Petrology
Geology of Nepal and
Adjacent Regions
Stratigraphy
Historical Geology
Petrology
Nature and scope of petrology,
difference between petrology. General classification of rocks:
Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
Forms and structures of igneous rocks.
Intrusive and their relation to geological structures. Concordant
and discordant forms. Methods of emplacement of igneous rock-block
lava. Ropy lava, amygdaloidal and vesicular structures, shell and
platy structures. Prismatic and columnar structures. Pyroclastic
materials. Textures and microstructures of igneous rocks.
Magma:
- Definition, composition, physico-chemical constitution, primary
magma.
Formation of magma:
- Rift zone, melting process, Evolution of magmas: differetiation,
fractional crystallization, other differentiation mechanisms, Magma
mixing and assimilation.
Crystallization of silicate
melts: - Unary and binary systems. Phase
relations and textures. Ternary systems: Simple and complex. The
effect of pressure on the melting and crystallization of magmas.
Classification of igneous rocks: The IUGS classification system,
chemical classification. Characteristics of common igneous rocks.
Igneous rocks at continental
margins: - The ophiolite suite. The
calcalkaline and theoleitic groups, plutonic rocks.
Intracontinental igneous
rocks: - Gabbroic layered intrusions,
Anorthosites, Alkaline basalts and Nephelinites, Carbonates
kimberlites ad related rocks.
Composition and Mineralogy of
earth's interior: - Seismic data, the
geothermal gradient, xenolith, High pressure experimentation, Mantle
petrology, the low velocity zone.
Definition of metamorphism. Limits of
metamorphism. Contact metamorphism, burial metamorphism, cataclastic
metamorphism, metamorphic rocks, their recognition, distribution and
nomenclature, Field observation of metamorphic rocks. Textures and
structures of metamorphic rocks. Shape of minerals growth and mutual
relation of minerals, growth and mutual relation of minerals:
crystalloblastic, maculose, gneissose, and augen structures.
Petrologic description of phyllite, slate, schist, gneiss,
amphibolite, marble, quartzite, granulite, eclogite.
Control of pressure,
temperature, and composition on metamorphism, metamorphic processes:
- Initiation of metamorphism, porphyroblast orientation, metamorphic
differentiation, metamorphic reactions, the upper limits of
metamorphism.
Metamorphic zones:
- Index minerals, zones in contact metamorphism, isogrades:
definition, dependence on temperature and pressure.
Facies:
- Definition, evolution of concept of metamorphic facies.
Relationship of zones, grades and facies.
Mineral phase rule:
- Invariant, bivariant, reaction, invariant, point and their
significance (triple point of Al205 and those in metamorphism of
calcareous rocks.
Mineral variation related to
initial rock composition: - Carbonate
rocks, mud cracks, felsic igneous rocks, mafic igneous rocks and
tuffs, ultramafic rocks.
Time, temperature and
deoformational relationships, porphyroblasts and tectonism:
- Post tectonic pophyroblasts, polymetamorphism.
Determination of pressure and temperature using total assemblage and
changes in mineral composition.
Metamorphic rocks:
- Metamorphic rocks and global tectonics. Metamorphism at transform
faults. Divergent and convergent junctions.
Introduction to sedimentary
petrology: - Types of sedimentary rocks.
Depositional basins. Process involved in formation of sediments and
sedimentary rocks, weathering, corrosion and transportation,
deposition. Characteristics of terrigeonous, fluvialtile,
lacuastrine, glacial and marine deposits.
Textures and structures of sedimentary
rocks. Textures with special reference to grain size and sphericity.
Texture as indicator of transportation and depositional history of
sediments, structures of sedimentary rocks: primary and secondary
structures and their significance. Determination of top and bottom
of beds.
Characteristics of terrigenous,
fluvial, lacustrine and marine sediments.
Classification of sedimentary
rocks: - Field observation, laboratory
studies, ancient and modern environment of mud rocks. Sandstones and
conglomerates, limestones and dolostones and other sedimentary rocks
like evaporate, bedded chert, bedded phosphate rocks, bedded iron
deposits.
Diagenesis:
- Definition, Diagenesis of sandstones and limestones. Basic
knowledge on compaction, sedimentation authigenesis, replacement and
recrystalization.
