Detailed Table of Contents

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Part I: Earth Materials

Planet Earth: Introduction to Geology 2 Earth Compared with Other Planets 5 Earths
Outermost Layers 10 Earths Internal Structure 13 Major Features of the Continents 15
Major Features of the Ocean Basins 21 The EcosphereA Model of Planet Earth
24 State of the Art: Mapping the Continents from Space 20 State of the Art: Mapping the
Ocean Floor from Space 23 GeoLogic: Meteorites and Earths Interior 26
Geologic Systems: Geologic Systems 30 Direction of Change in Geologic Systems 32
The Hydrologic System 33 The Tectonic System 40 Gravity and Isostasy 48 State of the
Art: Heat Flow Measurements and Plate Tectonics 46 GeoLogic: Earths Systems from
Space 50
Minerals: Matter 54 The Nature of Minerals 59 The Growth and Destruction of Minerals 67
Silicate Minerals 70 Rock-Forming Minerals 71 State of the Art: X-Ray Diffraction and the
Structure of Minerals 60 GeoLogic: Internal Structure of Minerals 78
Igneous Rocks The Nature of Igneous Rocks 82 Textures of Igneous Rocks 85 Types of
Igneous Rocks 88 Extrusive Rock Bodies 94 Intrusive Rock Bodies 102 The Origin and
Differentiation of Magma 106 Igneous Rocks and Plate Tectonics 109 tate of the Art:
Microscopes Reveal Hidden Worlds of Geology 87 GeoLogic: Laccoliths of the Henry
Mountains 112
Sedimentary Rocks: The Nature of Sedimentary Rocks 116 Types of Sedimentary Rocks 118
Sedimentary Structures 125 Sedimentary Systems 129 Stratigraphic Sequences 137
Sedimentary Systems and Plate Tectonics 139 State of the Art: Ocean Drilling Program:
Probing the Deep Blue Sea 140 GeoLogic: Sedimentary Rocks at Dead Horse Point 142
Metamorphic Rocks: The Nature of Metamorphic Rocks 146 Origin of Metamorphic Rocks
148 Types of Metamorphic Rocks 155 Regional Metamorphic Zones 159 Metamorphic
Rocks and Plate Tectonics 161 State of the Art: Rock Metamorphism in the Laboratory 151
GeoLogic: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison 164
Structure of Rock Bodies: Principles of Rock Deformation 168 Geometry of Rock
Structures 171 Joints 172 Faults 173 Folds 178 State of the Art: GeoLogic Maps: Models
of the Earth 179 GeoLogic: The Keystone Thrust 186
Geologic Time: The Discovery of Time 190 Unconformities 192 Relative Ages 195 The
Standard Geologic Column 198 Radiometric Measurements of Time 201 Other Methods to
Measure Numerical Time 207 Calibration of the Geologic Time Scale 209 Deciphering
Geologic History 211 Magnitude of Geologic Time 214 State of the Art: Single Grain Ages
of Earths Oldest Rocks 204 GeoLogic: The Story of the Grand Canyon Revealed in Stone
212

Part II: The Hydrologic System

9. The Global Climate System: Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere 220 Energy and
Motion of the Atmosphere 224 Composition and Structure of the Oceans 230 Energy and
Motion of the Oceans 232 Climate Zones 240 Climate Change 242 State of the Art: Earth
from Space: Satellite Eyes 238
10.
Weathering: Physical Weathering 251 Chemical Weathering 253 Weathering of
Major Rock Types 257 Products of Weathering 260 Climate and Weathering 268 Rates of
Weathering 270 GeoLogic Weathering of the Mexican Pyramids 272
11.
Slope Systems: Factors Influencing Mass Movement 276 Types of Mass Movement
280 State of the Art: Landslide Hazard Maps and GIS 289 GeoLogic: Slope Systems 294
12.
River Systems: Geologic Importance of Running Water 298 Major Characteristics of
River Systems 298 The Dynamics of Stream Flow 302 Equilibrium Gradients in River
Systems 305 Processes of Stream Erosion 309 Processes of Stream Deposition 317 Floods

