Details

<p>Preface to the 1st Edition, vii</p> <p>Preface to the 2nd Edition, viii</p> <p>List of Contributors, ix</p> <p><b>PART 1 INTRODUCTION, 1</b></p> <p>1 Regional Geological History: Why and How?, 3<br /> <i>N. H. Woodcock and R. A. Strachan</i></p> <p>2 Geological Framework of Britain and Ireland, 19<br /> <i>R. E. Holdsworth, N. H. Woodcock and R. A. Strachan</i></p> <p><b>PART 2 THE NORTHERN MARGIN OF THE IAPETUS OCEAN, 41</b></p> <p>3 Early Earth History and Development of the Archaean Crust, 43<br /> <i>R. A. Strachan, C. D. Storey and A. R. Prave</i></p> <p>4 Proterozoic Sedimentation, Orogenesis and Magmatism on the Laurentian Craton (2500–750 Ma), 54<br /> <i>R. A. Strachan, R. E. Holdsworth and A. R. Prave</i></p> <p>5 Middle Neoproterozoic (<750 Ma) to Early Ordovician Sedimentation along the Laurentian Margin of Iapetus, 76<br /> <i>R. A. Strachan, A. R. Prave and R. E. Holdsworth</i></p> <p>6 The Grampian Orogeny: Mid-Ordovician Arc–Continent Collision along the Laurentian Margin of Iapetus, 91<br /> <i>R. A. Strachan</i></p> <p>7 Mid-Ordovician to Silurian Subduction and Collision: Closure of the Iapetus Ocean, 110<br /> <i>R. A. Strachan</i></p> <p><b>PART 3 THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF THE IAPETUS OCEAN, 133</b></p> <p>8 Late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Accretionary History of Eastern Avalonia and Armorica on the Active Margin of Gondwana, 135<br /> <i>R. A. Strachan</i></p> <p>9 The Cambrian and Earliest Ordovician Quiescent Margin of Gondwana, 150<br /> <i>N. H. Woodcock</i></p> <p>10 Ordovician Volcanism and Sedimentation on Eastern Avalonia, 162<br /> <i>N. H. Woodcock</i></p> <p>11 Late Ordovician to Silurian Evolution of Eastern Avalonia during Iapetus Closure, 177<br /> <i>N. H. Woodcock</i></p> <p><b>PART 4 THE END OF THE IAPETUS OCEAN, 193</b></p> <p>12 Early Devonian Sedimentary and Magmatic Interlude after Iapetus Closure, 195<br /> <i>N. H. Woodcock</i></p> <p>13 The Acadian Orogeny and its Mid–Late Devonian Depositional Aftermath, 210<br /> <i>N. H. Woodcock</i></p> <p><b>PART 5 THE VARISCAN CYCLE: CONSOLIDATION OF PANGAEA, 231</b></p> <p>14 Carboniferous Sedimentation and Volcanism on the Laurussian Margin, 233<br /> <i>S. J. Davies, P. D. Guion and P. Gutteridge</i></p> <p>15 The Variscan Orogeny: the Welding of Pangaea, 274<br /> <i>L. N. Warr</i></p> <p><b>PART 6 POST-VARISCAN INTRAPLATE SETTING, 299</b></p> <p>16 Permian to Late Triassic Post-orogenic Collapse and Rifting, Arid Deserts, Evaporating Seas and Mass Extinctions, 301<br /> <i>M. W. Hounslow, T. McKie and A. H. Ruffell</i></p> <p>17 Triassic–Jurassic Boundary and Jurassic: Disintegrating Pangaea, 322<br /> <i>S. P. Hesselbo</i></p> <p>18 Early Cretaceous: Rifting and Sedimentation before the Flood, 347<br /> <i>A. S. Gale</i></p> <p>19 Late Cretaceous to Early Palaeogene Pelagic Deposits: Deposition on Greenhouse Earth, 365<br /> <i>A. S. Gale</i></p> <p><b>PART 7 THE THULEAN PLUME AND ITS AFTERMATH, 385</b></p> <p>20 Palaeogene and Neogene Events: the North Atlantic Plume and Alpine Pulses, 387<br /> <i>A. S. Gale, R. Anderton and R. A. Strachan</i></p> <p>21 The Quaternary: History of an Ice Age, 409<br /> <i>P. L. Gibbard and N. H. Woodcock</i></p> <p>Index, 429</p> <p>Colour plates appear in between pages 214 and 215</p> <p>COMPANION WEBSITE</p> <p>This book is accompanied by a companion website: <a href="http://www.wiley.com/go/woodcock/geologicalhistory">www.wiley.com/go/woodcock/geologicalhistory</a></p> <p>With figures and tables from the book for downloading</p>

<p>“Summing Up:  Recommended.  Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers/faculty.”  (<i>Choice</i>, 1 January 2013)</p>

<b>Nigel Woodcock</b> teaches structural geology and sedimentology in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge. His published research of over 150 papers spans these two fields and regional tectonics, mostly resulting from field work on Palaeozoic rocks in England and Wales.<br />  <br /> <b>Rob Strachan</b> teaches tectonics in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Portsmouth. His published research of over 140 papers mainly results from fieldwork on Precambrian and Lower Palaeozoic rocks in Scotland, Greenland and France.<br />

Britain and Ireland have a remarkably varied geology for so small a fragment of continental crust, with a fine rock record back through three billion years of geological time. This history would have been interesting enough if it had been played out on relatively stable continental crust. However, Britain and Ireland have developed at a tectonic crossroads, on crust once traversed by subduction zones and volcanic arcs, continental rifts and mountain belts. The resulting complexity is instructive, fascinating and perplexing. <p><i>Geological History of Britain and Ireland</i> tells the region’s story at a level accessible to undergraduate geologists, as well as to postgraduates, professionals or informed amateurs. This second edition is fully revised and updated, reflecting our continually developing knowledge of the region's geology.  Full coverage is again given to the rich Precambrian and Early Palaeozoic history, as well as to later events more relevant to hydrocarbon exploration. The book is an essential starting point for more detailed studies of the regional geology.</p>

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