James S. Monroe

Proporciona a los estudiantes una comprensión básica de la Geología moderna. Se hace un especial énfasis, con numerosos ejemplos, de cómo la Geología se relaciona con el Medio Ambiente e interacciona, de forma inevitable, con los seres vivos, entre ellos los seres humanos y su sociedad. Los conocimientos adquiridos sobre Geología Física se complementan proporcionando a los estudiantes una visión general de la historia geológica y biológica de la Tierra, no como un conjunto de hechos enciclopédicos a memorizar sino como una serie de acontecimientos sucesivos que reflejan los acontecimientos geológicos y biológicos fundamentales que han conformado nuestro planeta y la vida sobre él.… (mere)

Historical Geology covers Earth's history from its formation up to the present day. It focuses on the mountain building orogenies, erosion of the oceans, and lifeforms preserved in the fossil record during each period geologic time.

The first several chapters are in effect a review of physical geology. Then the book begins explaining the sequences of sedimentary rock in relation to their deposition following the corresponding orogenies (tectonic collisions resulting in major mountain building episodes). Simply put, mountains form from the collision of continents. Once the orogeny occurs, erosion begins to wear mountains back down to sea level immediately after the mountain is formed. As this happens sediment buries and fossilizes plants and animals living in the deposition environment.

Which brings us to the next major area this book focuses on: fossils and evolutionary theory. I enjoyed learning how to deciphering of sequences of sedimentary rock using geology and paleontology. My recommendation is that anyone interested in fossils should get this textbook.… (mere)