A study on the Bellingwe Greenstone Belt, presenting the stratigraphy of the belt, its structure and tectonic setting, the sedimentology of what may be a rift basin, the geochemistry of the freshest Archaean komatiites yet found, and models of the evolution of the region.
Contents: Stratigraphy of the Belingwe Greenstone Belt: Complexity of the tectonic setting; Structure and metamorphism of the Belingwe Greenstone Belt and adjacent granite-gneiss terrain: The tectonic evolution of an Archaean craton; The Mtchinge Group in the West: Andesite, basalts, komatiites and sediments of the Ilokonui, Bend and Koodoovale Formations; Sedimentology of the Brooklands Formation, Zimbabwe: Development of an Archaean greenstone belt in a rapidly rifted graben;

Life has shaped the Earth, and the Earth has moulded the history of life. That history, the co-evolution of our ancestors and their horne, has much to teach us about our place on the planet today. We are part of the fabric of the biosphere. As we change that fabric we would be wise to understand how our horne was built. Our planet is neither a hotel nor a colony. It is not a place which life briefly inhabits during a transient occupation. Instead, it is our horne, designed by the deeds of our ancestors and suited to our own needs. The history of life on Earth is held in the geological record, which is composed of the rocks, water and air that are available for study on the planet's surface. These rocks, the oceans and the atmosphere are not simply stores of information for the excitement of fossil hunters and geochemists, or resources to exploit without thought. Their cre ation and continued existence form an integral part of the development and management of the Earth as the horne of life."

Leaving Eden is a wide-ranging survey of what is arguably the greatest challenge facing humanity today: the preservation of the natural environment. Nisbet discusses the primary physical, chemical, and biological controls on the natural environment, focusing on the complex interplay between atmospheric and terrestrial elements such as the sun, the oceans, and the forests, and is concerned with the effects of human disruption of these natural systems. Integrating discussions of scientific puzzles with problems facing humanity at large, the author addresses issues such as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, deforestation, chlorofluorocarbons, nuclear waste, agricultural subsidies, and population management. The book also offers an extensive discussion of the ways in which the environment can be protected. With its particular emphasis on the interaction of human behavior and nature, this book is suitable not only for individuals interested in environmental studies, geography, economics, and earth science, but for all those concerned with the future of the Earth.