Engineering Geology

         Short Definitions

Geology

Geology is the science which is devoted to the study of the earth.It deals with all the features of the earth’s surface and with the origin,composition,structure and the inhabitants of the earth.

Engineering Geology

The engineering geology includes the study of application of geology to civil Engineering.

Paleontology

Paleontology is the science of fossils of ancient life forms and their evolution.

Petrology

The discussion of the different kinds of rocks is known as petrology.

Stratigraphy

It is the science of the description  and classification of strata in sedimentary rocks.

Crust

The outer superficial layer of the earth is called the crust.

Mantle

The mantle is located beneath the earth’s crust and has a thickness of about 2900 km.

Core of the Earth

It is a huge ball of liquid and solid iron deep down inside the earth which protects us from the dangerous radiations of space.

Soil

A portion of the regolith which supports the growth of plants is called soil. This soil is a combination of minerals , organic matter , water and air.[Regolith=Any solid unconsolidated material lying on top of bedrock is called regolith. ] 

Erosion

Erosion is a  process which includes the destruction of existing rocks and removal of the product from the site of destruction.

Earthquake

An earthquake is the sudden vibration of the earth’s surface by rapid release of energy. This energy is released when two parts of rock masses move suddenly in relation to each other along a fault.

Epicenter

The point lying vertically above on the earth’s surface, directly above the focus, is called the epicenter.

Primary waves

These are compressional waves which cause the particles of rock to vibrate in the longitudinal direction. they pass through solids as well as liquids.

Secondary waves

These are shear waves which are transverse in nature. secondary waves travel through only solids.

Surface waves or L-waves

When primary and secondary waves reach the earth’s surface, they are converted into L-Waves.

Volcano

A volcano is a vent or fissure in the earth's crust through which hot lava and volcanic gases are thrown out.

Mineral

A Mineral is a naturally occurring homogeneous substance which has a more or less definite chemical composition and definite atomic structure.

The Minerals are usually formed by inorganic processes.

Rock-forming Minerals

Rock-forming minerals are those which are found in abundance in the rocks of the earth's crust.

Ore-forming Minerals

Ore-forming Minerals are those which are of economic value and which do not occur in abundance in rocks.

Streak

The color of the mineral powder is called a streak.

Hardness

It is defined as the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching.

Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is a number which represents the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal volume of water.Thus a mineral with specific gravity 4.0 is four times as heavy as water.

Rocks
They defined as ''Aggregates of minerals".they form a major part of earth's crust.

Igneous Rocks
Igneous rocks are formed by cooling and solidification of magma.
Approximately 90% of the earth's crust is composed of igneous rocks.
some igneous rocks are (granite ,basalt ,Gabbro ,peridotite ,Rhyolite ,Andesite)

Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary rocks are formed by consolidation and cementation of the sediments deposited under water.
some sedimentary rocks are (sandstone ,shale ,lime stone ,dolomite ) 

Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rocks are formed when the pre-existing rocks have been changed in texture and composition by increased temperature and pressure.
"texture" means the size, shape and arrangement of mineral grain in a rock.
some Metamorphic rocks are (slate, schist, gneiss, Marble, Quartzite).

Dams
The dams are barriers which are constructed across rivers to store water.They are built mainly to control floods, for irrigating lands, for generating electricity and for supplying water to industries and cities.

Gravity Dam
It is a massive structure of concrete or masonry which stands by its own weight.Generally a sound foundation rock is required for the construction of gravity dams.

Arch Dam
It is an arch-shaped structure of single concrete wall, the convex side of which faces upstream.The arch dams transmit water pressures to the abutments by arch action.

Buttress Dam
In this type of dam buttresses are constructed at the downstream side to support an upstream deck of reinforced concrete.The buttress dams are usually constructed on a good foundation rock.

Earth Dam
The earth Dams are constructed mainly by soil or earth.these dams have an advantage as they can be built on earth or poor rock conditions.

Tunnel
A tunnel is a nearly horizontal underground passage which is open at both the ends to the ground surface.Tunnels are constructed below cities, rivers and through mountains for carrying railways, roads, canals, water supply and sewage.

Landslide
Where a mass of earth or rock slides down the slope along a definite Zone or surface, the movement is called a "landslide'' 

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