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Historical Geology Evolution of Earth and Life Through Time

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ISBN-10: 0534392873

ISBN-13: 9780534392871

Edition: 4th 2004 (Revised)

Authors: Reed Wicander, James S. Monroe

List price: $165.95
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HISTORICAL GEOLOGY: EVOLUTION OF EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME teaches students basic geologic principles as well as how scientists apply these principles to unravel Earth?s history. Wicander and Monroe present a balanced overview of both the geological and biological history of Earth as a continuum of inter-related events. These events reflect the underlying principles and processes that have shaped our planet. The authors also explain the historical development of these basic principles and processes, and their importance in deciphering Earth history. Three major themes?time, evolutionary theory, and plate tectonics?are woven together throughout the book. These themes help students link…    
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Book details

List price: $165.95
Edition: 4th
Copyright year: 2004
Publisher: Brooks/Cole
Publication date: 7/18/2003
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 448
Size: 8.50" wide x 10.75" long x 0.75" tall
Weight: 2.090
Language: English

Reed Wicander is a geology professor at Central Michigan University, where he teaches Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Invertebrate Paleontology and was previously chair of the department. He obtained his B.A. at San Diego State University and his Ph.D. at UCLA. His main research interests involve various aspects of Paleozoic palynology, specifically the study of acritarchs, on which he has published numerous papers. He is a past president of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists and currently a councilor of the International Federation of Palynological Societies and chair of the Acritarch Subcommission of the Commission Internationale de…    

James S. Monroe is Professor Emeritus of Geology at Central Michigan University, where he taught Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Prehistoric Life, and Stratigraphy and Sedimentology beginning in 1975 and served as chair of the Geology department. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Montana. He has coauthored several textbooks with Reed Wicander and has interests in Cenozoic geology and geologic education. Monroe now lives in Chico, California, where he remains active in geology by teaching courses to a large group of retirees.

