BRANCHES OF GEOLOGY Flashcards
______ examines the Earth’s materials, such as minerals and rocks,
and the processes that shape the Earth’s surface and interior.
PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
Mineralogy is a study of ______, their ________, _________, and _________.
minerals, composition, properties
Study of rocks, their origin, classification, and formation processes.
Petrology
Study of landforms and the processes that shape them.
GEOMORPHOLOGY
VOLCANOLOGY
A study of volcanoes, volcanic activities and related phenomena.
A study of earthquake and the propagation of seismic waves.
SEISMOLOGY
Helps in understanding natural hazards like _________, ________, and ______ __________.
earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruption
focuses on the Earth’s history, including the evolution of life, past climates, and the formation of geological features over time.
HISTORICAL GEOLOGY
Stratigraphy, study of rock layers (strata) and their _________,
_________, and ___________.
sequence, composition, correlation
Study of fossils to understand the history of life on Earth.
PALEONTOLOGY
Geochronology, study of the age of rocks and geological events using
_________ ________ and other techniques.
radiometric dating
Helps __________ the Earth’s past and understand the _________ of life.
Provides context for the formation of natural resources like _____, ______, and
______.
reconstruct, evolution
oil, gas, coal
__________ investigates the deformation of rocks and the forces that
cause it, such as folding, faulting, and fracturing.
Structural geology
Tectonics
Study of the movement and interaction of Earth’s
lithospheric plates.
Study of the behavior of rocks under stress.
ROCK MECHANICS
Study of the geometry and formation of faults and folds.
FAULT AND FOLD ANALYSIS
Critical for civil engineering projects like ________, _______ __________, and _________.
Essential for understanding earthquake mechanics and mountain-
building processes
mining.
tunneling, dam construction, mining
Economic geology focuses on the ________ and ____________ of Earth’s
natural resources, such as minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.
exploration, extraction
Identification and evaluation of mineral deposits.
MINERAL EXPLORATION
Study of oil and gas reservoirs and their extraction.
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
Mining Geology, study of _____ _________ and _________ _________.
ore deposits, mining techniques
_________ the raw materials needed for industries and infrastructure.
Helps in sustainable resource management and environmental
protection.
Provide
_________ applies geological principles to civil engineering projects,
ensuring the stability and safety of structures.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
Assessment of geological conditions at construction sites.
SITE INVESTIGATION
Analysis of landslides and slope failures.
SLOPE STABILITY
Evaluation of subsurface conditions for building
foundations.
FOUNDATION DESIGN
Ensures the ________ and _______ of infrastructure like bridges, dams, and
buildings.
_________ geological hazards such as landslides and earthquakes.
safety, durability
Mitigates
_________ focuses on the interaction between humans and the geological
environment, addressing issues like pollution, resource management, and natural hazards.
Environmental Geology
Study of groundwater and its movement through aquifers.
HYDROGEOLOGY
Assessment and mitigation of natural hazards like floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions
GEOHAZARDS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Study of geological solutions for waste disposal and pollution control.
Promotes _________ ___________ and _________ __________.
Helps manage natural resources and mitigate environmental risks.
sustainable development, environmental protection
Geophysics uses physical methods to study the _______ _________, including its ___________, __________, and __________.
Earth’s interior, composition, structure, processes
Study of seismic waves to understand Earth’s interior and earthquake mechanics.
SEISMOLOGY
Measurement of Earth’s magnetic field to study subsurface structures.
MAGNETOMETRY
Techniques to map variations in Earth’s gravity and
magnetic fields.
GRAVITY AND MAGNETIC SURVEY
Provides insights into Earth’s interior and tectonic processes.
Used in ________ _______ and hazard assessment.
resource exploration
Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater, including its _________, _________, and __________ with the geological environment.
distribution, movement, interaction
Study of groundwater reservoirs and their properties.
AQUIFER CHARACTERIZATION
Groundwater
Contamination
Assessment of pollutants in groundwater systems.
Sustainable management of groundwater resources.
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Critical for water supply and irrigation projects.
Helps in addressing issues like ___________ ___________ and
__________.
groundwater depletion, contamination
