Universidad de Jaén

I. INTRODUCTION. Geology concept. A brief history of the development of the Geology knowledge. Geological Sciences. Methodology. The rock cycle. Minerals (an introduction).

II. EARTH'S INTERIOR PROCESSES. Magmatism and igneous rocks. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks. Rock deformation.

III. EARTH STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION and PLATE TECTONICS. GLOBAL DYNAMIC.

IV. MINERALS. Basic concepts. Mineral classifications. Features, properties and uses of the main mineral groups. Mineral stability.

Exercises (mineral formulae, phase stability, Streckeisen diagrams, cartography of tectonic plate boundaries).

Specific activities: Conceptual tests and reading of scientific texts related with the topic.

PRACTICAL SESSIONS: Identification of minerals and rocks (hand specimen)  - Field practices.

Lectures + exercises + specific activities (3.2 ECTS)

The aims of these sessions are the acquisition of (1) a basic knowledge of Geology, (2) the capacity for applying the geologic knowledge to the knowledge of the environment and (3) the capacity of applying the theoretical knowledge to practice. These classes include exercises and specific activities as the reading of scientist documents.

Lectures:

During the lectures the most important contents are presented using digital tools. We usually spend 5-10 minutes with short exercises. The lectures are finished with a brief summary and in some cases with a short quiz (e.g. a kahoot).

Students are encouraged to bring news related to geology to class for discussing.

Exercises:

Streckeisen diagram (Chapter II)

Cartography of tectonic plate boundaries and calculations (Chapter III)

Mineral formulae (Chapter IV)

Phase diagrams (Chapter IV)

Specific activities:

Conceptual tests (7) and reading of scientific texts related with the subject (2). One of the readings can be substituted by the attendance of a conference or the viewing of a documentary film.

Practical sessions (2.6 ECTS):

These sessions are dedicated to the identification of minerals and rocks in hand specimen, using physical properties. These sessions (5 of 2 hours each) are developed in small groups of students (no more than 20).

Field practices (3 days): Different geological outcrops related to the rocks and processes studied in this subject will be visited in Almería and Jaen provinces. The students must characterize the materials and describe the structures in order to deduce processes and to interpret them. 

All the documents related to learning (pdf files with the slides, instructions for exercises and specific activities and deadlines) can be checked in the virtual learning platform ILIAS.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

30% from practical exam based on the lab sessions (identification of minerals and rocks) and field trips

(Criteria: know-how to apply theoretical knowledge and deductive procedures to characterize and identify geological materials and solve problems of geological content).

50% from the final theory exam

(Criteria: Domain of the knowledge of the subject, synthesis capacity, conceptual clarity, grammatical correction and spelling, in addition to the structuring of answers, the vocabulary and the approach scientific).

10% from tests

10% from the readings through the evaluation of activities related with the comprehension of the texts (Criteria: the same as the theory exam)

It is essential the attendance to the lab sessions and lectures.

Mandatory: the attendance to the three field trips.