geological
Concerning Earth's structure
Geological relates to geology—the scientific study of Earth's physical structure, substances, and history.
The term describes processes, formations, and timescales involving rocks, minerals, and planetary development: geological survey, geological era, geological formations.
A geological timescale measures Earth's history in millions and billions of years.
Solid stone underground
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- formationCreation or arrangement
- layeringForming successive strata
outcrop · sequence · deposition · laminations · superposition · unconformity · stratification · member
Study of erupting mountains
- geomorphologyStudy of terrain formation
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- petrologyScientific study of rocks
- paleomagnetismRemnant magnetism in rocks
stratigraphy · structural · survey · fieldwork · mapping · drilling
Flat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- riftingGeological spreading apart
- faultImperfection or blame
- earthquakeSeismic ground movement
seismic · lithosphere · asthenosphere · crust · mantle · core · orogeny · convergent
Formed from cooled magma
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
schist · gneiss · quartzite · shale · sandstone · limestone · marble · slate
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- ravineDeep, narrow valley
- valleyLow ground between heights
- cliffVertical rock wall
abrasion · landslide · alluvium · sedimentation · gullying · undercutting · denudation · karst
Solidified or fear-paralyzed
- amberHardened ancient tree secretion
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
extinct · trace · mold · cast · impression · preservation · excavation · stratigraphy
Earliest geological eon
- ArcheanEarliest geological eon
- ProterozoicEon before complex life
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
Cenozoic · Cambrian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Jurassic · Cretaceous · Paleogene · Quaternary
bedrock
Solid stone underground
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- formationCreation or arrangement
layering · outcrop · sequence · deposition · laminations · superposition · unconformity · stratification · member · thickness
volcanology
Study of erupting mountains
- geomorphologyStudy of terrain formation
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- petrologyScientific study of rocks
paleomagnetism · stratigraphy · structural · survey · fieldwork · mapping · drilling
plate
Flat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- riftingGeological spreading apart
- faultImperfection or blame
earthquake · seismic · lithosphere · asthenosphere · crust · mantle · core · orogeny · convergent · divergent
igneous
Formed from cooled magma
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
basalt · schist · gneiss · quartzite · shale · sandstone · limestone · marble · slate · obsidian
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
cliff · abrasion · landslide · alluvium · sedimentation · gullying · undercutting · denudation · karst · sinkhole
petrified
Solidified or fear-paralyzed
- amberHardened ancient tree secretion
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
ammonite · extinct · trace · mold · cast · impression · preservation · excavation · stratigraphy · coprolite
Precambrian
Earliest geological eon
- ArcheanEarliest geological eon
- ProterozoicEon before complex life
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
Mesozoic · Cenozoic · Cambrian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Jurassic · Cretaceous · Paleogene · Quaternary · Holocene
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
gypsum · halite · hematite · magnetite · fluorite · corundum · pyrite · olivine · tourmaline · zircon
- spatial scalesmicroscopic, macroscopic, nanoscale, atomic, molecular
- professional fieldsmedical, legal, technical, financial, scientific
geologicalbiological
Relating to living organisms
atmospheric · meteorological · astronomical · oceanic · hydrological
geologicalartificial
Made, not natural
man-made · synthetic · manufactured · constructed · engineered
geologicalinstantaneous
Happening without any delay
historical · contemporary · momentary · ephemeral · modern
- geological periodNamed span of Earth history
- geologic historyEarth's temporal record
- geologic erasMajor divisions of deep time
- geologic timeEarth's age measured epochally
- geological erasNamed spans of prehistory
- geologic period