{"id":96811,"date":"2021-03-20T16:49:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-20T11:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?page_id=96811"},"modified":"2023-10-26T17:19:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T11:49:36","slug":"geology-syllabus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/upsc-syllabus\/geology-syllabus\/","title":{"rendered":"Geology Optional UPSC Syllabus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Geology Optional-Syllabus<\/strong><\/p>\n

PAPER-I<\/h5>\n

1. General Geology :<\/strong>
\nThe Solar System, meteorites, origin and interior of the earth and age of earth;
\nVolcanoes\u2014causes and products, Volcanic belts. Earthquakes\u2014causes, effects, seismic of zone of
\nIndia; Island arcs, trenches and mid-ocean ridges; Continental drift; Seafloor spreading, plate
\ntectonics. Isostasy.<\/p>\n

2. Geomorphology and Remote Sensing :<\/strong>
\nBasic concepts of geomorphology. Weathering and soil formations; Landforms, slopes and
\ndrainage. Geomorphic cycles and their interpretation. Morphology and its relation to structures
\nand lithology; Coastal geomorphology; Applications of geomorphology in mineral prospecting,
\ncivil engineering; hydrology and environmental studies; Geomorphology of Indian sub-continent.
\nAerial photographs and their interpretation\u2014merits and limitations; The Electromagnetic
\nspectrum. Orbiting
\nSatellites and Sensor Systems. Indian Remote Sensing Satellites. Satellite data products;
\nApplications of remote sensing in geology; The Geographic Information System (GIS) and
\nGlobal Positioning System (GPS)\u2014its applications.<\/p>\n

3. Structural Geology :<\/strong>
\nPrinciples of geologic mapping and map reading, projection diagrams, Stress and strain ellipsoid
\nand stress-strain relationships of elastic, plastic and viscous materials; Strain markers in
\ndeformed rocks. Behaviour of minerals and rocks under deformation conditions. Folds and
\nfaults classification and mechanics; Structural analysis of folds, foliations, lineations, joints and
\nfaults, unconformities; Time-relationship between crystallization and deformation.<\/p>\n

4. Paleontology :<\/strong>
\nSpecies\u2014definition and nomenclature; Megafossils and Microfossils. Modes of preservation of
\nfossils; Different kinds of microfossils; Application of microfossils in correlation, petroleum
\nexploration, paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic studies; Evolutionary trend in Hominidae,
\nEquidae and Proboscidae. Siwalik fauna.
\nGondwana flora and fauna and its importance; Index fossils and their significance.<\/p>\n

5. Indian Stratigraphy :<\/strong>
\nClassification of stratigraphic sequences: lithostrati-graphic, biostratigraphic,
\nchrono-stratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic and their interrelationships; Distribution and
\nclassification of Precambrian rocks of India; Study of stratigraphic distribution and lithology of
\nPhanerozoic rocks of India with reference to fauna, flora and economic importance. Major
\nboundary problems\u2014Cambrian\/ Precambrian, Permian\/Triassic, Cretaceous\/Tertiary and
\nPliocene\/Pleistocene; Study of climatic conditions, paleogeography and igneous activity in the
\nIndian sub-continent in the geological past. Tectonic framework of India. Evolution of the
\nHimalayas.<\/p>\n

6. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology :<\/strong>
\nHydrologic cycle and genetic classification of water; Movement of subsurface water; Springs;
\nPorosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storage coefficient,
\nclassification of aquifers; Water-bearing characteristics of rocks; Groundwater chemistry. Salt
\nwater intrusion. Types of wells. Drainage basin morphometry; Exploration for groundwater;
\nGroundwater recharge; Problems and management of groundwater; Rainwater harvesting;
\nEngineering properties of rocks; Geological investigations for dams, tunnels highways, railway
\nand bridges; Rock as construction material; Landslides causes, prevention and rehabilitation;
\nEarthquake-resistant structures.<\/p>\n

