geologist
Earth history expert
A geologist is a scientist who studies the Earth—its rocks, minerals, structure, and the processes that shape it over time.
Geologists examine everything from volcanic activity to fossil records to underground water systems.
They work in fields ranging from mining and oil exploration to earthquake prediction and environmental assessment: The geologist took core samples from the proposed building site.
Systematic data collection
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
prospecting · sampling · trenching · excavation · core · outcrop · field notes · rock hammer
Particles settling in liquid
- strataParallel geological layers
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- formationCreation or arrangement
layer · unconformity · stratigraphy · cross-section · depositional · sequence · correlation · facies
Earth's crust mobility theory
- faultImperfection or blame
- foldBend onto itself
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- riftCrack or estrangement
orogeny · earthquake · continental drift · mantle · crust · lithosphere · asthenosphere · convergent
Formed from cooled magma
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
- limestoneCarbonate sedimentary rock
basalt · shale · sandstone · marble · gneiss · slate · schist · obsidian
Preserved ancient organism
- paleontologyStudy of ancient organisms
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
extinction · stratigraphy · carbon dating · petrification · Cambrian · Jurassic · Cretaceous · mass extinction
Violent sudden release
- lavaErupted liquid stone
- magmaMolten rock underground
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
- pyroclasticHot eruption debris
tephra · vent · crater · ash · plume · magma chamber · volcanic arc · hotspot
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- micaLayered silicate mineral
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- gypsumHydrated calcium sulfate
halite · fluorite · olivine · pyroxene · amphibole · garnet · tourmaline · zircon
Metal-bearing rock
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- natural gasSubterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
mining · extraction · reserves · coal · hydrocarbons · mineral deposit · remediation · geothermal energy
One who studies systematically
- professorSenior university teacher
- seismologistEarth tremor scientist
- volcanologistScientist studying erupting mountains
- hydrogeologistUnderground water specialist
geochemist · paleontologist · consulting · oil company · university · publication · peer review
survey
Systematic data collection
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
- drillingHole-making by rotation
fieldwork · prospecting · sampling · trenching · excavation · core · outcrop · field notes · rock hammer · hand lens
sediment
Particles settling in liquid
formation · layer · unconformity · stratigraphy · cross-section · depositional · sequence · correlation · facies · dating
plate tectonics
Earth's crust mobility theory
- faultImperfection or blame
- foldBend onto itself
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
rift · orogeny · earthquake · continental drift · mantle · crust · lithosphere · asthenosphere · convergent · divergent
igneous
Formed from cooled magma
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
limestone · basalt · shale · sandstone · marble · gneiss · slate · schist · obsidian · pumice
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- paleontologyStudy of ancient organisms
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
ammonite · extinction · stratigraphy · carbon dating · petrification · Cambrian · Jurassic · Cretaceous · mass extinction · evolution
eruption
Violent sudden release
pyroclastic · tephra · vent · crater · ash · plume · magma chamber · volcanic arc · hotspot · shield volcano
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
gypsum · halite · fluorite · olivine · pyroxene · amphibole · garnet · tourmaline · zircon · magnetite
ore
Metal-bearing rock
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- natural gasSubterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
aquifer · mining · extraction · reserves · coal · hydrocarbons · mineral deposit · remediation · geothermal energy · rare earth elements
researcher
One who studies systematically
- professorSenior university teacher
- seismologistEarth tremor scientist
- volcanologistScientist studying erupting mountains
hydrogeologist · geochemist · paleontologist · consulting · oil company · university · publication · peer review
- naturalistsCharles Darwin, naturalist, field researcher, botanist, Carl Linnaeus
- physical scientistsphysicist, astrophysicist, biophysicist, nuclear physicist, particle physicist
- field jobssurveyor, rodman, foreman, roughneck, roustabout
- geoscientistsgeochemist, hydrogeologist, petrologist, volcanologist, seismologist
- Earthearth, Earth, globe, continent, axis
- jobsdoctor, administrator, lawyer, teacher, nurse
geologistbiologist
One who studies organisms
marine biologist · life scientist · botanist · zoologist · astronomer
geologistphilosopher
Student of fundamental questions
theologian · mathematician · literary critic · art historian · musicologist
- 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