Menard begins with the leading hypotheses (such as that the earth expands) and the supporting evidence for each. He traces the crucial work of the 1960s year by year as researchers debated hypotheses in correspondence and at frequent meetings. Throughout the book Professor Menard considers the implications of his story for the sociology of science and the goals of scientific research. Originally published in 1986. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This important volume reviews the status of investigations aimed at deciphering the geologic, biogeographic, and archaeological records for the Quaternary Era--the last million years of geologic time-for the area of continental United States. Over eighty Quaternary scientists have contributed to the fifty-five chapters divided into four main parts. Part 1 treats the areal geology, with emphasis on the stratigraphy of the glaciated areas east of the Rocky Mountains, unglaciated eastern and central United States, and western United States. Part 2 deals with biogeography: phytogeography and palynology, animal geography and evolution. Part 3 deals with archaeology prehistory in the northeastern states, southeastern states, plains, desert west, and Pacific Coast including Alaska. Part 4 covers many diverse Quaternary studies on--the continental shelves, isotope geochemistry, paleopedology, the geochemistry of some lake sediments, paleohydrology, glaciers and climate, volcanic-ash chronology, paleomagnetism, neo-tectonics, dendrochronology, and theoretical paleoclimatology. Originally published in 1965. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This edition reviews the results of Apollos 11, 12, 14, and 15. Included are approximately sixty new pages of text and forty new photographs and pictures. Thomas A. Mutch has written this book for students of lunar geology and scientists in diverse fields related to astrogeology as well as for the interested layman. Originally published in 1973. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

In revising his now classic work on the geology of North America, Philip B. King has devoted attention both to the new concepts of global tectonics and to new facts obtained from fieldwork in recent years. From its overview of the natural history of continents, to the sections describing the characteristics and history of each region, this remains a fundamental text on continental geology. Originally published in 1977. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Menard begins with the leading hypotheses (such as that the earth expands) and the supporting evidence for each. He traces the crucial work of the 1960s year by year as researchers debated hypotheses in correspondence and at frequent meetings. Throughout the book Professor Menard considers the implications of his story for the sociology of science and the goals of scientific research.

Originally published in 1986.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

The Cretaceous tectonics of the South American Andes region is the subject of this monograph written by contributors in the field of geosciences worldwide. The theme is not only of interest from an academic point of view given the vast array of tectonic processes which governed the evolution of the Andes towards the end of the Mesozoic. It is also because of the economic importance conferred on this portion of the Earth's crust by the hydrocarbon, uranium and other metallic and non-metallic ore resources contained in its sedimentary and eruptive units.

A knowledge of structural geology is fundamental to understanding the processes by which the earth's crust has evolved. It is a subject of fundamental importance to students of geology, experienced field geologists and academic researchers as well as to petroleum and mining engineers. In contrast to many structural textbooks which dwell upon geometrical descriptions of geological structures, this book emphasises mechanical principles and the way in which they can be used to understand how and why a wide range of geological structures develop. Structures on all scales are considered but the emphasis of the book is on those that can be seen on the scale of hand specimen or outcrop. Drawing on their considerable teaching experience the authors present a coherent and lucid analysis of geological structures which will be welcomed by a wide variety of earth scientists.

Seven hundred million years of time go whizzing by in this beautifully illustrated account of Florida's geologic history. The story centers on the long and intimate relationship between Florida and her enveloping seas, beginning with wandering continents, continuing through the 'carbonate factory' in the sea that produced much of the volume of the Florida Peninsula, and ending with the story of sand grains on Florida beaches hundreds of miles from their points of origin. For those curious about their natural surroundings, Albert Hine's book will surely open a new window and a new appreciation for the complexity and beauty of nature in Florida."-Orrin Pilkey, coauthor of Global Climate Change: A Primer The saga of Florida's geological development started approximately 700 million years ago. It began as the state's basement rocks migrated nearly 12,600 kilometers from their position within a supercontinent at the Earth's South Pole to their present location north of the equator, participating in the assembly and disassembly of one of Earth's greatest supercontinents, Pangea. In this complete geologic history of the Sunshine State, Albert Hine takes the reader on a journey that begins with the breaking apart of Pangea and ends with the emergence of south Florida and the Keys; explaining the shape and form of the state as we know it today. Geologic History of Florida chronicles the creation of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the western Atlantic Ocean, and other major events in Florida's geologic past. It looks back 160 million years, to a time when the ancient igneous and metamorphic basement rocks were covered by a large sedimentary carbonate platform nearly 3 miles thick, known as the Florida Platform. Today, Florida still rests upon this larger geologic feature, fifty percent of which is submerged. Consequently, the geologic story of the state includes what lies beneath the seafloor as much as it involves the land surface. Writing in a clear and accessible manner, Hine discusses the geologic changes of the Florida Platform, from dissolution tectonics, which formed great underwater caverns and sinkholes, to the plate collision with Cuba. Hine explains geological phenomenon like the influx of quartz-rich sand from the southern Appalachian Mountains that made Florida's white-sand beaches a destination for tourists from around the world. He examines the state's phosphate-rich deposits, which account for thirty percent of the world's phosphate production, and other hot-button issues such as oil drilling and climate change. With a glossary of essential terms at the end of each chapter, Geologic History of Florida will be an invaluable resource for geologists, students of Earth history, and anyone interested in how the Sunshine State physically came to be.

