Principles of Stratigraphy

Principles of Stratigraphy reafferms the vital importance of stratigraphy to the earth sciences, and introduces the undergraduate to its key elements in a lively and interesting fashion.

• 
  
• First recent text devoted to stratigraphic principles and applications.
  
• Contains details of the latest stratigraphic techniques.
  
• Includes numerous case studies and real-world examples.

An Instructor manual CD-ROM for this title is available. Please contact our Higher Education team at HigherEducation@wiley.com for more information.

1. Introduction.

Part I: Basics.

2. Weathering.

3. Sediments And Sedimentary Rocks.

4. Major Environmental Complexes And Their Recognition.

Part II: Tracing Environments In Space And Time.

5. The Vertical Dimension.

6. The Horizontal Dimension.

7. The Time Dimension.

8. Basin Analysis.

9. Stratigraphic Systems.

Part III: Interpreting Geologic History.

10. Tectonics.

11. Sea-Level Changes.

12. Climate.

13. Biology.

14. Stratigraphic Problem Times And Places.

15. Extraterrestrial Stratigraphy.

Appendices.

Glossary.

References.

Index.

"In brief, it is a concise, beautifully illustrated...and clearly written source that certainly enriches the market...Brookfield succeeds in transporting not only his fascination, dedication and long-ranging experience with the topic and the sharp knife of scientific thinking, but also the necessary broad, almost interdiscplinary view that helps to successfully solve the complex problems with stratigraphic work poses." Journal of Soils and Sediments, November 2005

"...the book will be an interesting and useful guide for students to provide a foundation for future study and help towards a better understanding of the subject." Geology Today, January 2005

Michael E. Brookfield has taught stratigraphy, paleobiology, and sedimentology at Guelph University for 30 years. His main research interest is in integrated analyses of sedimentary basins based on field studies. He has worked on Western Canadian and Central Asian orogenic belts, recent and ancient glacial and desert deposits, ancient limestones and their paleocommunities. Principles of Stratigraphy reaffirms the vital importance of stratigraphy to the earth sciences, and introduces the undergraduate to its key elements in a lively and interesting fashion.

In Part I the author outlines key concepts including the foundations of sedimentology and sedimentary environments. Part II elucidates the basic principles of stratigraphic analysis, while Part III shows how stratigraphy is used in understanding sedimentary basin evolution, the interplay between tectonics and sedimentation, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, paleoclimatology, and the geologic history of other planets. There is also a chapter devoted to “problem” periods in earth history, where both the strengths and limitations of stratigraphic methods are illustrated.