Rajasthan Public Service Commission

RAS Syllabus (Main): Geology (Code No. 16)

Geology Paper-I

I. Physical Geology and Geotectonics :

The solar system and its members. The planet earth in relation to solar system. Shape, size and origin of the earth. Internal Constitution of the earth and composition of curst, mantle and core. Age of the earth. Weathering. erosion and denudation. Geological work of river, glacier, wind, sea and ground water.
Earthquake. Their causes, effects and distribution, ceismic belts and their relation to volcanic activity. Earthquake waves and their significance in the study of interior of the earth.
Volcanoes : their types, products, distribution and causes of volcanism.
Morphology of continents and ocean basins and their distribution. Elementary ideas of sea-floor spreading and theory of plate tectonics. Classification and origin of mountains; shields, platforms, island arcs, deep, oceanic trenches, rift valleys, mid-oceanic ridges, geosynclines, diastrophic forces, palaeo-magnetism, isostasy and continental drift. Ice ages and past climates. Coral reefs and their origin.

II. Geomorphology :

Basic concepts and significance. Land forms : their types and nature of development; land forms in relation to structures and drainage patterns. Major geomorphological sub-divisions of India; their characteristics and evolution.

III. Structural Geology :

Dip, strike, slope, pitch and plunge. Effect of topography on the outcrops. Description and use of clinometer compass.
Bedding and determination of top and bottom of beds.
Morphology and classification of folds and faults and criteria of their recognition in the field. Effect of folding and faulting on the outcrops. Elementary ideas of mechanics of folding and faulting. Distinction between faults and unconformities.
Unconformities, their kinds and criteria of recongnition in the field; overlap; off lap, outliners and inliers; characteristics and types of cleavage, schistosity, foliation, lineation and joints. Saltdomes. Common igneous intrusive and extrusive bodies.

IV. Palaeontology :

Mode of preservation and utility of fossils. Collection and preservation of fossils. Elementary idea of organic evolution.
Morphology, geological distribution and study of important genera of Graptoloidea, Echinoidea, Actinozoa (Corals), Gastropoda, Lamellibranchia (Bivalvia), Trilobita, Brachiopoda, Cephalopoda and Forminifera. An elementary knowledge of important Gondawana fossils, vertebrate fauna of Siwaliks of India and elementary idea of the evolution of man, elephant and horse.

V. Principles of stratigraphy and structure and Tectonics of India :

Standard stratigraphic tiem scale and its Indian equivalents. Principles of stratigraphic correlation, elementary knowledge of stratigraphic classification. Major tectonic sub-divisions of India. Study of tectonic features of India. The Aravalli trend, the Dharwar trend, the Eastern Ghat trend, the Satpura trend, the Mahanadi trend, the Assam Wedge and the Kashmir Wedge.
Structure and tectonics of India during Purana and Gondwana period. Study of the tectonic sub-divisions of Himalayas and its adjacent regions. Structure and tectonics of Eastern and Western coasts of India. Orogenic bells in India. Ceismic zones of India. Origin of Himalayas. Indogangetic plain and desert in India.

VI. Geology of India :

Brief study of Precambrian Geology of Peninsular and Extra Peninsular India with reference to their eitho-stratigraphy, distribution, classification, fossil content and economic importance. Study of Cuddapahs. Vindhyan Suergroup Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Quarternary and Gondawana geology of India with reference to their litho-stratigraphy, classification, distribution, conditions of deposition, structure and tectonics, climate and sedimentation, palaeogeography, fauna and flora, correlation and economic significance.

Geology Paper-II

I. Crystallography :

The Fundamental laws of crystallography, elements of crystal symmetry, Millers and Weiss system of notations, crystal forms, classification o crystal systems, laws of twinning, use of contact goniometer.
Study of following crystal classes : Cubic or Isometric system : Galena type, Pyrite type and Tetrahedrite type; Tetragonal system :
Zirocon type Hexagonal system: Beryl type, Calcite type, Tourmaline type and Quartz type. Orthorhombic system : barites type; Monoclinic system : Gypsum type; Triclinic system; Axinite type.
Crystal Chemistry : Bonding forces in crystalsionic bond, covalent bond . Vaderwalls bond, metallic bond, coordination principle crystal structure, crystal lattice, atomic substitution, solid solution and exsolution.

