Definition: Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its structure, substances, history, and the processes that act upon it. It covers the investigation of rock formations, the analysis of minerals and fossils, and the understanding of geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain formation.
Etymology and Origin: The word ‘geology’ originates from Greek, combining ‘geo-‘, meaning ‘Earth’, with ‘-logy’, meaning ‘study of’. The term was first used in the 18th century, as naturalists began systematically studying the Earth’s physical structure and substances. Geology evolved significantly as a science, especially through the 19th and 20th centuries, with the development of theories like plate tectonics and Earth’s stratification.
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