Name: Hailie Ashley G.

Cañete Student Number: 528995

Subject & Code: BCE221 (7094)

Unit Learning Outcomes - Week 1-3

ULO 1-A

Let’s Check

Report Topic: Branches of Geology – Earth Structure and Composition

Reporter: Efren Reyes

Keywords: Study of Earth, Study of organisms in the planet, Physical landscape of planet, study
of how rocks deform from stress within the Earth, weathering, erosion, Earth’s topographic
features, interaction between humans and geological environment, layers of the Earth, Earth’s
structure.

Report Topic: Crust and Lithosphere

Reporter: Mary Rosvern Rosalinda

Keywords: Three layers of the Earth, Earth’s composition, different types of Earth’s crust,
continental drift, plate tectonics, study of rocks forming in the surface of Earth, Lithosphere,
compositional layers of Earth, the igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, crust.

Report Topic: Mantle - Core

Reporter: Naer Sahidin

Keywords: Made of solid rock, Hot, Peridotite, Meteorites, Conduction, Convection, Metallic
Core, density of Earth’s surface layers, Magnetic Field of Core, Seismic waves and heat flow.
Report Topic: Earth’s Geologic History – 3 types of Tectonics Boundary

Reporter: Ronald King Salazar

Keywords: Continental Drift, Alfred Wegener, Single Supercontinent, Pangaea, Earth’s Plates,
Divergent boundary, Convergent boundary, Transform boundary, Earth’s surface, Continental
shelf.

Report Topic: Earth Processes - Gravity Erosion

Reporter: Daren John Sango

Keywords: Geological processes, Earth’s Landforms, Features of Earth’s crust and mantle,
breaking down of rock, movement of sediment, chopping of sediment, transportation of eroded
materials, types of water erosion, types of wind erosion, natural forces shaping the physical buildup
of planet.

Report Topic: Weathering – Types of Weathering

Reporter: Bai Sittie Shyra Sumael

Keywords: Frost action/wedging, water and wind abrasions, exfoliation, root wedging,
hydration/hydrolysis, oxidation, carbonation, organic activity, types of weathering, decomposition
of rocks.
Let’s Analyze

In the space provided, write the term/s being asked in the following statement:

________Geology__________________1. The study of solid earth, the materials of which it is

made, the structure of those materials and the effects of the natural forces acting upon it.

The east coast of South America and the west coast of Africa_2. The coastlines of which continents
appear to fit together like pieces of a puzzle.

________”to build”_________________3. Tectonic comes from the Greek word ______.

__ Lithosphere_________________4. Bottom layer of mantle composed of solid flowing rock.

____ Geomorphology__________5. Concerned with the surface processes that create the
landscapes of the world- namely weathering and erosion.

____ Paleontology______________6. The study of fossils and is concerned not only with heir
description and classification but also with analysis of the evolution of the organisms involved.

____ Alfred Lothar Wegener_______7. A German geophysicist and meteorologist who proposed
Continental drift theory.

____ Divergent Boundary_________8. When tectonic plates move, they can form volcanoes,
mountains, or earthquakes.

___ supercontinent Pangaea______9. This huge ancient landmass is known _____, which means
“all lands “in Greek.

__Physical geology_____________10. The study of the solid earth and the processes that change
the physical landscape of the planet.
In a Nutshell

Answer the following questions.

1. Explain the branches of geology in detail.

• Physical Geology - it is the fundamental study of the earth's lithospheric components

