Our world is made of rock. Although much of the Earth’s surface is covered by vegetation, concrete or water, if one digs down far enough solid rock will always be found. Those who live in a landscape where rock outcrops are obvious will have wondered about the kind of rocks they are looking at and how they came to be where they are now.Graham Park’s introductory book has swiftly established itself as a key resource for those looking for a straightforward explanation of what geology tells us about the world. Many objects of great beauty and which excite our curiosity, such as crystals or fossils, are to be found by examining rocks. In particular fossils, whilst interesting in themselves, tell us from their context in geological time of biological evolution and these clues give an insight into the origins of life on earth.Copiously illustrated this book is intended for those whose interest in geology has been awakened, perhaps by media coverage of earthquakes or of dinosaurs, and want to know more. It has proved an ideal primer for those considering the study of earth sciences more formally. Technical terms are kept to a minimum and are explained in a glossary.
Author(s): Graham Park
Edition: 3rd
Publisher: Dunedin Academic Press
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 144
Acknowledgements vi
List of tables and illustrations vii
Sourced illustrations ix
Preface: A world of rock x
1 Crystals, minerals and gemstones 1
2 Volcanoes and melted rock 9
3 Shaping the land 21
4 Mud, sand and other deposits 34
5 Moving continents and making mountains 42
6 Earthquakes and faults 55
7 Squeezing and stretching – rock deformation 65
8 Geological time and the age of the Earth 71
9 Fossils – a history of life 77
10 Turning the pages – Earth history 91
11 Geology and industry 105
Glossary 114
Further Reading 134
