Petrology is a division of geology.
Petrology is the discipline in charge of analyzing stones . It is a division of geology , the science that is dedicated to studying the matter that makes up our planet .
Before moving forward with the meaning of the term, it is necessary to establish its etymological origin. In this sense, we have to explain that it derives from Greek, since it is made up of three parts in said language:
- The noun petros , which can be translated as "stone."
- The name logos , which is equivalent to "study" .
- The suffix -ia , which is used to indicate "action" or "quality" .
Petrology experts investigate the characteristics of rocks and the links they maintain with each other. Among its objects of interest are the procedures that lead to the appearance of stone masses and the different chemical and physical characteristics of the stones.
Branches of petrology
In addition to all the above, we can establish that petrology is divided into two large branches:
- Endogenous petrology , which is the science that is responsible for carrying out the study of the deep layers of the Earth.
- Exogenous petrology , which, as its name indicates, is the discipline that aims to study and analyze rocks that are born near the Earth's surface.
At a general level, petrology works with three types of rocks. On the one hand, it studies rocks classified as sedimentary , which are those produced from water, wind and other agents of erosion . There is even a specialty of petrology focused on these stones, which is known as sedimentary petrology .
Petrology also analyzes metamorphic rocks , which arise when stones modify their structure due to the temperature and pressure recorded inside the planet.
Finally, petrology is dedicated to studying igneous rocks , caused by the lava expelled by volcanoes and by the process that leads to cooling of the magma that is contained inside the Earth's surface.
Petrology is divided into two branches: exogenous petrology and endogenous petrology.
Its link with other specialties
Petrology works in conjunction with petrography , another division of geology that, in its case, specializes in studying the composition of rocks to describe them. Petrology, on the other hand, is more oriented towards generating knowledge about the birth and nature of stones.
As we have mentioned, petrology is not a science that is isolated from the rest but rather actively participates and collaborates with many others. Thus, for example, if we delve into the sector of geological disciplines, we find that it is closely linked to some such as mineralogy , paleontology , stratigraphy and even geodynamics .
However, it should not be overlooked that it also maintains close relationships with other sciences that do not have directly to do with geology. Specifically, we are referring to disciplines such as mathematics , physics , chemistry , ecology and biology .