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Review Summary: Excellent beginner book for geology. |
Date: 2006-01-19 |
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Details: This book covers general geology and the fundamentals of earth processes and paleontology. From earthquakes to evolution, this book gives at least a superficial and fundamental view of each major topic. The images and diagrams are by far the most impressive part of this book. Full color diagrams, photos and drawings help to illustrate practically every page.
Chapter 1: historical theories in geology as well as the basics of geology from the rock cycle to geologic time.
Chapter 2: minerals, rock properties and types of rocks.
Chapter 3: basic scientific organization of life and fossils.
Chapter 4: environment and its relationship with life.
Chapter 5: sedimentary rocks, soils & environments including glaciers, lakes, deserts, rivers and the ocean.
Chapter 6: geologic time, stratigraphy basics and dating methods.
Chapter 7: evolution basics, concepts of extinction, evolutionary trends.
Chapter 8: plate tectonics - evidence, consequences and general mechanisms.
Chapter 9: orogenesis (mountain building) - processes, introduction to structural geology.
Chapter 10: introduction to geochemistry - chemical cycles, isotopes, atmospheric trends related to weathering rates, climate-related isotopes and mineralogy.
Chapter 11 - Chapter 20 each deal with a major phase in geologic time from the creation of the planet to the movement of the plates to the great ice ages and finally to the modern era.
The CD, while helpful, essentially contains the same information as the book. I personally did not find it any more or less helpful than the book itself. |
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Review Summary: As a text book, it's decent! |
Date: 2005-11-03 |
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Details: Earth System History, Second Edition was my textbook for Geology 1001, and to my surprise I could actually read it without falling asleep. This is not to say that it is a page turner, but the pictures are interesting and Stanley skips a lot of the cheesy textbook speak. I'm not sure I would buy this book if I wasn't required to, but if geology is your thing- it would be great. |
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Review Summary: It is wonderfull ! |
Date: 2000-03-20 |
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Details: Everybody that is interested in historical geology and paleontology must have this book. It is clear with a lot of informations, has beautifull pictures and a fantastic CD ROM. One of the best I bought last year ! |
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