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Geology

Earth Sciences

Geology is the scientific study of Earth's solid materials, structure, and history, including the processes that have shaped its surface and interior over time.

Facts
Founded Year
1795 1
James Hutton's Theory of the Earth (1795) is commonly cited as founding modern geology and uniformitarianism; Hutton had outlined the same theory earlier, in 1785 papers to the Royal Society of Edinburgh published in 1788.
Central Question
How can the rock record be read to reconstruct the physical history and internal structure of a planet across deep time? 2
Scope
Geology studies the Earth and other astronomical bodies, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. 2
Significance
Eighteenth century Scottish physician James Hutton established the principle of uniformitarianism, summarized as the present is the key to the past, giving geology its founding method for reading deep time from rock strata. The field's reach into hydrology, Earth system science and planetary science broadened greatly in the twentieth century once radiometric dating made absolute, rather than merely relative, ages of rock possible. 2
Connections

Associated With

Source Geological Society of London (Wikipedia)

Founded By

Source Geology (Wikipedia)

Has Scientist

Source Alfred Wegener (Britannica)
Source Charles Lyell (Wikipedia)
Harry Hess, Scientists
Source James Hutton (Wikipedia)
Source Marie Tharp (Wikipedia)
Source William Smith, geologist (Wikipedia)

Has Theory

Source Continental Drift (Britannica)
Source Faunal Succession (Wikipedia)
Terrane, Theories
Source Uniformitarianism (Wikipedia)
Wilson Cycle, Theories

Studies

Fossil, Concepts
Source Fossil (Wikipedia)
Source James Hutton (Britannica)
Mineral, Concepts
Source James Hutton (Britannica)
Rock Cycle, Concepts
Source James Hutton (Britannica)
Stratigraphy, Concepts
Source James Hutton (Britannica)
Titanium, Concepts

First identified in the mineral ilmenite (Gregor, 1791) and rediscovered in rutile ore (Klaproth, 1795).

Source Titanium (Wikipedia)

Uses

Source John Milne (Britannica)
Sources
1. James Hutton (Britannica)
Encyclopaedia BritannicaView the Source
2. Geology (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead section
    Geology is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical bodies, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time.
  • Founded By: James Hutton
View the Source
Continental Drift (Britannica)
Encyclopaedia BritannicaHas Theory: Continental DriftView the Source
Alfred Wegener (Britannica)
Encyclopaedia BritannicaHas Scientist: Alfred WegenerView the Source
John Milne (Britannica)
Encyclopaedia BritannicaUses: SeismographView the Source
Titanium (Wikipedia)
WikipediaStudies: TitaniumView the Source
Wikipedia: Volcanology
WikipediaEncompasses: Volcanology, Lead sectionView the Source
Geological Society of London (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: The Geological Society of LondonView the Source
Marie Tharp (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Scientist: Marie Tharp, Introduction
Quote, Has Scientist: Marie Tharp, Introduction
Marie Tharp (July 30, 1920, August 23, 2006) was an American geologist and oceanographic cartographer. In the 1950s, she collaborated with geologist Bruce Heezen to produce the first scientific map of the Atlantic Ocean floor.
View the Source
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