Promoting geoscience knowledge in the Community
Australian Institute of Geoscientists Queensland Branch
Geological Society of Australia Queensland Division
Earth Evolution Geologists study the earth to understand how our planet formed and changed over time, and the processes that led to the evolution and development of life on earth.
Geologists believe our Solar System and the earth formed 4.6 billion years ago (4,600,000,000 years). The oldest rocks so far found in Australia are 4.3 billion years old.
Earth Processes - Since the earth formed dynamic geological processes; including meteorite impacts, volcanoes and earthquakes have continuously shaped our world to produce the landforms we see today – from the highest mountain chains to the deepest oceans.
Evolution of Life – Geological processes contributed to the evolution of life on earth. Geologists study fossils preserved in rocks to help understand when and how life evolved on our planet.
Geologists study the evolution of life
The earth as we know it today is very different from the past.
Predicting the Future – Looking into the past may help to predict what might happen on earth in the future and what life may be like.
Some Geological careers linked to the study of earth evolution Volcanology palaeontology seismology geophysics marine geology mineralogy and petrology sedimentology geochemistry structural geology