GE130 - REGIONAL TECTONICS

courses

ID:

GE130

Duration (hours):

60

CFU:

SSD:

Geologia strutturale e tettonica

Located in:

CHIETI

Url:

Course Details:

GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES FOR RISKS, RESOURCES AND THE ENVIRONMENT/CORSO GENERICO Year: 1

Year:

2026

Course Catalogue:

https://unich.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/af/2026?co...

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (23/02/2027 - 29/05/2027)

Course Objectives

The course aims to provide students with advanced knowledge and specialized skills in the field of regional tectonics, with a particular focus on understanding deformation processes at the crustal and lithospheric scale within the framework of plate tectonics. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the main geodynamic models related to both active and fossil plate margins and orogenic belts;
Identify and analyze regional structural styles in various tectonic settings (convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries);
Apply methods from structural analysis, geophysics, and geochronology to reconstruct the evolution of complex tectonic systems;
Integrate multidisciplinary geological data into the construction of interpretative models and balanced cross-sections;
Develop critical skills in reading scientific literature and interpreting data and models;
Communicate effectively, both in written and oral form, the results of a regional geological analysis;
Demonstrate knowledge of different structural styles at both global and regional scales, and of alternative geodynamic models that may explain the same sets of data.
The course also aims to foster the student’s scientific independence through practical exercises, real-world case studies, and the discussion of recent scientific articles, preparing them for further research or professional work in the field of structural geosciences.

Course Prerequisites

Bachelor degree in Geological Sciences.

Teaching Methods

Fontal lectures, lab activity and classroom exercises, manual and digital.Each student will be personally involved in all phases of the program andwill be stimulated to develop critical sense towards what he learns.

Assessment Methods

The exam consists of an oral assessment, which includes the presentation of a case study assigned during the course (the preparation and presentation may be done individually or in groups), a discussion of a scientific article, and the verification of theoretical knowledge.
The evaluation will take into account: clarity of presentation, correct use of terminology, ability to synthesize, and the critical application of tectonic models.
Partial tests may be arranged upon agreement.

Texts

Plate Tectonics – by Haakon Fossen and Christian Teyssier - Cambridge University Press, 2024
PLATE TECTONICS - Continental Drift and Mountain Building - © 2022 - Latest edition - Wolfgang Frisch, Martin Meschede, Ronald C. - Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY OF ROCKS AND REGIONS, 1984, Davis G.H., John Wiley & Sons.
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY, 2007, Twiss R. J. & Moores E.M., 736 pp. W.H. Freemand and Company, New York
UNDERSTANDING THE EARTH, 1992, Hawkesworth & R.C.L. Wilson, Cambridge University Press.
ANATOMY OF AN OROGEN – The Apennines and the Adjacent Mediterranean basins. G.B.Vai & P. Martini Eds. – Kluwer Academicpublishers.
Further publications, scientific articles and WEB sites on specific topics will be suggested and provided during the course.

The Regional Tectonics course is designed to provide students with an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of the Earth's internal structure and the tectonic processes that shape the lithosphere at the regional scale. Starting from the fundamentals of plate tectonics, the course explores in detail the main tectonic styles characterizing orogenic belts, plate margins, and sedimentary basins, with particular emphasis on their geodynamic implications through time and space.
The main objective is to develop the ability to interpret complex tectonic systems through the critical integration of data from multiple disciplines, including structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geochronology, and geodesy. Students will learn to use advanced interpretative tools to analyze active and fossil orogens, convergent, divergent, and transform margins, and to apply kinematic and geodynamic models at the crustal and lithospheric scale.
A focus will be placed on the study of selected real-world case studies (e.g., the Alps, Andes, Anatolia, Himalayas), approached through structural analysis, kinematic reconstructions, interpretation of geological cross-sections, and integration of seismic and gravity data. The course also introduces physical and numerical modeling techniques, as well as specialized software for the reconstruction and validation of tectonic models.
The course includes individual and group exercises, both in class and on digital platforms, aimed at developing practical skills and critical analysis of recent scientific literature. Seminars and guided discussions will also be organized to promote active participation and foster an independent research mindset.
By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1) Analyze and interpret complex tectonic structures in different geodynamic settings; 2) Integrate multidisciplinary data to build consistent structural models; 3) Critically assess scientific literature and propose alternative models; 4) Effectively communicate the results of their analyses in both written and oral form.