1. 1 Solution of geological problems-are mathematical methods
necessary? A question which is often asked is whether it is necessary
for geologists to know and to use mathematics in the practise of their
science. There is no simple answer to this question, and it is true that
many geologists have had successful careers without ever needing to get
involved in anything other than simple mathematics, and all the
indications are that this is likely to continue into the future.
However, in many branches of the subject the trend has been towards
using a numerical approach for the solution of suitable problems. The
extent to which this occurs depends on the nature of the area being
studied; thus, in structural geology, which is con- cerned in its
simplest aspects with the geometrical relationships between various
features, there are many problems which are easily solved. More recently
the use of analytical methods has allowed the solution of more-difficult
problems. In another area, geochemistry, two things have happened. On
the theoretical side there has been a greater integration with physical
chemistry, which itself is a highly mathematical subject; and on the
practical side there is the need to analyse and interpret the vast
quantities of data which modem instrumentation produces. Within geology
the application of numerical methods has been given various names, so we
have numerical geology, geo- mathematics, geostatistics and
geosimulation.