economic geology

American  

noun

1. the branch of geology dealing with the location and exploitation of industrial materials obtained from the earth.

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economic geology British  

noun

1. the study of how geological deposits can be used as economic resources

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Etymology

Origin of economic geology

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Daniel Weru Ichang'i, a retired economic geology professor at the University of Nairobi, said Kenya had a long way to go, especially in gathering reliable data on its resources.

From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025

That spending has already enabled hundreds of survey flights, and it is opening a golden age for economic geology.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 1, 2023

The crater, which is in the country's Free State Province, has been known for over 100 years, according to Dr. Matthew Huber, senior lecturer in economic geology at the University of the Free State.

From Fox News • Jun. 18, 2019

In the past century, according to the Texas bureau of economic geology, the land disappeared at an average rate of 12 ft. a year.

From Time Magazine Archive

The many volumes of testimony which have accumulated during famous apex trials cover almost every phase of geology, and are important primary sources for the student of economic geology.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)