Geology for Civil Engineers – E21 & E23

Prelim Term Reference Handouts

I. Branches of Geology
a. Archaeological Geology – the study of the theory of earth’s outer shell is
divided into several plates that glide over the mantle
b. Biogeosciences
c. Engineering Geology – the study of geological factors regarding the
location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering
works.
d. Forensic Geology - The study of evidence related to minerals, oil, petroleum,
and other materials found in earth.
e. Geochemistry – The study of the chemical composition of the earth and its
rocks and minerals
f. Geomorphology – The study of the physical features of the surface of the
earth and their relation to its geological structures.
g. Geophysics –The study of the physical processes and physical properties of the
earth and its surrounding space environment and the use of quantitative
methods for their analysis
h. History of Geology
i. Hydrogeology – The study of the distribution and movement of ground
water
j. Medical Geology – The study of the relationship between natural geological
factors and their effects on human and animal health.
k. Mineralogy - The study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical
properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts.
l. Ocean Sciences
m. Paleoclimatology - The study climates prevalent at particular times in the
geological past.
n. Petrology - The study of rocks
o. Physical Geology - The study of the physical properties of earth and its parts.
p. Planetary Geology - The study of celestial bodies such as the planets and
their moons, asteroids, comets, and meteorites.
q. Sedimentary Geology
r. Seismology – The study of Earthquakes
s. Structural Geology – The study of three dimensional distribution of rock
units with respect to their deformational histories.
t. Tectonics – The study of the deformation of the rocks that make up the
earth’s crust and the forces that produce such deformation.
u. Volcanology – The study of volcanoes.
II. Earth Structure and Composition
*THIS IS A SOFTCOPY OF THE reference NOTES FOR PRELIM TOPICS OF CEGEOL220 OF E21 & E23.
**STUDENTS OUTSIDE e21 & E23 are advised not to refer on these topics for they have different covered topics with their respective instructors.
***Any TOPICS OUTSIDE THESE TOPICS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEANTIME IN THE PRELIM COVERAGE OF e21 & E23
 Geology for Civil Engineers – E21 & E23
Prelim Term Reference Handouts

a. Earth’s Spheres
i. Hydrosphere - The combined mass of water found on, under, and above
the surface of the Earth
ii. Atmosphere – The set of layers of gases surrounding the earth that is
held in places by the gravity of the earth.
iii. Biosphere – The global ecological system integrating all living beings
and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements
of the lithosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
iv. Geosphere – The collective name for the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and
the atmosphere
v. Lithosphere - The rigid & outermost shell of the earth.
vi. Asthenosphere – The highly viscous and mechanically weak and
deforming region of the upper mantle of the earth.
b. Rock Cycle

*THIS IS A SOFTCOPY OF THE reference NOTES FOR PRELIM TOPICS OF CEGEOL220 OF E21 & E23.
**STUDENTS OUTSIDE e21 & E23 are advised not to refer on these topics for they have different covered topics with their respective instructors.
***Any TOPICS OUTSIDE THESE TOPICS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEANTIME IN THE PRELIM COVERAGE OF e21 & E23
 Geology for Civil Engineers – E21 & E23
Prelim Term Reference Handouts

c. Earth’s Internal Structure

i. Crust – The Earth’s relatively thin, rocky outer skin; Composed of the
great variety of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
ii. Mantle – The Earth’s solid & rocky shell that takes up 82% of earth’s
volume; Composed of peridotite
iii. Core - The Earth’s Innermost liquid layer; Composed of iron and nickel.

III. Continental Drift

a. Theory of Tectonic Plates – States that the earth’s outer shell is divided into
several plates that glide over the mantle.

*THIS IS A SOFTCOPY OF THE reference NOTES FOR PRELIM TOPICS OF CEGEOL220 OF E21 & E23.
**STUDENTS OUTSIDE e21 & E23 are advised not to refer on these topics for they have different covered topics with their respective instructors.
***Any TOPICS OUTSIDE THESE TOPICS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEANTIME IN THE PRELIM COVERAGE OF e21 & E23
 Geology for Civil Engineers – E21 & E23
Prelim Term Reference Handouts

b. Plate Boundaries

i. Divergent Boundaries – Where plates move apart, resulting in upwelling

of material from the mantle to create new seafloor
ii. Convergent Boundaries - Where plates move together, resulting in the
subduction of oceanic lithosphere into the mantle.
iii. Transform Fault Boundaries – Where plates grind past each other
without the production or destruction of lithosphere.
IV. Weathering
-Response of earth materials to a changing environment or basically the
transformation of rock due to physical and chemical processes.
a. Types of Weathering
i. Mechanical Weathering – The breaking down of a single large rock
particle into smaller fragments of rocks
Four Types:
a. Frost Wedging – The filling in the cracks in rocks with
water and when the water freezes, this enlarges the cracks.

*THIS IS A SOFTCOPY OF THE reference NOTES FOR PRELIM TOPICS OF CEGEOL220 OF E21 & E23.
**STUDENTS OUTSIDE e21 & E23 are advised not to refer on these topics for they have different covered topics with their respective instructors.
***Any TOPICS OUTSIDE THESE TOPICS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEANTIME IN THE PRELIM COVERAGE OF e21 & E23
 Geology for Civil Engineers – E21 & E23
Prelim Term Reference Handouts

b. Salt Crystal Growth – The penetration of seawater through

crevices and pore spaces in rocks.
c. Sheeting - The forming of onionlike layers due to
unloading of cracked surfaces or the exfoliation of rocks.
d. Biological Activities – Any other deformation of rocks
caused by living organisms
ii. Chemical Weathering – The breaking down of rock components and
internal structures due to complex processes of chemicals

*THIS IS A SOFTCOPY OF THE reference NOTES FOR PRELIM TOPICS OF CEGEOL220 OF E21 & E23.
**STUDENTS OUTSIDE e21 & E23 are advised not to refer on these topics for they have different covered topics with their respective instructors.
***Any TOPICS OUTSIDE THESE TOPICS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE MEANTIME IN THE PRELIM COVERAGE OF e21 & E23