Rocks, more than anything else, underpin our lives. They make up the solid structure of the Earth and of other rocky planets, and are present at the cores of gas giant planets. We live on the rocky surface of the planet, grow our food on weathered debris derived from rocks, and we obtain nearly all of the raw materials with which we found our civilization from rocks. From the Earth's crust to building bricks, rocks contain our sense of planetary history, and are a guide to our future. In this Very Short Introduction Jan Zalasiewicz looks at the nature and variety of rocks, and the processes by which they are formed. Starting from the origin of rocks and their key role in the formation of the Earth, he considers what we know about the deep rocks of the mantle and core, and what rocks can tell us about the evolution of the Earth, and looks at those found in outer space and on other planets. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Geoarchaeology is the application of geoscience to the study of archaeological deposits and the archaeological record. Employing techniques from pedology, geomorphology, sedimentology, geochronology, and stratigraphy, geoarchaeologists investigate and interpret sediments, soils and landforms at the focal points of archaeological research.

Edited by Rolfe D. Mandel and with contributions by John Albanese, Joe Allen Artz, E. Arthur Bettis III, C. Reid Ferring, Vance T. Holliday, David W. May, and Mandel, this volume traces the history of all major projects, researchers, theoretical developments, and sites contributing to our geoarchaeological knowledge of North America's Great Plains. The book provides a historical overview and explores theoretical questions that confront geoarchaeologists working in the Great Plains, where North American geoarchaeology emerged as a discipline.

The theory of plate tectonics transformed earth science. The hypothesis that the earth's outermost layers consist of mostly rigid plates that move over an inner surface helped describe the growth of new seafloor, confirm continental drift, and explain why earthquakes and volcanoes occur in some places and not others. Lynn R. Sykes played a key role in the birth of plate tectonics, conducting revelatory research on earthquakes. In this book, he gives an invaluable insider's perspective on the theory's development and its implications. Sykes combines lucid explanation of how plate tectonics revolutionized geology with unparalleled personal reflections. He entered the field when it was on the cusp of radical discoveries. Studying the distribution and mechanisms of earthquakes, Sykes pioneered the identification of seismic gaps-regions that have not ruptured in great earthquakes for a long time-and methods to estimate the possibility of quake recurrence. He recounts the various phases of his career, including his antinuclear activism, and the stories of colleagues around the world who took part in changing the paradigm. Sykes delves into the controversies over earthquake prediction and their importance, especially in the wake of the giant 2011 Japanese earthquake and the accompanying Fukushima disaster. He highlights geology's lessons for nuclear safety, explaining why historic earthquake patterns are crucial to understanding the risks to power plants. Plate Tectonics and Great Earthquakes is the story of a scientist witnessing a revolution and playing an essential role in making it.

Mit dem auf den folgenden Blattern begonnenen Werke, welches die technische Entwicklung des Bergbaus und des Huttenwesens zu schildern bestimmt ist, beabsichtigt der Verfasser weniger, eine bei dem heute wieder sehr regen Interesse an geschichtlichen forschungen im Gebiete der Technik vielleicht fuhlbar gewordene Lucke zu fullen, als vielmehr, soweit dies uberhaupt ein einzelner vermag, die bisher noch wie ein Haufwerk zusammenhangloser Steine verstreuten, oft in der Hand zerbroeckelnden Tatsachen durch ein geistiges Band in gegen- seitigen Konnex zu bringen. Wie Altertums- und Voelkerkunde unentbehrliche Hilfs- wissenschaften der Weltgeschichte geworden sind, so muss sich auch die Geschichte der Bergbaukunst zur Betriebsgeschichte von Gruben und Bergbaurevieren verhalten, und erst dann wird sich dies e zu ihrem letzten und hoechsten Zwecke, zur Beurteilung ver- lassener Grubenfelder und zur Wiederaufnahme alten Bergbaus die Hand zu bieten, entwickelt haben, wenn ihr die Geschichte der Berg- baukunst zur Seite steht. Denn erst dann vermag man aus den alten Gruben und deren Resten die scharfsten Schlusse zu ziehen, und nur nach genauer Kenntnis des Werdeganges unserer heu t i gen Te c h n i koennen k sich verlassene Gruben als chancenreich empfehlen, selbst solche, uber die jede historische UEberlieferung schweigt.

The Holocene (11.5 ka BP onwards), directly linked to the evolution of modern society, encompasses the increase and impacts of the human species world-wide, including by and large striking changeover towards living in the present. The Holocene climate is also responsible for expansion/ migration/decline of the human cultures. Because of this, a period termed as Anthropocene (age of man) is also proposed as the latest part of this epoch since the recent human impacts have been found on the Earth and such impacts are unquestionably of global implication for our future. This book contains seventeen invaluable manuscripts submitted by the authors from diverse countries. While most of them are related to the climatic events and environmental dynamics during the Holocene, two chapters focus on the palaeoseismology and human migration/anatomy.

