Geologien

Geologien is the German plural form of Geologie and is used to denote geology as a discipline or the collection of geological subfields. In English, the term geology covers the science that studies the Earth, its materials (rocks and minerals), its structure, history, and the processes that have shaped it over geological time.

Geologie uses field observations, mapping, laboratory analyses, and computer modeling to investigate Earth systems. Researchers examine rock formation, fossil records, and the physical and chemical properties of Earth materials. The field integrates data from stratigraphy, geochronology, tectonics, and palaeontology to reconstruct past environments and to understand present and future changes.

Major subfields include petrology, mineralogy, lithology, stratigraphy, paleontology, geophysics, geochemistry, geomorphology, and paleoclimatology. Applied branches include hydrogeology, engineering geology, geotechnics, resource geology, and hazard geology, focusing on water supply, construction, mineral and energy resources, and geohazards such as earthquakes and landslides.

Geologien informs resource management, environmental planning, hazard assessment, and climate research. Its work supports infrastructure design, groundwater protection, land-use planning, and the interpretation of Earth's history to inform policy and resilience strategies.