lithologi

Lithology is the science and practice of describing the physical characteristics of rocks and interpreting their mineralogical and textural properties. In geology, lithology is used to characterize rock units, identify rock types, and infer aspects of the Earth’s history. The field emphasizes attributes such as mineral composition, grain size and texture, color, porosity, strength, and microstructure, as well as features produced by weathering and cementation. Lithology provides a practical framework for describing rocks in the field, in boreholes, and on geological maps, often complementing more origin-focused disciplines like petrology and geochemistry. The term derives from Greek lithos meaning stone and logos meaning study.

Rocks are traditionally grouped into igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic lithologies, with further subdivisions such as felsic versus mafic igneous rocks, clastic versus chemical sedimentary rocks, and foliated versus non-foliated metamorphic rocks. Beyond classification, lithology emphasizes the physical properties of rocks that influence engineering, hydrogeology, and resource exploration. In practice, lithology is documented in lithology logs or section descriptions for cores and outcrops, noting rock type, color, texture, and notable features.

Determining lithology relies on field description, petrographic analysis through thin sections, and laboratory techniques including X-ray diffraction and geochemical assays. Limitations include subjective interpretation and contextual variations where similar lithologies occur in different geological settings.