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.

You can get your own minerals and fossils, as well as the Fall 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist on Rocks and Minerals in our online store!

Although we humans have never experienced fast <a href="/earth/climate/climate.html&edu=elem">global warming</a>, our planet has. And our planet keeps records of what happened. The oldest records that the <a href="/earth/earth.html&edu=elem">Earth</a> keeps are in its <a href="/earth/geology/sed_intro.html&edu=elem">rocks</a>. In this image, <a href="/headline_universe/olpa/methane_28may08.html&edu=elem">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>In the spring of 2010, the eruption of a <a href="/earth/interior/volcanos_general.html&edu=elem">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&edu=elem">glaciers</a>. When these <a href="/earth/polar/cryosphere_intro.html&edu=elem">ice</a>-covered volcanoes <a href="/earth/interior/eruptions.html&edu=elem">erupt</a>, the interplay among molten <a href="/earth/interior/lava.html&edu=elem">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&edu=elem">volcanic</a> Hawaiian Islands formed. One theory is that they are made by upwelling plumes of <a href="/earth/interior/lava.html&edu=elem">lava</a> from the mantle inside the <a href="/earth/earth.html&edu=elem">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>Gold or Fool’s Gold? There are two easy ways to tell Fool’s Gold, the <a href="/earth/geology/min_intro.html&edu=elem">mineral</a> <a href="/earth/geology/min_pyrite.html&edu=elem">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&edu=elem">elements</a> iron (Fe) and sulfur (S).  Both of these two elements are among the <a href="/earth/geology/crust_elements.html&edu=elem">eight most abundant</a> in the <a href="/earth/interior/earths_crust.html&edu=elem">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 rocky planet, was formed about 4.5 billion years ago. The Earth's interior ...Read more

Minerals (and the Stuff They Are Made Of!)

Minerals are the building blocks of rocks. There are many different types of minerals. All ...Read more

Rocks and the Rock Cycle

Click on the words in the picture to find out more about the three types of rocks: sedimentary ...Read more

Earth's Layers and Moving Plates

Many forces change the surface of the Earth over time. The largest force that changes our ...Read more

Earthquakes

The ground underfoot might seem like it’s not going anywhere but it is. It moves. If it moves ...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?

What are dip-slip and transform faults? Find out more on our geologic fault page!

Do you know how to identify minerals?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Eutrophication
xEutrophication : Accumulation of nutrients that supports dense growth of algae which decays and depletes the water of oxygen

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Soil Microbes Produce Less Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Than Expected With Global Warming

Scientists have learned that microbes that live in the soil, like fungi and bacteria, don't produce more carbon dioxide when the climate is warmer. At first these microbes will produce more carbon dioxide,...Read more

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The Winter 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist includes a variety of educational resources, ranging from astronomy to glaciers. Check out the other publications and classroom materials in our online store.

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