327 Rivers, Climates, and Plate Tectonics 330 GeoLogic: Russias Lena River Delta 334
13.
Groundwater Systems: Porosity and Permeability 338 The Water Table and Aquifers
340 The Movement of Groundwater 341 Natural and Artificial Discharge 342 Confined
Aquifers 346 Thermal Springs and Geysers 347 Erosion by Groundwater 349 Deposition by
Groundwater 359 Groundwater Resources 362 Alteration of Groundwater Systems 363
State of the Art: Computer Models of Flowing Groundwater 366 GeoLogic: Cave Systems
of Gullin, China 370
14.
Glacier Systems: Glacial Systems 374 Valley Glacier Systems 382 Continental
Glacier Systems 388 Pleistocene Glaciation 398 Records of Pre-Pleistocene Glaciation 411
Causes of Glaciation 412 State of the Art: Mass Spectrometry and Earths Climate 415
GeoLogic: Glaciation in the Sierra Nevada 418
15.
Shoreline Systems: Waves 422 Longshore Drift 425 Erosion Along Coasts 427
Deposition Along Coasts 431 Evolution of Shorelines 434 Reefs 439 Types of Coasts 442
Tides 447 Tsunamis 448 GeoLogic: Tidal Inlet, Eastern Canada 452
16.
Eolian Systems: The Global Eolian System 456 Wind Erosion 458 Transportation of
Sediment by Wind 461 Deposits of Wind-blown Sand 465 Deposits of Wind-blown Dust:
Loess 471 Desertification 474 GeoLogic: Mars:The Eolian Planet 476
Part III: The Tectonic System
17.
Plate Tectonics: Continental Drift 482 Development of the Theory of Plate Tectonics
487 Plate Geography 495 Plate Boundaries 496 Plate Motion 500 Rates of Plate Motion 502
The Driving Mechanisms for Plate Tectonics 503 State of the Art: The Magnetic Fabric of
the Seafloor 504
18.
Seismicity and Earths Interior: Characteristics of Earthquakes 510 Earthquake
Hazards 514 Earthquake Prediction 521 Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics 524 Seismic Waves
as Probes of Earths Interior 526 Seismic Wave Velocity Discontinuities 529 Convection
Inside Earth 531 State of the Art: Radar Interferometry Reveals Earthquake Deformation
519State of the Art: Seismic Tomography of Earths Mantle 533 GeoLogic: Inclined
Seismic Zones 534
19.
Divergent Plate Boundaries: Midoceanic Ridges 538 Structure and Composition of
the Oceanic Lithosphere 548 Origin and Evolution of Oceanic Crust 556 Continental Rifts
562 Plate Movement During the Last 200 Million Years 570 State of the Art: Gravity
Variations Reveal Hidden Continental Rift 569 GeoLogic: Sheeted Dikes of the Oman
Ophiolite
20.
Transform Plate Boundaries: Characteristics of Transform Plate Boundaries 576
Oceanic Transform Plate Boundaries and Fracture Zones 579 Continental Transform Faults
585 Earthquakes at Transform Boundaries 590 Magmatism and Metamorphism at
Transform Plate Boundaries 591 State of the Art: Global Positioning Systems 592
GeoLogic: Transform(ation) of California 594
21.
Convergent Plate Boundaries: Types of Convergent Boundaries 598 Factors
Influencing the Nature of Convergent Boundaries 601 Seismicity at Convergent Boundaries
604 Deformation at Convergent Boundaries 606 Magmatism at Convergent Boundaries
614 Volcanic Eruptions at Convergent Boundaries 618 Metamorphism at Convergent
Boundaries 623 Formation of Continental Crust 626 State of the Art: Magnetic Maps Show
Accreted Terranes 621 GeoLogic: Lau Basin: A Back Arc Basin 630
22.
Hotspots and Mantle Plumes: Hotspots and Mantle Plumes 634 Making Magma in
Mantle Plumes 639 Mantle Plumes Beneath the Ocean Floor 642 Mantle Plumes Beneath
Continents 651 Plumes, Climate Change, and Extinctions 656 State of the Art: X-Ray
Fluorescence Spectrometry 641
23.
Tectonics and Landscapes: Factors Influencing Continental Landscapes 660
Evolution of Shields 664 Stable Platforms 670 Folded Mountain Belts 675 Continental
Rifts 678 Flood Basalts: Plains and Plateaus 680 Magmatic Arcs 684 GeoLogic: Landscape

of Snow Canyon, Utah 686

Part IV: Epilogue
24.
Earths Resources: Mineral Resources 692 Processes That Form Mineral Deposits
693 Energy Resources 700 Plate Tectonics and Mineral Resources 715 Limits to Growth
and Consumption 718 Easter Island, Earth Island 719 State of the Art: Three-Dimensional
Seismic Imaging 711 GeoLogic: The Origin of Coal 722
25.
Other Planets: The Solar System 726 The Inner Solar System 727 The Outer Solar
System 742 Small Bodies of the Solar System: Asteroids and Comets 751 Origin of the
Solar System 753 S tate of the Art: Geologists on Other Worlds: The Apollo Program 733
GeoLogic: Chicxzulub: Smoking Gun? 758
Glossary
Index
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