And they are called geoscientists

Who geoscientists are?

Geoscientists study the nature, composition and structure of the earth to increase scientific knowledge, trace materials and minerals, and advise on the extraction of minerals, environmental protection and rehabilitation of land after mining. They may specialize in the fields and exploration, geochemistry, mineralogy, geomorphology, hydrogeology, mathematical geology, mine geology, paleontologist, and structural geology.

Geoscientists in the minerals industry may explore in the areas of earth to determine its structure and the types of rocks that exist, study rock core and sampling theory, undertake ground magnetic, examine specimens, and advise on geological suitability for structures. Geoscientists also contribute to environment assessment, sometimes they prepare mathematical models and geological reports to describe processes, and supervise the work of field officers.

Working Environment

Geoscientists can work often in a field examining geological formation collected by the remote sensing instruments. They often perform seismic studies generated by an earthquake to determine the earthquake’s location and intensity. They also study fossil remains of animal and plant life or experiment with the flow of water and oil through rocks. Some of them spend most of the time in the office. However, many allocate their working time working in both office and field. In the field they work in warm or cold climates and in all kinds of weather, and in research, they may perform laborious task such as digging and scooping minerals. Geologists frequently travel to remote locations by helicopter or by any land vehicles. Many exploration geologists work in foreign countries, and sometimes in remote areas under difficult condition. Moreover, fieldwork often requires working long and irregular hours.

Job Employment and Outlook

Employment growth is expected to go faster than the average for all occupations. In fact, geoscientists acquired about 33,600 jobs in 2008, while another 8,100 were employed as hydrologists. Many more individuals acquired jobs in faculty positions in colleges and universities. Employment in management, scientific, and technical consulting services must continue to grow as more geoscientists work as consultants. Hence, many geoscientists monitor the quality of the environment, checking for problems such as deteriorating coastal environments and soil and water contamination.