PAPER-II<\/h5>\n

1. Mineralogy :<\/strong>
\nClassification of crystals into systems and classes of symmetry; International system of
\ncrystallographic notation; Use of projection diagrams to represent crystal symmetry; Elements of
\nX-ray crystallography.
\nPhysical and chemical characters of rock forming silicate mineral groups; Structural classification
\nof silicates; Common minerals of igneous and metamorphic rocks; Minerals of the carbonate,
\nphosphate, sulphide and halide groups; Clay minerals.
\nOptical properties of common rock forming minerals; Pleochroism, extinction angle, double
\nrefraction, birefringence, twinning and dispersion in minerals.<\/p>\n

2. Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology :<\/strong>
\nGeneration and crystallisation of magmas. Crystallisation of albite\u2014anorthite,
\ndiopside\u2014anorthite and diopside\u2014wollastonite\u2014silica systems. Bowen’s Reaction Principle;
\nMagmatic differentiation and assimilation. Petrogenetic significance of the textures and
\nstructures of igneous rocks. Petrography and petrogenesis of granite, syenite, diorite, basic and
\nultrabasic groups, charnockite, anorthosite and alkaline rocks. Carbonatites. Deccan volcanic
\nprovince.
\nTypes and agents of metamorphism. Metamorphic grades and zones; Phase rule. Facies of
\nregional and contact metamorphism; ACF and AKF diagrams; Textures and structures of
\nmetamorphic rocks. Metamorphism of arenaceous, argillaceous and basic rocks; Minerals
\nassemblages. Retrograde metamorphism; Metasomatism and granitisation, migmatites. Granulite
\nterrains of India.<\/p>\n

3. Sedimenary Petrology :<\/strong>
\nSedimentas and Sedimentary rocks: Processes of formation; digenesis and lithification; Clastic
\nand non-clastic rocks-their classification, petrography and depositional environment;
\nSedimentary facies and provenance. Sedimentary structures and their significance. Heavy
\nminerals and their significance. Sedimentary basins of India.<\/p>\n

4. Economic Geology :<\/strong>
\nOre, ore mineral and gangue, tenor of ore. Classification of ore deposits; Processes of formation
\nof mineral deposits; Controls of ore localisation; Ore texures and structures; Metallogenic epochs
\nand provinces; Geology of the important Indian deposits of aluminium, chromium, copper, gold,
\niron, lead, zinc, manganese, titanium, uranium and thorium and industrial minerals; Deposits of
\ncoal and petroleum in India, National Mineral Policy; Conservation and utilization of mineral
\nresources. Marine mineral resources and Law of Sea.<\/p>\n

5. Mining Geology :<\/strong>
\nMethods of prospecting\u2014geological, geophysical, geochemical and geobotanical; Techniques of
\nsampling. Estimation of reserves of ore; Methods of exploration and mining-metallic ores,
\nindustrial minerals, marine mineral resources and building stones. Mineral beneficiation and
\nore dressing.<\/p>\n

6. Geochemistry and Environmental Geology :<\/strong>
\nCosmic abundance of elements. Composition of the planets and meteorites. Structure and
\ncomposition of earth and distribution of elements. Trace elements. Elements of crystal
\nchemistry-types of chemical bonds, coordination number. Isomorphism and polymorphism.
\nElementary thermodynamics.
\nNatural hazards\u2014floods, mass wasting, costal hazards, earthquakes and volcanic activity and
\nmitigation; Environmental impact of urbanization, mining, industrial and radioactive waste
\ndisposal, use of fertilizers, dumping of mine waste and fly-ash. Pollution of ground and surface
\nwater, marine pollution. Environment protection\u2014legislative measures in India; Sea level
\nchanges: causes and impact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Geology Optional-Syllabus PAPER-I 1. General Geology : The Solar System, meteorites, origin and interior of the earth and age of earth; Volcanoes\u2014causes and products, Volcanic belts. Earthquakes\u2014causes, effects, seismic of zone of India; Island arcs, trenches and mid-ocean ridges; Continental drift; Seafloor spreading, plate tectonics. Isostasy. 2. Geomorphology and Remote Sensing : Basic concepts of… Continue reading Geology Optional UPSC Syllabus<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":0,"parent":50153,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-96811","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/96811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/96811\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/50153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}