--For dummies

Includes index

Studying the earth -- Elements, minerals, and rocks -- One theory to explain it all : plate tectonics -- Superficially speaking : about surface processes -- Long, long ago in this galaxy right here -- The part of tens

"Get a rock-solid grasp on geology ... Whether you're looking to supplement classroom learning or are simply interested in earth sciences, this guide gives you a straightforward introduction to the study of the earth, its materials, and its processes"--Page 4 of cover

Part 1: Studying the earth. -- 1. Rocks for jocks (and everybody else) -- 2. Observing earth through a scientific lens -- 3. From here to eternity: the past, present, and future of geologic thought -- 4. Home sweet home: planet earth -- Part 2: Elements, minerals, and rocks. -- 5. It's elemental, my dear: a very basic chemistry of elements and compounds -- 6. Minerals: the building blocks of rocks -- 7. Recognizing rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic types -- Part 3: One theory to explain it all : plate tectonics. -- 8. Adding up the evidence for plate tectonics -- 9. When crustal plates meet, it's all relative -- 10. Who's driving this thing? Mantle convection and plate movement -- Part 4: Superficially speaking : about surface processes. -- 11. Gravity takes its toll: mass wasting -- 12. Water: above and below ground -- 13. Flowing slowly toward the sea: glaciers -- 14. Blowing in the wind: moving sediments without water -- 15. Catch a wave: the evolution of shorelines -- Part 5: Long, long ago in this galaxy right here. -- 16. Getting a grip on geologic time -- 17. A record of life in the rocks -- 18. Time before time began: the Precambrian -- 19. Teeming with life: the Paleozoic era -- 20. It should have been called Mesozoic Park: when dinosaurs dominated -- 21. The Cenozoic era: mammals take over -- 22. And then there were none: major extinction events in earth's history -- Part 6: The part of tens. -- 23. Ten (plus) ways humans act as geologic agents -- 24. Ten geologic hazards