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Geology

Home > Career Library > Physical Science > Geology
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Geology

Summary

Geology is an applied science, dealing with the study of the origin and evolution of the structure of our planet. Geologists examine the physical properties of the Earth to understand its history, predict natural/man-made disasters, find out about past and current climate patterns, and explore renewable and non-renewable resources. Geological findings are applied to the fields of remote sensing, resource mapping, computer simulations, and recycling technology.

Career Opportunities in Geology

  • Marine Geology
    It is a broad domain associated with the study of the ocean floor. It draws from a wide number of fields including geophysics, geochemistry, sedimentology and paleontology to make investigations about the ocean floor and the coastal zone.
  • Petrologist
    It is the scientific study of the composition, texture, and structure of rocks It deals with their occurrence and distribution as a result of geologic processes and physicochemical conditions.
  • Mineralogist
    It involves the physical and chemical analysis and classification of minerals, mineral deposits, and precious stones. This work aids in the classification of land for residential, industrial and agricultural use.
  • Geohydrologist
    This field deals with the assessment and analysis of water sources, identification of water pollution threats, and providing advice for construction of water reservoirs.
  • Hydrologist
    This field is concerned with the study of the properties of water. Hydrologists identify and analyze water sources to meet the needs of present and future generations. Their work is specially important in India, with the scarcity of water resources.
  • Paleontologist
    The field deals with the study of fossils found in geological formations, in order to trace the evolution of animal and plant life, and makes estimates about their age.
  • Seismologist
    It involves locating earthquakes and earthquake faults using geological data. Seismologists engage in in-depth study of earthquakes and the structure of the earth.

How to Pursue a Career in Geology

Stream Graduation After Graduation After Post Graduation
Path 1
Clear Class XII in Science streamPursue B.Sc. Geology for 3 yearsPursue M.Sc. Geology/ Applied Geology/ M.Tech Geophysics for 2 yearsPh.D. for 2-3 years
Path 2
Clear Class XII in Science Stream Pursue Integrated graduation and post-graduation courses M.Sc. Geophysics/ Applied Geology/ M.Tech. Geology for 5 years-Ph.D. for 2-3 years

Important Facts

  • Most college have eligibility criteria of minimum 50% aggregate marks in Class XII with Science Stream.
  • Science is a mandatory subject in Class XII.
  • Geology has specialisation in varieties of disciplines like pedology, volcanology, metamorphic petrology, geochemistry and geophysics.

Leading Institutes

Top Geology Institutes in India
College Location Website
Hans Raj College New Delhi www.hansrajcollege.ac.in
Ram Lal Anand College New Delhi www.rlacollege.edu.in
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay www.iitb.ac.in
Indian Institute of technology Kharagpur www.iitkgp.ac.in
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee www.iitr.ac.in/departments/ES/pages
St. Xavier's College (University of Bombay) Mumbai www.xaviers.edu/main
Department of Earth Sciences (Annamalai University) Tamil Nadu www.annamalaiuniversity.ac.in/S08_info.php?dc=S08
Post-Graduate College of Science (Osmania University) Hyderabad www.osmania.ac.in
SVU college of Sciences (Sri Venkateshwara University) Tirupathi www.svuniversity.ac.in
Indian School of Mines Jharkhand www.ism.ac.in
Department of Geology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi www.bhu.ac.in/science/geology
Department of Geology (Kurukshetra University) Kurukshetra www.kuk.ac.in
Department of Geology (SavitribaiPhule Pune University) Pune www.unipune.ac.in
Top Geology Institutes in the World
Institution Location Website
ETH Zurich Switzerland www.ethz.ch/en.html
University of California, Berkeley United States www.berkeley.edu
Harvard University United States www.harvard.edu
University of Oxford United Kingdom www.ox.ac.uk
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) United States www.web.mit.edu
University of Cambridge United Kingdom www.cam.ac.uk
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) United States www.caltech.edu
Columbia University United States www.columbia.edu
Stanford University United States www.stanford.edu
Australian National University Australia www.anu.edu.au
University of Bristol United Kingdom www.bris.ac.uk
University of Toronto Canada www.utoronto.ca

Geology Entrance Exams

Undergraduate
College Tentative Date Important Elements Website
JEE Main April Physics, Chemistry, Maths www.jeemain.nic.in/webinfo/Public/Home.aspx
JEE Advanced May Physics, Chemistry, Maths www.jeeadv.ac.in
Postgraduate
Institution Tentative Date Important Elements Website
Graduate Aptitude Test of Engineering (GATE) January - February Subject-specific topics www.gate.iisc.ernet.in
OUCET May Subject-specific topics www.oucet.ouadmissions.com
SVUCET May Subject-specific topics www.svudoa.in/svucet.aspx?cet=CET
ISM EE May Subject-specific topics www.ismdhanbad.ac.in
BHU PET June Subject-specific topics www.bhuonline.in

Work Description

  • Collect information in the field, from seismic data and other sources
  • Monitor the acquisition of data to ensure consistent quality
  • Interpret data to determine sub-surface geology and the economic importance of natural resources
  • Develop geological models of the earth's sub-surface to understand the geological structure, rock characteristics and the likely distribution of oil/gas/mineral-bearing strata
  • Assess the potential quality of minerals and hydrocarbon resources
  • Collaborate with drilling engineers at drilling sites on the basis of the interpretation of the data and models developed
  • Produce and present geological maps and reports
  • Perform detailed geological risk analysis of proposed exploration targets
  • Plan and undertake an exploration drilling programme after collecting and interpreting all available data

Pros & Cons of a Career in Geology

Pros
  • It gives you chance to explore and travel to new places.
  • It is a dynamic career, with many new and different types of experiences.
  • The work is stimulating for those interested in environmental and earth research.
Cons
  • The work can often stretch to long hours.
  • A major portion of work requires being in the field, even in harsh weather, which can be strenuous.
  • Field work requires one to report on earthquakes, disaster-hit locations etc., which can be dangerous.
  • The seats and opportunities for this career are limited.
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