Part of a series on
Geology
Science of the solid Earth
Index Outline Category Glossary History (Timeline)
Key components Minerals Rock (Igneous Sedimentary Metamorphic) Sediment Plate tectonics Strata Weathering Erosion Geologic time scale
Laws, principles, theories Stratigraphic principles Principle of original horizontality Law of superposition Principle of lateral continuity Principle of cross-cutting relationships Principle of faunal succession Principle of inclusions and components Walther's law
Topics Composition Geochemistry Mineralogy Sedimentology Petrology Structure of Earth Landform structures Geomorphology Glaciology Structural Geology Volcanology Geologic history Geological history of Earth
Research Branches of geology Geologist (List) Methods Geological survey
Applications Engineering Mining Forensics Military
Planetary geology Lists of geological features of the Solar System Geology of solar terrestrial planets By planet and body Mercury Venus Moon Mars Vesta Ceres Io Titan Pluto Charon
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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 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 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, lava, magma and associated phenomena

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 – 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 – 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

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 – 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

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 – The region between an oceanic trench and the 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 – Famous 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 Earth and other planetsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Mineralogist – Scientific study of minerals and mineralised artifactsPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Paleontologist – Study of life before 11,700 years agoPages 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 – The physical search for minerals
• Paleontological Helper – Study of life before 11,700 years ago
• 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 – List of definitions of geological terminology
• 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 rock types recognized by geologists
• List of tectonic plates – Overview of different types of tectonic plates
• Lists of volcanoes