MPSC Main - Geology Syllabus
Updated on: Apr 1, 2013
Paper I
| Standard : Degree | Total Marks : 200 |
| Nature of Paper : Conventional Type | Duration : 3 Hours |
| Note: | 1) | Answers to this paper must be written in English only. |
| 2) | This paper will test the candidate's ability to comprehend, to analyse, to criticise subject matter related to the topics/sub topics mentioned below. | |
| 3) | It is expected from candidates to study the latest and recent developments and happenings pertaining to the topics/sub topics mentioned below. |
| Section - A( Marks : 50 ) | |||
| 1) | General Geology : | ||
| .01) | (i) Universe, components of the universe. Solar system, theories oforigin of solar system. Meteorites and their classification. Age of the earth. Origin of continents andocean basins. (ii) Internal structure of the earth. Earthquakes, their distributionand causative factors. Volcanoes, volcanic belts of the world and theirrelation to evolution of the earth. | ||
| .02) | Continental drift : Concept, evidences and objections. Sea floor-spreading- mid oceanic ridges, trenches and arcs. Plate Tectonics - concept, types of plateboundaries, plumes and hot spots. Mountain building processes. | ||
| .03) | Geological work of water, wind andglaciers. | ||
| Section - B( Marks : 50 ) | |||
| 2) | Geomorphology : Basic concepts ingeomorphology. Geomorphic cycles. Weathering and soil formation.Erosion. Landforms, slopes anddrainage patterns. Relation between landforms and geology. Geomorphology ofthe Indian Subcontinent. Geomorphic features of Maharashtra. | ||
| 3) | Remote Sensing : | ||
| .01) | Concept of remotesensing. The electromagnetic spectrum.Aerial photography. Interpretation of aerial photographs. Indian RemoteSensing (IRS) satellites. Imageries- IRS products, MSS bands- blue, green,red and near infra red, False Colour Composite (FCC). | ||
| .02) | Application of remotesensing in geology and natural resources. Introduction to GeographicalInformation System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). Computerapplications in remote sensing. | ||
| 4) | Structural Geology : Stratification. Attitude of beds. Outcrops and Outcrop patterns. Joints- classification. Faults - classification and recognition. Folds-classification and recognition. Unconformities - classification andrecognition. Concept of foliation and lineation. Introduction to petro-fabricanalysis. | ||
| Section - C( Marks : 50 ) | |||
| 5) | Principles of Stratigraphy : Principles of stratigraphy. GeologicTime Scale. Stratigraphic units-Lithostratigraphic, Biostratigraphic,Chronostratigraphic and Magnetostratigraphic. Methods of correlation. | ||
| 6) | Stratigraphy of India : Introduction to Precambrian andPhanerozoic sequences of India. Gondwana Supergroup. Deccan Traps. Study ofclimatic conditions and palaeogeography of Indian Subcontinent. Stratigraphyof Maharashtra. | ||
| 7) | Palaeontology : | ||
| .01) | Conditions of fossilisation. Modes ofpreservation of fossils. Types of fossils.Morphology and geological distribution of Lamellibranchs, Gasteropods,Cephalopods, Brachiopods, Echinoderms and Trilobites. | ||
| .02) | Evolution of Man and Horse. Microfossilsand their importance in petroleum exploration. Plant fossils from GondwanaSupergroup. | ||
| Section - D(Marks : 50) | |||
| 8) | Hydrogeology : | ||
| .01) | Hydrologic cycle. Vertical distributionof subsurface water. Movement of groundwater. Rock properties affectinggroundwater- porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity,specific retention, specific yield and storage coefficient. Aquifers andtheir types. Different rocks types as aquifers. Water quality. | ||
| .02) | Exploration for groundwater. Groundwaterrecharge. Methods of artificial groundwater recharge. Conventional and non-conventional methodsof rainwater harvesting. Groundwater management-technical and social aspects.Concept of watershed management. | ||
| 9) | Engineering Geology : | ||
| .01) | Engineering properties of rocks andsoils. Building stones. Geological investigations for dams, tunnels, bridges,highways, railways and stability of slopes. | ||
| .02) | Engineering geological aspects relatedto mitigation of natural hazards like coastal erosion, floods, landslides,earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity. | ||
| Standard : Degree | Total Marks : 200 |
| Nature of Paper : Conventional Type | Duration : 3 Hours |
| Note: | 1) | Answers to this paper must be written in English only. |
| 2) | This paper will test the candidate's ability to comprehend, to analyse, to criticise subject matter related to the topics/sub topics mentioned below. | |
