GEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS IN THE WORKS OF IBN SINA (AVICENNA, 980–1037)

Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 980–1037) is widely recognized as a prominent philosopher and physician; however, his contributions to the early development of geological thought remain insufficiently explored in modern scientific literature. This article aims to analyze Ibn Sina’s geological concepts as presented primarily in his seminal work Kitab al-Shifa (The Book of Healing) and to assess their relevance to the foundations of modern geology. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of historical sources and contemporary scholarly interpretations focusing on rock formation, stratification, fossil interpretation, and Earth-shaping processes. Ibn Sina classified rocks according to their modes of formation, distinguishing between materials formed by water and those formed by fire. This classification closely parallels the modern division of sedimentary and igneous rocks and demonstrates his understanding of natural processes involved in rock genesis. He also recognized the layered structure of rocks and the relative age relationship between strata, anticipating the principle of superposition that later became fundamental in stratigraphy. Furthermore, Ibn Sina correctly interpreted marine fossils found in mountainous regions as evidence of ancient seas, rejecting mystical explanations and emphasizing natural causes. A key aspect of Ibn Sina’s geological thought is his emphasis on gradual natural processes operating over vast periods of time. His explanations of mountain formation through sedimentation, lithification, erosion, earthquakes, and groundwater circulation reflect an early understanding of uniformitarian principles and Earth system dynamics. Although his ideas did not directly influence the emergence of modern geology in Europe due to historical and cultural barriers, they represent a significant intellectual contribution to the history of Earth sciences. The results of this study suggest that Ibn Sina should be regarded as an important precursor to modern geology, whose interdisciplinary and observation-based approach contributed to the rational interpretation of geological phenomena centuries before geology became an independent scientific discipline.