Some subdisciplines and study fields within the Earth sciences: (https://www.esci.umn.edu/whatis)
and other sources.

Environmental Geology

The interdisciplinary study of the interaction of humans with the geologic environment including
the biosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and to some extent the atmosphere.

Biomagnetism

The study of magnetic bacteria and their relationship to the earth's magnetic field.

Exploration Geophysics

Application of seismology, gravity and magnetics to the location of petroleum and ore deposits.

Geobiology

The study of processes at the interface between organic and inorganic materials, and the role of
microbes on the origin of life.

Geochemistry

The study of the distribution and amounts of chemical elements and their isotopes in minerals,
ores, rocks, soils, waters, and the atmosphere.

Geochronology

Study of time in relationship to the history of the earth.

Geologic Mapping and Resource Evaluation

Determining the distribution of different rocks at the earth's surface and economic implications.

Geostatistics

Application of statistics to the analysis of geological and geophysical data.

Hydrogeology

The study of water flow and chemistry at and below the earth's surface.

Mineral Physics

The study of how minerals respond to forces.

Mineralogy

The study of minerals: formation, occurrence, properties, composition, crystal structure, and
classification.

Oceanography (Ocean Sciences)

The study of the ocean, including its boundaries and bottom topography, the physics and chemistry
of sea water, the types of currents, and the many phases of marine biology.

Paleoclimatology

The study of past climatic and ecological environments.

Paleomagnetism

The study of the magnetic record in rocks and implications for plate tectonics and the origin of
the earth's magnetic field.

Paleontology

The study of life in past geologic time, based on fossil plant and animals, their relationships to
existing plants, animals and environments, and the chronology of Earth's history.

Petrology

The study of the formation of rocks at depth in the earth.

Sedimentology (Sedimentary Geology)

The scientific study of sedimentary rocks and the processes by which they were formed: the
description, classification, and interpretation of sediments. Includes basin analysis, river
studies, surface processes, stratigraphy, and geochronology.

Seismology

Study of seismic waves to determine the internal structure of the earth and the origin and location
of earthquakes.

Structural Geology and Tectonics

The study of mountain building, movement of tectonic plates, and deformation of the earth's crust.


Administrative Geology

This subdiscipline primarily emphasizes the relations with state administration and the legislature
in geology.

Volcanology

The scientific study of the dynamics of volcanoes.

Archeology (combined with Geology at MU)

Similar to anthropology in that it focuses on understanding human culture from the deepest history
up until the recent past. It differs from anthropology in that it focuses specifically on analysing
material remains such as artifact and architectural remnants. Artifacts might include pottery,
stone tools, and bones.