LV EN RU DE FR

Geology and Soil Information

Course developers

Replaced course

ĢeolM001 [GGELM001] Geology and Soil Information

Course abstract

In the study course students get introduction in the basics of geology - the structure and formation of the Earth. By studying geological processes, the regularities of mineral and rock formation are mastered. In the the laboratory works students learns to recognize and identify minerals and rocks, understand their natural diversity. Knows geological research methods, learns the basics of geological data processing and interpretation. Students get acquainted with the processes of soil parent rocks formation and their diversity, understand the relationship between the geological structures and the composition of soil bedrock, as well as see the relationship between climate, relief and soil properties. Students get acquainted with the factors of soil formation, soil processes, their interaction, physico-mechanical properties of soil.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Knows the natural geological processes and their regional distribution.
2. Understand the history of the Earth, knows the geochronological scale and major geological events
3. Can recognize widespread rocks and minerals in the nature - Test 1 (lecture topics 1-7, laboratory work topics 1-3).
4. Understands the regularities of relief formation
5. Understands the connection of groundwater with the geological environment
6. Competences in the interpretation of simple geological data - Test 2 (lecture topics 8-12, laboratory work topic - 5)
7. Understands soil processes and their effect on soil formation, their effect on soil color, formation of diagnostic horizons
8. Able to classify soils using Latvian and WRB soil classification. Understands the principles of soil mapping - Test 3 Test (lecture topics 13-16, laboratory work topics from 6 to 7)

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. Geology and its basic tasks, role in geospatial information systems
2. Earth structure and formation
3. Endogenous geological processes and their potential prediction possibilities
4. Exogenous geological processes, distribution and intensity, forecasting and monitoring (2 h)
5. Minerals and their classification
6. Genesis and classification of rocks, the most common types of rocks and sediments.
7. Geochronological scale. The main geological events and the role of the Earth's surface.
8. Relation of relief with geological structure and geological processes.
9. Classification of groundwaters and the geological processes.
10. Research methods in geology (2 h)
11. Representation of geological data in GIS (2 h)
12. Interpretation of geological data (2 h)
13. Soil factors Soil processes (2 h)
14. Basic principles of soil classification (3 h)
15. Soil mapping and databases (2 h)

Laboratory works
1. Rock-forming minerals. Work with study collections of minerals (3 h)
2. Rocks and their physico-mechanical properties. Work with study collections of rocks (3 h)
3. Geological maps - scale and legend
4. Construction of geological section using geological map data (2 h)
5. Geological profiling based on drillcore data, data analysis (5 h)
6. Analysis and interpretation of geophysical data (2 h)
7. Physico-mechanical properties and composition of soils (4 h)
8. Soil classification and basic principles of mapping (4 h)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Conditions for passing the exam.
1. all laboratory works have been developed and successfully passed;
2. completed and credited homework;
3. successfully passed tests;
Written exam.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual work. Perform analysis of geological map data, identify areas of potential geological risk.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

It is possible to receive an accumulative assessment in the exa, if successfully passed 3 compulsory tests of the study course with an average grade of 6 and above, The obtained points do not exclude the possibility to take the exam to improve the mark. But if the average mark of the tests is lower than 6 - taking the exam is mandatory.

Compulsory reading

1. Augsnes ilgtspējīga izmantošana un aizsardzība. O. Nikodemus, A. Kārkliņš, M. Kļaviņš, V.Meleckis. Rīga: LU akadēmiskais apgāds, 2008. 254 lpp.
2. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts. Sast. A. Kārkliņš. Jelgava: LLU, 2008. 336 lpp.
3. Bell F.G. 2007. Engineering geology, . 2nd Edition, . Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2007. 581 p. E-grāmata LLU FB abonētajā datubāzē eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) pieejama LLU tīklā ar LLU IS lietotājkonta parolēm. Pieejams: https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.llu.lv/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=186102&site=ehost-live&scope=site
4. Filipenkovs V., Tūna M., Grabis J. Ģeotehnikas pamatkurss. Lekcijas un praktiskās nodarbības. Rīga, RTU, 2006.166 lpp.
5. Ģeoloģija, augsne, agroķīmija: metodiskie norādījumi mācību praksei. Kārkliņa A. red., Jelgava: LLU, 2008. 88 lpp.
6. Karpovičs A., Mešķis S., Vircava I. Praktiskie darbi inženierģeoloģijā. Rēzekne: Rēzeknes Tehnoloģiju akadēmija, 2019. 111 lpp. ISBN 978-9984-44-230-3
7. Latvijas augšņu noteicējs (2009) A. Kārkliņš, I. Gemste, H. Mežals, O. Nikodemus, R. Skujāns. Jelgava: LLU, 2009. 240 lpp.
8. IUSS Working Group WRB. 2015. World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015 International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports No. 106. FAO, Rome. Pieejams: https://www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf

Further reading

1. Agroķīmiķa rokasgrāmata . Sast. A. Pāvule. Rīga: Liesma, 1978. 339 lpp.
2. Bell F.G. Engineering geology and construction. London; New York: Spon Press, 2004. 797 p.
3. Blum W. E.H., Schad P., Nortcliff S. Essentials of soil science: soil formation, functions, use and classification (World reference Base, WRB) Stuttgart: Borntraeger Science Publishers, 2018. 171 pp.
4. Carter M., Bentley S.P. Soil properties and their correlations. y, Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley, 2016. 222 pp.
5. Coleman D. C., Callaham M.A., Crossley Jr. D.A., Fundamentals of soil ecology London: Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier, London, 2017. 369 pp.
6. Indāns A., Ošiņa J., Zobena A. Inženierģeoloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1986. 280 lpp.
7. Mitchell J. K., Soga K. Fundamentals of soil behavior. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, 2005. 575 pp.
8. Soil condition and plant growth Ed. By Smith I. Smith’s elements of soil mechanics. Chichester, West Sussex Wiley/Blackwell, 2014. 471 pp.
9. Terzaghi K., Peck R. B., Mesri G. Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. New York etc.: Wiley, 1996. 549 p.

Notes

Compulsory course in the master's study program Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing