IFS Exam 2012-Syllabus-Geology Paper 1

GEOLOGY

PAPER-I

Section-A

(i) General Geology: The Solar System, meteorities, origin and interior of the earth. Radioactivity and age of earth; Volcanoes-causes and products, volcanic belts. Earthquakes-causes, effects, earthquake belts, seismicity of India, intensity and magnitude, seismongraphs. Island arcs, deep sea trenches and mid-ocean ridges. Continental drift-evidences and mechanics; sea-floor spreading, plate tectonics. Isostasy, orogeny and epeirogeny. Continents and oceans.

(ii) Geomorphology and Remote Sensing: Basic concepts of geomorphology. Weathering and mass wasting. Landforms, slopes and drainage. Geomorphic cycles and their interpretation, Morphology and its relation to structures and lithology. Applications of geomorphology in mineral prospecting, civil engineering, hydrology and environmental studies. Geomorphology of Indian sub-continent. Aerial photographs and their interpretationmerits and limitations. The Electromagnetic Spectrum. Orbiting satellites and sensor systems. Indian Remote Sensing Satellites. Satellites data products. Applications of remote sensing in geology. The Geographic Information System and its applications. Global Positioning System.

(iii) Structural geology: Principles of geologic mapping and map reading, projection diagrams, stress and strain ellipsoid and stress-strain relationships of elastic, plastic and viscous materials. Strain markers in deformed rocks. Behaviour of minerals and rocks under deformation conditions. Folds and faults classification and mechanics. Structural analysis of folds, foliations, lineations, joints and faults, unconformities. Superposed deformation. Time – relationship between crystallization and deformation. Introduction to petrofabrics.

Section- B

(iv) Paleontology: Species definition and nomenclature. Megafossils and Microfossils. Modes of preservation of fossils. Different kinds of micro fossils. Application of microfossils in correlation, petroleum exploration, paleo-climatic and pale oceanographic studies, Morphology, geological history and evolutionary trend in Cephalopoda, Trilobita, Brachiopoda, Echi-noidea and Anthozoa, Stratigraphic utility of Ammonoidea, Trilobita and Graptoloidea, Evolutionary trend in Hominidae, Equidae and Probo-scidae. Siwalik fauna, Gondwana flora and its importance.

(v) Stratigraphy and Geology of India: Classification of stratigraphic sequences: lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic and their interrelationships. Distribution and classification of Precambrian rocks of India. Study of stratigraphic distribution and lithology of Phanerozoic rocks of India with reference to fauna, flora and economic importance. Major boundary problems - Cambrian/Precambrian, Permian/ Triassic, Cretaceous/Tertiary and Pliocene/ Pleistocene. Study of climatic conditions, paleogeography and igneous activity in the Indian subcontinent in the geological past. Tectonic framework of India. Evolution of the Himalayas.

(vi) Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology: Hydrologic cycle and genetic classification of water. Movement of subsurface water, Springs. Porosity,  ermeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storage coefficient, classification of aquifers. Water-bearing characteristics of rocks. Ground-water chemistry. Salt water intrusion. Types of wells. Drainage basin morphometry. Exploration for groundwater. Groundwater recharge. Problems and management of groundwater, Rainwater harvesting. Engineering properties of rocks. Geological investigations for dams, tunnels and bridges. Rock as construction material. Alkali-aggregate reaction. Landslides causes, prevention and rehabilitation. Earthquake-resistant structures.