APetrology
BMineralogy
CLithology
DRockology
Answer:
A. Petrology
Read Explanation:
Petrology: The study of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) and the conditions under which they form. This is the branch of geology that focuses scientifically on the origin, composition, texture, structure, and distribution of rocks.
Mineralogy: This field specializes in the study of minerals, which are the individual crystalline chemical compounds that make up rocks, rather than the rocks themselves.
Lithology: This term refers specifically to the physical character and description of a rock based on visible features (like color, texture, and grain size), often used within a field context, but it is not the overarching branch of geology.
Rockology: This is a fictional term and not a recognized scientific discipline in geology.