Branches of Geology

fig 1 interior of the Earth

Geology: word is composed of two parts which are “Geo” which means the “Earth” and “logus” which means “science” that’s means the science of Earth which is the science which deal with everything has relationship with Earth, its components, its movements, its history, its phenomenon and its wealth

The natural phenomena which are explained by Geology:

          -Earth’s surface is consists of continents, oceans and seas, the continents differs from one place to another in some regions and we find also that mountain chains are extended in a certain direction while in others we find valley and plains of different shapes. Also the seas, some are relatively shallow while others are as deep as 11 km.

 -Also, we notice that volcanoes happen in certain regions some of them become inactive then suddenly start its activity, magma released from it or Earthquake causing damage for villages and cities completely. 

-The extraction of minerals and ores as well as petroleum and underground water near the Earth’s surface or in depth is known phenomenon used for long time.

Different Branches of Geology:

figure 2 major fields of geology

Geology is divided into several fields which can be grouped under the major heading of Physical and Historical Geology.

Physical Geology: is the branch which is mainly concerned with the external and internal processes affecting the rock of the Earth’s crust physical Geology is divided into many branches here are some of them  

Geophysics: is the branch which deals with the exploration of oil traps, ore deposits and ground water using physical sensitive sets

in other words:Geophysics applies the principles of physics to the study of the Earth. It deals with such things as the movement of the Earth's crust and the temperatures of its interior. Another subject is the behavior of the still-mysterious geomagnetic field. Some geophysicists seek out deposits of ores or petroleum; others specialize in earthquakes; still others study the water beneath the Earth's surface, where it collects and how it flows.

Mineralogy  and Crystallography: is the branch which is mainly concerned with the study of minerals, their physical and chemical properties and the forms of their crystal systems. 

figure 3  crystal

Hydrology: is the branch which is related to whatever concerns groundwater aquifers, supply and withdrawal and use of water in agriculture and land reclamation.

Structural Geology: is the branch which deals with the different structures, which exist on rocks resulting from the effect of both external and internal forces that continually work with variable degrees of forces on Earth’s crust.

Petroleum Geology: deals with all processes concerning the formation of oil or gas, their migration and accumulation in reservoirs rocks

figure 4 petroleum geology search and extract oil

petrology:is the branch of geology that studies rocks and the conditions under which they form. Petrology has three subdivisions: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary petrology. Igneous and metamorphic petrology are commonly taught together because they both contain heavy use of chemistry, chemical methods, and phase diagrams. Sedimentary petrology is, on the other hand, commonly taught together with stratigraphy because it deals with the processes that form sedimentary rock

 Geomorphology is the scientific study of the origin and evolution of topographic features created by physical, chemical or biological processes operating at or near the Earth's surface. Geomorphologists seek to understand why landscapes look the way they do, to understand landform

                                                        figure 5 Geomorphology studies  different land forms

Seismology:   the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake environmental effects such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, glacial, fluvial, oceanic, atmospheric, and artificial processes such as explosions

 Mining geology is an applied science which combines the principles of economic geology and mining engineering to the development of a defined mineral resource. Mining geologists and engineers work to develop an identified ore deposit to economically extract the ore.

Volcanology is the study of volcanoes, lava, magma and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena (volcanism).volcanologist is a geologist who studies the eruptive activity and formation of volcanoes and their current and historic eruptions.

 figure 6 volcano

Geochemistry: is the branch which deals with the study the chemical structure for minerals and rocks, distribution of elements in the Earth’s crust and determine the type and ratio of mineral ore in the Earth crust.

Engineering Geology: is the branch which deals with the study of mechanical and geometrical properties of rocks in order to establish the different engineering structures such as dams, tunnels, giant bridges and skyscrapers and towers.

figure 7 Engineering Geology concerns with construct

Economic geology includes the ‘application of geological knowledge and theory to the search for  mineral deposits’, recognizing the fact that the extractive industries must meet future demands for new materials and replace mined out deposits with new discoveries

Historical  Geology : ( paleogeology) is a branch  that uses the principles and techniques of geology to reconstruct and understand the geological history of Earth. It also focuses on the evolution of plants and animals during different time periods in the geological timescale. Historical Geology alos  is divided into many branches

Paleontology: deals specifically with studies of fossils and the remains of living organisms, vertebrates, invertebrates or plants that characterize the sediments, by which we can determine the geologic age and environmental conditions for its formation.

Stratigraphy: is a branch which deals with the rules and conditions that govern the formation of the layers and the sites of deposition of the sediments after weathering and transportation by different natural factors.