Geology is the study of the Earth’s physical substance and structures. It provides complete information about it, including its history, and the forces which act on them.
Natural resources are materials which have developed over thousands of years, due to the fact that the Earth’s natural forces kept acting continuously on it. Natural resources are not found so easily, as they are buried deep within the earth. Also, even if they are found, there are a few prerequisites. There should be enough quantities of the resource present in that particular area. And that it is possible to extract them profitably.
Geology provides the solution to this problem. Geological tools provide the information about the place where the resources can be found, the quantities in which it is present, and the depth at which it is located. Thus, with Geology, the scantily found resources are discovered. The tools provide in depth information on the profitability and safety of extracting the resources.
Geology helps in safeguarding the nature when these resources are extracted. It ensures that the extraction does not happen on any land which is of economic or environmental importance e.g. fertile farmland or nature parks. Moreover, it looks after the fact that the extraction activity should not result in untoward natural circumstances like floods, erosion, landslides, or any damage to flora and fauna. Finally, it oversees that the extraction methods used are sustainable, and do not damage the environment in anyway.
The world is moving towards much greater environmental protection. Humans have realized that the unscientific exploitation of nature & its resources is harmful. Thus, Geology is an incredibly important tool. It helps to get the natural resources required by mankind, while protecting our environment in the process. It should be used as extensively and widely as possible.
References:
Hrasna, M. “The Basic Concepts of Environmental Geology and Its Role in the Geoenvironment Management”. http://www.geologicacarpathica.com. Geologica Carpathica, n.d. Web. 03 Oct 2019.