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Preface
During my long teaching experience, I felt that geology is a new subject for beginners. The undergraduate students of this stream are deprived of concise and comprehensive text book particularly on principles and practical aspects of geology. They have no other option than to go through numerous text books on different branches of geology and are often confused as to how much they should read and write, it leads to wastage of time and energy.
With this objective in view, I have written this book entitled “Geology: Principles and Practical Manual”. An attempt has been made to discuss the fundamental principles of different branches of geology prescribed in the syllabus, so that the students acquire basic knowledge of the subject. The book contains 8 chapters, viz. Geomorphology, Geological Maps, Crystallography, Mineralogy & Petrology, Palaeontology, Stratigraphy, Structural Geology and Economic Geology, Remote Sensing & Photogeology. Each chapter consists of specific branch of geology and deals with the principles and then its practical aspects. Chapter-1, Geomorphology deals with definition and introduction of different natural processes of landforms, and then practical exercises on different geomorphological models with labelled figures and precise descriptions. Chapter-2, Geological Maps deals with different terminologies used in geological map like contour line, outcrop, dip, strike etc. Different practical exercises with some solutions on geological maps: three point problem and cross section map, so that students can learn how the maps are prepared and interpreted. Chapter-3, Crystallography contains basic terminologies, symmetry elements and different crystal systems etc. which will be helpful in identification of crystals. Crystals of important minerals with their faces and Miller's symbols and figures are also incorporated in this chapter. Minerals and Rocks are dealt in Chapter-4, it comprises physical and optical properties of important rock forming minerals with coloured photos and photomicrographs. In petrology section, characteristic properties of all the rock types (Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic) have been described briefly in tabular form with coloured diagrams; it would be of great help to the students to identify different rocks during practical exercises. Chapter-5, Palaeontology contains brief description on modes of fossil preservation and description of fossils from different phylum including plant fossils, their classification morphology and geological age with diagrams. Chapter-6, Stratigraphy covers principles, classification and stratigraphic correlation. It also contains Physiographic divisions of India, Geological Time Scale, and Indian stratigraphy from Archaeans to Dharwar to the Siwalik Formation with their geological successions and distribution in the map of India. Chapter-7, Structural Geology deals with identification and description of structural features including the primary sedimentary features like bedding, cross bedding etc. their attitude (strike and dip), unconformity, joints and the diastrophic structures like fold and fault with block diagrams. The last Chapter8, Economic and Ore Geology, Remote sensing and Photogeology consists of basic concepts and practical aspects of these subjects as prescribed syllabus of B.Sc./ B.E. Civil and Mining Engineering courses in various Universities and Institutes.
Since this is my first effort, there ought to be several mistakes and shortcomings. The critical evaluation and suggestions by the learned readers will be wholeheartedly welcome, which will go towards the improvement of this book .
Preface
During my long teaching experience, I felt that geology is a new subject for beginners. The undergraduate students of this stream are deprived of concise and comprehensive text book particularly on principles and practical aspects of geology. They have no other option than to go through numerous text books on different branches of geology and are often confused as to how much they should read and write, it leads to wastage of time and energy.
With this objective in view, I have written this book entitled “Geology: Principles and Practical Manual”. An attempt has been made to discuss the fundamental principles of different branches of geology prescribed in the syllabus, so that the students acquire basic knowledge of the subject. The book contains 8 chapters, viz. Geomorphology, Geological Maps, Crystallography, Mineralogy & Petrology, Palaeontology, Stratigraphy, Structural Geology and Economic Geology, Remote Sensing & Photogeology. Each chapter consists of specific branch of geology and deals with the principles and then its practical aspects. Chapter-1, Geomorphology deals with definition and introduction of different natural processes of landforms, and then practical exercises on different geomorphological models with labelled figures and precise descriptions. Chapter-2, Geological Maps deals with different terminologies used in geological map like contour line, outcrop, dip, strike etc. Different practical exercises with some solutions on geological maps: three point problem and cross section map, so that students can learn how the maps are prepared and interpreted. Chapter-3, Crystallography contains basic terminologies, symmetry elements and different crystal systems etc. which will be helpful in identification of crystals. Crystals of important minerals with their faces and Miller's symbols and figures are also incorporated in this chapter. Minerals and Rocks are dealt in Chapter-4, it comprises physical and optical properties of important rock forming minerals with coloured photos and photomicrographs. In petrology section, characteristic properties of all the rock types (Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic) have been described briefly in tabular form with coloured diagrams; it would be of great help to the students to identify different rocks during practical exercises. Chapter-5, Palaeontology contains brief description on modes of fossil preservation and description of fossils from different phylum including plant fossils, their classification morphology and geological age with diagrams. Chapter-6, Stratigraphy covers principles, classification and stratigraphic correlation. It also contains Physiographic divisions of India, Geological Time Scale, and Indian stratigraphy from Archaeans to Dharwar to the Siwalik Formation with their geological successions and distribution in the map of India. Chapter-7, Structural Geology deals with identification and description of structural features including the primary sedimentary features like bedding, cross bedding etc. their attitude (strike and dip), unconformity, joints and the diastrophic structures like fold and fault with block diagrams. The last Chapter8, Economic and Ore Geology, Remote sensing and Photogeology consists of basic concepts and practical aspects of these subjects as prescribed syllabus of B.Sc./ B.E. Civil and Mining Engineering courses in various Universities and Institutes.
Since this is my first effort, there ought to be several mistakes and shortcomings. The critical evaluation and suggestions by the learned readers will be wholeheartedly welcome, which will go towards the improvement of this book .