This unique insight into the three Apollo missions (15, 16 and 17) answers all these questions and much more. Using the actual transcripts of what the astronauts said to each other whilst carrying out their duties, and numerous photographs taken at each step of the exploration, this book provides a graphic illustration of what can arguably be described as Mankinds greatest feat of exploration.

    Presents fifty hands-on activities to introduce the science of geology and explain the formation and history of the earth.

    Some fifty years later, however, continental drift was heralded as a major scientific breakthrough and today it is accepted as scientific fact. Why did American geologists reject so adamantly an idea that is now considered a cornerstone of the discipline? And why were their European colleagues receptive to it so much earlier? This book, based on extensive archival research on three continents, provides important new answers while giving the first detailed account of the American geological community in the first half of the century. Challenging previous historical work on this episode, Naomi Oreskes shows that continental drift was not rejected for the lack of a causal mechanism, but because it seemed to conflict with the basic standards of practice in American geology. This account provides a compelling look at how scientific ideas are made and unmade.

    This amazing true story culminates in Fipke's staking of the Etaki diamond claim in Canada's Northwest Territories.

    But, in 1980, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Luis Alvarez and his son, Walter, proposed a radical answer: 65 million years ago an asteroid or comet as big as Mt. Everest slammed into the earth, raising a dust cloud vast enough to cause mass extinction. A revolutionary idea that challenged the ice-age extinction theory, the asteroid-impact theory was scorned and derided by the science community. But after years of bitter debate and intense research, an astonishing discovery was made-an immense impact crater in the Yucatán Peninsula that was identified as Ground Zero. The Alvarezes had their proof. A dramatic scientific detective story, Night Comes to the Cretaceous is a brilliant example of science at work-in the trenches, complete with passionate struggles and occasional victories.

    Readers will learn to understand the physical and mechanical properties of soils; determine parameters from soil testing to characterize soil properties, soil strength, and soil deformations; and to apply the principles of Soil Mechanics to analyze and design simple geotechnical systems. Critical state soil mechanics is included. The CD contains multimedia interactive animations of the essential concepts of soil mechanics and foundations, interactive visualization of mathematical models (e.g. consolidation, critical state models, etc.), virtual laboratories (students can conduct soil tests, interpret the results and apply the results to practical situations using 3-D simulated apparatus; these labs are independent of time and location, the students conduct all the procedures as if he/she were in a real laboratory, and can explore "what-if" situations), digital videos, a glossary, notation, quizzes, notepads, interactive problem solving, spreadsheet links and computer program utilities.

    The Historical Atlas of the Pacific Northwest showcases more than 320 original maps, many never before published. Here are the maps of explorers such as Cook, Vancouver, Bodega y Quadra, Mackenzie, Thompson, and Lewis and Clark. Representing four centuries of discovery and exploration, this unique reference book is a must-have for anyone interested in Northwest history.

    Through its thematic organization around the melting of the Earth, it provides a comprehensive source of information on the multidisciplinary influences of volcanic eruptions--both the destructive and the beneficial aspects. The world's experts on volcanology have been consulted in the planning of this volume. Over 80 authoritative, concise cross-referenced entries elucidate the major concepts and influences of volcanoes on past and present-day processes.

    But when storms threaten, high-ticket beachfront construction invariably takes precedence over coastal environmental concerns--we rescue the buildings, not the beaches. As Cornelia Dean explains in Against the Tide, this pattern is leading to the rapid destruction of our coast. But her eloquent account also offers sound advice for salvaging the stretches of pristine American shore that remain.The story begins with the tale of the devastating hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, in 1900--the deadliest natural disaster in American history, which killed some six thousand people. Misguided residents constructed a wall to prevent another tragedy, but the barrier ruined the beach and ultimately destroyed the town's booming resort business.From harrowing accounts of natural disasters to lucid ecological explanations of natural coastal processes, from reports of human interference and construction on the shore to clear-eyed elucidation of public policy and conservation interests, this book illustrates in rich detail the conflicting interests, short-term responses, and long-range imperatives that have been the hallmarks of America's love affair with her coast.Intriguing observations about America's beaches, past and present, include discussions of Hurricane Andrew's assault on the Gulf Coast, the 1962 northeaster that ravaged one thousand miles of the Atlantic shore, the beleaguered beaches of New Jersey and North Carolina's rapidly vanishing Outer Banks, and the sand-starved coast of southern California. Dean provides dozens of examples of human attempts to tame the ocean--as well as a wealth of lucid descriptions of the ocean's counterattack. Readers will appreciate Against the Tide's painless course in coastal processes and new perspective on the beach.

    Offers a comprehensive collection of geographic information, including charts, maps, and articles about climate, weather, geology, and human and cultural geography.

    an excelent introduction to the world of volcanoes.

