Let us start with some basics. Geology is the science that deals with the earth’s physical structure, its history, and all the processes that act on it. Geology is a branch of the natural sciences and geologists use a wide variety of methods to understand the Earth’s structure over time.
Most geological data come from research on Earth’s materials. Three of these materials are rocks, minerals, and fossils.
Rocks are natural aggregates, or solid collections of one or more minerals, which grow or become cemented together.
Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a well-defined chemical composition and an ordered atomic arrangement.
Fossils are the preserved remains, impression, or trace of a once living thing that are formed in sediment.