geological formation
Natural rock arrangement
A geological formation is a body of rock or sediment with distinctive characteristics that distinguish it from surrounding material—a recognizable unit in Earth's structure.
Geologists use the term precisely: a formation has consistent composition, was deposited under similar conditions, and can be mapped across a region.
The Morrison Formation contains many dinosaur fossils.
More loosely, any notable rock structure may be called a geological formation: We hiked to see the unusual geological formations in the canyon.
- shaleCompacted clay sediment
- drumlinsStreamlined glacial landforms
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- eskersSubglacial stream deposits
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
basalt · cliff · calderas · limestone · conglomerate · faults · fault line · tectonic plate · marble · slate · moraines · plateau · karst · salt domes · escarpment · gneiss · quartzite · layer
- trail featurestrail, trailhead, trail map, trail maps, trail sign
geological formationbuilt environment
Human-created physical surroundings
architecture · dam · infrastructure · quarry · monument
geological formationbody of water
Significant natural liquid accumulation
atmosphere · ocean · water feature · biome · ecosystem