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Geology

Geology means, literally, the study of the Earth. Explore this section to understand the structure of the Earth and its surface features, what causes earthquakes and tsunamis, and why volcanoes form and erupt. Learn about minerals, which form the building blocks of rocks, and how rocks are made and destroyed. Learn about Earth’s fascinating history, the variety of life forms which have roamed the surface over the millennia, and the dramatic changes that have happened over Earth’s long history.

In the spring of 2010, the eruption of a <a href=/earth/interior/volcanos_general.html">volcano</a> called Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland cancelled many flights in Europe. Eyjafjallajökull is a glaciovolcano, which means it's a volcano that is covered by <a href="/earth/polar/cryosphere_glacier1.html">glaciers</a>. When these <a href="/earth/polar/cryosphere_intro.html">ice</a>-covered volcanoes <a href="/earth/interior/eruptions.html">erupt</a>, the interplay among molten <a href="/earth/interior/lava.html">magma</a>, ice and meltwater can have catastrophic results.<p><small><em>Image Courtesy of Marco Fulle</em></small></p>

Scientists are still trying to learn how the <a href="/earth/interior/volcanism.html">volcanic</a> Hawaiian Islands formed. One theory is that they are made by upwelling plumes of <a href="/earth/interior/lava.html">lava</a> from the mantle inside the <a href="/earth/earth.html">Earth</a>. Scientists have obtained data that makes a strong case for the existence of a deep mantle plume below the Hawaiian islands.<p><small><em>Image Courtesy of Paul Johnson, University of Hawaii</em></small></p>

Although we humans have never experienced fast <a href="/earth/climate/climate.html">global
warming</a>, our
planet has. And our planet keeps records of what happened. The oldest
records that the
<a href="/earth/earth.html">Earth</a> keeps
are in its
<a href="/earth/geology/sed_intro.html">rocks</a>.
In this image, <a href="/headline_universe/olpa/methane_28may08.html">geologists Chris von der Borch and Dave
Mrofka</a> collect
sediment samples in South Australia. These rocks hold clues to help
explain why climate changed abruptly 635 million years ago.<p><small><em> Courtesy of Martin Kennedy, UCR</em></small></p>

Gold or Fool’s Gold? There are two easy ways to tell Fool’s Gold, the
<a
href="/earth/geology/min_intro.html">mineral</a>
<a
href="/earth/geology/min_pyrite.html">pyrite</a>,
from real gold. First, pyrite leaves a black streak on a white tile whereas
gold leaves, well, a gold streak. Also, pyrite is much harder than gold.
Pyrite is made up of the <a
href="/earth/geology/periodic_table.html">elements</a>
iron (Fe) and sulfur (S). Both of these two elements are among the <a
href="/earth/geology/crust_elements.html">eight
most abundant</a> in the <a
href="/earth/interior/earths_crust.html">Earth’s
crust</a>.<p><small><em> Courtesy of Corel</em></small></p>

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Explore Geology

Earth's Interior and Surface

Earth, the largest and densest rocky planet, was formed about 4.5 billion years ago. The Earth's ...Read more

Minerals (and the Stuff They Are Made Of!)

Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. They are non-living, solid, and, like all matter, ...Read more

Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Rocks are always on the move through the rock cycle! Click on parts of this rock cycle diagram ...Read more

Earth's Layers and Moving Plates

The main force that shapes our planet’s surface over long amounts of time is the movement ...Read more

Earthquakes

The expression “on solid ground” is often used to describe something as stable. Usually the ...Read more

Volcanoes

There are several ways in which a volcano can form, just as there are several different kinds ...Read more

Fossils and Earth History

The Earth has been around for approximately four and a half billion years! The geologic time ...Read more

Scientists Who Study Rocks

Geology is the study of rocks and geologists are the people who study them! There are many ...Read more

Rocks, Minerals, Fossils in Online Store

Available Now! Beautiful specimens that inspire curiosity and demonstrate the inherent beauty of our planet. ...Read more

Earth Science Literacy Framework

This Earth system science literacy guide identifies the Big Ideas and fundamental concepts ...Read more

Did you know?

Do you know how to identify minerals?

Do you know why earthquakes happen?

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Plasmoid

xPlasmoid : A structure of plasma and magnetic fields proposed to explain several natural phenomena including magnetic bubbles in magentospheres and ball lightning

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

“Missing” Heat May Affect Future Climate Change

As greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere, more of the energy that gets to Earth from the Sun sticks around the planet. This means that the amount of energy coming to Earth is greater than the amount...Read more

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