GEOLOGY AND TOURIST ENHANCEMENT OF GEOSITES, GEOPARKS AND MINERAL PARKSModule GEOLOGY
Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: Carmelo Giovanni MONACOExpected Learning Outcomes
General knowledge on the structure and dynamics of Planet Earth, useful for the interpretation of regional morphological, geological and geodynamic features.
Ability to recognize the geological identity of a territory as a key tool for the conservation and promotion of sustainable, cultural and naturalistic tourism.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
The Earth's Interior.
Lithosphere dynamics and plate tectonics; divergent and convergent margins, ocean floor spreading.
Rocks and the lithogenic cycle.
Different types of volcanic activity and effects on the environment: examples of Italian volcanoes. Etna and its landscape.
Orogenesis and geological evolution of Sicily.
Geological characteristics of the main geosites of Sicily.
Contribution of teaching to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
GOAL N. 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Target 12.b Develop and apply tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism, which creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
Textbook Information
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet Earth and its fundamental characteristics | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 2 | Interior of the Earth | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 3 | Plate Tectonics | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 4 | Rocks and lithogenic cycle | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 5 | Igneous rocks, volcanism and types of eruptions | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 6 | The Etna Volcano: Structure and Evolution | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 7 | Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks: nature and origin | Educational material provided by the teacher |
| 8 | Geological evolution of Sicily and geological characteristics of the main geosites. | Educational material provided by the teacher |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The exam takes place in oral and written form on topics from the program in order to ensure full acquisition of knowledge and the ability to apply them in relation to the topics covered by the course.
Criteria for awarding the final grade:
The evaluation of the exam will be linked not only to the acquisition of specific knowledge but also to:
• ability to summarize the results; acquisition of independent judgment;
• ability to explain the theoretical basis, the approach, with the appropriate use of technical-scientific language methodological and the results achieved.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
The exam is generally divided into:
a question on endogenous geological processes (plate tectonics, seismicity or volcanism);
a question on the geological and geomorphological characteristics of areas of high geo-tourist interest, the subject of field lessons.