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Basics of Geology

By Andrew Alden, About.com Guide to Geology

There are many ways that lead to geology, whether it's the rocks along the road, the threat of climate change or the sights from your vacation. Here are the major avenues.

  1. Rocks
  2. Minerals and Gemstones
  3. Earth Resources
  4. Geologic Hazards
  5. Landforms
  6. Fossils
  1. Geologic Time
  2. Evolution
  3. Plate Tectonics
  4. The Deep Earth
  5. Geology of Other Planets
  6. Resources for Learning and Teaching

Rocks

Rocks

Rocks are what the Earth is made of. The first thing geologists learn is how to observe, describe and classify rocks.

Minerals and Gemstones

Minerals Gemstones

Minerals are the ingredients of rocks. Just a few important minerals account for the majority of rocks and for the soil, mud and sand of the Earth's surface. Many of the most beautiful minerals are treasured as gemstones.

Earth Resources

Mineral Resources

Many rocks and minerals are important for civilization. They are products we take from the Earth. Learn more about their geology.

Geologic Hazards

Geologic hazards

The ongoing processes of geology become hazards when they interfere with human life. Here are introductory pages about the major geologic hazards. For news and background about current hazard events, go to the Phenomena tab.

Landforms

Landforms

The hills, valleys and other features of a landscape are signs of the area's underlying structure and clues to its history.

Fossils

Fossils

Fossils are precious gifts from the geologic past: signs and remains of ancient living things that help explain how life has coexisted with Earth. Fossils are an important line of evidence showing how life has evolved since its still-mysterious beginnings.

Geologic Time

Geologic Time

All of human history is the briefest moment at the end of four billion years of geologic time. How do geologists measure and order the milestones in Earth's long history?

Evolution

Evolution

The consistent parade of fossil species through geologic time shows that life has been evolving since its remote beginning. Modern genetics tells the same story. Geology also shows that species have gone extinct.

Plate Tectonics

Palte Tectonics

Plate tectonics is the first theory that explains the mechanics of the Earth's surface in depth, in detail and in a scientifically fruitful way.

The Deep Earth

The Deep Earth

Beneath the shifting plates lie the rocky mantle and, at Earth's heart, the iron core. Both are areas of active research and competing theories.

Geology of Other Planets

Geology of Other Planets

The space program has revolutionized geology by giving us other examples of planets besides our own: they include Mercury, Venus, the Moon, Mars, the asteroids and the larger planetary satellites.

Resources for Learning and Teaching

Teaching Resources

Whether you study for pleasure at home or stand in a classroom and teach, the Web is full of help. About Geology can help you cope with all that help.

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