Geological formations are groupings of rock with similar characteristics. In geology, the term refers specifically to geological strata, while laypeople may refer informally to outcroppings of rock or interesting geological features as geological formations, even though this is not technically correct. Studying and identifying formations is a key part of geology, and it allows geologists to do a number of things, from dating the landscape to identifying useful mineral deposits.
Visualizing geological formations is easiest to do when one things about the landscape in cross section. If a hillside is sliced in two, layers of geological material will appear. When materials in a layer are of similar age or composition, they can be termed a geological formation. These formations can be bundled together in large groups, or broken down into smaller segments called members, to help geologists describe, explore, and study them. When a geologist finds a formation which he or she thinks is new, the information is presented to the authority which handles naming conventions in the area, and if the formation is verified as a new discovery, the geologist may have the honor of naming it.
Using information about formations, a geologist can date a landscape. He or she can also look for corresponding formations on pieces of land which are not contiguous. Two mesas, for example, may have similar formations which can be matched together, even if the space between them has been worn away over time, to learn about the history of the landscape. Identifying formations can also allow geologists to track geological activity, as when highly compressed versions of a known geological formation are found near a tectonic boundary.
Many formations are made from sedimentary rock, although other types of rock can also be found in a formation. The type of rock can be important, as it may provide information about the conditions in which the rock formed, and the geologic history of an area. Multiple deposits of limestone formations, for example, indicate that an area was once covered in an ocean, while a layer of volcanic flow would suggest that there was volcanic activity in the region at some point in history.
Identifying, describing, and naming geological formations is part of stratigraphy, the study of layers of rock in geology. Geologists can prepare maps showing various formations in an area and their relationship to each other, and they can use these maps to learn about geologic history. Sometimes events may be more readily apparent when a map is examined than when people are out in the field, because the map distills the information in the landscape into small chunks of useful information.
By Mary McMahon
Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a All The Science researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.