Goals

Upon completion of the Teaching Unit, students will be able to :

  • Identify common rocks and minerals and detail their characteristics and modes of formation
  • Describe the functioning of geological processes responsible for the formation (and destruction) of rocks
  • Discuss the interactions between geological processes and our immediate environment: relief, soils, land use, climate, living organisms, etc.
  • List and describe the key stages in the history of the Earth (and life).

Content

The course aims to present the Earth as a dynamic system affected by processes that are often imperceptible (slow and gradual), but whose effects impact the history of life and our daily lives.

It can be divided into several major chapters:

  • Introduction: age, internal structure of the Earth, and constituent elements (minerals)
  • Magmatism, volcanism, and geodynamics: formation of the oceanic and continental crust
  • Weathering and erosion of the continental crust, formation of soils and sedimentary rocks
  • The two-speed carbon cycle: geological and biological/anthropogenic processes, the development of life, and major extinctions
  • The birth of present-day landscapes and our place within the "Earth system"

Lab sessions:

  • Crystallography (chemistry students, 1 session of 2 hours)
  • Macroscopic identification of rocks and minerals (for all, 4 sessions of 2 hours)
  • A group project on a site of significant biological interest: how does geology influence flora and fauna? (biology students)

A half-day field trip is organized at the end of the term (for all).

Assessment method

Biology students:

  • Written exam (65% of the final grade)*
  • Lab exam (25% of the final grade)*
  • Group project, site of significant biological interest (10% of the final grade)

Chemistry students:

  • Written exam (65% of the final grade)*
  • Lab exam (35% of the final grade)*

*If a grade is lower than 8/20 on one of the exams (theory or practical), that score serves as the final grade. A score of 10/20 or higher on one of the exams may be partially carried over to a subsequent session, upon written request (by email) from the student, submitted at least 14 days before the exam date.

 

Sources, references and any support material

Essentials of Geology, Marshak

Géologie générale : Du minéral aux géosphères, Boulvain (French)

Language of instruction

Français
Training Study programme Block Credits Mandatory
Bachelier en sciences biologiques Standard 0 3
Bachelier en sciences biologiques Standard 1 3