UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
B.Sc. DEGREE COURSE IN GEOPHYSICS
SEMESTER SYSTEM WITH CREDITS
(Effective from the Academic Year 2003-2004)

SYLLABUS

Semester I - Paper I - Physical Geology and Structural Geology

Duration: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Physical Geology

Unit I

Origin of the Earth - Age of the Earth - Interior of the earth - Structure and constitution of the interior of the earth.

Earthquakes: Definition - Effects - Causes - Earthquake waves and their transmission - Seismographs - Distribution of earthquake belts.

Volcanoes: Distribution - Causes - Effects of volcanic eruptions.

Concepts of Plate Tectonics.

Unit II

Mountains : Types - Characteristics - Distribution - their origin.

Types of Plateaus and Plains.

Weathering: Types - Products.

Unit III

Geological work of Running water and Underground water.
Brief outline of Seas and Oceans.

Structural Geology

Unit IV

Introduction to Structural geology: Topographic maps - Geologic maps - Outcrops and their with Reference to slope and topography.

Clinometer compass and its uses - Representation of attitude of beds.

Unit V

Study of Folds - Faults - Unconformities - Joints.

Books Recommended

Elements of Structural Geology by E. Sherbon Hills, Champan and Hall Ltd. and Science Paperback, 1963.

Principles of Physical Geology by Arthur Holmes, Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., London, 1965.

John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1976.

Introduction to Physical Geology by A.K. Datta, Kalyani Pub., New Delhi - Ludhiana, 1981.

Structural Geology by Marland Billings, Prentice Hall, India, 1984.

General Geology by R.J. Foster, Merrill Pub. Co., London, 1988.

Structural Geology by R.J. Twiss and E.M. Moores, W.H. Freeman and Co., New York, 1992.

Physical Geology by L. Donald Leet and Sheldon Judson, Prentice Hall, India.

An Introduction to Physical Geology by William J. Miller, D. Van Nostrand Co. inc., Affiliated East - West Press Pvt. Ltd. Delhi.

General Geology by Radhakrishnan.