UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO

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1 UNDERGRADUATE GEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO Module / Course Descriptions GEOL 101 Introduction to Geology Credits: 15 4 X 45 minutes 1 x 3 hours 1 x 45 minutes 1 Physical properties of Planet Earth. Earthquakes and the Earth s internal structure. Continental and oceanic crust. Isostasy. Earth s magnetic and gravity fields. Continental drift and plate tectonics. Rocks. Sedimentary rocks and their formation, weathering and erosion. Coal and oil. Igneous rocks. Metamorphic rocks. The rock cycle. Evolution and interactions between lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Origin of life and evolution of the biosphere. Precambrian life, Phanerozoic life. Mass extinctions. Fossils in the Phanerozoic rocks, Evolutionary radiation and the fossil record. Index fossils. Darwin s principles of evolution. Paleoecology. Assessment: Formative (60%): Tests, tutorials, practicals and assignments Entry Assumptions: Physical Sciences C (D) and Mathematics C (D) in Standard (Higher) grade at NQF level 4; alternatively, successful completion of extended degree programme offered in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture or similar programme at other universities. GEOL 102 Basic Mineralogy Credits: 15 4 X 45 minutes 1 x 3 hours 1 x 45 minutes 2

2 Basic crystallography: crystals and their classification, symmetries and indices. Crystal Projections. Physical properties of minerals. Internal structure of silicate minerals. Systematic mineralogy: non-silicates and silicates classifications and identification. Identification of minerals in hand specimen. Relief, birefringence, relationships with crystallography. Orthoscopy observations (plane polarised light and cross nicols). Pleochroism, extinction, cleavages. Conoscopy. Uniaxial and biaxial crystals. Optical properties of the main rock forming minerals in thin section. identification of minerals using the microscope. Entry Assumptions: Physical Sciences C (D) and Mathematics C (D) in Standard (Higher) grade at NQF level 4; alternatively, successful completion of extended degree programme offered in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture or similar programme at other universities. Pre-requisite: GEOL 101 GEOL 201 Structural Geology, Geotectonics, Stratigraphy and Sedimentology Credits: 20 4 X 45 minutes 1 x 6 hours 1 x 45 minutes 1

3 Attitude of lines, planes and surfaces; geometrical constructions; elementary stereographic projection analysis; structures and topography including structure contours and line of outcrop; geometrical description of folds and faults and their classes, foliation, lineation; kinematic indicators; geological cross- sections. Stereographic projection; morphology and classification of joints, faults, veins, shear zones, folds, foliation and lineation; primary structures; mechanical principles of rock deformation and strain analysis, stress, strain, fracture mechanics, fold mechanics, strain analysis of ductile structures, bulk strain; regional structures and plate tectonics, rift zones, collision zones, strike-slip fault zones. Microscopic structures. Earth Structure. Plate tectonics, crust and mantle evolution. Processes at plate margins and within plates. Plate boundaries and plate interiors: their morphological features, geophysical signatures, structural characteristics, magmatism, metamorphism, sedimentation, ore and hydrocarbon deposits, geothermal potential, natural hazard assessment. Reconstruction of ancient plate configuration - Rodinia, Gondwanaland and Pangaea. Plate tectonics in the Precambrian. Basics of stratigraphy. Criteria for superposition. Geological time scale Facies relationships. Marker bed: Lithostratigraphy, Chronostratigraphy, Sequence stratigraphy; numerical dating. Sedimentation rates, growth rates, isotopic dating. Magnetostratigraphy Correlation. stratigraphic classification and nomenclature. Origins of sedimentary rocks and classifications. Terrigenous sediments: framework grains, matrix and cements. Maturity and provenance. Chemical and biogenic sediments. Volcanoclastic sediments. Cherts. Evaporites. Coals. Mineralogical signatures of tectonic controls of sedimentation. Microscopic identification of primary and secondary controls and modifications of porosity in sedimentary rocks. Sedimentology related to earth sciences, applied sedimentology. Sediments and their origins: terrigenous, residual, chemical, organic, volcaniclastic. Texture and fabric. Textural maturity. Porosity and permeability. Erosion, transportation and deposition. Sedimentary structures. Flows and their products. Allochthonous sediments. Autochthonous sediments. Postdepositional modification of sediments. Sedimentary environments. Sedimentary basins and sediment-hosted mineral deposits. Entry Assumptions: Pre-requisite: GEO 102 GEOL 202 Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology, and Basic Hydrogeology Credits: 20 4 X 45 minutes 1 x 6 hours 1 x 45 minutes 2

