The Last Billion Years : A Geologic History of Tennessee / Don W. Byerly.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Byerly, Don W., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Geology--Tennessee.

Geology.

Sequence stratigraphy.

Geology, Stratigraphic.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (185 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Knoxville, Tennessee : The University of Tennessee Press, [2013]

Summary:

Tennessee's geologic history has evolved in myriad ways since its initial formation more than a billion years ago, settling into its current place on the North American supercontinent between 300 and 250 million years ago. Throughout that long span of "deep time," Tennessee's landscape morphed into its present form. The Last Billion Years: A Geologic History of Tennessee is the first general overview in more than thirty years to interpret the state's geological record. With minimal jargon, numerous illustrations and photographs, and a glossary of scientific terms, this volume provides the tools necessary for readers with little or no background in the subject to learn about the geologic formation of Tennessee, making it an excellent resource for high school students, college students, and interested general readers. Yet, because of the depth of its scholarship, the book is also an invaluable reference for professional geologists. Recognizing that every reader is familiar with the roles of wind, water, gravity, and organisms in their everyday environment, author Don Byerly employs the Earth Systems Science approach, showing how the five interacting parts of the Earth--the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere--have worked together for eons to generate the rock compositions that make up Tennessee's geologic past. All regions of the state are covered. Featuring a unique time chart that illustrates the state's geologic history from east to west, The Last Billion Years shows that while the geologic aspects of the state's three grand divisions are related in many ways, each division has a distinctly different background. The organization of the book further enhances its usability, allowing the reader to see and compare what was happening contemporaneously across the state during the key sequences of its geologic history. Written in a clear and engaging style, The Last Billion Years will have broad appeal to students, lay readers, and professionals.

Contents:

Cover Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Illustrations

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chronological Outline of Tennessee Geology

1. The Geologic Setting of Tennessee

2. A Dynamic Planet

3. Building a Record: Earth Materials and Processes

4. Geologic Time

5. Giants of Tennessee Geology

6. Supercontinents, Continents, and Terranes

7. The Record

8. Deepest Time in Tennessee

9. Sauk Sequence

10. Tippecanoe Sequence

11. Kaskaskia Sequence

12. Absaroka Sequence

13. Alleghanian Orogeny

14. Breakup of Pangea

15. The Last 250 Million Years

16. Natural Resources

Afterword

Glossary

Bibliography

Index Generated by AI.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Part of the metadata in this record was created by AI, based on the text of the resource.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic book.

ISBN:

9781621901402

OCLC:

1441721204