The Student’s Elements of Geology
By SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART., F.R.S.
AUTHOR OF
“THE PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY,” “THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN,” ETC.
WITH MORE THAN 600 ILLUSTRATIONS ON WOOD.
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS
1878
CONTENTS.
Chapter I—ON THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OFROCKS.
Geology defined. — Successive Formation of the Earth’s Crust.— Classification of Rocks according to their Origin and Age. —Aqueous Rocks. — Their Stratification and imbedded Fossils. —Volcanic Rocks, with and without Cones and Craters. — Plutonic Rocks, andtheir Relation to the Volcanic. — Metamorphic Rocks, and their probableOrigin. — The term Primitive, why erroneously applied to the CrystallineFormations. — Leading Division of the Work.
Chapter II—AQUEOUS ROCKS—THEIRCOMPOSITION AND FORMS OF STRATIFICATION.
Mineral Composition of Strata. — Siliceous Rocks. — Argillaceous.— Calcareous. — Gypsum. — Forms of Stratification. —Original Horizontality. — Thinning out. — Diagonal Arrangement.— Ripple-mark.
Chapter III—ARRANGEMENT OF FOSSILS INSTRATA—FRESH-WATER AND MARINE.
Successive Deposition indicated by Fossils. — Limestones formed of Coralsand Shells. — Proofs of gradual Increase of Strata derived from Fossils.— Serpula attached to Spatangus. — Wood bored by Teredina. —Tripoli formed of Infusoria. — Chalk derived principally from OrganicBodies. — Distinction of Fresh-water from Marine Formations. —Genera of Fresh-water and Land Shells. — Rules for recognising MarineTestacea. — Gyrogonite and Chara. — Fresh-water Fishes. —Alternation of Marine and Fresh-water Deposits. — Lym-Fiord.
Chapter IV—CONSOLIDATION OF STRATA ANDPETRIFACTION OF FOSSILS.
Chemical and Mechanical Deposits. — Cementing together of Particles.— Hardening by Exposure to Air. — Concretionary Nodules. —Consolidating Effects of Pressure. — Mineralization of Organic Remains.— Impressions and Casts: how formed. — Fossil Wood. —Goppert’s Experiments. — Precipitation of Stony Matter most rapidwhere Putrefaction is going on. — Sources of Lime and Silex in Solution.
Chapter V—ELEVATION OF STRATA ABOVE THESEA.—HORIZONTAL AND INCLINED STRATIFICATION.
Why the Position of Marine Strata, above the Level of the Sea, should bereferred to the rising up of the Land, not to the going down of the Sea.— Strata of Deep-sea and Shallow-water Origin alternate. — AlsoMarine and Fresh-water Beds and old Land Surfaces. — Vertical, inclined,and folded Strata. — Anticlinal and Synclinal Curves. — Theories toexplain Lateral Movements. — Creeps in Coal-mines. — Dip andStrike. — Structure of the Jura. — Various Forms of Outcrop.— Synclinal Strata forming Ridges. — Connection of Fracture andFlexure of Rocks. — Inverted Strata. — Faults described. —Superficial Signs of the same obliterated by Denudation. — Great Faultsthe Result of repeated Movements. — Arrangement and Direction of parallelFolds of Strata. — Unconformability. — Overlapping Strata.