Geology Studies

                               T he science of Geology is concerned with the Earth and the rocks of which it is composed, the processes by which they were formed during geological time, and the modeling of the Earth's surface in the past and at the present day. The Earth is not a static body but is constantly subject to changes both at its surface and at deeper levels. Surface changes can be observed by engineers and geologists alike; among them erosion is a dominant process which in time destroys coastal cliffs, reduces the height of continents, and transports the material so removed either to the sea or to inland basins of deposition. Changes that originate below the surface are not so easily observed and their nature can only be postulated. Some are the cause of the slow movements of continents across the surface of the globe; others cause the more rapid changes associated with volcanic erupt...

Three Basic Rock Types.                             The earth’s crust is composed of three basic rock types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rocks. Igneous Rocks are formed from the crystallization of molten rock (magma or lava) from within the earth’s mantle. Common igneous rocks include granite, basalt, and gabbros.   Metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic Rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks by mineralogical, chemical and/or structural changes in response to marked changes in temperature, pressure, shearing stress, and chemical environment. These changes generally take place deep within the earth’s crust. Examples of common metamorphic rocks include slate, marble and schist. Sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary Rocks are formed as sediments, either from eroded fragments of older rocks or chemical precipitates. Sediments lithify by both compaction, as the grains are squeezed ...