4 Description and classification of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Igneous rocks: normative and modal compositions. Textures, structures and classifications of igneous rocks. Metamorphic rocks: regional, thermal and dynamic metamorphism. Metamorphic facies, composition, textures and structures in metamorphic rocks. Introduction to the identification of the main rock types under the microscope. Igneous rocks. Mode of occurrence. Classifications. Application of phase relations in the formation and crystallization of magmas. Composition and petrology of the mantle. Petrogenesis of the major types of magmas. Evolution of magmas. Occurrence, composition and textures of the main igneous rock types. Metamorphic rocks. Concepts and parameters in metamorphism; mineralogical, textural and chemical changes; classifications. Types of metamorphism. Facies. Stability fields of metamorphic minerals. Controls of metamorphism: chemistry of the protolith, pressure, temperature, time, metamorphic geotherms, P-T-t paths. Textures-metamorphism and deformation. Systematics of main metamorphic rock groups with special emphasis on contact and orogenic types of metamorphism. Metamorphism and tectonic environment. Hydrologic cycle; hydraulic properties of geological materials; aquifer types; permeability; conductivity; specific yield; Darcy s Law; equations governing groundwater flow in 1- and 2-D under steady state and transient conditions; well testing of confined and unconfined aquifers, geology of groundwater occurrence; hydrochemistry; common ion effect; chemical activities; carbonate equilibria; ion exchange and adsorption; isotopes; groundwater quality and contamination; groundwater development and management; safe yield, groundwater mining. Stresses in aquifers; anisotropy and heterogeneity; response of aquifers to changes in barometric pressure, tidal effects and external loading; unsaturated flow; characterization of leaky, fractured-porous, and fractured aquifers; contaminant transport; well hydraulics and well bore storage; step-drawdown and recovery tests; basic groundwater recharge; groundwater development and management; hydrogeology of Limpopo Province; water legislation; groundwater monitoring programmes for groundwater quality and resource management. Entry Assumptions: Pre-requisite: GEOL 201 Co-requisites: GEOL 301 Basic Geochemistry & Geophysics Credits: 30 4 X 45 min 1 x 6 hours 1 x 45 min 1

5 Geochemical thermodynamics; Mineral stability diagrams and related Eh and ph calculations; Oxidation-reduction reactions; Clay minerals; Rates of geochemical processes.organic geochemistry: Naturally occurring organic matters; Organic geochemistry of freshwater and soils; Petroleum and coal. Concepts of geochemical exploration: Dispersion mechanisms; Mobility of elements; Indicator elements; Natural associations of elements; Pathfinder minerals; Design of geochemical prospecting; prospective area; dispersion patterns; sampling and sample types; Chemical analysis; geochemical data interpretation. Bedrock surveys; Soil surveys; Stream sediment surveys; Biogeochemical surveys; Gas surveys. Elementary surveying methods; Seismic methods, stress and strain, seismic waves, compressional wave velocities of rocks, ray path in layered media; seismic sources; seismic data acquisition systems; reflection surveying, reflection at horizontal and dipping beds, multichannel profiling, seismic section, normal moveout, dipping reflector and dip moveout common depth point stacking; seismic data processing; interpretation, structural and stratigraphic analysis; applications of seismic reflection surveying; refraction surveying, two and three-layer cases; principles and applications of radiometric surveying, instruments. Principles of borehole logging, formation evaluation, resistivity, induction, Self-potential, radiometric, sonic, temperature, magnetic and gravity logging. Bouguer anomalies, rock densities, direct and indirect interpretation; magnetic surveying, rock magnetism, geomagnetic field, instruments, ground and aeromagnetic surveying, reduction of observations, temporal variations, interpretation and applications; field surveys data processing and interpretation; Application of geophysical methods in a variety of geologic exploration goals. Entry Assumptions: Pre-requisite: GEOL 202 Co-requisites: GEOL 302 Ore, Economic, Engineering and Environmental Geology Credits: 30 4 X 45 min 1 x 6hours 1 x 45 min 2

6 Economic commodities: ores, gems, fossil fuels, industrial minerals, and rocks as raw materials. Mineral economics. Formulae of important ore and gangue minerals. Physical properties of ore minerals and their uses. Ore mineral assemblages and their textures. Ore grade calculations. Ore microscopy. Ore-forming processes. Ore fluid types and fluid inclusions. Isotopic composition of ore fluids. Wallrock alteration. Morphology of ore deposits and different types of mining operation. Classification of ore deposits. Main ore deposit types: magmatic, hydrothermal, volcanogenic, sedimentary, residual. Fossil fuels. Industrial minerals. Origin/Genesis of ore deposits. Wall rock, structural and physico-chemical controls on ore deposition. Tectonic settings of ore deposits. Metallogenic epochs. Field visits to different mines. Engineering properties of soil, volume, mass, moisture, atterberg limits, gradation and classification systems; consolidation, compaction; shear strengths in cohesive and non-cohesive soils, triaxial tests, Mohr-Coulomb failure relation; compressive, tensile and shear strength of rocks, Static and dynamic elastic moduli; index tests; rock mass deformation, influence of discontinuities, weathering, in situ test methods, rock mass quality; control of susbsurface water, dams seepage, control of water table; Uses of rocks and aggregates for construction, chemical degradation, degradation by weathering; geological aspects of dam construction. Geological controls on soils, vegetation, climate: agrogeology, groundwater, mining operations, mineral processing and pollution / health risks. Waste disposal and land use planning. Heavy metals in the environment related to geology and mining, influences of anthropogenic activities on atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. Volcanic eruptions, meteorite impacts. Natural geological hazards: earthquakes, landslides, floods. Hazard mitigation and policy. Pre-requisite: GEOL 301