why civil engineers need Geology?

Tunnel
Oil production
CIVI-231 Geology for Civil Engineers

Pipeline

OR
Biao Li, PhD
Assistant professor in Geotechnical Engineering
Department of Building, Civil, & Environmental Engineering
http://biaoligeo.wixsite.com/concordia
B.Sc. And M.Sc. (Civil engineering, China University of Geosciences Beijing)
Ph.D. (Geotechnical Engineering, University of Calgary) 2

Chapter 1: An Introduction to
With solid background in Geology?
Geology and Plate Tectonics
More opportunities in jobs!

Course outline
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 The Science of Geology The Science of Geology

Geology (geo = earth; logos = discourse) Geology, people, and the environment
Physical geology studies Earth materials; Relationships between people and the
seeks to understand processes that operate natural environment include:
on and beneath its surface
Natural hazards
Historical geology seeks to understand Resources
the origin of Earth and its development World population growth
through time Environmental issues

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The Science of Geology Geologic Time

Some historical notes about geology Scientists such as James Hutton knew Earth
Catastrophism 17th must be very old.
landscapes were formed by sudden Before the discovery of radioactivity, it was
disasters difficult to determine the age of Earth.
Uniformitarianism - present is the Our current age-dating techniques are
key to the Proposed in the 18th constantly being refined.
century by James Hutton, and states that Extinct about 66 million years ago
the processes we observe on our planet
4.6 billion years
today have been shaping our planet
throughout time. 7 8
 Geologic Time Geologic Time
Relative dating and the geologic time scale The magnitude of geologic time
Relative dating Events are placed in their Involves vast times millions or billions of
proper sequence or order without knowing their years
age in years
The Earth is 4.6 billion years old!
Law of Superposition Younger rock layers are An appreciation for the magnitude of geologic
deposited over older rock layers. time is important because many processes are
Principle of Fossil Succession Fossil very gradual
organisms success each other in a
determinable order.
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Geologic Time Early Evolution of Earth

Origin of Planet Earth

Big Bang theory Large explosion sent all
matter in the universe flying outward at
incredible speeds
Nebular hypothesis Bodies in solar
system evolved from a rotating cloud called
a solar nebula
Protosun and protoplanets - Formed from
a contracting, slowly spiraling nebula
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 Early Evolution of Earth

Chemical segregation early in the formation of

Earth by gravity
Core Inner layer: dense, iron-rich
Video Crust Outer layer: solid, thin
Mantle Largest layer between core and crust
composed of iron, magnesium and oxygen-
seeking elements

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Plate Tectonics: Continental Drift:

A Geologic Paradigm An Idea Before its Time
Evidence across the Atlantic Ocean:
Continental drift Alfred Wegener (1915) Fit of Continents Fit together like a jigsaw
proposed continents moved about the face of the puzzle.
planet Fossil evidence Same fossils found on
Plate Tectonics current understanding of how separated continents.
continents move Rock type and Structural Similarities Rocks on
one continent match those on another continent.
Paleo-climatic evidence Evidence for ancient
glacial ice explained by a super-continent.
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 Planet of Shifting Plates Planet of Shifting Plates

Plate Tectonics:
The lithosphere is broken-up into pieces called

There are seven major plates.

Lithospheric plates move relative to one
another at very slow rates.
Movement driven by convection in mantle.
Averages about 5 cm / year.

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Planet of Shifting Plates Planet of Shifting Plates

Plate boundaries Plate boundaries

Divergent boundary
Two plates move apart, resulting in
upwelling of material from the mantle to
create new seafloor.
Occurs mainly at mid-ocean ridges.
Can occur under continents at rift valleys.
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Convergent boundaries
Two plates move towards each other.
Continental settings: two continental plates
collide.
Oceanic settings: oceanic crust descends
into mantle. This margin of crust
consumption into the mantle is called a
subduction zone
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 Planet of Shifting Plates Planet of Shifting Plates

Plate boundaries
Transform fault boundaries
Plates slide past each other without either
generating new lithosphere or consuming
old lithosphere.
These faults form in the same direction as
plate movement.

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Composition: Physical Properties:

View of
Crust Lithosphere
Asthenosphere layered Video
Mantle structure
Mesosphere
Core
Inner Core
Outer Core

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 The breathtaking beauty of Earth as seen by the Apollo
astronauts in the 1960s and 1970s.
Earth is a small, fragile and self-contained planet.

Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Geosphere
These four spheres are constantly interacting
with each other.

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The Face of Earth

Hydrosphere
Includes: Oceans, freshwater, glacial ice
Oceans account for almost 71% 1. Continents
Average elevation is 840 m above sea level
Atmosphere
Thin layer producing weather, climate
Biosphere 2. Ocean basins
Includes all living things on Earth Average depth is 3800 m below sea level

Geosphere

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 The Face of Earth Earth as a System
Continents system
Young mountain belts most prominent through their interactions.
Old mountain belts more eroded
Shields very old, large, flat expanses of sun and heat from E
rock Humans are part of this system. Our actions
Ocean basins produce often large-scale changes in all four
Oceanic ridge system the most prominent spheres.
topographic feature on Earth
Trenches can exceed depths of 11,000 m
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Earth as a System Earth as a System

The Rock Cycle: Part of the Earth system
The process by which one rock changes to
another rock: metamorphic, igneous,
sedimentary.
Each rock type is linked to the other.
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The Rock Cycle: Part of the Earth System
Basic Cycle:
Molten magma becomes igneous rock
Weathering creates sediments
Sediments lithify into sedimentary rock
Burial and heat produce metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock can be heated to
produce magma, or eroded to form
sediments.
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 Earth as a System Example questions for quiz

1. The ____________ layer of the Earth is molten and metallic in

composition.
a. inner core b. lithosphere c. mantle d. outer core

The Rock Cycle:

Rocks constantly
2. The famous San Andreas Fault in California is a ____________ plate
form, change, boundary.
and re-form over Video a. convergent b. emergent c. divergent d. transform
longs spans of
time

Thanks for the attentions!

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