Economic geology

It may be called the scientific study of the Earth's sources of mineral raw materials and the practical application of the acquired knowledge.

The techniques employed by other Earth science disciplines (such as geochemistry, mineralogy, geophysics, petrology, paleontology and structural geology) might all be used to understand, describe and exploit an ore deposit.

Economic geology may be of interest to other professions such as engineers, environmental scientists and conservationists because of the far-reaching impact that extractive industries have on society, the economy and the environment.

Additionally the fixed stock of most mineral commodities is huge (e.g., copper within the Earth's crust given current rates of consumption would last for more than 100 million years.

[citation needed] The study of sedimentology is of prime importance to the delineation of economic reserves of petroleum and coal energy resources.