《地球科学概论》课程教学大纲

Syllabus for An Introduction to Earth Sciences

Course Name：An Introduction to Earth Sciences

Applicable to Major：Resource Exploration Engineering, Prospecting Technology and Engineering, Geology

Hours：48  Teaching hours：38  Experiment hours：10   Credit：3    

Classification：Basic Disciplinary Course

Course Category：Compulsory course

1、Objective

“An Introduction to Earth Sciences” is a foundation and introduction of geosciences specialities such as the Resources Exploration Engineering, Mineral Processing Engineering, etc.. It introduces the research objects and contents together with the methods of geoscience. It helps the students understand the main achievements and the basic knowledge as well as the time and space concept of modern geoscience. The course also helps the students to master basic technical skills, promotes to initiate the study of geosciences, encourages them to think creatively thinking, and inspires their study interest. The curricula helps the students set up the right Weltanschaunng and Optimislicspinit, and builds a strong foundation for future study.

2、Course Contents

Basic contents of lectures and experiments：

Chapter 1  Introduction to Earth Science

1.1 Earth Science and some related concepts

1.2 The hardship and the pleasures of geologist

Chapter 2  Universe of Planetary Geology

2.1 The history of Universe exploration

2.2 Members of the Solar System

2.3 Amazing regularities in the Solar System

2.4 Origin of the Solar System

2.5 Earth’s shape

Chapter 3 Elements and Minerals

3.1 The elements in the crust

3.2 Minerals and their properties

3.3 Common minerals and rock-forming minerals

Practice 1 Cognizing Minerals

Chapter 4 Magmatism and Igneous Rocks   

4.1 Magmatism

4.2 Eruption and extrusive rocks (volcanic rocks)

4.3 Intrusion and intrusive rocks

4.4 Major igneous rocks

4.5 Other concepts

Practice 2 Cognizing Sedimentary Rocks

Chapter 5 Exogenic Processes and Sedimentary Rocks

5.1 External process

5.2 Basic characteristics of sedimentary rocks

5.3 Texture of sedimentary rocks

5.4 Sedimentary structure

5.5 Common sedimentary rocks

Practice 3 Cognizing Igneous Rocks

Chapter 6 Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks 4 teaching hours

6.1 Metamorphism

6.2 Composition, texture and structure of metamorphic rocks

6.3 Types of metamorphism

6.4 Major metamorphic rocks

6.5 Rock cycles

Practice 4 Cognizing Metamorphic Rocks

Chapter 7 Geologic Time and the Earth’s Evolution

7.1 Relative time

7.2 Radiometric time (dating)

7.3 Geological time scale

7.4 How to understand and remember the geological time scale

Chapter 8 Geological Structure

8.1 Acting force and deformation of rocks

8.2 Fold and fracture

8.3 Contact relations

8.4 Tectonics/Geotectonics

Practice 5. Cognizing Geologic Structure    

Chapter 9 Earthquakes and the Earth’s Spheres  

9.1 What is an earthquake?

9.2 Earthquake distributions

9.3 Earthquake and the Earth’s interior

9.4 Gravity and isostasy of crust

Chapter 10 Sea Floor Spreading and Plate Tectonics

10.1 Continental drift

10.2 Sea floor spreading

10.3 Plate tectonics

Chapter 11 Geologic Resources   

11.1 Nonmetallic Resources

11.2 Metals and Ores

11.3 Energy Resources

11.4 Resources’ Sustainable Development

3、Course Basic Requirements

（1）Cultivating the following skills

① Learn the basic methods and skills to identify major common minerals with naked eyes

② Learn the basic methods to describe mineral, rock, stratum and geologic tectonic

③ Learn to identify different geology phenomenon, and make reasonable explanations to their generation and evolvement  

④ Get first step understanding of the procedure of geoscience studies

（2）The important and difficult points

① According to the features of Resource Exploration Engineering and Mineral Processing Engineering, the curricula focus on the following: Earth's inside and outside layer, the composition of the Earth's crust (mineral, igneous rock, sedimentary rock and metamorphic rock), the classification of geologic preprocess, tectonic movement and earth resources and environment.  

② The difficulties

The interaction of different earth layers；the correlation, the formation of the earth power, the style, the formation process of the inside and outside dynamic geology; and the factors that control the geology process.

4. Curricular schedules  

5. Teaching Materials and References
    Textbook：Introduction to Physical Geology, Thompson & Turk． Press: Thompson Science Co., 2013.

References：

1、Physical Geology: Earth Revealed. Diane Carlson, Charles Plummer, Press: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math, 2008

2、Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (12th Edition). Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa, Press: Pearson, 2016  

3、Geology: An Introduction to Physical Geology (3rd Edition). Stanley Chernicoff, Donna Whitney. Press: Houghton Mifflin (Academic), 2002

4、Foundations of Earth Science. Jiao Shuqiang, Kong Hua. Wuhan: China University of Geosciences Press, 2006

5、Geology Foundation（3rd Edition）．Song Chunqing, etc．Beijing：Advanced Education Publishing．2002

6、Geoscience Outline．Tao Shilong, etc．Beijing：Geology Press．1999

辅助材料

1、《地球科学概论实验指导书》（英文版），西安石油大学地球科学与工程学院编，2016；

2、《地质认识野外实习指导书》（英文版），西安石油大学地球科学与工程学院编，2016。

3、利用多媒体设备，在课程网页上传了课程课件及辅助材料。学生可以充分利用网页学习。