Not to be confused with Geography?.
Geology (from the Ancient Greek γῆ (gê), meaning “Earth,” and -λoγία (-logía), meaning “study of” or “discourse”)[1] is a scientific discipline that seeks to understand the Earth—its past and the processes shaping it today. Broadly defined, geology also encompasses the study of other celestial bodies. Modern geology significantly overlaps with other Earth sciences, including hydrology, and is integrated into interdisciplinary fields such as Earth system science and planetary science.
By combining various petrological?, crystallographic?, and paleontological tools, geologists are able to chronicle the geological history of the Earth as a whole. One aspect is to demonstrate the age of the Earth. Geology provides evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and the Earth’s past climates.
Geology is perceived as a science that is done outdoors. A great deal of geology is based on observations, measurements, and experiments conducted in the field. But geology is also done in the laboratory.[1] Geologists engage in diverse activities, including fieldwork (field study), rock description, geophysical techniques, chemical analysis, physical experiments, and numerical modelling. In practical terms, geology is important for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, evaluating water resources, understanding natural hazards, remediating environmental problems, and providing insights into past climate change. Geology is a major academic discipline, and it is central to geological engineering and plays an important role in geotechnical engineering.
[1] Frederick K. Lutgens ; Edward J. Tarbuck, Essentials of Geology, 12th Edition. Pearson College Div, 2014.