Stephen Marshak is Professor of Geology and Head of the Department of Geology at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University, an M.S. from the University of Arizona, and a B.A.
from Cornell University. He has served as Chair of the Division of Structural Geology and Tectonics of the Geological
Society of America. Dr. Marshak has written numerous research articles on topics in structural geology and tectonics,
and has authored or co-authored three other books: Basic Methods of Structural Geology; Earth Structure: An Introduction
to Structural Geology and Tectonics; and Essentials of Geology.
Summary
Earth: Portrait of a Planet revolutionized the study of geology by integrating traditional geological concepts
with the most recent theoretical advances in geology, including theories of plate tectonics and earth systems science.
Adopted at over 300 schools worldwide, this innovative text has quickly become the best-selling introductory text
in the field.
Retaining the core strengths of the First and Second Editions, the Third Edition has been meticulously revised,
adding engaging new material and learning tools. Additionally, the Third Edition features the most effective and
current multimedia tools available for instructors and students.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
Prelude: And Just What Is Geology? 3
Pt. I Our Island in Space
Ch. 1 Cosmology and the Birth of Earth 15
Ch. 2 Journey to the Center of the Earth 35
Ch. 3 Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas 51
Ch. 4 The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics 77
Pt. II Earth Materials
Ch. 5 Patterns in Nature: Minerals 109
Interlude A: Rock Groups 129
Ch. 6 Up from the Inferno: Magnia and Igneous Rocks 137
Ch. 7 A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks 163
Ch. 8 Change in the Solid State: Metamorphic Rocks 203
Interlude B: The Rock Cycle 227
Pt. III Tectonic Activity of a Dynamic Planet
Ch. 9 The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions 237
Ch. 10 A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes 269
Interlude C: Seeing Inside the Earth 308
Ch. 11 Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building 319
Pt. IV History Before History
Interlude D: Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution 352
Ch. 12 Deep Time: How Old Is Old? 365
Ch. 13 A Biography of Earth 395
Pt. V Earth Resources
Ch. 14 Squeezing Power from a Stone: Energy Resources 427
Ch. 15 Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources 453
Pt. VI Processes and Problems at the Earth's Surface
Interlude E: Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle 472
Ch. 16 Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements 481
Ch. 17 Streams and Floods: The Geology of Running Water 507
Ch. 18 Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts 545
Ch. 19 A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater 581
Ch. 20 An Envelope of Gas: Earth's Atmosphere and Climate 611
Ch. 21 Dry Regions: The Geology of Deserts 645
Ch. 22 Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages 667
Ch. 23 Global Change in the Earth System 707
Metric Conversion Chart 736
App. A Scientific Background: Matter and Energy
App. B Flow Charts for Identifying Minerals
Glossary
Credits
Index
