety of tools, methods, and technologies to
investigate the Earth’s geology, including fieldwork, laboratory analysis, remote sensing, and computational
modeling. The findings and insights from geology research contribute to our understanding of the planet and
help inform decision-making in fields such as energy, mining, environmental management, and civil
engineering.
BRACHES OF GEOLOGY
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its materials, processes, and history. It is a broad field that
can be subdivided into several branches, each focusing on specific aspects of the Earth’s composition,
structure, and history. Here are some of the main branches of geology:
Physical Geology: This branch deals with the study of Earth’s materials, including minerals and rocks, and the
processes that shape and modify the Earth’s surface, such as weathering, erosion, plate tectonics, and volcanic
activity.
Mineralogy: Mineralogy is the study of minerals, their properties, crystal structures, and occurrences in nature.
Mineralogists identify and classify minerals based on their physical and chemical characteristics.
Petrology: Petrology focuses on the study of rocks, their origin, formation, classification, and the processes that
lead to their transformation from one type to another.
Structural Geology: Structural geologists study the deformation of rocks and geological structures like faults
and folds, seeking to understand the forces that cause these deformations and the implications for Earth’s crust.
Sedimentology: Sedimentology is the study of sedimentary rocks and the processes involved in their formation,
including deposition, transportation, and diagenesis. It often provides insights into past environments and
Earth’s history.
Stratigraphy: Stratigraphy involves the study of rock layers (strata) and their chronological sequence, helping
to establish a relative and absolute timeline of Earth’s history.
Geomorphology: Geomorphologists investigate the landforms and landscapes on Earth’s surface, studying how
they are shaped by geological processes such as erosion, weathering, and tectonics.

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Volcanology: Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, volcanic processes, and volcanic landforms. It involves
understanding volcanic eruptions, magma composition, and volcanic hazards.
Geophysics: Geophysics applies physics principles to study Earth’s interior and its physical properties,
including seismicity, gravity, magnetic fields, and electrical conductivity.
Geochemistry: Geochemistry examines the distribution and behavior of elements and isotopes within the Earth’s
crust and how these impact geological processes.
Paleontology: Paleontology deals with the study of past life through fossils, helping to reconstruct the history
and evolution of life on Earth.
Environmental Geology: Environmental geologists assess the interaction between geology and the
environment, studying natural hazards, groundwater resources, and human impact on Earth’s systems.
Hydrogeology: Hydrogeologists study the distribution and movement of groundwater in the subsurface and its
interaction with geological formations.
Engineering Geology: Engineering geologists apply geological principles to civil engineering projects,
assessing geological hazards and ensuring the stability of structures.
Planetary Geology: Planetary geology focuses on the geology of other celestial bodies in the solar system and
beyond, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
These branches often overlap and complement each other, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of
Earth’s past, present, and future. Geologists use their knowledge to address various challenges, from resource
exploration to environmental conservation and hazard assessment.

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 ADEWUMI GBENGA TIMILEHIN 6572803121 10/08/23
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Essay Question (30 points)

