GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS - REVIEWER

BRANCHES OF GEOLOGY

Geology

- is the scientific study of the all constituents of planets, their internal and external forms

and processes.

- it is the study of nature, structure and history of the planet. Earth is the home to all life,

well known to the humankind.

- 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.

-It is a very vast subject covering a wide spectrum of scientific principles and holding
hundred and fifty plus scientific branches.

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. It is a very vast subject covering a wide spectrum of scientific principles and holding
hundred and fifty plus scientific branches. This report enumerates and highlights most of them,
in a nutshell, for all those who intends to know for planning their career path. Some more branches
could be added as and when needed.

Geology

- is derived from the Greek word “geo” means globe and “logos” means logical discourse.

- is defined as the logical study of all of the globe.

- Today, Geology does not restrict its domain to the study of the planet earth alone.It also includes the
study of the other planets and moons of the entire solar system.

- Geology is a very vast subject. It has several branches. In the olden days, 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.

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.
Geology is a grandparent subject comprising four Levels of grandchildren branches. Some of the
notable ones are only discussed in this report

1. PHYSICAL GEOLOGY

- is the fundamental study of the Earth's lithospheric components like rocks, minerals, and
soils and how they got originated over a period of time.

Exogenous processes - geological processes that are active on the surface of the Earth

Endogenous processes -the highly complex internal processes such as plate tectonics and mountain‐
building have also formed the crustal rocks and brought them to the earth's surface
All these processes are capable of creating of constructional and destructional landforms. The
agents that are responsible for these actions are called as geological agents. The notable
surface geological processes are weathering, mass-wasting, erosion, transportation and deposition.

- deals with the Solar system, the Earth's & origin, age and internal constitution, weathering and mass-
wasting, geological work of river, lake, glacier, wind, sea, and groundwater.

- It also deals with the Volcanoes - their types distribution, geological effects and products;
earthquakes, its distribution, causes and effects.

- also projects the elementary ideas about the origin of geo synclines, concept of isostasy and mountain
building (Orogeny), continental drift, seafloor spreading and plate tectonics.

This subject gives the foundation for all other earth science branches.

2. HISTORICAL GEOLOGY

The planet earth has undergone several changes during each geologic period. Great mountain
ranges have been folded up in one period and eroded away in the following one. Many of them have
been uplifted more than once. Some of them often got washed off into the adjacent depressed zones
like basins and seas.

- is the discipline that uses the principles and techniques of geology to reconstruct and

understand the past geological history of Earth.

- is a major branch which deals with the records of events of earth history and with the historical
sequence and evolution of plants and animals of past ages.

- its object is to arrange the events of earth history in the regular chronological order of their
occurrence and to interpret their significance. Fortunately, the historical records are preserved in the
layered rocks of the crust.

-Is, sometimes, called as Stratigraphical Geology. It brings together all collated details of
other Branches of Geology like Paleontology, petrology and structural geology, pertaining to age-wise
correlated beds

ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

Application of Earth Science in Civil Engineering Practices, Understanding the earth, internal structure
and composition.

Mineralogy:

Mineral properties, composition and their use in the manufacture of construction materials

– Quartz Group (Glass); Feldspar Group (Ceramic wares and Flooring tiles); Kaolin (Paper, paint

and textile); Asbestos (AC sheets); Carbonate Group (Cement); Gypsum (POP, gypsum sheets,

cement); Mica Group (Electrical industries); Ore minerals - Iron ores (Steel); Chromite (Alloy);

Bauxite (aluminum); Chalcopyrite (copper),

Petrology:

Formation, Classification and Engineering Properties. Rock as construction material, concrete aggregate,
railway ballast, roofing, flooring, cladding and foundation. Deformation of rocks, Development
of Joints, Folds, Faults and Unconformities. Their impact in the selection of sites for Dams, Reservoirs,
Tunnels, Highways and Bridges, Rock Quality Determination (RQD), RockStructure Rating (RSR),

O Igneous Rocks - Granite, Gabbro, Dolerite, Basalt;

O Sedimentary rocks - Sandstone, Shale, Limestone, Laterite;

Geomorphology and Seismology:

