Geology is the study of Earth including its structure, the materials of which it is composed and the processes that shape it. Geology is also concerned with the history of Earth and its life forms, the application of geologic knowledge to the search for natural resources, and understanding how humans interact with our physical environment. It is the study of rocks, minerals and water; of fossils, shorelines and mountains; of earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides. Although geology incorporates elements of chemistry, biology and physics it puts them together in a way that provides a unique framework for understanding planet earth.