The Dynamic and Evolving Earth
Introduction
What Is Geology?
Historical Geology and the Formulation of Theories
Origin of the Universe and the Solar System, and Earth's Place in Them
Interpreting Earth History
Why Is Earth a Dynamic and Evolving Planet?
Organic Evolution and the History of Life
Geologic Time and Uniformitarianism
How Does the Study of Historical Geology Benefit Us?
Summary
Earth Materials: Minerals and Rocks
Introduction
Matter and Its Composition
Minerals--The Building Blocks of Rocks
How Many Minerals Are There?
Rock-Forming Minerals and the Rock Cycle
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Plate Tectonics and the Rock Cycle
Earth Materials and Historical Geology
Summary
Plate Tectonics: A Unifying Theory
Introduction
Early Ideas about Continental Drift
Oil, Plate Tectonics, and Politics
Paleomagnetism and Polar Wandering
How Do Magnetic Reversals Relate to Seafloor Spreading?
Plate Tectonics and Plate Boundaries
What Are Hot Sports and Mantle Plumes?
How Are Plate Movement and Motion Determined?
What Is the Driving Mechanism of Plate Tectonics?
How Are Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building Related?
How Does Plate Tectonics Affect the Distribution of Life?
How Does Plate Tectonics Affect the Distribution of Natural Resources?
Summary
Geologic Time: Concepts and Principles
Introduction
How Has the Concept of Geologic Time and Earth's Age Changed Throughout Human History?
Geologic Time and Climate Change
What Are Relative Dating Methods, and Why Are They Important?
Establishment of Geology as a Science--The Triumph of Uniformitarianism over Neptunism and Catastrophism
Lord Kelvin and a Crisis in Geology
What Are Absolute Dating Methods, and Why Are They Important?
Summary
Rocks, Fossils, and Time--Making Sense of the Geologic Record
Introduction
Stratigraphy
Fossils and Uniformitarianism
Fossilization and Fossils
The Relative Geologic Time Scale
Stratigraphic Terminology
Correlation
Absolute Dates and the Relative Geologic Time Scale
Summary
Sedimentary Rocks--The Archives of Earth History
Introduction
Sedimentary Rock Properties
Determining the Relative Ages of Deformed Sedimentary Rocks
Depositional Environments
Environmental Interpretations and Historical Geology
Paleogeography
Summary
Evolution--The Theory and Its Supporting Evidence
Introduction
Evolution: What Does It Mean?
The Tragic Lysenko Affair
Mendel and the Birth of Genetics
The Modern View of Evolution
What Kinds of Evidence Support Evolutionary Theory?
The Fossil Record and Missing Links
Summary
Precambrian Earth and Life History--The Hadean and Archean
Introduction
What Happened during the Hadean?
Continental Foundations--Shields, Platforms, and Cratons
Archean Plate Tectonics and the Origin of Cratons
The Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
The First Organisms
Submarine Hydrothermal Vents and the Origin of Life
Archean Mineral Resources
Summary
Precambrian Earth and Life History--The Proterozoic Eon
Introduction
Evolution Of Proterozoic Continents
Proterozoic Supercontinents
Ancient Glaciers and Their Deposits
The Evolving Atmosphere
Important Events in Life History
Proterozoic Mineral Resources
BIF: From Mine to Steel Mill
Summary
Early Paleozoic Earth History
Introduction
Continental Architecture: Cratons and Mobile Belts
Paleozoic Paleogeography
Early Paleozoic Evolution of North America
The Sauk Sequence
The Tippecanoe Sequence
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
The Appalachian Mobile Belt and the Taconic Orogeny
Early Paleozoic Mineral Resources
Summary
Late Paleozoic Earth History
Introduction
Late Paleozoic Paleogeography
Late Paleozoic Evolution of North America
The Kaskaskia Sequence
The Canning Basin, Australia--A Devonian Great Barrier Reef
The Absaroka Sequence
History of the Late Paleozoic Mobile Belts
What Role Did Microplates and Terranes Play in the Formation of Pangaea?
Late Paleozoic Mineral Resources
Summary
Paleozoic Life History: Invertebrates
Introduction
What Was the Cambrian Explosion?
The Emergence of a Shelly Fauna
Paleozoic Invertebrate Marine Life
Mass Extinctions and Their Possible Causes
Summary
Paleozoic Life History: Vertebrates and Plants
Introduction
Vertebrate Evolution
Fish
Amphibians--Vertebrates Invade the Land
Evolution of the Reptiles--The Land Is Conquered
Plant Evolution
Palynology: A Link Between Geology and Biology
Summary
Mesozoic Earth History
Introduction
The Breakup of Pangaea
Mesozoic History of North America
Continental Interior
Eastern Coastal Region
Gulf Coastal Region
Western Region
Petrified Forest National Park
What Role Did Accretion of Terranes Play in the Growth of Western North America?
Mesozoic Mineral Resources
Summary
Life of the Mesozoic Era
Introduction
Marine Invertebrates and Phytoplankton
Aquatic and Semiaquatic Vertebrates--Fish and Amphibians
Plants-Primary Producers on Land
The Diversification of Reptiles
Dinosaur Behavior
From Reptiles to Birds
Vertebrates and the Origin of Flight
Origin and Early Evolution of Mammals
Mesozoic Climates and Paleogeography
Mass Extinctions--A Crisis in the History of Life
Summary
Cenozoic Geologic History: The Tertiary Period
Introduction
Cenozoic Plate Tectonics--An Overview
Cenozoic Orogenic Belts
The North American Cordillera
Geologic History of the Teton Range
The Continental Interior
Cenozoic History of the Appalachian Mountains
The Southern and Eastern Continental Margins
Tertiary Mineral Resources
Summary
Cenozoic Geologic History: The Quaternary Period
Introduction
Pleistocene and Holocene Tectonism and Volcanism
Pleistocene Stratigraphy
Supervolcanoes and the Origin of the Yellowstone Caldera
Onset of the Ice Age
Glaciation and Its Effects
What Caused Pleistocene Glaciation?
Quaternary Mineral Resources
Summary
Life of the Cenozoic Era
Introduction
Marine Invertebrates and Phytoplankton
Cenozoic Vegetation and Climate
Cenozoic Birds
The Age of Mammals Begins
Diversification of Placental Mammals
Not All Giant Land Animals Were Dinosaurs
Mammals of the Tertiary Period
Pleistocene Faunas
Intercontinental Migrations
Summary
Primate and Human Evolution
Introduction
What Are Primates?
Prosimians
Anthropoids
Hominids
Footprints at Laetoli
Summary
Epilogue
Metric Conversion Chart
Classification of Organisms
Mineral Identification
Glossary
Answers to Multiple-Choice Review Questions
Credits
Index