The course focuses on Earth and Universe,
classification and characteristics of main materials of the earth crust. The
contents of this course comprises the following aspects: universe (meaning,
components constellations and galaxies), solar system (meaning, characteristics
of the components of solar system: sun, planets and satellites, asteroids,
comets, meteoroids, meteorites). Understanding the earth (theories about the
origin, shape, size, diameter, circumference, volume, mass and gravity of the
earth). Composition of matter, its gravitation and magnetic fields, seismology
and deep structure of the earth, heat flow, methods of geophysical exploration.
The geophysical basis of plate tectonic and sea floor spreading, rocks (rocks
types and their characteristics, rocks’ composition, economic importance of
rocks), mineralogy (types of minerals, their chemical and physical properties).
Petrography and Stratigraphy.
- Teacher: Samuel Ngendahimana