Sedimentary geology, tectonics and cartography

This course brings together three complementary and fundamental disciplines in the earth sciences: sedimentology, tectonics and cartography. The different types of sedimentary rock will be taught in detail in order to interpret their formation context and associated processes. Ductile and brittle tectonic objects will also be covered at different scales, in order to establish their formation context, particularly in terms of stress regimes. Practical work on samples will be carried out in parallel to enable students to develop their observation and drawing skills, and to make the most of the rich collections available in the department. Finally, an introduction to reading and working with geological maps (diagrams, cross-sections) will be provided, applying the notions of sedimentology and tectonics previously acquired. The aim of this course is to enable students to outline the geological history of a given region.

Hourly volumes:

• CM : 12
• TD : 3
• TP: 21

• Based on naturalistic observation of sedimentary rocks, the aim is to identify, with the naked eye, the nature of the rock and the figurative elements (grains, fossils, structures) it contains, and to reconstruct the rock's formation environment and processes.
• Identify and characterize brittle and ductile tectonic processes at different scales (µm to km), describe and identify rocks and associated tectonic structures, in order to characterize a state of stress.
• Master the techniques of reading and using geological maps to understand the geological history of a study area.

UE HAT102T Geology ; HAV213T Earth evolution and geological history

Final exam + 3 graded practical sessions.

Synthetic description of the concepts covered in CM :

• 5 CM sedimentology ;
• 1 CM Introduction to mapping techniques and geological map reading ;
• 2 CM Introduction to tectonics.

Summary description of TD sessions and number of hours associated with each session

• 1TD of reading techniques and work on theoretical geological maps (recognition of unconformities, folds and faults; estimation of dips; work on small, simple sections).  

Synthetic description of TP sessions and number of hours associated with each session

• 4 sedimentary rock practical exercises (TP1 Detrital and terrigenous rocks; TP2 Sedimentary figures; TP3 Carbonate and biochemical rocks; TP4 Chemical and organic rocks) ;
• 2 practical exercises on geological maps in simple folded areas: 1 to learn how to construct a structural diagram, 1 to learn how to construct a structural section (Dieulefit map);            
• 1 deformed rock laboratory with macroscopic description of rocks.

Description of the themes/manips covered during your field trip(s) and details of destinations/sites.

Recognize sedimentary rock and define its formation environment.

Recognize deformed, brittle and ductile rock, and define the state of stress causing deformation.

Know how to draw a sample.

Know how to read a geological map to extract the regional geological history.

Know how to make a structural diagram and a tectonic section from a geological map (calculation of dip and thickness, geological drawings...).