Outline of geology

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
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 – Study of life before the Holocene epoch
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 – Geology of astronomical objects apparently in orbit around stellar objects

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 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 – 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 – The sequence of major geological events in Earth's past
- 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 – A 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 geodesists
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 vicinity
Hydrologist – Science of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth
Mineralogist – Scientific study of minerals and mineralised artifacts
Paleontologist – Study of life before the Holocene epoch
Petrologist – Branch of geology that studies the formation, composition, distribution and structure of rocks
Seismologist – Scientific study of earthquakes and propagation of elastic waves through a planet
Stratigrapher – Study of rock layers and their formation
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 – Study of life before the Holocene epoch
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

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 scientists
List of largest volcanic eruptions
List of minerals – List of minerals with Wikipedia articles
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 tectonics
List of rock types – List of rock types recognized by geologists
List of tectonic plates – Overview of tectonic plates
Lists of volcanoes

References

^ "024 OCCUPATIONS IN GEOLOGY". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
^ "024.161-010 ENGINEER, SOILS (profess. & kin.)". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
^ "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.
^ "024.267-010 GEOLOGICAL AIDE (petrol. & gas)". Dictionary Of Occupational Titles. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
^ "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

[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.

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