Abstract
Fractal geometry has rehabilitated a scientific field hitherto little explored by researchers, which is the study of natural or artificial irregular objects and structures, which have long been considered mathematical monstrosities. The study of these objects and structures using classical geometrical approaches and usual Euclidian geometry tools cannot be effectively done due to their complex characteristics. To overcome this issue, the concept of fractal geometry coined by Benoî t Mandelbrot has been used immensely and applied successfully to several scientific fields of study, particularly in characterizing complex geological events and processes. The present article reviews and summarizes the recent available scientific research papers that deal with the application of the fractal geometry approach in Geosciences. The investigation of the available literature permits the delineation of a total of seven principal topics related to Geosciences including fracture networks, the mining industry, properties of rocks and materials, hydrology and drainage networks, geothermal gradient and heat flow, earthquake and volcanic activities, as well as the study of remote sensing images. Several methodologies and tools for studying the different geological events and processes are proposed by researchers and provide important insights and the possibility of integrating information and quantifying geological events measured at different spatial scales.
Keywords: Drainage Networks, Earthquakes, Fractal Dimension, Mineral Exploration, Rock Properties.