II. Mineralogy :

Physical, chemical and optical characters of important silicate minerals. Concept of isomorphism and polymorphism, elementary ideas about the structure and classification of silicate minerals. Study of physical, chemical and optical properties of the following mineral groups; Quartz, Felspar, Felspathoid, Olivine, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Mica, Chlorite and Garnet, Study of physical properties and chemical composition of important ore minerals.
Construction of petrological microscope and its accessories, Principles of optics as applied to study of minerals, nicol prism, birefringence, pleochroism, absorption, extinction, uniaxial and biaxial characteristics of minerals. Optical orientation, convergent light and interference figures of optically uniaxial and biaxial miners.

III. Igneous Petrology :

Elementary knowledge of the constitution and composition of magmas. Forms structures of Igneous rocks. Phase rule, Crystallisation of unicomponent and bicomponent silicate melts. Crystallisation of basaltic magma. Bown's reaction series. Textures of igneous rocks and their significance; classification of igneous rocks. Magmatic differnectiation and assimilation. Petrographic features and petrogenesis of common igneous rocks.

IV. Sedimentary Petrology :

Processes of formation of sedimentary rocks. Lithification and diagenesis. Heavy minerals-their separation and significance. Structures and textures of sedimentary rocks Grain size distribution and its geological significance, Shape, sphericity and roundness of grain. Classification of sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary environments and characteristic of their products in fluvial, deltaic, shoreline-shelf and desert environments. Petrography and petrogenesis of common sedimentary rocks.

V. Metamorphic Petrology :

Agents and kinds of metamorphism; concept of depth zones, facies and grades of metamorphism. Structures, textures and classification of metamorphic rocks. Regional and thermal metamorphism of argillaccous, calcareous, arenaceous, mafic and ultramafic rocks and their products. Cataclastic metamorphism, plutonic metamorphism,
ultrametamorphism, retrograde metamorphism and injection metamorphism and their products. Anatexis and palingenesis, metasomatism and its products. Petrography and ptrogenesis of important metamorphic rocks. Elementary ideas of the origin of granites and migmatites.

VI. Economic Geology :

Magma and its relation to mineral deposits. Elementary knowledge of the following processes of ore genesis :
Magmatic concentration, contact-metasomatism, hydrothermal, sedimentationevaporation, oxidation and supergene fulfide enrichment, mechanical concentration, residual, enrichment and metamorphism.
Mode of occurrences, distribution, uses and origin of important metallic mineral deposits of India, viz., Gold , Lead, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Aluminium, chromium and Tungsten.
Mode of occurrence, distribution, uses and genesis of non-metallic mineral deposits of India, viz, refractories, abrasives, ceramics, glass making gem, fertilizer, chemical and other industrial mineral of India, including coal, petroleum and radioactive minerals.

VII. Applied Geology :

Elementary knowledge of geological and geophysical prospecting of minerals. Elements of ground water geology. Role of geology in civil engineering projects. Elementary knowledge of surveying instruments and their use. Concept of geological mapping and use of topographic maps in geology. Elementary knowledge of mineral dressing and application of photogeological techniques.

VIII. Geology and Mineral Wealth of Rajasthan :

Litho-stratigraphic units of the geology of Rajasthan,. major tectonic and structural features of Rajasthan geology. Study of Banded Gneissic Complex. Berach granites (Bundelkhand Genesis), Aravalli Super group, Delhi Super group, Erinpura granites and Malani suite of igneous rocks, mafic, ultramafic, alkaline and acid igneous activity in Rajasthan.
Study of Vindhyan Supergroup, Marwar Supergroup, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, Tertiary and Quarternary rock formations of Rajasthan with reference to their classification, distribution, fossil content, structure, palceogeography, climatic condition, sedimentation and economic importance. Mineral wealth of Rajasthan and major mineral based Industries of the State, Major mining regions, dams, reservoirs, engineering projects, hydro-electric projects, thermal power plants and fuel resources and ground water potential of the State.

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