Historical Geology presents a balanced overview of the geological and biological history of Earth as a continuum of interrelated events that reflect the underlying principles and processes that have shaped our planet. Students are taught the basic geologic principles as well as how scientists apply these principles to unravel Earth's history. Coverage includes the historical development of these basic principles and processes as well as their importance in deciphering Earth history.
Three major themes – time, evolutionary theory, and plate tectonics – are woven together throughout the book to help students link essential material and enhance their understanding of historical geology. The Sixth Edition has been thoroughly updated to include the formation of the Earth-Moon system, information about the evolution of populations as a whole, and coverage of climate change throughout the text, placing an emphasis on what we don't know within the historical geology field as compared to what we do know.
1. The Dynamic and Evolving Earth.
2. Minerals and Rocks.
3. Plate Tectonics - A Unifying Theory.
4. Geologic Time - Concepts and Principles.
5. Rocks, Fossils, and Time - Making Sense of the Geologic Record.
6. Sedimentary Rocks - The Archives of Earth History.
7. Evolution - The Theory and Its Supporting Evidence.
8. Precambrian Earth and Life History - The Archean Eon.
9. Precambrian Earth and Life History - The Proterozoic Eon.
10. Early Paleozoic Earth History.
,etc.