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ENGINEERING GEOLOGY II
CE 553
Chapter- I
Introduction to Engineering Geology
• Engineering geological system (EGS): Rock and soils, geological structures,
geomorphology, hydrogeology, weathering, earthquake & seismicity and geotechnical
category of the project, evaluation of engineering geological system (EGS) with
reference to the different phases (planning, design, construction and maintenance) of
the infrastructure development project
• Important rock forming minerals and their engineering significance
• Application of engineering geology in various civil engineering projects (roads,
irrigation system, tunnels, dams & reservoirs etc.)
• Engineering geological maps: Their classification and preparation
बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist)

ENGINEERING GEOLOGY????
• Engineering Geology is an applied discipline of geology that relies
heavily on knowledge of geologic principles and processes.
• Engineering Geology, basically, is applied geology.
• Specifically, it is the application of geologic information to solving the
problems and minimizing the adverse effect in any civil and geo-technical
engineering works.
• Basically it includes
• Evaluation of natural hazards
• Evaluation of landscape for site selection
• Evaluation of earth materials for potential issues
बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist)

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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IEAG ( INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ENGINEERING

GEOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENT) DEFINITION
• Engineering geology is defined by the association of engineering
geologist as the discipline of applying geological data, techniques and
principles to the study both of a) naturally occurring rock and soil
materials, and surface and subsurface fluids and b) the interaction of
introduced materials and processes with the geological environment so
that geological factors affecting the planning design, construction,
operation and maintenance of engineering structures and the
development projection and remediation of ground- water resources are
adequately recognized, interpreted and presented for use in
engineering and related practice.
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL SYSTEM(EGS)

The various components and features that from the earth constitute the engineering
geological system.

Parameters for evaluation of EGS

• Why EGS????
• Rocks: hard and soft
• To avoid excessive investment of time and
• Geological structures: Primary and Secondary
money in order to get the required geological
• Soil type system EGS is required
• Seismicity • Engineering geological system should be
• Hydrogeological conditions performed in every phases of civil
• Weathering Grade: High grade, Medium grade engineering projects
and Low grade
• River morphology
• Landforms
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

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ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL TASKS AT DIFFERET PHASES OF

THE EGS
Phase Task for study

Project Setting of the problem and development of the concept for the project. Preliminary information about regional
Definition geology, topography and climate
Prefeasibility Regional geological information with reference to the existing geological maps air photo interpretation.
Inspection Visit to the project area and preliminary geological survey including possible alternative sites
Feasibility Engineering geological mapping of the project area and along alternative sites surface and subsurface
geotechnical information of the selected sites based on the geophysical survey supported with limited core
drillings
Estimation of the mechanical behavior of the intact rock and rock mass based on the previous experiences and
supported by some laboratory tests
Detail Design Detail engineering geological mapping of the selected alignment, different sites rock mapping of the particular
site for the stability analysis and design of the support system in demand
Surface and Subsurface information of the site based on adequate geophysical methods and supplementary core
drilling. Insitu as well as laboratory tests
Construction Engineering geological logging along the tunnel or road corridor
Excavation Stability analysis and supporting measures
Continuous
Deepak Gautam supervision by engineering geologist, civil and mining engineers
(Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

Maintenance Regular inspection and monitoring in view of stability of surface slope after the construction and the stability of
the excavation surface of the undergrad structure

GEOTECHNICAL CATEGORY OF THE PROJECT

Its divided into three categories:
Categories 1:
Categories 3:
- relatively small structure
- Structures which fall outside the limits
- Fundamental requirements will be satisfied on the basis
of categories 1 and 2
of experience and qualitative geotechnical investigations
- Structures in highly seismic area
-Negligible risk
- Abnormal risks or unusual ground
-Simplified design procedures applied
conditions.
Categories 2:
- Conventional types of structures with no exceptional
risk
-Design includes quantitative geotechnical data and
analysis to ensure that the fundamental requirements are
satisfied.

