Geology is based around a study of the Earth. It is literally the study of the matter that makes up the Earth, whether solid or liquid. This field of science is, as you might expect, vast. Various aspects of the science focus on the composition of the Earth's surface, the structure, the physical properties and what many of these objects tell us about the Earth's history and age.
Uniformitarianism
In the mid 1800s, Charles Lyell, a respected scientist (and close friend of Charles Darwin) published his "Principles of Geology," which outlined the theory of uniformitarianism, an important aspect of the science to this day. The philosophy basically states that the natural processes that operate in our world and universe today have always done so. This philosophy makes looking into history that much easier, as we have a basis on which to judge.
Dating
Much of geology is concerned with relative and absolute dating. By using various dating techniques, geologists can come to a good consensus about when many geological events occurred in our history. This can be done with relative dating, where strata is compared to other strata, or absolute dating, where separate scientific principles are used.
Rock
The study of rock formations makes up a large percentage of the principles of geology. This includes looking at the 3 major types of rock: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic. Geologists use the rock cycle to compare these forms of rock with other types of formations, such as dried magma.
Unconsolidated Material
Many geologists concern themselves not with rock, but with materials which have not yet lithified. These materials usually come from deposits made more recently. The study of these materials is sometimes qualified as Quaternary geology, as it pertains to materials formed in the last Quaternary period.
Plate Tectonics
One of geology's major principles concerns the branch which studies plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is the term used to describe the ever-moving sheets of rock on which the continents rest. These plates shift every so often, which--along with the interesting way in which the various continents seem to fit together--led scientists to the theory of Pangaea, or the world as one-single continent. This aspect of geology also crosses over into the study of earthquakes.
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