| 3) | It is expected from candidates to study the latest and recent developments and happenings pertaining to the topics/sub topics mentioned below. |
| Section - A( Marks : 50 ) | |||
| 1) | Mineralogy : | ||
| .01) | Crystal Elements.Classification of crystals into systems.Normal classes of symmetry. Crystallographic notations. | ||
| .02) | Physical properties of minerals.Isomorphism, Polymorphism and Pseudomorphism. Physical properties, chemicalcomposition and occurrences of following rock forming mineral groups- Silica,Feldspars, Olivine, Pyroxene,Amphibole, Mica, Chlorite, Garnet and Alumino-silicates. Physical properties, chemical compositionand occurrences of ore minerals, industrial minerals and gemstones. | ||
| .03) | Petrological microscope and itsaccessories. Following optical properties of the above (1.02) rock formingminerals- form, colour, pleochroism, cleavage, isotropism, extinction, andinterference colours. Common minerals in igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks andmetamorphic rocks. | ||
| 2) | Petrology : | ||
| .01) | Igneous Petrology : Origin of magma. Primary magma. Crystallisation of magma-unicomponent, binary and ternary . Reaction principle. Intrusive andextrusive forms of igneous rocks. Petrogenetic significance of textures andstructures of igneous rocks. Tabular classification of igneous rocks.Petrography of granite, pegmatite, diorite, andesite, syenite, trachyte,gabbro, dolerite, basalt, anorthosite, dunite, peridotite and lamprophyres.Magmatic differentiation and assimilation. | ||
| .02) | Sedimentary Petrology: Origin of sediments. Diagenesis andlithification. Clastic and non-clastic rocks and their classification. Provenance. Depositional environments. Petrogenetic significance of sedimentarytextures and structures. | ||
| .03) | Metamorphic Petrology: Agents and types of metamorphism. Depthzones. Metamorphism ofquartzo-feldspathic, argillaceous and basic igneous rocks. Metamorphic gradesand zones. Retrograde metamorphism. Metasomatism. Migmatites. Petrogeneticsignificance of metamorphic textures and structures. | ||
| Section - B( Marks : 50 ) | |||
| 3) | Economic Geology : | ||
| .01) | Ore, ore minerals andgangue, tenor. Processes of formation of mineral deposits- magmaticconcentration, contact metasomatism, hydrothermal, oxidation and supergeneenrichment, residual concentration, mechanical concentration and evaporation. | ||
| .02) | Economic mineral depositsof Maharashtra. National Mineral Policy - basic objectives and salientfeatures. Strategic, critical andessential minerals. Conservation and utilization of mineral resources. | ||
| 4) | Mineral Fuels : | ||
| .01) | Origin and entrapmentof petroleum. Petroleum traps.Petroliferous basins of India, particularly of Maharashtra. | ||
| .02) | Origin andclassification of coal. Coal deposits of India, particularly of Maharashtra. Atomic mineral deposits of India. | ||
| Section - C ( Marks : 50 ) | |||
| 5) | Mineral Exploration : | ||
| .01) | (i) Methods of prospecting for mineral deposits-Geological,Geobotanical, Geochemical and Geophysical – remote sensing, gravity,magnetic, seismic and electrical methods. (ii) Introduction to drillingmethods. Sampling and assaying.Borehole logging. | ||
| .02) | Modes of occurrence ofore bodies. Morphology of ore bodiesand their relationship with host rocks.Structural, stratigraphic and physico-chemical controls of orelocalization. | ||
| 6) | Mining Geology : Methods of mining-Open cast mining, Underground mining-shaft sinking,drifting, crosscutting, winzing, stopping, room and pillaring, top slicing,sublevel caving and block caving. Ocean bottom mining. | ||
| Section - D(Marks : 50) | |||
| 7) | Geochemistry : Abundance of elements : Atomic structure of elements. The periodic table. Ionic substitution in minerals. Geochemicalclassification and distribution of elements in the earth. Principles ofgeochemical cycling. | ||
| 8) | Environmental Geology : | ||
| .01) | Concept of ecosystem-biotic communities,food chain and ecologic pyramids. Impact of anthropogenic activities on air,water and soil resources. Problems ofpollution and hazardous waste. | ||
| .02) | (i) Natural Hazards : Causative factors and mitigationmeasures. Floods, earthquakes,tsunamis, landslides and volcanoes.Pollution due to mining, mining hazards and their mitigation.Conservation of energy and alternative sources of energy- geothermal, solar,wind, tidal and biomass. (ii) Sustainable development and environment protection - industrial,agricultural and mining. Role of geologist in disaster management. | ||