such as rocks, minerals, and soils and how they formed over time. It analyzes the Solar
System, the Earth's origin, age, and internal structure, weathering and mass wasting, and
the geological work of rivers, lakes, glaciers, wind, sea, and groundwater. It also covers
volcanoes, their types and distribution, geological effects and products, and earthquakes,
their distribution, causes, and effects.
• Structural Geology - it is the scientific study of the three-dimensional distribution of rock
units in relation to their deformational genesis and histories. The primary goal of
structural geology is to use measurements of modern rock geometries to learn about the
origin and history of deformation in rocks. It aids in understanding the stress field that
resulted in the observed strain and geometries. This comprehension can also be linked to
significant geologic events. These can also be used to determine the dates of events.
• Geomorphology - It is the scientific study of the formation and evolution of landforms
and landscapes caused by physical, chemical, or biological processes at or near the
Earth's surface. It is involved with the internal geologic processes of the earth's crust,
such as tectonic activity and volcanism, which create new landforms, as well as
externally driven forces such as wind, water, waves, and glacial ice, which modify
existing landforms. Geomorphology is also concerned with the study of surface processes
and how these processes result in small-scale landforms.
• Historical Geology - It is the practice that involves geological principles and techniques
to reconstruct and understand Earth's geological history. This is also a major branch that
deals with the records of events in Earth history as well as the historical sequence and
evolution of plants and animals over time. Its goal is to arrange the events of Earth
 history in the regular chronological order in which they occurred and to interpret the
significance of those events.
• Mineralogy - It is the branch of geology dealing with the study of minerals. The modern
study of mineralogy is based on crystallographic principles. It is the scientific
investigation of mineral chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical)
properties. Mineralogy studies the processes of mineral origin and formation,
classification of minerals, geographical distribution of minerals, and utilization of
minerals.
• Paleontology - It is a scientific investigation of the evolution of life on Earth. It is the
study of prehistoric plants and animals based on their fossil records. Body fossils, tracks,
burrows, cast off parts, fossilized feces ("coprolites"), and chemical residues are all
studied. Paleontology aids in determining the evolution of organisms and their
interactions with one another and their environments (their paleoecology). It is also
heavily reliant on two subjects, biology and geology. It differs from archaeology in that it
does not investigate anatomically modern humans. It employs techniques from a variety
of allied sciences, including biochemistry, mathematics, and engineering.
• Environmental Geology - Environmental geology is the investigation of processes
occurring at or near the Earth's surface in order to mitigate natural hazards and minimize
environmental degradation. Environmental geology is commonly divided into four major
components. The first step is to identify and manage natural hazards such as earthquakes,
floods, hillslope instability, soil erosion, subsidence, volcanoes, and wildfires. The
management of natural resources such as minerals, soil, and water is the second primary
component of environmental geology. The third component is the management of energy
sources such as coal and oil in order to reduce risks and improve sustainability. The final
component deals with waste disposal, such as radioactive materials or excess nutrients,
and examines contaminant dispersal via erosion and deposition.

2. Explain the importance of physical, structural geology and petrology in civil engineering.

Physical, structural geology and petrology is significant in civil engineering because

Physical geology assists us in understanding historical geological processes and what may be
causing current geologic processes such as volcanoes, earthquakes, erosion, weathering, and
glaciers, along with applying new innovative techniques. Because it studies the physical and
mechanical properties of rocks, structural geology is an important part of engineering geology. It
provides key concepts for attempting to comprehend rock and lithosphere deformation. Lastly,
petrologists' findings are heavily relied on in civil engineering. The historical formation of the
earth's surface can be established by studying rocks. All of these are factors that a good civil
engineer must consider when building a structure so that the structure itself can withstand any of
the said natural of human disasters or erosions. Moreover, by being aware and educated with
these branches of geology, engineers can build safely and properly.

3. Define Engineering Geology. How the geological drawbacks play a major role in construction
failures.

Engineering geology is the implementation of geology to engineering studies to help

ensure those geographical factors based on the geographic, design, construction, operation, and
maintenance of engineering works are recognized and considered.

Geological variables have a major impact on the development of civil engineering

structures. A few failures have occurred as a result of a lack of understanding or carelessness.
Among the most common causes of building collapses are poor decision-making, shoddy
construction, foundation failure, unusual loads, unexpected failure mechanisms, or a combination
of factors. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, flooding, storms, cyclones, and wildfires can all
lead to building collapse. All structures are designed to withstand loads without deformation.
These loads include the live load, which is the burden of people and things, along with rain and
wind, and the dead load, which is the burden of the building itself. Which is why the folds, faults,
joints, and other geological improprieties can jeopardize the building and design. Furthermore,
specific geological features make engineering structures unstable, causing the structure to collapse.
4. How do we know what is inside the Earth?

