| You are here: | About>Education>Geology |
 | Geology |
Basics of GeologyBy 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.
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 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 Many rocks and minerals are important for civilization. They are products we take from the Earth. Learn more about their geology. 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 The hills, valleys and other features of a landscape are signs of the area's underlying structure and clues to its history.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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. |
|
All Topics | Email Article | |  |  |
| Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | Help | Our Story | Be a Guide |
| User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | ©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved. |