Detailed Table of Contents

    Part I: Earth Materials
  1. Planet Earth: Introduction to Geology 2   Earth Compared with Other Planets
    2. 5 Earth’s Outermost Layers 10   Earth’s Internal Structure 13   Major Features of the Continents 15   Major Features of the Ocean Basins 21    The Ecosphere—A 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 Earth’s Interior 26 
  2. 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: Earth’s Systems from Space 50 
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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 Earth’s Oldest Rocks 204  GeoLogic: The Story of the Grand Canyon Revealed in Stone 212


    9. 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: Russia’s 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 Earth’s 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


    17. 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 Earth’s Interior: Characteristics of Earthquakes 510 Earthquake Hazards 514 Earthquake Prediction 521 Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics 524 Seismic Waves as Probes of Earth’s 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 Earth’s 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


    24. Part IV: Epilogue
  24. Earth’s 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
    26. Glossary

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