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The study of fossils, minerals, and gems has played crucial roles in increasing our knowledge about the Earth, the changes the planet has gone through, and the species that have inhabited it. This volume introduces the fascinating disciplines of geology, paleontology, and mineralogy, and how they reveal secrets of the Earth's history. Coverage includes: a systematic treatment of Earth history, rock types, marine fossils, terrestrial fossils, crystals, gems, and precious metals that provide insights into Earth's character; the most current data available on such topics as global tectonics and faunal extinctions, including a wealth of information about the demise of dinosaurs; new technologies in detecting and preserving rocks and minerals; and the effects of erosion and climate changes.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO FOSSILS AND MINERALS an introduction to fossils and minerals SEEKING CLUES TO THE EARTH’S PAST REVISED EDITION Jon erickson Foreword by Donald R. Coates, Ph.D. AN INTRODUCTION TO FOSSILS AND MINERALS Seeking Clues to the Earth’s Past, Revised Edition Copyright © 2000, 1992 by Jon Erickson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File, Inc. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Erickson, Jon, 1948– An introduction to fossils and minerals: seeking clues to the earth’s past.—Rev. ed./by Jon Erickson; foreword by Donald Coates. p. cm.—(The living earth) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8160-4236-5 (cloth) 1. Fossils. 2. Minerals. 3. Geology. I.Title. QE711.2.E75 2000 560–dc21 00-037203 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions or sales promotions. Please contact our Special Sales Department at 212/967-8800 or 800/322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text design by Cathy Rincon Cover design by Nora Wertz Illustrations by Jeremy Eagle and Dale Dyer, © Facts On File Printed in the United States of America MP Hermitage 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 This book is printed on acid-free paper. CONTENTS Tables Acknowledgments Foreword Introduction vii ix xi xiii 1 THE EARTH’S HISTORY: UNDERSTANDING OUR PLANET’S PAST The Precambrian Era ■ The Paleozoic Era ■ The Mesozoic Era ■ The Cenozoic Era ■ The Pleistocene Ice Age 1 2 CLUES TO THE PAST: THE PRINCIPLES OF PALEONTOLOGY Keys to the History of Life ■ Evidence for Evolution ■ Mass Extinctions ■ Geologic Age Dating ■ The Geologic Time Scale 24 3 ROCK TYPES: THE ROCK-FORMING PROCESS Igneous Rocks ■ Sedimentary Rocks ■ Metamorphic Rocks 50 4 FOSSIL FORMATION: THE PRESERVATION OF PAST LIFE The Fossil Family Tree ■ The Sedimentary Environment Fossil Preservation ■ Tracks,Trails, and Footprints 75 ■ 5 MARINE FOSSILS: creatures preserved from the sea Protistids ■ Sponges ■ Coelenterates ■ Bryozoans ■ Brachiopods Mollusks ■ Annelids ■ Arthropods ■ Echinoderms ■ Vertebrates ■ 100 6 TERRESTRIAL FOSSILS: creatures preserved from the LAND Land Plants ■ Amphibians ■ Reptiles ■ Dinosaurs ■ Birds ■ Mammals 124 7 CRYSTALS AND MINERALS: BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF ROCKS Crystals ■ Identification of Minerals ■ The Rock-Forming Minerals ■ Ore Deposits 147 8 GEMS AND PRECIOUS METALS: MINERALS OF GREAT VALUE Quartz Gems ■ Transparent Gems ■ Opaque Gems ■ Diamonds ■ Gold and Silver ■ Precious Metals and Rare Earths 171 9 th