Outline of geology

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Geology
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Science of the solid Earth
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See also: Index of geology articles

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to geology:

Geology – one of the Earth sciences – is the study of the Earth, with the general exclusion of present-day life, flow within the ocean, and the atmosphere. The field of geology encompasses the composition, structure, physical properties, and history of Earth's components, and the processes by which it is shaped. Geologists typically study rock, sediment, soil, rivers, and natural resources.

Branches of geology[]

Geology applies primarily to Earth, but can be applied to any planet or extraterrestrial body.

Geology of Earth[]

Subdisciplines of geology:

  • Biogeology – Study of the interactions between the Earth's biosphere and the lithosphere
  • Economic geology – Science concerned with earth materials of economic value
  • Engineering geology – Application of geology to engineering practice
  • Environmental geology – Science of the practical application of geology in environmental problems.
  • Geochemistry – Science that applies chemistry to analyze geological systems
  • Geologic modelling – Applied science of creating computerized representations of portions of the Earth's crust
  • Geomorphology – Scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them
  • Geophysics – physics of the Earth and its vicinity
  • Historical geology – Study of the geological history of Earth
  • Hydrogeology – Study of the distribution and movement of groundwater
  • Marine geology – Study of the history and structure of the ocean floor
  • Mineralogy – Scientific study of minerals and mineralised artifacts
  • Mining geology – Extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth
  • Paleontology – The scientific study of life prior to roughly 11,700 years ago
  • Petroleum geology – Study of the origin, occurrence, movement, accumulation, and exploration of hydrocarbon fuels
  • Petrology – Branch of geology that studies the origin, composition, distribution and structure of rocks
  • Sedimentology – The study of natural sediments and of the processes by which they are formed
  • Stratigraphy – Study of rock layers and their formation
  • Structural geology – Science of the description and interpretation of deformation in the Earth's crust
  • Volcanology – Study of volcanoes, lava, magma and associated phenomena

Planetary geology[]

See also: Geology of solar terrestrial planets – Geology of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Ceres

Planetary geology – The geology of astronomical objects apparently in orbit around stellar objects

  • Geology of Mercury – Geologic structure and composition of planet Mercury
  • Geology of Venus – Geological structure and composition of the second planet from the Sun
  • Geology of the Moon – Structure and composition of the Moon
  • Geology of Mars – Scientific study of the surface, crust, and interior of the planet Mars
  • Geology of Jupiter – Planet in the Solar System
  • Geology of Saturn – Sixth planet from the Sun and second largest planet in the Solar System
  • Geology of Uranus – Seventh planet from the Sun in the Solar System
  • Geology of Neptune – Eighth and outermost planet from the Sun

Principles of geology[]

  • Principle of cross-cutting relationships – Principle that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two
  • Law of included fragments – Clasts in a rock are older than the rock formation
  • Principle of uniformitarianism – Assumption that the natural laws and processes of the universe are constant through time and space
  • Principle of original horizontality – Layers of sediment are deposited approximately horizontally under the action of gravity
  • Principle of superposition – In undeformed stratigraphic sequences, the oldest strata will be at the bottom of the sequence
  • Principle of faunal succession – Fossils succeed each other vertically in a specific, reliable order that can be identified over wide horizontal distances

Geological processes[]

History of geology[]

Geologic provinces[]

World geologic provinces
Oceanic crust
  0–20 Ma
  20–65 Ma
  >65 Ma
Geologic provinces
  Shield
  Platform
  Orogen
  Basin
  Large igneous province
  Extended crust

Geologic province – Spatial entity with common geologic attributes

Geologic provinces based on origin:

  • Shield – Large stable area of exposed Precambrian crystalline rock
    • Platform – A continental area covered by relatively flat or gently tilted, mainly sedimentary strata
  • Orogen
    • Island arc – Arc-shaped archipelago formed by intense seismic activity of long chains of active volcanoes
    • Continental arc – Type of volcanic arc occurring along a continental margin
    • Forearc – The region between an oceanic trench and the associated volcanic arc
  • Oceanic basin – Large geologic basins that are below sea level
    • Cratonic basin – Old and stable part of the continental lithosphere
    • Foreland basin, also known as foredeep basin – Structural basin that develops adjacent and parallel to a mountain belt
  • Large igneous province – Huge regional accumulation of igneous rocks
  • Extended crust – The outermost solid shell of a rocky planet, dwarf planet, or natural satellite
    • Rift – Geological linear zone where the lithosphere is being pulled apart

Plate tectonics[]

Occupations in geology[]

The Dictionary of Occupational Titles lists the following occupations in Geology, which it describes as "concerned with the investigation of the composition, structure, and physical and biological history of the earth's crust and the application of this knowledge in such fields as archeology, mining, construction, and environmental impact":[1]

  • Crystallographer – scientific study of crystal structure
  • Geodesist
  • Geologist – Scientist who studies geology
  • Petroleum Geologist – Earth scientist who works in geological aspects of oil discovery and production
  • Geophysical Prospector – The systematic collection of geophysical data for spatial studies
  • Geophysicist
  • Hydrologist
  • Mineralogist
  • Paleontologist
  • Petrologist
  • Seismologist
  • Stratigrapher
  • Volcanologist
  • Engineer, Soils[2]
  • Geophysical-Laboratory Chief (Alternate Titles: Director, Geophysical)[3]
  • Geological Aide (Petrol. & Gas)[4]
  • Prospector – The physical search for minerals
  • Paleontological Helper – The scientific study of life prior to roughly 11,700 years ago
  • Laboratory Assistant (Petrol. & Gas) (Alternate Titles: Analyst, Geochemical Prospecting; Core Analyst; Laboratory Tester)[5]

Influential geologists[]

Geology lists[]

Main category: Geology-related lists

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "024 OCCUPATIONS IN GEOLOGY". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  2. ^ "024.161-010 ENGINEER, SOILS (profess. & kin.)". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  3. ^ "024.167-010 GEOPHYSICAL-LABORATORY CHIEF (profess. & kin.) alternate titles: director, geophysical laboratory; engineer, geophysical laboratory; research engineer, geophysical laboratory; superintendent, geophysical laboratory". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  4. ^ "024.267-010 GEOLOGICAL AIDE (petrol. & gas)". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  5. ^ "024.381-010 LABORATORY ASSISTANT (petrol. & gas) alternate titles: analyst, geochemical prospecting; core analyst; laboratory tester". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.

External links[]

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