Basic geological concepts. Basic geological products and processes: basic geological materials, basic geological structures, relief forms. Large internal geodynamic processes. The rock cycle. The energy of the Earth.

Specific Objectives

Know the basic geological and geodynamic concepts at the beggining of the subject.

Dedication

Definition of mineral, crystalline matter and amorphous matter. Crystalline structure. Physical properties of minerals. Mineral identification methods. Classification and basic characteristics of petrogenetic minerals. Macroscopic identification of petrogenetic minerals. Textures. (2 h)

Specific Objectives

Know the basic characteristics of minerals, as elementary geological material.

Dedication

Definitions. Site forms and general classification. Texture. Mineralogy. Classification.Distribution of igneous rocks in the lithosphere. Conditions and mechanisms of magma generation.

Related Activities

Rock identification practice I: igneous rocks (2 h)

Dedication

Basic types of sediments. General classification of sedimentary rocks. Detrital rocks. Carbonate rocks. Evaporitic rocks. Deposit forms and sedimentary structures. Distribution of sedimentary rocks. Tipus bàsics de sediments.

Related Activities

Rock identification practice II: Sedimentary Rocks (2 h)

Dedication

Texture, mineralogy and classification. Deposit forms. Mineralogy and classification. Depositional forms. Metamorphic processes. Types of metamorphism. Distribution of metamorphic rocks. (2 h)

Related Activities

Practice of rock identification III: metamorphic rocks. (2 h) Practice of rock identification IV: review (2 h)

Dedication

Basic types of structures. Orientation of geological plans and geological lines. Ductile deformation structures: folds. Fragile deformation structures: fractures (faults and joints). Shear zones, fault zones and fault rocks. Mechanical behavior of rocks. (2 h)

Related Activities

Practice of geological maps 1: The topographic map, maps with monoclinal structure. (2 h) Geological map practice 2: maps with unconformities, apparent cabusation. (2 h) Practice of geological maps 3: maps with faults. (2 h)

Dedication

River floods. Flash floods. Landslides. Active faults and earthquakes. Explosive volcanic eruptions.

Related Activities

Workshop prior to the first partial exam. (2 h) Workshop on solving the first partial exam. (1 h)

Dedication

1. Components and organization of soils 2. Soil formation: soil phases, solid phase, liquid phase 3. Gas phase 4. Soil as a natural system: functions

Dedication

1. Genetic horizons: nomenclature and types. 2. Physical properties of soils (1): color 3. Physical properties of soils (2): texture and granulometry 4. Physical properties of soils (3): structure, real and apparent density, porosity 5. Taxonomy and classification of soils: diagnostic horizons

Related Activities

Soil science practice I: Granulometry, texture and porosity. (2 h)

Dedication

1. Composition of organic matter 2. Biological activity of the soil: edaphic fauna 3. The Carbon cycle and organic matter in the soil: processes of decomposition, mineralization and humification 4. Organic matter as a component of an ecosystem: factors that influence the dynamics of organic matter, ecosystem functions of organic matter. 5. The soil as a Carbon reservoir

Related Activities

Soil science practice II: Organic matter. (2 h)

Dedication

1. Chemical properties of water 2. Water retention in the soil: states of saturation, field capacity, and permanent wilting point 3. Water potential 4. Water flow in the soil: available water, gravitational water, hygroscopic water 5 Soil water balance 6. Soil moisture and temperature regimes 7. Irrigation and drainage: redoximorphic features.

Specific Objectives

Soil science practices III: Water in the soil: availability calculations. (2 h)

Dedication

1. Cation exchange and exchange complex 2. pH 3. Salinity and sodicity 4. Nutrients in the soil

Related Activities

Soil science practice IV: Change complex, salinity and sodicity. (2 h)

Dedication

1. Loss of soil resources: water erosion, wind erosion and mass movements. 2. Soil degradation: physical, chemical and biological. 3. Actions on the territory to avoid/correct the degradation and loss of soil.

Related Activities

Pedology practice V: Soil mapping. (2 h) Workshop prior to the second partial exam. (2 h) Workshop on solving the second partial exam. (1 h)

Dedication