Introduction to Earth

Science (Geology)
GEO01_CO1.2

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GEOLOGY
Two broad branches:

Physical Geology – The study of the Earth’s

materials, its processes, and its distribution

Historical Geology – The study of the Earth’s

history and evolution

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 SUBDISCIPLINES OF GEOLOGY
Stratigraphy Geophysics Petrology Paleontology
Study of stratified rocks and The physics of Earth system Study of rocks, its origin and Ancient Life (Fossils)
sequences composition

Volcanology Engineering Geology Structural Geology Hydrogeology

Study of volcanoes, active and Application of geology to Deformed/damaged rocks, Groundwater and
ancient engineering works often related to tectonic plates surface water

Sedimentology
Geochemistry Climatology The study of sediments and
The application of chemistry to Past, present, and future their deposition
natural systems climate interactions Mineralogy
The study of minerals and their
properties
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Image from Wikimedia Commons
This image is in the public domain, no copyright infringement is intended
Image from Wikimedia Commons

DEVELOPMENT of GEOLOGY
This image is in the public domain, no copyright infringement is intended

16th Century 17th Century

James Ussher Baron Georges
Anglian Archishop of Armagh,
Primate of All Ireland
Cuvier
Used fossils he found in the Paris
Used the Bible’s genealogy list Basin to conclude that there were
to calculate the Earth was created six major catastrophes
at 6 PM October 22 4004 B.C.
(Julian Calendar) He assumed that organisms would
die and then reappear again after
Explained that to create mountains some period of time
and valleys, catastrophic events
should occur His ideas led to the development to
the theory of Catastrophism
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From Tarbuck, Lutgens, & Tasa
Essentials of Geology
DEVELOPMENT of GEOLOGY
Pearson Publishing
Late 18th Century
Abraham Gottlob
Werner
Suggested the Neptunism theory
where the idea is that the Earth
was covered in a great ocean
This ocean allowed all rocks to be
deposited and to be precipitated
Image from Encylopedia Britannica
This image is in the public domain, no copyright infringement is intended
Late 18th Century
James Hutton
Scottish Physician, farmer, and geologist
The Earth was constantly being eroded
and weathered, but sediments are also
being deposited at the same time.
Proposed that the Earth is older than
4004 B.C and that it is not shaped by
catastrophes.
“No vestige of a beginning, no prospect of
an end”
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DEVELOPMENT of GEOLOGY
Late 18th Century 19th Century
John Playfair Charles Lyell
Professor of Mathematics and Published the Principles of
Natural Philosophy Geology (1830) in 5 volumes that
expanded Hutton’s ideas and
Published the summary of the work presented important geologic
of James Hutton entitled concepts.
“Illustrations of the Huttonian
Theory of the Earth” Did not believe the ideas of Cuvier
and Werner.
His work was key the spread of
Hutton’s ideas as his writing style Uniformity of cause + uniformity of
was more “reader-friendly” intensity
compared to Hutton’s . Commons
Image from Wikimedia
This image is in the public domain,
no copyright infringement is intended

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 CATASTROPHISM
The concept that the earth was
formed and shaped by great
catastrophes (Noah’s Flood,
Yellowstone Eruption)
Every mountain, every rock or
every landform was a result of a
catastrophic eruption or flood.

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 PLUTONISM
Proposed that fire (or heat) was the key to the origin of
“primitive igneous rocks”
Considered the solid Earth to be dynamic
Erosion of landscapes and subsequent deposition or
burial
Rocks were not formed from the great steamy sea of
Werner.
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 UNIFORMITARIANISM
The concept that the laws that governs modern processes occurred also
in the past.

Examples
• Erosion occurred in the same way today as in the past
• Volcanoes occurred in the past

“The present is the key to the past”

– coined by Sir Archibald Geikie (1905)

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Grand Canyon
Arizona, United States
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 UNIFORMITARIANISM
The past is not exactly similar to the present
• Meteorite bombardment was more frequent in the past than today
• Oxygen was not as rich in the past

The rates of intensity and change were not the same throughout
geologic history

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 ACTUALISM
A more modern view as compared to Uniformitarianism.

The rates of change and intensity may differ through time.

The governing laws would stay the same.

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End of Presentation

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End of Presentation

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