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

SYLLABUS

Semester V - Paper VIII - Introduction to Geophysics

Duration: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Unit I

Interrelationship between geology and geophysics - Role of geological and geophysical data in explaining geodynamical features of the earth. The earth as a member of the solar system and its origin - Geography of continents and oceans and their evolution Paleo -climatic data, continental drift and polar wandering.

Unit II

The earth's interior and crust as revealed by the earthquakes, density, pressure and temperature variations inside the earth - Sources and nature of tectonic forces, basic dynamical relationship, comparative study of the theories of orogenesis.

Unit III

The general principles of classification of geophysical methods - General and Exploration geophysics - Different methods of exploration geophysics.

Geological application of Geophysical methods - Regional geophysics, oil and gas geophysics, ore geophysics, groundwater geophysics, engineering geophysics.

Unit IV

Geophysical field operations - Different types of surveys, grid and route surveys, profiling and sounding techniques, scales of survey, presentation of geophysical data.

Geophysical anomalies : correction to measured quantities, geophysical, anomaly, regional and residual (local) anomalies, factors controlling anomaly, depth of exploration.

Unit V

Integrated geophysical methods - Ambiguities in geophysical interpretation, Planning and execution of geophysical surveys.

Books Recommended

Outlines of Geophysical Prospecting - A manual for geologists by Ramachandra Rao, M.B., Prasaranga, University of Mysore, Mysore, 1975.

Exploration Geophysics - An Outline by Bhimasarikaram V.L.S., Association of Exploration Geophysicists, Osmania University, Hyderabad, 1990.

An introduction to Geophysical Prospecting by Dobrin, M.B. McGraw Hill, New Delhi, 1984.

Applied Geophysics by Telford W.M. Geldart L.P., Sheriff, R.E. and Keys D.A. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt., Ltd. New Delhi, 1976.