I. Geology in Civil Engineering

CE 2202 Course Outline
I. GENERAL GEOLOGY:
A. GEOLOGY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

 Branches of Geology
 Earth Structure and Composition
 Elementary Knowledge on Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics
GEOLOGY
o is the study of the solid Earth.
o it is defined as that of applied science which deal with the application of geology for a
safe, stable and economic design and construction of a civil engineering project.
o Engineering geology is almost universally considered as essential as that of soil
mechanics, strength of material, or theory of structures.
o The application of geological knowledge in planning, designing and construction of big
civil engineering projects.
o The basic objects of a course in engineering geology are two folds:
- It enables a civil engineer to understand the engineering implications of certain
condition should relate to the area of construction which is essentially geological in
nature.
- It enables a geologist to understand the nature of the geological information that is
absolutely essentially for a safe design and construction of a civil engineering projects.
The scope of geology is best studied with reference to major activities of the profession of a civil
engineer which are:
 Construction
 Water resources development
 Town and regional planning
BRANCHES OF GEOLOGY
Geology is a relatively recent subject. In addition to its core branches, advances in geology
in allied fields have led to specialized sciences like geophysics, geochemistry, seismology,
oceanography and remote sensing.
Main Branches
a) Physical Geology
This is also variously described as dynamic geology, geomorphology etc. It deals with:
i) Different physical features of the earth, such as mountains, plateaus, valleys, rivers,
lakes glaciers and volcanoes in terms of their origin and development.
ii) The different changes occurring on the earth surface like marine transgression,
marine regression, formation or disappearance of rivers, springs and lakes.
iii) Geological work of wind, glaciers, rivers, oceans, and groundwater and their role in
constantly moulding the earth surface features.
iv) Natural phenomena like landslides, earthquakes and weathering.
b) Mineralogy
This deals with the study of minerals. Minerals are basic units with different rocks and ores
of the earth are made up of.
Details of mode of formation, composition, occurrence, types, association, properties uses

etc. of minerals form the subject matter of mineralogy. For example: sometimes quartzite and
marble resemble one another in shine, colour and appearance while marble disintegrates and
decomposes in a shorter period because of its mineral composition and properties.
c) Petrology
Petrology deals with the study of rocks. The earth’s crust also called lithosphere is made up
of different types of rocks. Hence petrology deals with the mode of formation, structure, texture,
composition, occurrence, and types of rocks. This is the most important branch of geology from
the civil engineering point of view.
d) Structural Geology
The rocks, which from the earth’s crust, undergo various deformations, dislocations and
disturbances under the influence of tectonic forces. The result is the occurrence of different
geological structures like folds, fault, joints and unconformities in rocks. The details of mode of
formation, causes, types, classification, importance etc of these geological structures from the
subject matter of structural geology.
e) Stratigraphy
The climatic and geological changes including tectonic events in the geological past can
also be known from these investigations. This kind of study of the earth’s history through the
sedimentary rock is called historical geology. It is also called stratigraphy (Strata = a set of
sedimentary rocks, graphy description).
f) Economic Geology
Minerals can be grouped as general rock forming minerals and economic minerals. Some of
the economic minerals like talc, graphite, mica, asbestos, gypsum, magnesite, diamond and
gems. The details of their mode of formation, occurrence, classification. Association, varieties,
concentration, properties, uses from the subject matter of economic geology. Further based on
application of geological knowledge in other fields there is many other allied branches
collectively called earth science.
Allied Branches
a) Engineering Geology
This deals with the application of geological knowledge in the field of civil engineering, for
execution of safe, stable and economic constructions like dams, bridges and tunnels.
b) Mining Geology
This deals with the application of geological knowledge in the field of mining. A mining
engineer is interested in the mode and extent of occurrence of ores, their association, properties
etc. It is also necessary to know other physical parameters like depth direction inclination
thickness and reserve of the bodies for efficient utilization. Such details of mineral exploration,
estimation and exploration are dealt with in mining geology.
c) Geophysics
The study of physical properties like density and magnetism of the earth or its parts. To
know its interior form the subject matter of geophysics. There are different types of geophysical
investigations based ion the physical property utilized gravity methods, seismic methods,
magnetic methods. Engineering geophysics is a branch of exploration geophysics, which aims at
solving civil engineering problems by interpreting subsurface geology of the area concerned.
Electrical resistivity methods and seismic refraction methods are commonly used in solving civil
engineering problems.
d) Geohydrology
This may also be called hydrogeology. It deals with occurrence, movement and nature of
groundwater in an area. It has applied importance because ground water has many advantages
over surface water. In general geological and geophysical studies are together taken up for
groundwater investigations.
e) Geochemistry
This branch is relatively more recent and deals with the occurrence, distribution,
abundance, mobility etc, of different elements in the earth crust. It is not important from the civil
engineering point of view.

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CE 2202 Course Outline

A. GEOLOGY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Details of mode of formation, composition, occurrence, types, association, properties uses

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