geologist

Geologist is a scientist who studies the Earth, its materials, structures, processes, and history. Geologists investigate rocks, minerals, soils, fossils, and groundwater to understand how the planet formed, how it evolves, and how its surface and interior change over time through processes such as plate tectonics, volcanism, erosion, and sedimentation.

Geologists work in field, lab, and office settings across academia, industry, and government. Responsibilities include field mapping, sampling, and logging rock units; identifying minerals; measuring structures; analyzing data; and developing geological maps and models. They assess natural hazards, locate and evaluate natural resources, study groundwater systems, and inform land-use planning and environmental stewardship. Specialties include petrology, mineralogy, sedimentology, structural geology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology, geotechnical geology, and economic geology.

Education typically requires a bachelor's degree in geology or Earth science, with many positions requiring graduate study for research or advanced roles. In some regions, professionals may seek licensure or certification, such as a Professional Geologist (PG) license, for consulting or engineering work.

Common tools include field notebook, rock hammer, hand lens, compass and clinometer, GPS, GIS software, and lab instruments for microscopic analysis and dating techniques. Methods span field mapping, stratigraphic analysis, petrography, radiometric dating, geochemical assays, and remote sensing. Geologists contribute to resource development, environmental assessments, natural-hazard mitigation, and scientific knowledge about Earth's history.