Geology

Geology is a science with many practical applications, from mining to farming, construction and environmental management.

Any changes that are made to the geology of a site should be made with knowledge of the potential impact of such changes.

Environmental assessments and geological survey are often appropriate, and even legally required tasks that need to be carried out before a site is used for a purpose different to, or beyond its current purpose.

There are 9 lessons in this course:

Introduction
Types of Rocks
Structural Geology
Types of Minerals
Geobiology
Geophysics
Geochemistry
Groundwater Hydrology
Applied Geology
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims:
Explain the nature and scope of geology and concepts that underpin the science of geology.
Differentiate between rock types.
Explain the scope, nature and application of structural geology in today’s world.
Differentiate between different minerals.
Explain the scope, nature and application of geophysics in today’s world.
Explain the scope, nature and application of geobiology in today’s world.
Explain the nature of chemical change that can occur in the geology of a site.
Explain the nature and significance of groundwater on different sites.
Explain different practical applications for a knowledge of geology.

Geology is the study of the earth, the rocks, the materials from which the earth is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes which cause them to change over time. It is concerned with the structure of the earth at both the surface level and beneath the surface.

Geology also overlaps with other earth sciences like hydrology and climate science. An understanding of geology not only helps us to understand the historical context of the earth’s materials and formation but also uses that knowledge to help inform us about what we might expect in the future.

Studying geology has practical relevance in the real world in diverse ways, for example:

Understanding and managing groundwater

Informing us how to appropriately manage mining

Providing insight into geologic natural hazards e.g. landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions

Understanding and predicting seismic activity

Determining appropriate engineering work e.g. in construction of dams, infrastructure, buildings

Helping to locate underground deposits of specific rocks and minerals

Enabling knowledge of the effects of past episodes of climate change on the earth

Adding to our knowledge of how the earth formed and plate tectonics (movement of the plates on the earth’s crust)