The Precambrian Earth

This book provides a complete Phanerozoic story of palaeogeography, using new and detailed full-colour maps, to link surface and deep-Earth processes.

Principles of Precambrian Geologyis an update to the 1991 book, Precambrian Geology: The Dynamic Evolution of the Continental Crust, by the same author. The new edition covers the same topics in a more concise and accessible format and is replete with explanatory figures, tables, and illustrations. The book serves as a modern comprehensive statement on the Earth's Precambrian crust, covering the main aspects of distribution, lithiostratigraphy, age, and petrogenesis of Precambrian rocks by continent within the context of the Earth's evolving continental crust. Principles of Precambrian Geology provides a suitable framework for assessing various Earth dynamic and biospheric hypotheses, including the modern plate tectonic paradigm and the Gaian hypothesis. Despite the concise format, the new edition provides extensive updated references to support the information presented. It is designed to serve the needs of student, teacher, explorationist and general student of the continental crust. Updated to provide more concise accessible information Extensive illustrations, tabulations, and maps Provides a framework for assessing recent hypothesis on Earth dynamics Covers main aspects of distribution, lithostratigraphy, age, and protogenesis of Precambrian rocks

The main goal of this book is to provide a modern comprehensive statement on the Earth's Precambrian crust. It uses geographic and tectonic location, lithostratigraphy, geochronology, and petrogenesis as a basis for considering Precambrian coastal evolution--including the role of plate tectonics. Detailed consideration is given to the endogenic and exogenic processes which formed the continental crust and also to its subsequent secular evolution across Precambrian time**An essential reference volume for every Precambrian geologist.

1. The Early Earth. -- 2. Generation of Continental Crust. -- 3. Tectonism and Mantle Plumes through Time. -- 4. Precambrian Volcanism: an independent Variable through Time. -- 5. Evolution of the Hydrosphere and Atmosphere. -- 6. Evolution of Life and Precambrian Bio-Geology. -- 7. Sedimentation through Time. -- 8. Sequence Stratigraphy and the Precambrian. -- 9. SynthesisThe early earth / editor, D.R. Nelson. Earth's formation and first billion years / D.R. Nelson. The early Precambrian stratigraphic record of large extraterrestrial impacts / B.M. Simonson, G.R. Byerly and D.R. Lowe. Strategies for finding the record of early Precambrian impact events / D.H. Abbott and J.T. Hagstrum -- Generation of continental crust / editors, D.R. Nelson and W.U. Mueller. Isua enigmas : illusive tectonic, sedimentary, volcanic and organic features of the> 3.7 Ga Isua Greenstone Belt, southwest Greenland / J.S. Myers. Geochemical diversity in volcanic rocks of the> 3.7 Ga Isua Greenstone Belt, south ...

Though it encompasses the majority of the Earth’s history, much about Precambrian time still remains unknown to us. With its climate extremes and unstable surfaces, Precambrian Earth hardly resembled the planet we see today. Yet for all its differences, it made the existence of future generations possible. This volume helps unlock the mysteries of prehistory by considering available geologic evidence while providing a deep dive into the finesses of geochronology.