Chemistry Quote by Reinout Willem van Bemmelen
“Experiments in geology are far more difficult than in physics and chemistry because of the greater size of the objects, commonly outside our laboratories, up to the earth itself, and also because of the fact that the geologic time scale exceeds the human time scale by a million and more times. This difference in time allows only direct observations of the actual geologic processes, the mind having to imagine what could possibly have happened in the past.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Geology and the Earth, 1955
Geology is harder than lab sciences because its subjects are massive, often inaccessible, and span times far beyond human experience, forcing reliance on inference rather than direct observation.
In simple terms: Geology deals with huge, slow processes we can’t see directly.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and use indirect evidence.
Themes
science
geology
methodology
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
educational
scientific
When to use this quote
- fieldwork
- educational curricula
- policy decisions
- public communication
Key Concepts
scale
time
observation
inference
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve models of deep-time processes?
- What tools help bridge the time-scale gap?
A Different Perspective
Direct observation is impossible for many geological phenomena.
![“[The] subjective [historical] element in geologic studies accounts for two characteristic types that can be distinguished among geologists: one considering geology as a creative art, the other regarding geology as an exact science.” quote by Reinout Willem van Bemmelen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f59/reinout-willem-van-bemmelen-44_accounts_the-subjective-historical-element-in-geo_534299.jpg)
