Every rock is a tangible trace of the earth's past. The Story of the
Earth in 25 Rocks tells the fascinating stories behind the discoveries
that shook the foundations of geology. In twenty-five chapters--each
about a particular rock, outcrop, or geologic phenomenon--Donald R.
Prothero recounts the scientific detective work that shaped our
understanding of geology, from the unearthing of exemplary specimens to
tectonic shifts in how we view the inner workings of our planet.
Prothero follows in the footsteps of the scientists who asked--and
answered--geology's biggest questions: How do we know how old the earth
is? What happened to the supercontinent Pangea? How did ocean rocks end
up at the top of Mount Everest? What can we learn about our planet from
meteorites and moon rocks? He answers these questions through expertly
chosen case studies, such as Pliny the Younger's firsthand account of
the eruption of Vesuvius; the granite outcrops that led a Scottish
scientist to theorize that the landscapes he witnessed were far older
than Noah's Flood; the salt and gypsum deposits under the Mediterranean
Sea that indicate that it was once a desert; and how trying to date the
age of meteorites revealed the dangers of lead poisoning. Each of these
breakthroughs filled in a piece of the greater puzzle that is the earth,
with scientific discoveries dovetailing with each other to offer an
increasingly coherent image of the geologic past. Summarizing a wealth
of information in an entertaining, approachable style, The Story of the
Earth in 25 Rocks is essential reading for the armchair geologist, the
rock hound, and all who are curious about the earth beneath their feet.
