Course Title: Principles of Geology (Compulsory)

Course Number: 0460100 

Credits: 3-3-4 

Prerequisite: None

Category: Geology Students Only

Introduction to the principles of physical geology. Earth material. Minerals and their properties. Rocks and their properties. Rock and tectonic cycles. Magmatic rocks. Volcanism and extrusive rocks. Plutonic rocks and intrusive activities. Sedimentation and sedimentary rocks. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks. Weathering, rock decay and soils. Relative and absolute time and the time scale. Erosion, mass wastage and surface processes. Streams and landscape sculpture. Ground water. Deserts and wind action. Glaciation and glaciers. Waves and shorelines. Deformation and geologic structures. Seismology, earthquakes and earth interior. Plate tectonics, sea floor, large-scale structures and mountain belts. Natural resources and hazards.

Course Title: Physical Geology 

Course Number: 0460101 

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: None

Category: Sciences, engineering and educations students only

Introduction to earth sciences. Study of minerals and rocks. Weathering, gents of erosion, deposition and formation of sedimentary rocks. Earth interior and formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Rock deformation and accompanied large scale tectonics. Earthquakes, volcanoes and a synthesis of plate tectonics. Natural resources. Geologic time scale.

Course title: Historical Geology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460102

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 100 or Geo. 101 

Category: Sciences, engineering and education students only

Theories of earth and solar system. Methods of measuring geologic time. Overall scheme of earth and life evolution by examining organic and non-organic record from Precambrian to present. Concepts of plate tectonics and continental drift. Laboratory work emphasizes the interpretation of geologic maps and description and use of fossils.

Course title: Mineralogy and Crystallography 

Course number: 0460105

Credits: 1-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 101

Category: Non-Geology students only

Fundamentals of crystallography and mineralogy. Basic concepts of mineral chemistry. Physical properties and identification of minerals. Hand specimen identification. Systematic survey of major rock-forming minerals with emphasis on silicates. Introduction to optical mineralogy and use of the petrographic microscope.

Course title: Mineralogy (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460107

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 100

Category: Geology students only

Introduction to crystallography and mineralogy.  Crystal systems and classes.  Fundamental concepts of mineral chemistry. Classification of minerals by crystal systems and chemical groups. Physical properties and identification. Identification of mineral hand specimens. Systematic survey of major rock-forming mineral groups, with emphasis on silicates, carbonates and oxides.  Basics of quantitative mineralogy.

Course title: Earth and Universe 

Course number: 0460111

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: None

Category: Education, literature, administration science students only

Solar system and origin of universe. Earth as a planet. Earth in relation to other planets and satellites. Outer space. Atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphere and their dynamics. Earth material, its constituents and changes in them. Influence of energy on external and internal processes in the earth. Natural cycles. Life on earth and man’s place in it. Impact of space exploration on study of the earth.

Course title: Earth Natural Resources 

Course number: 0460112

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: None

Category: Education, literature, and administration science students only

Types and sites of earth’s natural resources. Types and locations of earth’s natural resources. Resource-human interaction. Common and rare mineral deposits. Construction materials. Marine resources and their formation. Soil identification. Soil and food. Fertilizers derived from natural material. Environmental views on resources. Misuse of resources. Future of energy. Natural resources in the Arab countries

Course title: Changing Earth 

Course number: 0460113

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: None 

Category: Education students only

Changes on earth. Causes and consequences. Major surface phenomena and their geologic control. Landscape and scenery. Influence of climate in equatorial, tropical and polar regions. Nature of desert and man’s place in it. Human record in the Quaternary.

Course title: General Petrology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460201

Course abbreviation: Geo. 201

Credits: 1-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 105 or Geo. 107

An introduction to igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, with emphasis on their hand specimen description and identification. Classification. A brief treatment of formation of rocks.

احافير لافقاريه

Course title: Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460208

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 102 (2010 and before); Geo. 201 (post 2010)

Preliminaries. Depositional environments and evolution of sedimentary rocks. Identification of type and environment of deposition. Facies and principles of sediment accumulation. Correlation. Sedimentary tectonics. Basin identification. Evaluation of depositional history from stratigraphic information.

Course title: Earth Natural Resources 

Course number: 0460112

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: None

Category: Education, literature, and administration science students only

Types and sites of earth’s natural resources. Types and locations of earth’s natural resources. Resource-human interaction. Common and rare mineral deposits. Construction materials. Marine resources and their formation. Soil identification. Soil and food. Fertilizers derived from natural material. Environmental views on resources. Misuse of resources. Future of energy. Natural resources in the Arab countries

Course title: Optical Mineralogy 

Course number: 0460251

Credits: 1-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 201 

Category: Education and non-geology students only

Properties of light. Optical properties of minerals and their study using the transmitted light polarizing microscope. Systematic investigation of rock-forming mineral groups under the microscope.

