Geology of France

The course will expose the different episodes of geology in France from the Paleozoic to the present and will place these events in their geodynamic context. We will deal with sedimentary, tectonic, geomorphic, metamorphic and magmatic evolution. More precisely we will deal with the structure and geological evolution of the Hercynian massifs, the Mesozoic basins, the Pyrenean-Alpine orogeny and finally the Western European rift. To delimit these large geological objects, the course will integrate various data such as geological maps, paleogeographical maps, sections, rock facies, geochronological ages, ECORS profiles, magnetic and gravimetric anomaly maps, etc. The geological evolution of the Languedoc region from the Hercynian orogeny to the opening of the Mediterranean Sea will be particularly documented and developed during practical work and field trips.

Hourly volumes:

CM : 15h

Practical work : 9h

Field : 12h

This course aims at integrating the knowledge of geology acquired until the 4th semester of the STE license. It is applied to the discovery of the geology of France and allows the student to become familiar with the interpretative analysis of geological maps, subsurface data and the construction of geological sections in practical work. The disciplines covered are numerous, namely: cartography, stratigraphy, petrography (rock classification), tectonics, metamorphism, sedimentology and geophysics, in no particular order of priority.

Basics at the L2 level of cartography, petrography, stratigraphy, geochronology, geodynamics, structural and sedimentary geology, and evolution of the Earth.

Recommended prerequisites:

Geophysics

Continuous monitoring:

- Control of course knowledge

- Control of field knowledge

- 3 assessments of practical work (structural diagrams, geological sections)

• Synthetic description of the concepts covered in CM:

Geological evolution of France and particularly of the Languedoc. To show that the geologist must know how to integrate transdisciplinary tools. The notions treated are in particular:

- The mountain ranges in France

- The major sedimentary basins

- Western European rifting and the opening of the Gulf of Lions

- The geology of the Languedoc

• Synthetic description of the practical sessions and number of hours associated with each session

3 sessions of 3h of practical work, the first one about the Hercynian massif of the Maures, the second one in the context of Alpine convergence (Chambéry), and the third one in Languedoc (poly-phase up to the Oligocene rift, map of Alès).

Geological map analysis:

-grouping structural, sedimentary, tectonic-metamorphic and lithotype sets,

-Build geological sections and associated logs,

-reconstruct the geological history of the region studied.

• Description of the themes/manipulations addressed during your field trip(s) and details of the destinations/sites

 Field trip 1 (Hercynian): Identification of the crystalline and metamorphic rock facies of the Montagne Noire (Gorges d'Héric and Cabrières), geological field section, reading of the landscape and exercise to re-identify the elements of the geological map.

Output 2 (Alpine and Oligocene rift): Cross-section of the northern Montpellier region from the Triassic/Permian unconformity of Larzac to the Pic St Loup via the Cevennes fault at Thaurac. Identification of sedimentary rock facies, of an unconformity, measurement of a fault, reading of the landscape and exercise of re-identification of the elements of the geological map.

To know and understand the underground and the various geological events in France.

Know how to construct a structural diagram, log, geological section, map commentary, geological interpretation of geophysical data, landscapes, and rock recognition in the field.