179. Geology
See also 133. EARTH ; 283. MOUNTAINS ; 385. STONES ; 411. VOLCANOES .
- aerogeology
- the use of aerial observation and photography in the study of geological features. — aerogeologist, n. — aerogeologic, aerogeological, adj.
- agrogeology
- the branch of geology concerned with the adaptability of land to agriculture, soil quality, etc.
- anamorphism
- metamorphism from simple to more complex minerals, usually occurring deep beneath the earth’s surface. See also katamorphism , metamorphism . — anamorphic, anamorphotic, adj.
- aphanitism
- a minuteness of rock texture so fine that individual grains are invisible to the naked eye. — aphanite, n.
- archeogeology, archaeogeology
- the branch of geology that studies the geological formations of the remote past. — archeogeologic, archaeogeologic, archeogeological, archaeogeological, adj.
- brecciation
- the formation of breccia, or masses of rock composed of fragments of older rock fused together.
- brontolith, brontolite
- a thunderstone or meteoric rock.
- catastrophism
- the theory that geological changes have been caused by sudden upheaval rather than by gradual and continuing processes. Cf. uniformitarianism. — catastrophist, n.
- clinometry
- the measurement of the elevations and slopes of mineral strata or of cuttings into rock formations. — clinometer, n. — clinometric, clinometrical, adj.
- coprolite
- a small mass of rock composed of the petrified fecal remains of animals.
- crustalogy
- the study of surface of the earth or the moon.
- diastrophism
- the process of movement that causes the earth’s crust to form continents, mountains, etc. — diastrophic, adj.
- diluvianism
- a geological theory that maintains that some geological phenomena can be explained by extensive flooding of large areas of the earth’s surface or by an equally strong condition of the weather.
- epeirogeny, epeirogenesis
- the vertical movement or tilting of the earth’s crust, affecting broad expanses of continents. — epeirogenic, epeirogenetic, adj.
- epigenesis
- the process of metamorphism. See also 44. BIOLOGY ; 122. DISEASE and ILLNESS . — epigenetic, adj.
- fluvialist
- one who considers geological phenomena to be the result of the action of streams.
- geognosy
- a branch of geology that studies the constituent parts of the earth, its atmosphere and water, its crust, and its interior condition. — geognosist, geognost, n. — geognostic, adj.
- geotectology
- the branch of geology that studies the structure of the earth’s crust; structural geology. Also called geotectonics. — geotectonic, adj.
- geothermometry
- the branch of geology that measures temperatures deep below the surface of the earth; geologic thermometry.
- glaciology
- the branch of geology that studies the nature, distribution, and movement of glaciers and their effects upon the earth’s topography. — glaciologist, n. — glaciological, adj.
- homotaxis, homotaxy
- the condition of being arranged in the same way, especially stratified layers that are similar in arrangement and place but not contemporaneous. — homotaxic, adj.
- hydrogeology
- the study of water both on and beneath the earth’s surface. — hydrogeological, adj.
- isostasy
- the general equality of pressure in the crust of the earth. — isostatic, adj.
- katamorphism
- metamorphism from complex to simpler minerals, usually occurring at or near the earth’s surface. See also anamorphism, metamorphism. — katamorphic, adj.
- lapillus
- a small stone ejected by a volcano.
- limnology
- the branch of geology that studies ponds and lakes. — limnologist, n.
- lithification
- the process by which loose mineral fragments or particles of sand are solidifled into stone.
- lithogenesy
- the science of explaining the minerals of which the earth is composed, their origins, and the cause of their form and arrangement.
- lithoidology
- Rare. the study of rocks.
- lithology
- the branch of geology that studies the mineral composition and structure of rocks, usu. macroscopically. Cf. petrography. — lithologic, lithological, adj.
- lithotome
- a rock or stone formed by natural processes in such a way that it appears to have been artificially fashioned.
- metamorphism
- 1 . the process of change in the form and structure of rocks by the agency of heat, water, and pressure.
- 2 . the change of particular types of rock, as limestone into marble. Also called epigenesis. See also 74. CHANGE . — metamorphic, adj.
- metasomatism
- the process of chemical change in rocks or other mineral masses that results in the formation of new rocks or minerals. Also metasomatosis.
- microlith
- 1 . a very small isotropic needlelike crystal, found usually in volcanic rocks.
- 2 . a very small stone tooi or part of a tool, as a tooth of a primitive saw. — microlithic, adj.
- mineralogy
- the branch of geology that studies the physical and chemical structures of minerals. — mineralogist, n. — mineralogic, mineralogical, adj.
- neptunism
- the now obsolete theory that all rock surfaces were formed by the agency of water. Cf. plutonism . — neptunist, n.
- orogeny
- the process by which mountains are created. — orogenic, orogenetic, adj.
- oryctology
- mineralogy. Also called oryctognosy.
- paleopedology, palaeopaedology
- a branch of soil science that studies the soils of past geologie times. — paleopedologist, palaeopaedologist, n. — paleopedologic, palaeopaedologic, paleopedological, palaeopaedological, adj.
- perimorphism
- a phenomenon in which one mineral encloses another. — perimorphic, perimorphous, adj.
- petrogensis, petrogeny
- the branch of petrology that studies the formation of rocks.
- petrography
- the branch of geology that describes and classifies rocks, usually after microscopic study. Cf. lithology . — petrographer, n. — petrographic, petrographical, adj.
- petrology
- the branch of geology that studies the origin, structure, composition, changing, and classification of rocks. — petrologist, n. — petrologic, petrological , adj.
- plutonism
- the theory that all rock surfaces have solidified from magmas, some at great depths below the surface of the earth. Cf. neptunism. — plutonist, n.
- pneumatolysis
- the process by which ores and minerals are formed from the action of vapors produced by igneous magmas. — pneumatolytic, adj.
- pyritology
- the study of iron or copper sulfides, called pyrites.
- regolith
- the layer of disintegrated and decomposed rock fragments, including soil, lying above the solid rock of the earth’s crust. Also called mantle rock.
- stratigraphy
- the branch of geology that studies the classification, correlation, and interpretation of stratified rocks. — stratigrapher, n. — stratigraphic, stratigraphical, adj.
- tectonics
- the study of the structure and behavior of the earth’s crust. — tectonic , adj.
- uniformitarianism
- the thesis that early geological processes were not unlike those observed today, i.e., gradually occurring. Cf. catastrophism. — uniformitarian, n.
- xenolith
- a fragment of rock embedded in another kind of rock.
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