University Of Johannesburg Faculty of Science Department of Geology

Department of Geology

What is Geology?

Geology is the study of the Earth: its origin and history, the rocks and materials of which it is composed, the changes that it has undergone or is experiencing, and the processes that cause these changes. [Medieval Latin geologia, the study of Earthly things: from Greek geo- + Greek -logia]

Geologists study the Earth to better understand how the physical, chemical and biological components of the Earth interact as a system, to find and recover natural materials that may be useful to humans, and to predict how events and processes of the past may influence the future.

The field of Earth Sciences includes physical geology and geophysics; the history of the Earth and stratigraphy; geochemistry; palaeontology; mineralogy and petrology; and environmental, medical, engineering and mining geology.

Why study Geology at UJ?

Southern Africa has a rich geological heritage, with a unique set of diverse geological environments preserved; extraordinary mineral wealth, with some of the world’s largest ore deposits (e.g., gold, platinum, diamonds, chrome, manganese, iron ore, coal, uranium); and a remarkably comprehensive palaeontological record, from the oldest multicellular life to our early human ancestors.

The Department of Geology at UJ is one of the premier Earth Science departments in South Africa, and indeed, the African continent. Academic staff members have diverse backgrounds, with excellent national and international reputations. The UJ Department of Geology is centrally located with respect to the mineral and mining industry in southern Africa, with which it has close ties. UJ student graduates are equipped for many careers in diverse fields and are sought-after in the international mining and minerals industries, research institutes, government and environmental organisations. The UJ Department of Geology offers unique courses and research opportunities to potential students and post-doctoral researchers, including training and research in the geology and exploitation of ferrous mineral deposits, sedimentology of carbonate successions and associated base-metal deposits, coal geology and coal-bed methane, structural and metamorphic geology of orogenic provinces, geochemistry of igneous complexes and their associated ore deposits, and geological studies of southern Africa.