Pretend you are working with big mining company which have many assets (mines) of various kinds of minerals.
Your boss asks you how each branch of geology plays the role in mining engineering. (Answer all of the
branches above).
Engineering Geology is important in mining engineering by enabling mining engineers to determine stable slope,
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Strength properties, failures zones, discountinuties in rock mass to ensure proper mine design for both surface and underground
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Physical geology also assist mining engineer(ing) to know the origin, structure, constituent of rock and mineral
as these will help mining engineers to identify area of application of each mineral and their host rock
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Mineralogy play a key role in mining engineering as it helps in classifying different rock and minerals
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for different purposes. it also help to determine the strength of each rock by examining it mineralogical composition
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Geophysics has been traditionally employ in mineral exploration for identification and delimitation of mineral
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deposit and has played an important role in reducing geological uncertainty in mining
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Geochemistry on mine sites and projects involves determining the geochemical baseline,monitoring
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surface and borehole water-quality, and characterizing ore and waste rocks for potential acid mine drainage and
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metal leaching
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Hydrogeology is of utmost importance in mining engineering as it aid mineral exploration and other mining
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process. Since water generally reduce the strength of rock, and also affect mining activities if not controlled.
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Sedimentology is very useful in open cast and underground mining to carry out geotechnical core drilling,
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plan room and pillar base on rock strength, conformity, in situ boulders and production benches
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Planetary geology play a key role in mining engineering through resources exploration, environmental conservation,
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and hazard management
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Structural geology is very important to mining engineering to calculate ore reserve estimation, ground
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control, grade control, mine planning and mineral exploration
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Petrology is important to mining as it is the key to discovery and development of mineral resources
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Stratigraphy: During exploration, engineers and geologist rely on sequence stratigraphy to identify
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and predict types and thickness of ore deposits in rock units, drift and soils
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Geomophology play an important role in mining engineering as it aid mine rehabilitation
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it makes reclamation, restoration and reuse of excavated land possible
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Volcanology: Most of the metallic minerals mined in the world such as copper, gold, silver and zinc
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are associated with magmas found deep within the roots of extinct volcanoes
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Palentology: During mine excavations, mines can run into animal fossils and these help scientists
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determine the environment during glacial cycles in the prehistoric world. Meaning types of fossil
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can help geologist determine how old a rock is along with other rock within the area
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 ADEWUMI GBENGA TIMILEHIN 6572803121 10/08/23
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Short-Answer Questions (20 points)

1. What variety of quartz, with chemical formula SiO2, is pink and seems to be named after a red flower with
prickly stems?
Answer: ROSE QUARTZ
2. Normal, reverse, strike-slip, and oblique are the four types of what things found in the Earth's crust?
Answer: FAULTS
3. What “B” hill has steep sides and a flat top? They are particular known to US residents for being in Montana.
Answer: BUTTE
4.What Ocean is the namesake of Earth's largest tectonic plate?
Answer:PACIFIC OCEAN
5. More commonly known as Louwala-Clough to the Klickitat Native American tribe, what stratovolcano erupted
on May 18, 1980, and caused over $1.1 billion in damage in Washington according to the International Trade
Commission?
Answer: Mount St. Helens
6. What type of rock is formed by the accumulation of mineral grains at the Earth’s surface?
Answer: SEDIMENTARY ROCK
7. Sometimes called the "fire of the desert," what is the national gemstone of Australia?
Answer: OPAL
8. Common on the surface of Mars, what is the name of the extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling
of lava that is rich in magnesium and iron?
Answer: BASALT
9. What gemstone is a hydrated amorphous form of silica. It is the birthstone for the month of October and a
precious one of these often displays iridescence.
Answer: OPAL
10. What is the name of this dark igneous rock, nicknamed 'nature's glass,' that forms when molten lava cools
at a rapid speed?
Answer: OBSIDIAN
11. In geology, what eight-letter word means a deposit of clay, silt, sand, and gravel left by flowing streams in
a river valley or delta?
Answer: ALLUVIUM
12. What geological term comes from a Latin word meaning “something spread or laid down”, and means a
layer of rock or soil formed at the Earth’s surface?
Answer: STRATUM

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13. What “I” type of rock is igneous rock formed when magma is forced into older rock deposits at Earth’s crust?
It is also an English word meaning causing disruption by annoying or unwanted interruption.
Answer: INTRUSIVE
14. What “Q” word is metamorphic rock formed when sandstone is subjected to heat and pressure?
Answer: QUARZITE
15. Petrology is also known as the study of the history, origin, structure, and chemical composition of what
objects?
Answer: ROCK
16. What is the watery-sounding name for an underground layer of liquid-bearing permeable rock that are
occasionally used as a seasonal storage place for thermal energy?
Answer:AQUIFER
17. Which geological time period that began 358.9 million years ago, during which large coal deposits formed,
has a name derived from the Latin for "coal-bearing?"
Answer:CARBONIFEROUS
18. Very old rock is likely to be which type of major groups of rocks, i.e., Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic?
Answer: METAMORPHIC
19. All kinds of rocks have density. Is it possible, the density of some rocks is lower than the density of water.
Answer: YES, PUMICE
20. When rocks were exposed to ground surface, they will be undergone through w________ which make weak.
Answer: WEATHERING

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