The Earth that sustains us today was born out of a few remarkable, near-catastrophic revolutions, started by biological innovations and marked by global environmental consequences. The revolutions have certain features in common, such as an increase in the complexity, energy utilization, and information processing capabilities of life. This book describes these revolutions, showing the fundamental interdependence of the evolution of life and its non-living environment. We would not exist unless these upheavals had led eventually to 'successful' outcomes - meaning that after each one, at length, a new stable world emerged. The current planet-reshaping activities of our species may be the start of another great Earth system revolution, but there is no guarantee that this one will be successful. This book explains what a successful transition through it might look like, if we are wise enough to steer such a course. This book places humanity in context as part of the Earth system, using a new scientific synthesis to illustrate our debt to the deep past and our potential for the future.

The youth of the ocean floors (0- .3Ma) verses the age of plate tectonics (2-3 Ma) suggests strongly that plate tectonics is cyclic. Densified silicate liquid(Ls) at about 290km depth suggests that it could be the ingredient that lightens the outer core as well as an active ingredient in its activities along with lower mantle phases high density magnesium provoskite (MgPv), calcium perovskite (CaPv), magnesiumwustite (Mw), iron(Ir) and iron liquid(Lm) plus isobarically and isothermally invariant liquid phases. Unstable convective contacts among these phases at all levels produce heat as they tend toward stable equilibrium. This heat expands against the earth's mantle and even causes the inner core to melt with 5cc\g. Eventually, the core-mantle boundary fails along lines and / or points to allow for the exit of densified silicate liquid. This liquid reacts with the lower mantle to produce unique liquids FOZO for oceanic island basalts and C-Component for the ridge and rise basalts ofthe Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. It is thought that these ejected liquids react to form hot solid plumes of low viscosity that ascend to 290 km where they melt on decompression to basalt that ascends further to create oceanic crust. Sea-floor spreading followed by subduction to the earth's core where the cycle ends to begin... again and again. A hypothetical ternary system is used to illustrate the cycle from beginning to end. Experimental evidence indicates that the core-mantle boundary may be as simple as a quaternary reaction: MgPv + CaPv +Mw = Ls + Lm, where Ls probably contains some Fe203.

The Valles Caldera consists of a twelve-mile-wide collapsed volcanic crater and more than ten postcollapse volcanic domes in New Mexico's Jemez Mountains. For over a century, it was safeguarded within the 89,000-acre Baca Ranch. In the year 2000, Congress passed the Valles Caldera Preservation Act, creating the Valles Caldera Trust to purchase the ranch and create a nine-member board of trustees responsible for the protection and development of the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
With special permission, qualified geologists interested in volcanic processes and hydrothermal systems have been allowed to conduct research on the preserve. One of those volcanologists, Fraser Goff, collaborated with the Valles Caldera Trust to provide an accessible scientific overview of the caldera's geologic wonders.
Presented in two parts, Valles Caldera first offers a summary of significant geologic events that have taken place in the Valles Caldera area. Then Goff presents the geology, volcanology, and geothermal characteristics of the Caldera and the Jemez volcanic field. Geologic terms and names unfamiliar to all but professional geologists are defined in a summarizing glossary.

How much has human history been influenced by the earth and its processes? This volume in the Science 101 series describes how both slow changes and rapid, violent, ones have impacted the development of civilizations throughout history. Slow changes include variations in climate, progressive development of types of tools and sources of energy, and changes in the types of food that people consume. Violent changes include volcanic eruptions such as the one at Toba 75,000 years ago, which may have caused diversification of people into different races, and the eruption of Santorini in 1640 BC, which may have destroyed Minoan civilization. Other disasters are Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004. Earth Science and Human History 101 describes basic principles of geology and shows how the earth affected history and is affecting present events. The volume has four sections: Processes in the atmosphere, oceans, and rivers Plate tectonics The conflict between the evidence for evolution during the long history of the earth and the beliefs of creationists Resources and the environment The volume includes a glossary, numerous illustrations, and a bibliography of works useful for further research.

The intriguing theory of a land bridge linking Siberia and Alaska during the coldest pulsations of the Ice Ages had been much debated since the idea was first proposed in 1589. But proof of the land bridge-now named Beringia after eighteenth-century Danish explorer Vitus Bering-eluded scientists until an inquiring geologist named Dave Hopkins emerged from rural New England and set himself to the task of solving the mystery. This compelling blend of science, biography, and history follows the life story of the eclectic Hopkins as he solves this mystery-and creates an international stir that solidified his place in history. An account that is both thrilling and accessible, "The Last Giant of Beringia" is popular science writing at its best.

One of the most influential, most controversial books in science, the classic statement for continental drift. Full 1966 translation. 64 illus.