Precambrian Sedimentary Environments

The motivation for this volume came from the idea that thePrecambrian is the key, both to the present, and to theunderstanding of the Earth as a whole. The Precambrian constitutesabout 85% of Earth's history, and of that, about 3.75 billion yearsof Precambrian time, represented by rocks, are accessible togeoscientists. Ancient atmospheric and environmental conditions canbe traced back to the time when the Earth was only about 250million years old. Precambrian rocks supply almost 75% of importantmineral resources such as Fe, Mn, Au, Pt and Cr. Many of theseelements are associated with sedimentary rocks and some importanthydrocarbon, coal and graphite deposits are also hosted byPrecambrian rocks. This volume is aimed at geoscientists interested in Precambriansedimentary rocks and at students of Earth history. It containsreview articles discussing Precambrian conditions and case studiesfrom Precambrian shields and successions of North and SouthAmerica, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and India. Theintroductory papers, written by experts on Precambrianenvironments, treat comprehensively the application of actualism tothe Precambrian, the evolution and influence of life on thesedimentary rock record, the genesis of Banded Iron Formations, thePrecambrian sulphur cycle and the significance of Precambrianchemical carbonate precipitates. The case studies includedepositional settings and processes in Archean terranes, inPaleoproterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on the lack ofvegetation and weathering, and in late Proterozoic sequences, withsome emphasis on glacial deposits. The contributions demonstratethat Precambrian sedimentary deposits are commonly similar to theirPhanerozoic counterparts in terms of composition, sedimentaryprocesses, and depositional setting, but may differ significantlyas a result of lack of vegetation, climatic and biologicalconstraints, composition and circulation of seawater, and thesecular involvement of continental crust. Contains review articles discussing Precambrian conditions andcase studies from Precambrian shields and successions of North andSouth America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and India. The introductory papers, written by experts on Precambrianenvironments, treat comprehensively the application of actualism tothe Precambrian, the evolution and influence of life on thesedimentary rock record, the genesis of Banded Iron Formations, thePrecambrian sulphur cycle and the significance of Precambrianchemical carbonate precipitates. Detailed case studies include depositional settings andprocesses in Archean terranes, in Paleoproterozoic sequences, withsome emphasis on the lack of vegetation and weathering, and in lateProterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on glacialdeposits. Written for geoscientists interested in Precambrian sedimentaryrocks and students of Earth history. If you are a member of the International Association ofSedimentologists (IAS), for purchasing details, please see:http://www.iasnet.org/publications/details.asp?code=SP33

This is a discount Black and white version. Some images may be unclear, please see BCCampus website for the digital version.This book was born out of a 2014 meeting of earth science educators representing most of the universities and colleges in British Columbia, and nurtured by a widely shared frustration that many students are not thriving in courses because textbooks have become too expensive for them to buy. But the real inspiration comes from a fascination for the spectacular geology of western Canada and the many decades that the author spent exploring this region along with colleagues, students, family, and friends. My goal has been to provide an accessible and comprehensive guide to the important topics of geology, richly illustrated with examples from western Canada. Although this text is intended to complement a typical first-year course in physical geology, its contents could be applied to numerous other related courses.

Sedimentology has neither been adequately popularized nor This book begins with a consideration of the complex end commonly taught as an interdisciplinary subject, and many product of processes and materials, the sedimentary environ workers in the areas of modem environment studies have very ment. It then proceeds to discuss the processes and materials limited knowledge of sedimentology. Practical Sedimentol themselves. The emphasis is on geological interpretations of ogy (henceforth PS) is designed to provide an introduction and ancient deposits, but most discussions are also relevant to review of principles and interpretations related to sedimentary modem sediments and can be used to predict environmental processes, environments, and deposits. Its companion volume, changes. A basic knowledge of geological jargon is antici Analytical Sedimentology (henceforth AS), provides "cook pated for users of this book; we try to define most of the more book recipes" for common analytical procedures dealing with esoteric terms in context, but if there are additional incom sediments, and an introduction to the principles and reference prehensible terms, refer to Bates and Jackson's Glossary of sources for procedures that generally would be performed by Geology (AGI, 1987). specialist consultants or commercial laboratories. Specialist sedimentologists will find in them useful reviews, whereas sci ACKNOWLEDGMENTS entists from other disciplines will find in them concepts and procedures that may contribute to an expanded knowledge of Many chapter drafts ofPS were critically reviewed by Dr. M.

Focusing on the Precambrian in the central part of the Fennoscandian Shield, the book combines the results from modern geological and geophysical research into a detailed petrologic, lithologic, and structural synthesis and interpretation of the Archean and Proterozoic of Finland. It will be of value to anyone interested in the evolution of the shield in particular and in Precambrian geology in general.

The eastern shore of Hudson Bay consists of granitoid rocks of the Archean Superior Province that is largely surrounded by an Early Proterozoic supracrustal fold belt, the Circum-Superior belt. In this bulletin the detailed stratigraphy, paleocurrent patterns and sedimentary environments of the rocks of the graben are described. Mineralization includes occurrences of apatitie in redbeds, stratabound copper, lead-zinc in carbonates, and iron-manganese formation.