    Yet, most of the earth's diamonds lie deep underground and totally unaccessible to us--if only we knew how to fabricate them! In The Diamond Makers Robert Hazen vividly recounts the very human desire to exceed nature and create a synthetic diamond. Spanning centuries of ground-breaking science, instances of bitter rivalry, cases of outright fraud and self-delusion, Hazen blends drama and science to reveal the extraordinary technological advances and devastating failures of the diamond industry. Along the way, readers will be introduced to the brilliant, often eccentric and controversial, pioneers of high-pressure research who have harnessed crushing pressures and scorching temperatures to transform almost any carbon-rich material, from road tar to peanut butter, into the most prized of all gems. Robert M. Hazen is the author of fifteen books, including the bestseller, Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy, which he wrote with James Trefil. Dr. Hazen has won numerous awards for his research and scientific writing.

    Most of these caves, however, are generally restricted to exploration by trained, experienced cavers, geologists, and biologists.Texas Caves introduces this seldomseen world, providing basic cave geology and biology, a description of the seven show caves that have been opened and developed for public visiting, and information on state speleological parks.The engaging text as well as a hundred full-color and black-and-white photographs reveals the glories of Texas caves, "wild" as well as commercial, showing different types of cave formations, the creatures that live in them, and the people who explore them.Cavings experiences from cave photographer Blair Pittman, cave discoverer Orion Knox, cave developer Jack Burch, and commercial cave manager Jim Brummett bring to life places that house the hidden beauties that lie beneath the surface of Texas.Texas Speleological Association Chair Gill Ediger adds what it means to be a caver and how cavers, cave owners, and the general public are all involved in the conservation of cave resources.Texas Caves offers a deeper understanding of the underground world of caves and an invitation those who wish to explore another dimension of Texas’ natural history.

    In more than 6,250 clear and accessible entries, it covers geology, oceanography, paleontology, mineralogy, volcanology, and planetary science as well as climatology, geochemistry, and petrology. The third edition is fully updated and includes additional coverage of process geomorphology and physical geography, plus more than 50 new line drawings to accompany descriptions of forms and processes. The new edition also features web links accessed via a companion website, featuring additional information that is regularly updated to ensure that it stays fresh. Finally, the book has a revised bibliography and a number of appendices that include a revised geological time scale, stratigraphic units, lunar and Martian time scales, wind-strength scales, and SI units. It is an essential reference for students of geography, geology, and earth sciences and in related disciplines.

    Representing current research priorities, it leaves behind an older--and now outdated--generation of textbooks. The author's aim is to consider the earth in terms of its physical environments, to describe the processes that affect generation, transport and deposition of sediment, and to build up a picture of the stratigraphy generated by these processes. The initial treatment is geomorphological and the general approach is non-mathematical. This will become the introductory textbook of choice in sedimentology and stratigraphy. The first introductory text to relate the units of sedimentology to the larger, stratigraphic picture. Eclipses an older generation of textbooks written before sequence stratrigraphy gave rise to a renaissance in stratigraphy. Covers the full range of sedimentology, from sub-microscopic analysis of grains of sand to the palaeogeographic evolution of whole basins. Largely a non-mathematical approach, within the grasp of students starting a degree course. Explains clearly the technical terms of soft-rock geology.

    Designed for students to have on hand in the laboratory, this manual includes data and photos for all major igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary minerals. Minerals in Thin Section is the perfect supplement for mineralogy, optical mineralogy, and petrography courses. Includes: *Part I: Theoretical Considerations--discussing the interaction of minerals and light, the properties of minerals in thin section, and the most practical aspects of optical mineralogy. *Part II: Identifying Minerals in Thin Section--describing in detail the most common and significant or special minerals (see mineral index), including: name, formula, occurrence, distinguishing features, similar minerals, properties and interference figures, color, form, cleavage, relief, interference colors, extinction and orientation, and twinning. Box 2 (inside back cover) provides a straightforward process users can follow in order to determine a mineral's properties.Contains 34 pages of color photographs, including at least one for each of the 60 minerals described in detail, to illustrate the minerals in thin sections and to help students with mineral identification. *Appendices--containing additional information on: Common Opaque Minerals; Isotropic Minerals Ordered by Refractive Index; Uniaxial Minerals Sorted by Optic Sign and Ordered by Refractive Index; Biaxial Minerals Sorted by Optic Sign and Ordered by Refractive Index; Minerals Ordered by Interference Colors and Sorted by Optic System and Optic Sign; and an Alphabetical List of Minerals and Mineral Properties.

    But how did these places get their names? Who named Copernicus crater? Where did all those names on lunar maps come from, and what stimulated their selection? Ewen Whitaker traces the origins and evolution of the present-day systems for naming lunar features such as craters, mountains, valleys and dark spots. The connections between the prehistoric and historic names, and today's gazetteer are clearly described. Beautiful lunar maps spanning four centuries of progress wonderfully illustrate the unfolding of our ability to map the Moon. Rare, early photographs add to the sense of history. Comprehensive appendices and the bibliography make this delightful book a work of lasting reference and scholarship.

    They can find here hundreds of photographs of beautiful crystals and crystal aggregates, together with a list of classic and new occurrences for each mineral species. Minerals are arranged into chapters according to the mineral system.