Course title: Mineral Optics (Compulsory) 

Course number: 0460252

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 201

Category: Geology students only

Introduction to mineral optics. Light waves and properties of light. Crystals as light modifiers. Interaction of light with minerals of different crystal systems. Optical properties of minerals. Study of minerals by the transmitted light polarizing microscope. Systematic study of major rock-forming mineral groups under the polarizing microscope. 

Course title: Structural Geology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460301

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 201 and Geo. 208

Behavior of rocks and deformational conditions. Stresses and strains. Mechanisms of deformation. Deformational structures – joints, faults, folds, foliations and lineations. Descriptive, geometrical, kinematic and dynamic analysis of deformational structures. Nature and significance of shear zones. Polyphase deformational structures. Plate tectonics. Intrusive and extrusive structures. Impact structures.

Course title: Field Geology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460304

Credits: 1-12-5

Prerequisite: Geo. 301 (2010 and before); Geo. 206 and Geo 301 (post 2010)

Principles and procedures of geologic mapping, map making and geologic map writing. Geological mapping and interpretation of the geology of a selected area outside Kuwait. Training in mapping techniques and tools, through use of topographic maps, aerial photographs and geologic compass. Reading and interpretation of geologic maps. Condensed month-long training is divided into two parts. First two weeks involve visiting areas and sites that show different geologic features, followed by two weeks of systematic mapping of assigned areas. Map drafting and geologic report writing in the remaining part of the course.

Course title: Geophysics (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460305

Credits: 3-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 301 and Phys. 101 and Math 102

Gravity field of the earth, isostasy, geomagnetism, paleomagnetism and continental drift. Earthquake seismology and earth’s internal structure. Heat flow. Geophysical exploration methods and geophysical data interpretation techniques. 

دراسةمذهب فيلسوف اوروبى

Course title: Economic Geology (Elective)

Course number: 0460310

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 251 or Geo. 252

Systematic survey of economic minerals and rocks. Classification of ore deposits, their genesis and processes of enrichment. Metallogenic provinces. Classification and occurrence of industrial rocks. Commercial uses of mineral and rock resources. Extraction techniques and reserve estimation. Identification of economic minerals and rocks in hand specimens and under the microscope.

Course title: Geochemistry (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460319

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 251, Chem 101 and Chem 105, and Math 102

Geochemical Classification of the elements and the geochemical cycle. Principles of thermodynamics and aqueous chemistry. Aspects of the geochemistry of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Geochemical exploration. Analytical techniques.

Course title: Photogeology and Geomorphology (Elective)

Course number: 0460320

Credits: 3-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 301

Landforms and unique processes that shape them, Discussion of internal dynamics and external agents. Soil pedogenesis and classification. Hill-slope sculpture by gravity and surface water. Geometry and dynamics of stream valleys and river plains. Periglacial landforms. Humid landscapes of mid-latitudes. Desert landscapes and desertification. Coastal processes as influenced by waves and terrestrial processes. Techniques used in interpretation of maps and aerial photographs.   

Course title: Computer Applications in Subsurface Geology (Elective)

Course number: 0460321

Credits: 3-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 301

Storage and retrieval of subsurface data in well databases. Data retrieval with the help of geographic base maps. Computer reduction of subsurface information in form of stratigraphic columns, composite logs, and correlation and fence diagrams. Interpretation of dip meter and image logs. Borehole deviation. Interpretation of seismic sections. Construction of structural contour, isopach and facies maps by computers. 

Course title: Petroleum Geology

Course number: 0460331

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 100 or Geo. 101

Category: Engineering students only

Subsurface environment. Generation of petroleum. Source rock evaluation. Migration and accumulation of petroleum. Geologic aspects of reservoirs. Structural, stratigraphic and combination traps. The Middle East Province. Petroleum geology of Kuwait.

Course title: Subsurface Geology

Course number: 0460332

Credits: 0-3-1

Prerequisite: Geo. 100 or Geo. 101

Category: Engineering students only

Construction of stratigraphic and structural cross-sections from borehole data. Panel diagrams. Correlation of well logs. Relating stratigraphy to seismic section. Interpretation of seismic sections. Seismic contouring. Construction of structural contour maps, isopach and facies maps. Reserve estimation.

Sedimentary Petrology

Course title: Petroleum Geology of the Middle East

Course number: 0460351

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: None

Category: Education students only

Origin, formation, migration and collection of petroleum. Principles of oil reservoirs and rocks. Fluid flow and oil traps. Exploration, development and production of oil. Regional geology, stratigraphy, and tectonics of the Middle East. Properties of oil fields with examples from Kuwait. Proven oil reserves and future potentials. Oil industries in the Middle East.

Course title: Well Logging (Elective)

Course number: 0460361

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 331 and Geo. 332

Category: Engineering students only 

Basic concepts. Archie equations. Invasion profile. Spontaneous potential logs. Electrical logging: resistivity logs, induction logs. Acoustic logging. Radioactive logging: Gamma Ray, Neutron and Density logs. Lithodensity tool. Natural Gamma Ray Spectrometry. Electron Potential Tool. Dipmeter logs. Cased holes: Thermal Decay Time logs.

