Weekends geology sessions 1300-WWZGP-OG

The course is held in the form of sessions (four days) consisting of 3x8-hour and 1x6-hour blocks of classes in May or April/May. Practical sessions include blocks of classes that take place in lecture rooms, and the Ochota Campus area. The blocks of full-day practical field classes are trips to stone architecture monuments and other interesting examples of stonework in Warsaw as well as visiting a stonemason's workshop.
Practical classes are preceded by an introductory presentation and consist of the following topics and activities:
Minerals and rocks. Features of common minerals. Basic types of rocks, their occurrence and genesis - work with specimens (minerals, fossils, rocks) in a laboratory. Rock types and their regional varieties - work with lithological specimens in the laboratory. Overview and identification of rocks, focused on sedimentary rocks. Review of the index fossils through geologic time. Identification of facing and floor stones used in the Faculty of Geology. Rock as a raw material, types of rocks used in construction, methods of rock processing, rocks as additives to various products. Review of utility rocks, facing and floor stones; common and trade names. The origin of facing stones used in Poland.
Field classes that start at the Faculty of Geology consist of the following topics and activities: Type of rocks in the Faculty of Geology and around the building. A walk outside to see glacial erratics on Pole Mokotowskie. A walk around the Ochota Campus and its vicinity. Observations on the types of stones in architecture.
Field classes (walking tours in Warsaw). Optionally, one of the routes to be chosen by students. Option 1 consist of the following topics and activities: rocks in funerary architecture - a visit to Powązki Cemetery and rocks in architecture inside of modern building, e.g. CH Arkadia. Option 2: Application of stones in architecture - selected places in Ochota District in Warsaw, identification of stone material.
Field classes – a visit to a stonemason's workshop near Warsaw. Classes devoted to stone processing techniques for construction and funerary architecture. NOTE: This option is contingent on the current production schedule of the workshop and its capability of accepting the group.
Any transportation costs (getting to and from the trips) are covered by the participants.

Type of course

general courses

Course coordinators

Danuta Olszewska-Nejbert
Tomasz Segit

Learning outcomes

1. Knowledge. Class participants:
- knows common minerals and rocks,
- knows the genesis and composition of common rocks,
- understands the relation between the types of rocks and specific architectural needs,
- understands the influence of atmospheric and climatic conditions on weathering of certain types of rocks
- knows the basic methods of rock treatment depending on the demand for a specific material,
- is aware of the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the destruction of rock materials in the environment of a city,
- knows the regional origin of the most common architectural stones.
2. Skills. Class participants can:
- identify common minerals and rocks based on their properties and textures,
- create a record of field observations (notes, drawings, photos),
- determine the usability of certain types of rocks for indoor and outdoor applications,
- create a written report on topics related to field classes
3. Social competences:
- ability to work in a team, assigning tasks during field and lab works,
- rising conservation awareness of participants towards inanimate nature monuments

Assessment criteria

- class attendance criterium: one absence is allowed, but an additional written assignment must be made instead (on a geology-related subject given by the instructor)
- activity during practical and field classes,
- preparation of an individual report on the examples of architectural stones usage (places not visited during the classes)
The report should be relevant to the topic given, should contain final conclusions and opinions, and attachments (e.g. photographs).

Practical placement

Not applicable

Notes

Term 2023L:

Preliminary time schedule: May 13-14 and 19-20, 2023 (four meetings, start at 9 a.m.)

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1300-WWZGP-OG in USOSweb