This is the fundamental course for all geology students, providing them with an outline of the various disciplines and methods used in Geology. The course serves as an introduction to most of the subjects covered in the curriculum of the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment.
Earth in space: planetary system, formation of the earth; Configuration of the earth’s surface: maps, terrestrial and ocean relief, map elements, topographic and geological maps; Earth Structure and plate tectonics: history of the exploration of the Earths’ interior – the crust, mantle and core; lithosphere and asthenosphere – earths’ magnetic field – isostacy – the evolution of the Lithospheric Plates unifying theory – Plate boundary types and associated processes – The Wilson and supercontinent cycles – hot spots and mantle plumes – mantle dynamics and the driving forces of plate tectonics; Earth-surface dynamics: internal and external processes, weathering and erosion, sedimentation. Soils. Mass wasting; Surface and ground-water. The hydrosphere, hydrological cycle, drainage networks, springs; Earthquakes: earthquake generation, seismic waves and sequences, measuring earthquakes, earth’s seismic zones, earthquake concomitant effects, earthquake prediction; Volcanoes: the concept of volcanism, structure and life cycle of a volcano, volcano types, volcanic territories, monitoring and prediction of volcanic activity; Minerals and rocks: mineral chemistry and crystal structure, rock-forming minerals, igneous rocks, magma formation, plutons, sedimentary facies and environments, metamorphism, pressure and temperature conditions in the earth’s interior, geobarometers-geothermometers, metamorphic facies, metamorphic types; Geological time and the fossil record: absolute and relative dating of rocks and events, fossils and fossil types, the organic world in the geological past, origin and evolution of humans; Deformation of rocks: types of tectonic deformation: faults and folds, lithological and depth constraints on deformation, experimental deformation; Geological synthesis on local scale – the geological history concept. Reading and interpreting a geological map – stratigraphic configuration – the stratigraphic column – cross-cutting relationships – maps of simple geological structures; Geological Structure of the Hellenic Domain: the Hellenic orogenic arc – alpine, pre- and post-alpine rocks of Greece – geotectonic units – seismicity and volcanism of Greece- A concise outline of the geological evolution of Greece; Ores, industrial minerals and energy resources: the concept of ore – ore and industrial deposits – an outline of energy resources – hydrothermal and geothermal energy; Geology and the environment: environmental geology – natural disasters and geological hazards – groundwater pollution – atmospheric pollution – geology in technical works and urban planning – geosites and natural heritage geological sites.