Outline of geology

See also: Index of geology articles

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

Geology is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical bodies , the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. The name comes from Ancient Greek γῆ (gê) 'earth'and λoγία ( -logía ) 'study of, discourse'. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth sciences , including hydrology . It is integrated with Earth system science and planetary science .

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  – Application of geology to 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 crustPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Geomorphology  – Scientific study of landforms
• Geophysics  – Physics of the Earth and its vicinity
• Historical geology  – Study of the geological history of Earth
• Hydrogeology  – Study of groundwater's movement and distribution
• 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  – Study of past life through fossils
• Petroleum geology  – Study of the origin, occurrence, movement, accumulation, and exploration of hydrocarbon fuels
• Petrology  – Branch of geology that studies the formation, composition, distribution and structure of rocks
• Sedimentology  – Study of natural sediments and their formation processes
• 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

Planetary geology

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

Planetary geology  – Geological study of planets

• Geology of Mercury
• Geology of Venus  – Geological structure and composition of Venus
• 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  – Fifth planet from the Sun
• Geology of Saturn  – Sixth planet from the Sun
• Geology of Uranus  – Seventh planet from the Sun
• Geology of Neptune  – Eighth planet from the Sun
• Geology of Triton  – Geologic structure and composition of Triton
• Geology of Pluto  – Geologic structure and composition of Pluto
• Geology of Charon  – Geologic structure and composition of Charon

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 natural laws 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  – Law stating that newer strata stack above older ones
• Principle of faunal succession  – Concept in geology

Geological processes

• Petrogenesis  – Processes that form rock

History of geology

• History of geology
  • Geological history of Earth
  • Timeline of geology  – Chronological list of notable events in the history of the science 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  – Continental area covered by relatively flat or gently tilted, mainly sedimentary strata
• Orogen  – Zone affected by mountain formationPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
  • 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  – Region between an oceanic trench and associated volcanic arc
• Oceanic basin  – Geologic basin under the sea
  • 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  – Outermost solid shell of astronomical bodies
  • Rift  – Geological linear zone where the lithosphere is being pulled apart

Plate tectonics

• Plate tectonics  – Movement of Earth's lithosphere

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 structures
• Geodesist  – Notable geodesistsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Geologist  – Scientist who studies geology
• Petroleum Geologist  – Earth scientist who works in geological aspects of oil discovery and production
• Geophysical Prospector  – Systematic collection of geophysical data for spatial studies
• Geophysicist  – Physics of the Earth and its vicinityPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Hydrologist  – Science of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on EarthPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Mineralogist  – Scientific study of minerals and mineralised artifactsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Paleontologist  – Study of past life through fossilsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Petrologist  – Branch of geology that studies the formation, composition, distribution and structure of rocksPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Seismologist  – Scientific study of earthquakes and propagation of elastic waves through a planetPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Stratigrapher  – Study of rock layers and their formationPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Volcanologist
• Engineer, Soils ^[2]
• Geophysical-Laboratory Chief (Alternate Titles: Director, Geophysical) ^[3]
• Geological Aide (Petrol. & Gas) ^[4]
• Prospector  – Physical search for minerals
• Paleontological Helper  – Study of past life through fossils
• Laboratory Assistant (Petrol. & Gas) (Alternate Titles: Analyst, Geochemical Prospecting; Core Analyst; Laboratory Tester) ^[5]

Influential geologists

• List of geologists  – List of Wikipedia articles on notable geologists

Geology lists

Main category: Geology-related lists

• Glossary of geological terms
• Lists of geological features of the Solar System  – Directory of lists of geological features on asteroids, moons and planets other than Earth
• Geologic time scale  – System that relates geologic strata to time
• List of compounds  – Set index article
• Lists of earthquakes
• List of chemical elements
• Geology of the English counties  – List of Wikipedia articles on the geology of English counties
• List of geologists  – List of Wikipedia articles on notable geologists
• List of Russian geologists  – List of Wikipedia articles about notable Russian Earth scientistsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• List of largest volcanic eruptions
• List of minerals
• List of oil fields  – Some of the major oilfields of the past and present
• List of plate tectonics topics  – Hierarchical outline list of articles related to plate tectonicsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• List of rock types
• List of tectonic plates  – Overview of tectonic plates
• Lists of volcanoes

See also

• Geology portal

• Outline of geography  – Hierarchical outline list of articles related to geography

• American Geophysical Union
• American Geosciences Institute
• European Geosciences Union
• Geological Society of America
• Geological Society of London

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

• A. Balasubramanian, First edition, July, 2017
• Earth Science News, Maps, Dictionary, Articles, Jobs
• Video-interviews with famous geologists
• "Geology, Importance, Branches, Career in Geology, Indian Education System for a career in Geology
• Geology Buzz: Branches of Geology