Disciplines in Geology

Crystallography: study of the chemistry and atomic arrangement of atoms in minerals

Earth System Science: study of the interaction of oceans, atmosphere, and the solid earth for the purpose of understanding past, present, and future environmental conditions

Economic Geology: genesis, location, and other aspects of economic materials; includes metallic, non-metallic (industrial rocks and minerals), and groundwater supplies (location and occurrence of subsurface water)

Environmental Geology: geological study of our natural environment; primarily concerned with depletion of natural resources, preservation of environmental quality, pollution problems, and natural hazards

Field Geology: collection, interpretation, and synthesis of geological data in the field (outside, in nature);
generally consists, at least in part, of making geologic maps

Forensic Geology: interpretation of geological evidence at crime scenes

Geoarcheology: geological interpretation of archeological sites

Geochemistry: study of chemical processes within, upon and above the earth

Geochronology: study of the timing of geologic events; usually involves absolute age determinations

Geoinformatics: utilization of computers and data retrieval storage equipment for simulation, analysis and
synthesis of geological data

Geomorphology: origin and description of land forms

Geomorphometry: the measurement of various rates of landscape-forming processes

Geophysics: “the study of the physics of the earth” - includes Seismology (study of earthquakes) and other
studies of physical properties

Hydrogeology: the study of subsurface waters (groundwater) and the related geologic aspects of surface
waters

Hydrology: study of the movement of water in and on the earth; flood hazard is a primary concern

Marine Geology: study of various aspects of the geology of the oceans and coastal areas

Mineralogy: study of crystal structure and chemistry, identification, classification and genesis of minerals

Optical Mineralogy: study of mineral properties through means of light transmitted through minerals; uses a
petrographic microscope

Paleontology: the study of ancient life (fossils) - includes, paleobotany (plants); vertebrate paleontology
(animals with backbones); invertebrate paleontology (animals without backbones); micropaleontology
(microscopic-sized fossils); and palynology (spores and pollen)

Petrography: description of mineralogy, texture, and structure of rocks

Petrology: study of rocks, including information on chemistry; classification; mineralogy, occurrence, shape
and structure of rock masses (petrography), and rock origins (Petrogenesis)

Planetology: study of the planets, including the origin of their rocks and development of planetary structures,
includes Lunar Geology, the geology of the moon

Photogeology: utilization of aerial photographs (and other indirect or remote sensing techniques) to
determine various aspects of geology. Term now largely replaced by Remote Sensing

Sedimentology: study of the environmental factors controlling the origin of sediments and sedimentary rocks;
development of depositional models

Stratigraphy: the study of layered (sedimentary) rocks, with emphasis on their relationships to each other with
respect to time and origin

Structural Geology: the origin of geological features produced by stresses within the earth’s crust (such as
folds and faults)

Tectonics: large-scale or world-wide aspects of structural geology; generally involves origin of mountain
ranges, ocean basins, continents, etc.

Quiz: https://goo.gl/forms/4HMZZ7PrEscWqIJu1