INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
This post is prepared to give a small description about geology. I hope that my post will able to clear your doubt and will make it easy for you.
GEOLOGY - DEFINATION:
Geology is an earth science concerned with the solid earth, the rocks of which it is composed and the processes by which it changes over time.
(Geo -Earth, Logus - study "Geology is study of earth").
EARTH- DESCRIPTION:
THE CRUST- The crust is the thin skin of earth (3-40 miles thick).
- THE MANTLE- The mantle this deep layer of warm rock accounts for two thirds of the mass of our planet.
- The OUTER CORE-The outer core is made of molten iron, nickel others ingredients yet to be determined. Streaming at possibly one to several miles per week.
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- THE INNER CORE- The inner core is a ball of iron alloy one third the size of moon in the center of earth. This metal ball is boiling hot at 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit but it remains solid because of enormous weight of all the rest of earth bearing down on it.
PLATE TECTONICS:
The earth is made up of series of large plates called tectonic plates.
Convection currents beneath the plates move the plates in different directions.
Branches of geology:
1.PHYSICAL GEOLOGY:
This branch of geology is concerned with the physical processes and physical properties of the earth and its surrounding space environment, and the use of the quantitative methods for their analysis.
2.PETROLOGY:
This branch studies the origin, composition, distribution and structure of rocks.
3.MINERALOGY:
This branch deals with the study of minerals it's composition and properties.
4.STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY:
This branch deals with the study of 3-D distribution of rock units with respect to their deformational histories.
5.STRATIGRAPHY:
This branch studies rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks.
6.PALAEONTOLOGY:
It is simply the study of ancient life, the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments (paleo-ecology).
7.CRYSTALLOGRAPHY:
It is the experimental science of determining the arrangement of atoms in the crystalline solids.
8.MINING GEOLOGY:
This branch is an applied science which combines the principle of economic geology and mining engineering to the development of a defined mineral source.
9.GEOLOGY ENGINEERING:
It is the application of scientific methods and engineering principles to the interpretation and use of knowledge of materials of the earth's crust and crust materials for the solution of engineering problems and design of engineering works.
10.HYDROLOGY:
It is the study of movement, distribution and quality of water on earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability.
SCOPE OF GEOLOGY:
- Oceanography
- Space exploration
- Petroleum engineering
- Environmental engineering
- Mining industry
- Practical importance to mankind.
GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY:
GEOLOGY:
- Geology is the study of the earth and its composition, its process, it's history and even its future.
- Geology primarily is the study of subsurface.
- The morphology (shape and structure) of the earth's surface which is directly influenced by geological processes like tectonic activity erosion.
- Basic knowledge of geology helps understanding evolution of earth's surface.
GEOGRAPHY:
- It is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.
- Geographers explore both the physical properties of earth's surface and human's societies spread across it.
- Geography deals with the surface of earth.
- Geography is not limited to morphology as it extends to study of regional vegetation, political boundaries, flora and fauna, presence and changes in water bodies.
