Soil Geology and Applications

The course aims to prepare (and make independent) students to carry out a geological-cartographic study of a specific area.

Students will be able to define the general geological framework of the study area, starting from the analysis of bibliographic sources (geological maps and articles), and identify unresolved geological issues.

In addition to knowledge and understanding of stratigraphic methods and proxies for paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions, students will be expected to apply their knowledge of stratigraphy and structural geology, particularly in drafting a lithological-structural geological map.

The course also aims to enable students to apply their understanding of the evolution of the biosphere in a stratigraphic context, as well as global and regional geodynamic evolution.

Students will be expected to exercise independent judgment, becoming capable of distinguishing between data to be collected and regional-scale geological, stratigraphic, and structural reconstructions.

They must also be able to evaluate which methods to apply depending on the time intervals, sedimentary regime, and tectonic context.

After a period of classroom and field instruction (guided by the course instructors), each student will be expected to plan their independent geological survey at a 1:10,000 scale, lasting 10 days. During the fieldwork, students will collect data aimed at resolving the geological problem identified during the literature review.

At the end of the survey, students are required to produce a geological map, legend, and report discussing the new data acquired.

Ability to independently operate in the following areas: a) reconstruction and interpretation of lithostratigraphic and facies variations; b) execution of depositional models; c) discrimination of causes and effects of environmental perturbations; d) identification of processes at local, regional and global scale and their relationships/interconnections; e) bibliography research

Students must be able to define a geological problem based on the literature, utilising available digital data relevant to field mapping (such as geological and topographic maps). They will be capable of setting up a project in a GIS environment to produce a geological map.

From a logistical, organisational, and decision-making standpoint, they will be able to independently plan and carry out a field survey in a mountainous area, associated with the drafting of a geological map.