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ROCK FORMING MINERALS

There are only few minerals (less than 100) form the great amount of the rocks of the
earth crust. These most common minerals have been grouped as rock forming
minerals.
Among these rock forming minerals, only about 25 minerals make almost 99.5% of
the rocks.
There are 10 groups of these most common rock forming minerals.
About 8% of the earth crust is made up of silicate minerals.
Silicate minerals
1. The Feldspar Group 3. Amphibole Group
(Na, K, Ca)AlSi3O8 (Ca,Mg,Fe,Mn,Na,K)7(Si4O11)(OH)2
4. Mica Group
2. Pyroxene Group
(K,Na,Li,Mg,Fe)Al3Si3O10(OH)2
(Ca,Na,Al,Li)SiO3

Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist)

बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

OXIDE MINERALS
Oxide minerals are second large occurring rock forming minerals.
1. Quartz (SiO2)
It is hard and resistant to weathering. It has no cleavage and partings. It has different colored
varieties that have economic importance.
2. Corundum (Al2O3)
It is very hard and resistant mineral. It has a number of gem varieties.
3. Spinel (MgAl2SiO4)
It is also hard as quartz and resistant.
Carbonate Minerals
There are a few carbonate minerals, which are very important rock forming minerals:
1. Calcite (CaCO3)
Limestone is composed of high percentage of calcite. Marble is recrystallized form of
calcite.
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

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.
2. Dolomite [Ca,Mg(CO3)2]
It occurs in massive forms with extending for kilometers across. It contains a
significant amount of magnesium and can be used economically.
3. Magnesite (MgCO3)
It is useful as refractory material and source of magnesium.
Others Group:
1. Sulphate Group e.g. gypsum
2. Phosphate Group e.g. apatite
3. Halide Group e.g. Fluorite
4. Sulphide Group e.g. galena, cinnabar
5. Native minerals e.g. gold, graphite, diamond sulphur
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

ENGINEERING SIGNIFICANCE OF ROCK FORMING MINERALS

Topographical controls
• Erosion rate of rock forming minerals
• Topographical breaks - steepness or smoothness
• Karst Topography – controlled by Limestone
• Groundwater control

Strength of Rock Forming Minerals

 Hard and soft nature of different minerals
 Engineering design and site investigation controlled by strength of minerals
 Quality of construction materials are controlled by strength of minerals
 Clay minerals like kaolinites swells with water and therefore creates hazardous site
for engineering structures.
 The rock containing silicates are generally resistant towards weathering.

Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

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ENGINEERING
GEOLOGICAL MAP???
• An engineering geological map is a type of
geological map which provides a generalized
representation of all those components of a
geological environment of significance in land
use planning and in design, construction and
maintenance as applied to civil and mining
engineering

Fig: Engineering geological map of Kathmandu

valley

Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

GEOLOGICAL FEATURES REPRESENTED ON

ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL MAP
• The character of the rocks and soils, including their distribution, stratigraphically and structural
arrangement, age, genesis, lithology, physical state and their physical and mechanical properties
• Hydrogeological conditions, including the distribution of water bearing soils and rocks, zones of
saturated open discontinuities, depth of water table and its range of fluctuation, regions of confined
water and piezometric levels, storage coefficients, direction of flow, springs, rivers, lakes and the limits
and occurrence interval of flooding, pH, salinity, corrosiveness
• Geomorphological conditions, including surface topography and important elements of landscape
• Geodynamic phenomena, permafrost, slope movements, formation of karstic conditions, suffusion,
subsidence, volume changes in soil, data on seismic phenomena including active faults, current regional
tectonic movements and volcanic activity
Engineering geological maps should include interpretative cross sections and an explanatory text and
[Link] may also include documentation data which have been collected for the preparation of
[Link] than one map sheet may be required to show all this information

Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

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CLASSIFICATION OF
Basic components of geological ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL MAPS
maps
Purpose
• The map
• The legend
• Geological cross section
of the map Engineering geological map
• Explanatory text
• Title of the map
• Scale of the map Analytical maps
Comprehensive maps
• North direction table Provides details about Depicts all the
individual components of principle components
including the data and the area. e.g. map of the area. Geological
location of the project showing degree of information only are
weathering, seismic depicted.
hazard etc.

Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020

• Analytical map: giving details of or

evaluating individual components od • Large scale: 1:10000
• Special purpose: the geological environment. Their
content is as a rule, expressed in title, and greater
providing information for example map of weathering grades,
either on one specific jointing map, seismic hazard map
aspect of engineering • Comprehensive map: Those are of • Medium scale:less than
geology of for one specific two kinds- they may be maps of 1:10000 and greater
purpose engineering geological conditions
depicting of all principal components than 100000
of engineering geological map or they
may be engineering geological zoning,
evaluating and classifying individual • Small scale: 1:100000
• Multipurpose: Providing territorial units. These two types may and less
information covering be combined in scale maps
many aspects of • Auxiliary map: these present the
engineering geology for a factual data. E.g.: documentation
maps, structural contour maps
variety of planning and • Complementary maps: These include
engineering purposes geological, tectonic,geomorphological,
Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) pediological, geophysical and बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020
hydrogeological map

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Stay safe

Deepak Gautam (Engineering Geologist) बिहीवार, अगस्त 27, 2020