| CODE | EMP1008 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Dynamics of the Earth: Geological Systems | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Environmental Management and Planning | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will provide students with a fundamental understanding of Earth's geological systems. Planet Earth will first be considered in the context of the wider solar system, and its characteristics will be compared to those of both inner and outer planets. Essential geological concepts will then be outlined, including Earth's internal structure and notions of geological time. This will be followed by an explanation of theories of plate tectonics and continental drift (including processes of volcanism and seismicity), together with an overview of the landforms that these processes produce on the continents and in the oceans. The different types of plate boundaries which exist will be compared. The study-unit will then focus on the formation of different rock types, starting with the study of minerals. The chemical and physical properties of different minerals will be reviewed, and the classification of common minerals explained. The three major rock types, i.e. igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic, will then be addressed in detail. The processes giving rise to these different rock types will be discussed, together with the main characteristics and subdivisions occurring within each major rock type. The sedimentary geological sequences occurring in the Maltese Islands will also be outlined. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims: - to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the large-scale geological processes occurring on Earth; - to provide students with an appreciation of how geological characteristics and processes influence the formation of landforms; - to familiarize students with fundamental concepts of plate tectonics and with the link between related processes and the formation of different rock types; - to demonstrate the linkages between geological processes and geological formations, and to illustrate that there are systematic characteristics which influence the distribution of seismic and volcanic zones; - to render students familiar with minerals as the 'building blocks' of rocks; - to enable students to distinguish between the characteristics of different common minerals. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a. Explain the theory of plate tectonics and continental drift; b. Identify and describe different types of plate boundaries; c. Distinguish between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock types, and describe the processes that give rise to each rock type; d. Identify key physical and chemical parameters that are used to distinguish between different mineral types; e. Describe the geological sequences occurring in the Maltese Islands. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: a. Identify characteristics of minerals and rock types; b. Relate the location of geological phenomena (features and events) to underlying geological structures and processes; c. Identify rock types occurring in the Maltese Islands. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Lutgens, F. K. & Tarbuck, E. J., 2008. Essentials of Geology. Prentice Hall. 11th Edition. ISBN: 978-0-321-71472-5. - Chernicoff, S., 2006. Geology. Prentice Hall. 4th Edition. ISBN: 978-013-147-464-2. - Pedley, M., 2002. Limestone Isles in a Crystal Sea: The Geology of the Maltese Islands. PEG. ISBN: 9-990-90-3-18-2. Supplementary Texts: - Wicander, R., 2009. Essentials of Physical Geology. Brooks/Cole. 5th Edition. ISBN: 0-495-555-08-8. - Pipkin, B. W., 2005. Geology and the Environment. Thomson Brooks/Cole. 4th Edition. ISBN: 0-534-49051-4. - Montgomery, C. W., 2002. Environmental Geology. Mc-Graw Hill. 6th Edition. ISBN: 0-07-119941-1.- Davidson, J. P., 2002. Exploring Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Prentice Hall. 2nd Edition. ISBN: 978-013-463-936-9.- Tarbuck, E. J., Lutgens, F. & Tasa, D., 2010. Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Prentice Hall. 7th Edition. ISBN: 978-013-092-025-6. - Christiansen, E. H. & Hamblin, W. K., 2008. Earth's Dynamic Systems. 10th Edition. ISBN: 978-013-142-066-3. - Dixon, D., 1992. The Practical Geologist: The Introductory Guide to the Basics of Geology and to Collecting and Identifying Rocks. Fireside. 1st Edition. ISBN: 978-067-174-697-1. - Dolgoff, A.,1998. Physical Geology. Houghton Mifflin. Updated Edition(1998). ISBN: 978-066-933-923-9. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | In THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE EMP1003 | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Sebastiano D'Amico Belinda Gambin Christopher Gauci Anthony Stephen Micallef (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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