The Story of Earth & Life - A Southern African Perspective on a 4.6-Billion-Year Journey (Paperback)

Southern Africa is without equal in terms of geology, a treasure trove of valuable minerals with a geological history dating back some 3 600 million years. In addition, the evolution of plants and animals, especially mammals and dinosaurs, is well preserved in the region, which also has among the best records of the origin of modern man.

The story of earth and life provides an insight into this remarkable history – how southern Africa's mineral deposits were formed, how its life evolved and how its landscape was shaped. Along the way readers will be enthralled by accounts of the Big Bang that marked the beginning of time and matter, by drifting and colliding continents, folding and fracturing rocks, meteors colliding with the Earth, volcanic eruptions, and the start of life. Other topics include why South Africa is so rich in minerals, how glacial deposits came to be found in the Karoo, why dinosaurs became extinct, how mammals developed from reptiles, and how closely humans are related to the apes.

The answers to many such questions can be found in this title. Anyone interested in the landscape and ecosystems in which we live will be intrigued by this title.

General

Imprint:	Struik Publishers
Country of origin:	South Africa
Release date:	October 2005
First published:	September 2006
Editors:	Terence McCarthy • Bruce Rubidge
Dimensions:	240 x 172 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	333
ISBN-13:	978-1-77007-148-3
Categories:	Books > Earth & environment > General Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > General Books > Varsity Textbooks Books > Academic & Education > Varsity Textbooks > Biology Books > Academic & Education > Varsity Textbooks > Geography Books > Academic & Education > Varsity Textbooks > Language & Literature Books > Academic & Education > Wits University > Biology Books > Academic & Education > Wits University > Language & Literature Books > Health, Home & Family > Nature & Travel Promotion Books > Promotion > Struik > Earth Sciences Books > Promotion > Struik > Natural History Books > Promotion > Green Friday > Earth Sciences Books > Promotion > Green Friday > Natural History
LSN:	1-77007-148-2
Barcode:	9781770071483

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Review This Product

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 | Review by: Eugene Griessel

A stunning tour de force, lucidly and succinctly describing the geological,paleontological and archaeological history of the Southern African continent as seen in the light of current scientific thought. Beautifully illustrated and written in a style that would not daunt the complete neophyte in the difficult concepts being explored. A book that deserves a place on any and every South African bookshelf - perhaps any bookshelf in the world, for the microcosm it describes is largely applicable to the entire planet. If you want to know where and how the land under our feet came from - and even where it's likely to be going, this book is for you.

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