According to Science Learning Hub (2019), several of the Earth’s internal structure is
just an 'educated guess' (primarily from seismology), because the longest drill researchers has
only penetrated is 12.26 km – and there is still 6,300 km between us and the center of the Earth.
Scientists have pieced together indirect evidence from scientific disciplines such as seismology,
astronomy, and other fields of geophysics to logically infer on the nature of the Earth's internal
architecture since they can only directly observe a small portion of the Earth's structure. Whilst
also assembling evidence, researchers developed a model that includes the crust, upper mantle,
mantle, and outer and inner cores. Many of the phenomena observed on the Earth's surface are
explained by this model.

5. Explain one example of invention or innovation that was used or is currently used to collect
more information on continental drift theory and plate tectonics.

Fossils, glaciers, and complementary coastlines provide evidence for how the plates once
fit together. Fossils explain to us where and when plants and animals lived in the past. A few life
"rode" diverging plates, becoming isolated and evolving into new species. As continents
reconnected, oceans narrowed, or chains of volcanic islands formed, other life dispersed to new
areas. The discovery of identical or similar fossils in areas separated by vast distances was one of
the first clues used by scientists to reconstruct past plate movement. The fossil relevance is an
important piece of evidence in the Continental Drift theory. There are numerous examples of
fossils discovered on different continents and in no other regions. Because the vast oceans
between these land masses act as a type of barrier for fossil transfer, this suggests that these
continents were once joined together. Mesosaurus, Cynognathus, Lystrosaurus, and Glossopteris
are four fossil examples.
ULO 1-B

Let’s Check

Report Topic: Geological works of the rivers, winds and seas – Deposition
Reporter: Kristopher Ryan Tan
Keywords: Natural flowing watercourse, Freshwater, Attrition, Abrasion, Solution, Hydraulic
Action, Transportation, Saltation, Suspension, Solution.

Report Topic: Works of Winds – 3 Functions/Processes of Seas

Reporter: Philip Anthony Tan
Keywords: Erosion, transportation, deposition, Eolian, envelope of gases, movement of
atmosphere, deflation, abrasion, bed load, Long Shore Drift.

Report Topic: The Importance of River, Wind and Sea

Reporter: Arvie Mae Troyo
Keywords: carry water and nutrients around the earth, important part in water cycle, acts as
drainage channels for surface water, provide travel routes for exploration, commerce and
recreation, provide fertile soils, Renewable energy, Inexhaustible, not a pollutant, Reduces the
use of fossil fuels.

Report Topic: Origin, Occurrence of Earthquakes – Types of Faults

Reporter: Bernald Umbay
Keywords: Shaking of Earth’s surface, Rapid motion of underground rocks, Movement of
Earth’s outermost layer, Plate Edges, Epicenter, Focus/Hypocenter, Earth’s Plates, Normal Fault,
Reverse Fault, Strike-Slip Fault.
Report Topic: Seismologist – Types of Seismic Waves
Reporter: Emmanuel Vicencio
Keywords: Study of Earthquakes and Seismic Waves, Earth scientists, seismographs, Body
waves, Surface waves, geological analysis, prospecting, Compressional/Longitudinal/Primary
Waves, Shear/Transverse/ Secondary Waves, Seismic and Geophysical prospecting.

Report Topic: Ground Water – The importance of Ground Water

Reporter: Wilson Waniwan
Keywords: geologic strata, Water occurring below the surface of Earth, subsurface water, surface
water, hydrologic cycle, one of the Nation's most important natural resources, used for irrigation
to grow crops, confined aquifer, Unconfined aquifer, perched aquifer.
Let’s Analyze

In the space provided, write the term/s being asked in the following statement:

Abrasion 1. The process of erosion produced by the suspended particles that impact on solid
objects.

Divergent Boundary 2. Movement of two plates away from each other.

Faults 3. Cracks in the earth where sections of a plate (or two

plates) are moving in different directions.

Traction 4. Large boulders and pebbles are rolled along the riverbed.

