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Lithology identification and geology

The physical and compositional characteristics of a rock unit as observed in hand specimen or outcrop, including mineral composition, grain size, texture, color, and sedimentary or igneous structures. Lithology is the fundamental descriptive basis for geological mapping and is distinct from stratigraphy the ordering of rock layers in time . A lithologic log records the sequence of rock types encountered in a drill hole or measured section. Field: petrology. Example: The lithologic log from a petroleum exploration well might record a sequence of limestone, shale, sandstone, and dolomite, with each rock unit described by its grain size, color, fossil content, and cement type.. Related terms: Stratigraphy, Formation, Facies, Outcrop.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.027557+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Lithology mean in geology?
The physical and compositional characteristics of a rock unit as observed in hand specimen or outcrop, including mineral composition, grain size, texture, color, and sedimentary or igneous structures. Lithology is the fundamental descriptive basis for geological mapping and is distinct from stratigraphy the ordering of rock layers in time . A lithologic log records the sequence of rock types encountered in a drill hole or measured section.
What is an example of Lithology?
The lithologic log from a petroleum exploration well might record a sequence of limestone, shale, sandstone, and dolomite, with each rock unit described by its grain size, color, fossil content, and cement type.
Which earth-science field uses the term Lithology?
Lithology is used in petrology.
Which terms are related to Lithology?
Related terms in this reference are Stratigraphy, Formation, Facies, Outcrop.

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