1. Bachelor of Statistical Data Science (BSDS) :-  Earth System Sciences/Geosciences Elective Course

     1. The Earth System: The Scientific Method; System Concept, Dynamic Interactions among Systems, The Energy Cycle, Introduction to Geological data.

     2. Earth as a Planet in the Solar System: Origin of the Universe and the Solar System, Evolution of the Planets, Meteorites and Asteroids, Origin of Atmosphere, Ocean and Life.

     3. The Solid Earth: The Earth as a Layered Planet: Mechanical Layering of the Earth, Layers of Different Composition and Physical State, Earthquake and the Earth’s Interior, Plate Tectonics, Geothermal Gradient, Magmas and Volcanoes

     4. The Earth’s Evolving Crust: Sedimentary Strata; Sedimentary process and Sedimentary Rocks; Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks; Plate Tectonics, Continental Crust and Mountain Building; Understanding the past from Stratigraphic     Records; Geological Time Scale.

    5. Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Biosphere: Water and the Hydrologic Cycle; Snow and Ice; The Oceans; The Atmosphere; Winds and the Global Air Circulation; The Earth’s Climate System and the Changing Climate.

    6. Life on Earth: A Planetary Perspective on Life; The Habitable Planet; Biogeochemical Cycles and Biological Evolution; Mass Extinctions.

    7. Resources on Earth: Coal and Petroleum Resources; Nuclear, Wind and Hydroelectric Power Energy.

    8. Geostatistics: Application of statistics to Geological Data; Pattern recognition of geological events; Statistics for earth resources.

    References:-  1. The Blue Planet– An Introduction to Earth System Science by B.J. Skinner, S.C. Porter and D.B. Botkin.

                           2. The Earth Machine– The Science of a Dynamic Planet by E.A. Mathez and J.D. Webster.

                          3. Understanding Earth, 5th Edition by J. Grotzinger, T.H. Jordan, F. Press and R. Siever.

                         4. Planet Earth: Cosmology, Geology, and the Evolution of Life and Environment by C. Emiliani.

     

 

2. B.Stat.:- Geology Elective Course

    

 

3. PhD Course work

Total marks: 100+100=200

Part‐I: 100 marks

A. Research Methodology: (25 marks, 15 Lectures)

    1) An introduction – Meaning of Research – Objectives of Research – Motivation in Research –Types of Research – Research Approaches –Significance of Research – Research methods versus methodology.

    2) Research and Scientific Method – Importance of knowing how Research is done – Research process – Criteria for good Research – Problems encountered by Researchers in India. Journal Reading Techniques - Defining the Research                     problem – What is the Research Problem – Selecting the Problem – Necessity of Defining the problem – Technique involved in Defining the Problem – An illustration – Conclusion.

    3) Research Design – Need for Research Design – Features of good design – Important concepts relating to Research Design – Different Research Design – Basic principles of Experimental Designs – Conclusion – Developing a Research Plan.

    4) Significance of Report Writing – Different steps in writing Report – Layout of the Research Report – Types of Reports – Oral presentation – Mechanics of writing a Research Report – Precautions for writing a Research Reports – Conclusions.

B. Computer Applications and Statistical Methods: (45 marks, 35 Lectures)

    (To be conducted centrally)

C. Review work and Assignments: (30 marks)

Part‐II: (total 100 marks)

Module-I (any one course): 50 marks

     1. Field course of 2-3 weeks duration which may include section measurement (outcrop logs) of relatively undeformed and deformed sequences, art and science of digital mapping, mapping on scales >1:50000, sampling plan, collection of     

      samples (geochemistry, age dating, OSL, stable isotopes, oriented samples), field documentation, etc.

     2. A field course for techniques of fossil excavation (2-3 weeks duration).

Module-II (any two courses): (2 X 25 = 50 marks, 15 Lectures each)

1. A course on microscopy (polarising microscopes, U-stage) including measurement on digital images (practical use of QWIN, NIH and other software for texture/microstructure measurement). One may add elements of preparation of thin sections, polished sections, ultrathin sections, for routine microscopy, EPMA, SEM, etc.

2. Advanced structural geology course which may include handling of PC based tools for fault slip analysis, simulation of geological structures, strain measurement, fabric analysis and kinematic interpretation, non-plane strain deformation (transpression, inclined transpression), plate tectonics and crustal stresses, etc.

3. Depositional environments, facies analysis, sequence stratigraphy, basin analysis.

4. Brief recapitulation of basic ideas on fossils and fossilization, living modes of fossilised organisms, Palaeontology and Palaeobiology; taphonomy, sediment-biota interaction; habitats and niches; palaeoecology and modern concepts on functional morphology; phylogenetic systematics and cladograms; concept of deep time, organic evolution through time (with special reference to the vertebrates) , gradualistic and stochastic models of evolution. Gondwana vertebrates of India, a short field trip to the Gondwana formation(s) that has (have) yielded vertebrate fossils. Numerical methods in Palaeontology, morphomery, shape and outline analysis.

5. Introduction to chemical thermodynamics and its application to petrology.

i) Introduction to Geochemistry. Different roles of major and minor elements; periodic table and geochemical classification; partition co-efficients and application in petrological phenomena; Radioactivity and isotopes.

ii) P-T estimates for assemblages and use of thermodynamic parameters of internally consistent date base.

6. Application of GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques, with hands on training on the use of RS/GIS software like ArcGIS, Global Mapper, ERDAS Imagine, etc. Recapitulation of definitions and related terminologies. Digital representation of vector and raster geographic data and digital elevation models. Data entry and data preparation, Map coordinate systems, map projection transformations. Organization, querying and editing of spatial data. Topology and spatial relationships. Methods of analysis of vector GIS data. Techniques of analysis of raster geospatial data. Techniques of digital terrain analysis. Techniques of raster to vector and vice-versa transformations. Visualization of vector and raster data and basic cartographic techniques. Introduction to GeoProcessor.