Provenance:
- Extrabasinal and intra-basinal. Maturity of sedimentary
environment, paleocurrent analysis, facies analysis.
Practical
Drawing of the different forms
assumed by intrusive igneous rocks with different types of
contact between plutons and their wall rock.
Study of textures and structures
of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in hand specimens
and under microscope.
Systematic megascopic study of the
following igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks: mica,
granite, various types of granites pegmatite, syenite, diorite,
gabro, dolerite, basalt, rhyolite, conglomerate, breccia, shale,
limestone, sandstone, schist, amphibolite, marble, quartzite,
phyllite, slate.
Mircroscopic study of the
following rock types: granite, granodiorite, diorite, nepheline
syenite, pegmatitie, gabro, dolerite, basalt, rhyolite, trachyte,
dunite, sandstone, shale, breccia, conglomerate, schist,
gneisses amphibolite, charnokite, marble and quartzite, phyllite,
slate
Drawings of different sedimentary
structures.
Geology of Nepal
and Adjacent Regions
Introduction to the physiography and
tectonic divisions of the Himalyas (with special reference to Nepal
Himalaya) and the adjacent regions.
Brief introduction to the geology of
peninsular India with special reference to the archeans, proterozoic,
gondwana, and deccan trap.
Introduction to the history of
evolution of the Himalaya.
Stratigraphy
Introduction:
- Aim, scope and objectives of stratigraphy, development of
stratigraphy through time, conceptual backgrounds, stratification,
sedimentary cycles and sedimentary forces, inadequacy in
stratigraphic record, principles of stratigraphic classification and
correlation, international codes and contentions for stratigraphic
classification and nomenclature.
Methods of Stratigraphy:
- Principles of lithostratigraphy, lithostratigraphic units,
methodology in establishing lithostratigraphic units, basic
principles of biostratigraphic units, establishment of
biostratigraphy and index fossils of different systems, fundamentals
of geochronology, chronological boundaries, types of locality,
subdivision and fossil content of standard stratigraphic units,
fundamentals of magnetostratigraphy. Geomagnetic polarity time
scale.
Practical
Study of stratification
and sedimentary cycles: - study and
preparation of stratigraphic columns of some sections of Nepal
Himalaya and adjacent areas.
Study of morphological
feature and identification of important index fossils of the
following groups: - Brachiopoda,
Mollusca (Bivalve, Gastropod, Cephalopoda), study and
identification of important vertebrate fossils found in Nepal.
Study and identification of important Gondwana plant fossils.
Historical Geology
Introduction to historical
geology: - scope, aim, method of study,
development of historical geology, problems of historical geology,
the position of historical geology among other geological sciences.
The origin of Earth and life:
- Solar system, evolution of Earth, development of the atmosphere,
hydrosphere and biosphere, theory of origin of life, the first sign
of life on Earth, introduction to plant and animal kingdom, fossils.
Time on rock record:
- unit and measurement of geological time, Geochronology, relative
age determination, time stratigraphic unit, correlation.
The main tectonic unit of the
earth's crust and their evolution: -
principal tectonic units of the present continents, the tectonics of
recent oceanic depressions, the tectonic evolution of the earth's
crust.
Principles of Paleoecology,
Paleogeography, Paleotectonics: - study of
paleo-environments along with the influence of organism on
sediments, the paleogeographic methods of studying epiorogenic
movement of the crust, the analysis of the geological section as a
method of reconstructing crust movements.
The earliest (Precambrian)
history of the earth's crust: - the
absolute duration of the Precambrian era and the earliest known
state of the crust, the shields Precambrian rocks and paleogeography,
Precambrian glaciations
Geological history of
phanerozoic eon: - Plate position and
motion: organic evolution paleogeography and the crustal movement of
the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carbniferous, Permian,
Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Palaeocene, Neogene, and
Pleistocene.
Practical
Drawing of contour maps, study of
topographic maps, drawing of topographic maps.
Study of various geological
structures.
Study of geological time scale,
preparation and study of paleogeographic maps.
Drawing and study of mountain
chains of the World.
Preparation of columnar section
and their correlation, study of the geological history from
block diagrams and cross section.
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