geological

Geological is an adjective relating to geology, the science that studies the Earth, including its composition, structure, history, and the processes that shape it. The term is used to describe phenomena, materials, or disciplines associated with geological sciences.

Geology examines rocks and minerals, the Earth's crust and mantle, and the dynamic processes that shape the planet, such as plate tectonics, volcanism, weathering, erosion, sedimentation, and metamorphism. It also uses the geologic time scale to understand Earth's past, from formation to the present.

Geological work relies on field observations, mapping, sample collection, and laboratory analyses, including radiometric dating and geochemical tests, as well as geophysical methods and remote sensing. Modern geology increasingly uses geographic information systems and modeling to visualize and interpret data.

Subfields associated with the geological sense include structural geology, sedimentology, geomorphology, geochronology, paleontology, geophysics, hydrogeology, and petroleum geology. Applications range from natural resource exploration and environmental assessment to hazard mitigation and land-use planning.