
Rock | Definition, Characteristics, Formation, Cycle, Classification ...
Feb 6, 2026 · Rock, in geology, naturally occurring and coherent aggregate of one or more minerals. Such aggregates constitute the basic unit of which the solid Earth is composed and typically form …
rock summary | Britannica
rock, In geology, a naturally occurring and coherent aggregate of mineral s. The three major classes of rock— igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic —are based on the processes that formed them.
Rock - Structure, Texture, Composition | Britannica
Feb 6, 2026 · Rock - Structure, Texture, Composition: Physical properties of rocks are of interest and utility in many fields of work, including geology, petrophysics, geophysics, materials science, …
Geology | Definition, Examples, Rocks, Study, Importance, & Facts ...
Jan 29, 2026 · Geology, the fields of study concerned with the solid Earth. Included are sciences such as mineralogy, geodesy, and stratigraphy. Geology also explores geologic history, which provides a …
Geology - Earth Composition, Rocks, Minerals | Britannica
Jan 29, 2026 · Geology - Earth Composition, Rocks, Minerals: As a discipline, mineralogy has had close historical ties with geology. Minerals as basic constituents of rocks and ore deposits are obviously an …
Geology - Sedimentary Petrology, Stratigraphy, Rock Types | Britannica
Jan 29, 2026 · There are two main branches of sedimentary petrology. One branch deals with carbonate rocks, namely limestones and dolomites, composed principally of calcium carbonate (calcite) and …
Sedimentary rock | Definition, Formation, Examples, & Characteristics ...
Jan 22, 2026 · Sedimentary rock, rock formed at or near Earth’s surface by the accumulation and lithification of sediment or by the precipitation from solution at normal surface temperatures.
Igneous rock | Characteristics, Examples, Formation, & Types - Britannica
Jan 22, 2026 · This results in two groups: (1) plutonic intrusive igneous rocks that solidified deep within the crust and (2) volcanic, or extrusive, igneous rocks formed at Earth’s surface.
Stratification | Types, Causes & Effects | Britannica
Stratification, the layering that occurs in most sedimentary rocks and in those igneous rocks formed at the Earth’s surface, as from lava flows and volcanic fragmental deposits.
Geologic history of Earth | Plate Tectonics, Climate Change & Fossils ...
Geologic history of Earth, evolution of the continents, oceans, atmosphere, and biosphere; the layers of rock at Earth’s surface contain evidence of the evolutionary processes undergone by these …