Course title: Well Logging Laboratory (Elective)

Course number: 0460362

Credits: 0-3-1

Prerequisite: Geo. 331 and Geo. 332

Category: Engineering students only 

R_W and shaliness from SP logs. R_XO and R_t from electric logs. Porosity from Neutron density and Sonic log cross plots. Lithology identification using M-N and MID plots. Lithology from LDT, NGS logs. Determination of R_W in clean formations: Archie and Resistivity Ratio methods. Shaly formations. Log evaluation of carbonate reservoirs: Determination of cementation exponent. Application TDT logs.

Course title: Geophysics (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460305

Credits: 3-3-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 301 and Phys. 101 and Math 102

Gravity field of the earth, isostasy, geomagnetism, paleomagnetism and continental drift. Earthquake seismology and earth’s internal structure. Heat flow. Geophysical exploration methods and geophysical data interpretation techniques. 

Course title: Basic Quantitative Geology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460386

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 301 and Math 101

Fundamentals of data analysis in geology. Digital storage, retrieval and presentation of stratigraphic, structural and geochemical data, scatter and triangular plots. Classification charts. Stratigraphic columns and strip logs. Rose diagrams. Raster and vector images of geological maps. 

Course title: Sedimentary Environments and Facies (Elective)

Course number: 0460390

Credits: 2-0-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 350

Definition and classification of sedimentary environments and facies models. Factors controlling nature and distribution of facies, and methods of facies, and methods of environmental diagnosis. Properties of the following sedimentary environments: alluvial sediments, lake deposits, deltas, clastic shorelines, arid shorelines and evaporates, shallow marine environments (siliclastic and carbonate shelves), deep sea and pelagic deposits, flysch and turbidite, and glacial environments.

Course title: Elementary Seismology (Elective)

Course number: 0460400

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 305

Types of earthquakes, why and where do they occur? Seismic waves and their propagation. Theory of seismographs, portable, permanent stations and central recording networks. Seismogram interpretation and analysis. Earthquake magnitude, intensity and energy and their relation to each other. Earthquake focal mechanism. Seismicity of the Arabian Peninsula with emphasis about Kuwait.

Course title: Geology of the Arabian Peninsula (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460403

Credits: 2-0-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 304

General survey of the geology of the Arabian Peninsula. Topography, geomorphology, settings and provinces. Lithological sequences of Precambrian and Phanerozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Generations of intrusive rock groups. Geochronology. Deformation episodes and structures. Tectonism and terranes. Recent sedimentary basins. Mineral deposits and metallogenesis. Position in present day global tectonics and plate boundaries around the Arabian Peninsula.

Course title: Petroleum Geology

Course number: 0460331

Credits: 3-0-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 100 or Geo. 101

Category: Engineering students only

Subsurface environment. Generation of petroleum. Source rock evaluation. Migration and accumulation of petroleum. Geologic aspects of reservoirs. Structural, stratigraphic and combination traps. The Middle East Province. Petroleum geology of Kuwait.

Course title: Hydrogeology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460409

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 305 

Hydrogeology of surface water. Groundwater occurrence and movement. Groundwater chemistry. Groundwater exploration. Water well construction. Well completion.

Course title: Engineering Geology (Elective)

Course number: 0460411

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 301 

Mechanical properties of minerals, rocks and soils. Material testing. Data collection and classification of earth materials for engineering purposes. Application of geological principles in tunnel, highway and dam construction and in coastal engineering. Selection of construction sites. Natural hazards. Environmental impact. 

جيولوجيا البحار

Course title: Plate Tectonics (Elective)

Course number: 0460433

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 301

History and basic principles of plate tectonics theory. Global framework of lithospheric plates and their evolution. Geological and geophysical characteristics of active plate boundaries and intra-plate regions. Rifts, paleorifts, triple junctions and the Wilson Cycle. Nature of the solid earth and driving mechanism for plate boundaries. Mantle plumes and hot spots. Metallogenesis. 

Course title: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Compulsory)

Course number: 0460441

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 251 or Geo. 252 and Geo. 319

Physical and chemical principles of petrology. Crystallization of magmas. Interpretation of phase diagrams. Tectono-magmatic rock associations. Metamorphism and metamorphic facies. Emphasis is placed on integration of knowledge from the field, laboratory and theory.

Course title: Special Field Studies (Elective)

Course number: 0460444

Credits: 0-6-2

Prerequisite: Geo. 304

Geologic investigation of selected areas outside Kuwait and preparation of geologic reports.

تقرير علمى

Course title: Applied Geophysics (Elective)

Course number: 0460499

Course abbreviation: Geo. 499 

Credits: 2-3-3

Prerequisite: Geo. 305 and Math 102

Gravity, magnetic, seismic, electrical and radioactive methods of exploration for minerals, oil, gas and groundwater. Basic concepts and relevant physical properties of rocks. Instruments, field measurements and interpretation of data. Airborne and marine geophysical exploration. Geophysical well logging.