
PREFACE.
CHAPTER I. ON THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ROCKS.
CHAPTER II. AQUEOUS ROCKS.—THEIR COMPOSITION AND FORMS OF STRATIFICATION.
CHAPTER III. ARRANGEMENT OF FOSSILS IN STRATA.—FRESH-WATER AND MARINE FOSSILS.
CHAPTER IV. CONSOLIDATION OF STRATA AND PETRIFACTION OF FOSSILS.
CHAPTER V. ELEVATION OF STRATA ABOVE THE SEA.—HORIZONTAL AND INCLINED STRATIFICATION.
CHAPTER VI. DENUDATION
CHAPTER VII. JOINT ACTION OF DENUDATION, UPHEAVAL, AND SUBSIDENCE IN REMODELLING THE EARTH’S CRUST.
CHAPTER VIII. CHRONOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS.
CHAPTER IX. CLASSIFICATION OF TERTIARY FORMATIONS.
An accessible guide to the fundamentals of geology, this work was crafted to bridge the gap between dense scientific treatises and the curious beginner. Drawing on the latest discoveries of its time, it walks readers through the basic composition of the Earth, the classification of rocks, and the processes that shape the planet’s crust. Clear explanations are paired with thoughtful illustrations, helping newcomers visualize concepts that might otherwise seem abstract.
Beyond the rocks themselves, the book invites listeners to consider the broader story of Earth’s changing surface and the ancient life it once supported. By emphasizing observation and evidence, it shows how geologists piece together the planet’s history step by step. Ideal for students and anyone eager to grasp the essential principles of earth science without getting lost in excessive theory.
Language
en
Duration
~23 hours (1334K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-02-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1797–1875
A lawyer-turned-geologist, he helped readers imagine an Earth shaped by slow, ordinary forces acting over immense spans of time. His clear, persuasive books changed how people thought about the planet’s past and influenced a young Charles Darwin.
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