Physical Geology Today

Damian Nance is Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences at Ohio University. Damian has twice received the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teacher Award, has been twice nominated for the University's Outstanding Graduate Faculty Award, and has toured as a distinguished lecturer for the Atlantic Provinces Intercollegiate Council for the Sciences. He has also worked for the Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratories, Exxon Production Research Company, and Cominco America. In addition to being the author of over 150 papers, Dr. Nance is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, former Editor of GSA Today, upcoming Editor of Lithosphere, and Associate Editor of Gondwana Research and Geoscience Frontiers.Brendan Murphy is Professor of Earth Sciences at St. Francis Xavier University. Brendan is an engaged teacher who has supervised more than 50 undergraduate theses and still manages to maintain an active research program that has allowed him to publish over 165 papers. He has been honored for his service to the discipline with the Geologic Society of America's Distinguished Service Award and with the Geologic Association of Canada's J. Willis Ambrose Medal. Few geoscientists can match Dr. Murphy's record of excellence in professional endeavor, dedication to education, and record of service to the profession.Dr. Nance and Dr. Murphy have collaborated together for 28 years, publishing their first joint paper in 1987. Since then, they have coauthored over 100 papers and two books.

• PART I. THE SOLID EARTH; 1. FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN GEOLOGY; 2. PLATE TECTONICS; 3. MINERALS; 4. ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF IGNEOUS ROCKS; 5. WEATHERING AND SOILS; 6. SEDIMENTATION AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS; 7. METAMORPHISM AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS; PART II. EVOLUTION OF THE SOLID EARTH; 8. GEOLOGIC TIME; 9. PLATES AND PLATE BOUNDARIES; 10. DEFORMATION AND MOUNTAIN BUILDING; 11. EARTHQUAKES AND EARTH'S INTERIOR; PART III. SCULPTING THE SOLID EARTH; 12. MASS WASTING; 13. RUNNING WATER; 14. GROUNDWATER; 15. GLACIERS AND GLACIATION; 16. DESERTS AND WINDS; 17. COASTLINES AND COASTAL PROCESSES; PART IV. EARTH'S RESOURCES; 18. MINERAL DEPOSITS AND INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS; 19. ENERGY RESOURCES; PART V. EARTH AND BEYOND; 20. PHYSICAL GEOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE; 21. THE PLANETS

The authors present an excellent, progressive history of the development of plate tectonics that students should be able to follow. It is, quite frankly, the best presentation of this topic that I have read in an introductory textbook.