Landforms – Classification, Rock weathering, types and its effects on Civil Engineering Projects.
Study of Geo-morphological aspects in the selection of sites for Dams, Reservoirs, Tunnels,
Highways and Bridges. Watershed management, Floods and their control, River valley,

Drainage pattern – parameters and development; Coastlines and their engineering\

considerations. Earthquake - Causes and Effects, Seismic waves, engineering problems related to

Earthquakes, Earthquake intensity, Richter scale, Seismograph, Seismic zones World and India,

Tsunami – causes and effects. Early warning system. Reservoir Induced Seismicity; Landslides –

causes and their control

Hydrogeology:

Hydrological cycle, Occurrence of Groundwater in different terrains -Weathered, Hard and

Stratified rocks; Determination of Quality aspects - SAR, RSC and TH of Groundwater.

Groundwater Pollution, Groundwater Exploration- Electrical Resistivity and Seismic methods,

Resistivity curves, Water Bearing Formations, Aquifer types and parameters – Porosity, Specific

yield and retention, Permeability, Transmissibility and Storage Coefficient. Springs and Artesian

Wells, Artificial Recharging of Groundwater, Sea water intrusion and remedies.

Geodesy:

Study of Topographic maps and Contour maps; Remote Sensing – Concept, Application

and its Limitations; Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) –

Concept and their use resource mapping. LANDSAT Imagery – Definition and its use. Impact of

Mining, Quarrying and Reservoirs on Environment. Natural Disasters and their mitigation.

ENGINEERING GEOLOGY (OTHER’S DEFINITION)

- is the application of geology in design, construction, and performance of civil engineering works.

Engineering geological studies may be performed during the planning, environmental impact analysis,
civil or structural engineering design, value engineering and construction phases of public and
private works projects, and during post-construction and forensic phases of projects.

Soil/Rock deformability pattern, stability is the main concern of Engineering Geology.

Geology

- is a Branch of Natural science deals with the study of the Earth.

- is also known as Earth science. For studying the Earth in detail, the subject of geology has been
divided into various branches, which are as follows:

1. Mineralogy

2. Petrology

3. Structural geology

4. Civil Engineering geology

6. Economic geology

7. Stratigraphy

8. Photo geology

9. Physical geology

10. Hydrogeology

Landforms – Classification, Rock weathering, types and its effects on Civil Engineering Projects.
Study of Geo-morphological aspects in the selection of sites for Dams, Reservoirs, Tunnels,
Highways and Bridges. Watershed management, Floods and their control, River valley, Drainage
pattern – parameters and development; Coastlines and their engineering considerations.
Earthquake - Causes and Effects, Seismic waves, engineering problems related to Earthquakes,
Earthquake intensity, Richter scale, Seismograph, Seismic zones World and India,

Tsunami – causes and effects. Early warning system. Reservoir Induced Seismicity; Landslides – causes
and their control.

Hydrogeology:

Hydrological cycle, Occurrence of Groundwater in different terrains -Weathered, Hard and Stratified
rocks; Determination of Quality aspects - SAR, RSC and TH of Groundwater.
Groundwater Pollution, Groundwater Exploration- Electrical Resistivity and Seismic methods,
Resistivity curves, Water Bearing Formations, Aquifer types and parameters – Porosity, Specific yield and
retention, Permeability, Transmissibility and Storage Coefficient. Springs and Artesian Wells, Artificial
Recharging of Groundwater, Sea water intrusion and remedies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

6. Slope Stability: Geological parameters of possible slide regions are studied

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.

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 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.
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. 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
techniques.

Petrology:

Petrology is that branch of geology which deals with the study of rocks, with their mode of
formation, composition and the uses for all types of engineering works.

Rock:

Definition:- Rocks are naturally occurring aggregates of mineral grains. Rocks composed of
grains of only one mineral are called Mono-minerallic rocks.

Examples:

Marble: Composed of calcite

Dunite: Composed of olivine Rocks composed of grains of two / more minerals are called

Polymineralic rocks.

Granite: Composed of quartz, Orthoclase, Plagioclase, Biotite mica.

Basalt: Composed of plagioclase, Augite.

CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS:

Rocks are the building blocks of the earth’s crust and they are classified on the basis of their mode of
formation into three major groups as following.

1. Igneous rocks

2. Sedimentary rocks and

3. Metamorphic rocks.