Rocks

A Very Short Introduction

Jan Zalasiewicz (Senior Lecturer in Geology, Leicester University)

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English

Oxford University Press
22 December 2016

Mathematics & Sciences; Soil science, sedimentology; Historical geology; Geochemistry

Series: Very Short Introductions

Rocks, more than anything else, underpin our lives.

They make up the solid structure of the Earth and of other rocky planets, and are present at the cores of gas giant planets. We live on the rocky surface of the planet, grow our food on weathered debris derived from rocks, and we obtain nearly all of the raw materials with which we found our civilization from rocks.

From the Earth's crust to building bricks, rocks contain our sense of planetary history, and are a guide to our future.

In this Very Short Introduction Jan Zalasiewicz

looks at the nature and variety of rocks, and the processes by which they are formed. Starting from the origin of rocks and their key role in the formation of the Earth, he considers what we know about the deep rocks of the mantle and core, and what rocks can tell us about the evolution of the Earth, and looks at those found in outer space and on other planets.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

By: Jan Zalasiewicz (Senior Lecturer in Geology Leicester University)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 173mm, Width: 111mm, Spine: 9mm
Weight: 124g
ISBN: 9780198725190
ISBN 10: 0198725191
Series: Very Short Introductions
Pages: 152
Publication Date: 22 December 2016
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dr Jan Zalasiewicz is Professor of Palaeobiology at the University of Leicester, having previously worked at the British Geological Survey. A field geologist, palaeontologist and stratigrapher, he teaches various aspects of geology and Earth history to undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is a researcher into fossil ecosystems and environments across over half a billion years of geological time. He has published over a hundred papers in scientific journals and is the author of several books for OUP, including The Earth After Us (2008), The Planet in a Pebble (2012) and, with co-author Mark Williams, The Goldilocks Planet (2012) and Ocean Worlds (2014).

Reviews for Rocks: A Very Short Introduction

This is a thorough and succinct account, accessible to all who would like a concise introduction on a wide and highly researched topic -- rocks... Zalasiewicz is a great storyteller who captures your imagination as concepts are explained using straightforward prose. * Amy-Jo Miles, Geoscientist *