Geosciences and Remote Sensing

PETROLOGY AND MINERALOGY

Petrology is the study of rocks, minerals and meteorites, their occurrence, origin, composition, evolution, evolution of solar system and the interior of planets. Processes involve tectonic movements of masses, volcanic eruptions and injections, solidification and crystallization, recrystallization and melting, sedimentation, weathering, metamorphism, megascopic and microscopic identification of rocks and minerals. The interior structure of the Earth from the core, mantle, lithosphere, continental and oceanic crust, hydrosphere, atmosphere to biosphere illustrated along with nebular theory of origin and age. Rocks have been classified into the three major genetic classes, igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Theory of the plate tectonics for current configuration of Earth lithosphere and the component continents with zone of subduction, plate boundaries such as convergent, transform and divergent are discussed. Orogenic movements through the collision and non-collision are explained.

Mineralogy is the subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the crystal structure, chemistry, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and the mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within the mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and the formation, classification of the minerals, and their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.