The Basics of Geology

What's Under the Earth?

The geology of the Earth is a fascinating subject of study. Whether it is identifying rocks along the
road or in your backyard or the threat of climate change, geology is a major part of our everyday
lives.

Geology includes everything from the study of rocks and minerals to Earth's history and the effects of
natural disasters on society. To understand it and what geologists study, let's look at the basic
elements that make up the science of geology.

Geology is the study of the Earth and everything that makes up the planet. In order to understand all
of the smaller elements that geologists study, you must first look at the bigger picture, the makeup of
the Earth itself.

Beneath the stony crust lies the rocky mantle and, at Earth's heart, the iron core. All are areas of
active research and competing theories.

Among these theories is that of plate tectonics. This one attempts to explain the large-scale structure
of various parts of the Earth's crust. When the tectonic plates move, mountains and volcanoes are
formed, earthquakes occur, and other shifts in the planet can happen.

The Geology of Time

All of human history is the briefest moment at the end of four billion years of geologic time. How do
geologists measure and order the milestones in Earth's long history?

The geologic clock gives geologists a way to map Earth's history. New discoveries can make drastic
changes to the timeline. This is divided into a series of eons and eras that help us further understand
what previously occurred on Earth.

What Is a Rock?

You know what a rock is, but do you really understand what defines a rock? Rocks form the basis for
geology, though they are not always hard or completely solid. There are three types of rocks:
igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. They differ from one another by the way in which they
were formed. By learning what makes each unique, you are one step closer to being able to identify
rocks.

What is even more interesting is that these rocks are related. Geologists use the "rock cycle" to
explain how many rocks transform from one category to another.

The Colourful World of Minerals

Minerals are the ingredients of rocks. Just a few important minerals account for the majority of rocks
and for the soil, mud, and sand of the Earth's surface.

Many of the most beautiful minerals are treasured as gemstones. It's important also to remember
that most minerals have separate names when they are referred to as a gemstone. For example, the
mineral quartz can be the gemstones amethyst, ametrine, citrine, or morion.

Just like rocks, there is a method you can use to identify minerals. Here, you're looking for
characteristics like lustre, hardness, colour, streak, and the formation.
How the Land Forms

Landforms are created by the rocks and minerals found on Earth. There are three basic types of
landforms and they too are defined by the way they are made.

Some landforms, such as many mountains, were created by movements in the Earth's crust. These
are called tectonic landforms. Others are built up over long periods. These depositional landforms
are created by sediment left behind by rivers. The most common, however, are erosional landforms.

Understanding the Geologic Processes

Geology is not just about rocks and minerals. It also includes the things that happen to them in the
great Earth cycle.

The Earth is in a state of constant change, both on a large and small scale. Weathering, for example,
can be physical and change the shapes of rocks of any size with things like water, wind, and
fluctuating temperatures. Chemicals can also weather rocks and minerals, giving them a new texture
and structure. Likewise, plants can cause organic weathering of the rocks they touch.

On a larger scale, we have processes like erosion that changes the shape of the Earth. Rocks can also
move during landslides, because of a movement in fault lines, or as molten rock underground, which
we see as lava on the surface.