GEOLOGY REVIEWER

GEOLOGY- Engineering geology deals with THE SCIENCE OF GEOLOGY

the study of the structure of the •The interpretation of
earth in relation to the civil rock layers as Earth history is called
engineering for the execution of STRATIGRAPHY
safe and cost-effective design •a study of the processes leading to the
for construction projects. formation of sedimentary rocks is called
•Geology and civil engineering are closely SEDIMENTOLOGY.
related fields, as geology provides essential •The study of fossils (PALEONTOLOGY) is
information and insights for various aspects closely linked to Earth’s history.
of civil engineering projects. Here are some
ways in which geology and civil IMPORTANCE OF GEOLOGY IN CIVIL
engineering are relate: ENGINEERING
• Site Selection 1. Geology systematically studies the
• Foundation Design structure and properties of construction
• Slope Stability materials and their occurrence. Civil
• Tunneling and Excavation engineers need to know the properties
• Natural Hazards and Risk of rocks accurately to enable them to
Assessment consider different rocks for any
• Site Selection required purpose that is as a foundation
• Foundation Design rock, as road metal, as concrete
• Slope Stability aggregate, as building stones, as roofing
• Tunneling and Excavation material for decorative purposes.
• Natural Hazards and Risk 2. The selection of a site is important from
Assessment the viewpoint of stability of
foundation and availability of construction
ROLE OF THE ENGINEER IN THE materials. Geology provides
SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION OF A SITE knowledge about the site used in the
The systematic exploration and construction of buildings, dams,
investigation of a new site may involve five tunnels, tanks, reservoirs, highways and
stages of procedure. These stages are: bridges.
(1)PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION using 3. Geology helps to identify area
published information and other susceptible to failures due to geological
existing data; hazards such as earthquake, landslides,
(2)A DETAILED GEOLOGICAL SURVEY weathering effects, etc.
OF THE SITE, possibly with a 4. The knowledge about the nature of the
photogeology study; rocks is very necessary for tunnelling,
(3)APPLIED GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS to constructing roads and in determining the
provide information about the stability of cuts and slopes.
subsurface geology; 5. The foundation problems of dams,
(4)BORING, DRILLING AND bridges and buildings are directly related
to the geology of the area where they are
EXCAVATION to provide confirmation of
to be built.
the
6. The knowledge of groundwater is
previous results, and quantitative detail, at
necessary for connection with
critical points on the site; and
excavation works, water supply, irrigation
(5)TESTING OF SOILS AND ROCKS to and many other purposes.
assess their suitability, particularly
Hydrological maps provide information
their mechanical properties (soil mechanics
about the distribution of surface
and rock mechanics), either in situ
or from samples.
water channels and the groundwater
depth.
7. Geological maps help in planning civil
engineering projects. It provides
information about the structural
deposition of rock types in the proposed
area.
8. Geology helps in determining the
earthquake-prone areas. If any
geological features like faults, folds, etc. are
found, they have to be suitably PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS
treated to increase the stability of the 1.COLOR
structure. • Not constant in most of the minerals
9. The knowledge of erosion, • Due to the stain or impurities in the
transportation and deposition (ETD) by minerals
surface
• May indicate that mineral has
water helps soil conservation, river
control, coastal and harbour works.
undergone peculiar phenomena
10. A geological survey of a site before PLAY OF COLORS - Development of a
starting a project will reduce the series of prismatic colors by
overall cost. turning about in light.
CHANGE OF COLORS - Similar to play of
MINERALOGY colors but slower rotation
Scientific study of minerals, IRIDESCENT - Show rainbow colors
Structure (chemical and either in the interior or on the surface
crystalline),Properties (physical), STREAK
Processes (origin, formation & • Color of mineral powder
occurrence), Classification and • Nearly constant than the color
distribution, and uses.
• Determined by marking unglazed
- These are naturally occurring, inorganic,
solid element, or compound crystalline
porcelain or simply by scratching with a
substance that has definite atomic knife and observing the powder color
structure and chemical composition
- Over 4000 Minerals exist in Earth’s crust 2. LUSTER – description of how much a
- All are composed of oxygen, silicon, mineral reflects light
aluminum, iron, calcium, potassium, a.METALLIC (SHINY)
sodium, and magnesium i. CLASSY – like broken glass
ii. METALLIC – like metal
CLASSIFICATION AND iii. PEARLY – like pearls
MINERAL GROUPS b. NONMETALLIC (DULL)
ROCK FORMING MINERALS
•Minerals found in abundance on 3. STRUCTURE AND FORM (HABIT) –
earth’s crust denote the shape and form of minerals
•Forms igneous, sedimentary, or PRISMATIC – elongated in one
metamorphic rocks direction like prism
ORE FORMING MINERALS TABULAR - tabular or plate like shape
•Minerals that are of economic values EQUANT - possess approximately
•Limited mode of occurrence same side length in every direction
•Formed by more unusual processes FOLIATED - thin sheets, flakes, or
scales
FIBROUS - crystal aggregates 4. HARDNESS
resembling long, slender needles, -Resistance of minerals to abrasion or
hair or threadlike fibers scratching
RETICULATED - aggregate of crystals -Measured relative to a scale of ten of
forming a network or lattice minerals
STELLATED - composed of branches
which radiate star like from a 5. SPECIFIC GRAVITY
central point -the density of the mineral compared to
DENDRITIC - divergent branching and the density of water
treelike mineral growth -metallic minerals have high SG, non-
COLUMNAR or STALACTITIC - thick or metallicminerals have lower SG
thin column-like structure;
MICACEOUS - thin, flat sheets or flakes 6. CLEAVAGE
that easily peels or split -tendency of a crystallized mineral to
off a larger mass break along
ACICULAR - contains many long, slender certain definite planes yielding more or
crystals which may radiate like less smooth
needles or bristles from a common surfaces
base; long narrow, like pine leaf - cubic – 3 cleavages
 FILIFORM - exhibits many hair-like or - octahedral - 4 cleavages
threadlike filaments - Dodecahedral- 6 cleavage
 HOPPER - edges are fully developed, - Basal: 1 cleavage
but interior spaces are not filled; hollow
 PLUMOSE - fine, feathery scales 7. FRACTURE – defined as the
resembling plumes appearance of its broken surface
 BLADED – blade-like structure, a. CONCHOIDAL - concentric rings or
elongated, flat crystals like knife blades curved surface
 RADIATED - fibrous diverging from b. EVEN - smooth and flat
central points c. UNEVEN - irregular surface
 LAMELLAR - made of separable plates; d. SPLINTERY - breaks with a rough
feathery or delicate aggregates
 COLLOFORM - Spherical, rounded or 8. TENACITY – behavior of mineral
bulbous shape when deformed or broken
 BOTRYOIDAL - an aggregate-like SECTILITY - Minerals may be cut with a
bunch of grapes or globular knife
 RENIFORM – kidney-shaped MALLEABILITY - The mineral may be
aggregate pounded out into thin sheets
 MAMILLARY - display soft, rounded BRITTLENESS - The mineral breaks or
curves powders easily
 STRIATED - display shallow parallel ELASTICITY - Regains former shape as
grooves or lines along flat crystal pressure is released
faces DUCTILITY - Mineral may be drawn
 GRANULAR - Densely packed grains into a wire; tough as well
 MASSIVE - No definite shape for PLASTICITY - Mineral will not go back
minerals; large and lumpy to original position when released