Geophysical Prospecting 5. The study of the structure of the earth’s crust by physical methods
for the location and the surveying of minerals, it is an integral part of geophysics.

Induced Seismicity 6. Typically, minor earthquakes and tremors that are caused by human
activity that alters the stresses and strains on the earth’s crust.

Bed Load 7. The process where heavier and larger particles are moved by the winds but not lifted
more than 30 to 60 cm.

Sheet Erosion 8. Produced by heavy rain on bare soil where water flows as a sheet down gently
sloping land, removing soil particles in thin layers more or less evenly.

Aquifer 9. An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or

unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or slit).

Root Wedging 10. The process in which roots grow into the cracks in rocks and force the cracks
open as they continue to grow.
In a Nutshell

Answer the following questions.

1.Explain weathering and its importance in civil engineering constructions.

Weathering degrades and loosens rock's surface minerals. As an outcome, the fractured
rocks are moved to another location where they decay and produce soil. And hence weathering is
important for soil formation. Weathering is a fundamental part of civil engineering since all civil
constructions are built utilizing stone masonry and concrete work. The effect of weathering is a
significant criterion for site selection, particularly for high-rise buildings, sea-shore
constructions, tunnels, and dams, as weathering weakens the strength of the rocks or soil.

2.Discuss the different types of faults.

• Normal Fault - A normal fault occurs when the block above the fault moves downward
relative to the block below the fault. This fault motion is induced by tensional forces and
results in extension.
• Reverse Fault - The block above the inclined fault rises in comparison to the block below
the fault. Compressional pressures create this fault motion, which results in shortening.
• Strike-slip Fault - Blocks move horizontally along a fault, and the fault plane is
approximately vertical. The fault is called left-lateral if the block on the far side of the
fault slides to the left, as demonstrated in this animation. The fault is referred to as right-
lateral if it advances to the right. Shearing forces cause the fault motion of a strike-slip
fault.
•

3.What is meant by earthquake? What are the effects of earthquakes?

An earthquake is caused by a sudden displacement of the Earth's crust. The crust is

composed of around a dozen constantly moving rock masses known as plates. Earthquakes
happen along fault lines, which are cracks in the Earth's crust where tectonic plates collide.
Plates subducting, spreading, slipping, or colliding cause them to form. Since its plates grind
against one other, they become trapped, and pressure builds up. Ground shaking, ground rupture,
landslides, tsunamis, and liquefaction are the principal repercussions of earthquakes. Fires are
most likely the most significant secondary impact of earthquakes. In terms of its effect on
humans, Earthquakes can have both immediate and long-term consequences for one's health.
These include trauma-related injuries and fatalities caused by building collapse; trauma-related
injuries and fatalities caused by secondary earthquake effects such as drowning from tsunamis or
fire burns.

4.What are the precautionary measures taken in the construction of buildings in earthquake prone
zones?

When constructing a structure in an earthquake-prone area, engineers follow precautionary

measures to ensure its safety. Buildings shall be properly built on hard bedrock only, never on
loose soils or fractured rocks, as loose ground settles owing to earthquake vibrations. Structures
located in cuttings on hill slides or near sheet slopes always suffer the most when an earthquake
happens. That is why Raft foundations are preferred for large buildings. Lastly, most engineers
use square foundations since it is more stable for seismic areas.

5.What is the importance of groundwater and its greatest use?

Groundwater is a vital natural resource that plays an important part in the economy. It is the
primary water source for agriculture and the food sector. Its greatest use is that it is an essential
water supply for humanity. Groundwater serves as the sole or primary source of drinking water
for up to half of the world's population and accounts for 43 percent of all irrigation water.
Around the world, 2.5 billion people rely primarily on groundwater resources to meet their basic
daily water demands.
References

Balasubramanian, A. (2017). 150 Branches of Geology.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318602166_150_BRANCHES_OF_GEOLOGYEARTH
_SCIENCES/citation/download

Science Learning Hub. (2019). Inside the Earth. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/337-

inside-the-earth

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. (2021). Fault Types: 3 Basic responses to
stress. https://www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/animation/fault_types_3_basic_responses_to_stress_