| Weeks | Topics |
| 1 |
Continental drift, Seafloor spreading and the birth of plate tectonics, Geosynclinal theory, impact of plate tectonics
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| 2 |
Internal structure of the Earth, Composion of the Earth, The Crust; the continental crust, the oceanic crust, ophiolites, Differences between continental and oceanic crust, the mantle, mantle composition, the core, deformationin the crust and mantle; brittle deformation, ductile deformation, Isostasy; Airy’s hypothesis, Pratt’s hypothesis, Lithosphere and Astenosphere
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| 3 |
Continental drift; Movements of the plates in geological time, Geological evidence for continental drift, Palaeoclimatology, Palaentological evidence for continental drift, Palaeomagnetism, Rock magnetism, Natural remanent magnetization, the past and present geomagnetic field, Apparent polar wandering curves.
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| 4 |
Sea floor spreading, Geomagnetic reversals, magnetostratigraphy.
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| 5 |
The framework of Plate Tectonics; Plates and plate margins,Distribution of earthquakes, Relative plate motion, the forces acting on plates
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| 6 |
Oceanic Ridges and Continental Rifts; Ocean ridge topography,Broad structure of the lithosphere below ridges,Heat flow and hydrothermal circulation, Petrology of ocean ridges, Difference between fast and slow spreading ridges, Origin of the oceanic crust, Characteristic of continental rifts, Classification of continental rifts, structure of continental rifts.
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| 7 |
Transform Faults; origin of transform faults, Continental strike-slip faults; Transpression and transtension, Pull-apart basins, Fault wedge basins, Triple junctions, Aulacogens.
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| 8 |
Mid-term exam
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| 9 |
Subduction zones; General morphology of oceanic subduction zones, Gravity anomalies of subduction zones, Structures of island arc systems from earthqukes, Thermal structure of the downgoing slab, Metamorphism at convergent margins, Ocean trenches, Accreation prism, Volcanic and plutonic activity.
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| 10 |
Mountain Ranges; Andean-type mountain ranges,; General geological structure of the Peruvian Andes, Seismicity of Andes, Plate tectonic model of the Andes.Collisional mountain ranges; Models of continental collision, Himalayan geology,Evolution of the Himalaya, The mechanism of continental collision, Arc-Continental collision.
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| 11 |
The Mechanism of Plate Tectonics;Contracting Earth hypothesis, Expanding Earth hypothesis,Implications of heat flow, The Convection process, Feasibility of mantle convection, The vertical extent of convection. Driving mechanism of plate tectonics; Mantle drag mechanism, Edge force mechanism.
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| 12 |
Implications of Plate Tectonics; Continental splitting; Previous theories, Requirements for continental tension, Eidence from continental margins, Models of continental splitting. The Wilson Cycle.
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| 13 |
Plate Tectonics and Economic Geology; Autochthonous and allocththonous deposits, Deposit of sedimentary basins, Deposit related to climate, Geothermal power
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| 14 |
Final exam
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