Nature of Earth : An Introduction to Geology

Wherever you live or travel, geology is everywhere. Wouldn't you like to know how to read the rocks and landscape; how to make sense of debates over natural resources; and how to appreciate the ""deep time"" that governs a geologist's sweeping perspective? These 36 half-hour lectures are your initiation into the geological world that lies just outside your door. You'll be introduced to physical geology, the study of Earth's minerals, rocks, soils, and the processes that operate on them through time. No other science deals more practically with the world on which we live, telling us where to dig a well; when to add lime to soil; how gold, oil, and other valuable minerals are formed and where to find them; what kinds of structures are safest in an earthquake zone; and why some active volcanoes are deadlier than others - far deadlier. Your guide on this adventure is Professor John J. Renton, an award-winning educator at West Virginia University, and a widely respected expert on the geology of coal. He is easy to follow, funny, and extremely well organized, with a gift for picking simple analogies that make complicated concepts clear and memorable. Though you may never become a geologist, you'll find yourself drawing on the lessons you've learned in this course whenever you experience a new beach, mountain range, or winding country road. You'll see the world that passes you by differently, understanding it better, and appreciating it more.