Paleosols: Their Recognition and Interpretation

V. Paul Wright

ISBN 10: 0632013362 / ISBN 13: 9780632013364

Published by Blackwell Scientific, 1986

About this Item

Cloth hardcover, xiv + 315 pages, b&w illustrations and maps in text, NOT ex-library. A blank sticker on the front endpaper covering owner's initials. Book shows light wear, remains clean and bright with unmarked text, free of stamps, firmly bound with a leaned spine; untanned, free of age-spotting and foxing. Worn dust jacket (areas of heavy scuffing to edges, sunning on the spine and along the edges). -- A comprehensive exploration of ancient soils, or paleosols, and their critical role in interpreting the Earth's geological past. This foundational work delves into the processes of soil formation and preservation over geological time scales, offering a detailed guide to identifying fossilized soils within the rock record. The authors meticulously examine the structures, horizons, and features of paleosols, providing insights into the ancient environments, climates, and ecosystems they represent. The book addresses the complexities of diagenesis - the chemical, physical, and biological changes that occur in soils after burial - offering readers a framework for distinguishing between modern soils and their ancient counterparts. Through rich case studies and numerous illustrations, Paleosols highlights the significance of buried soils as markers of past climatic conditions, tectonic settings, and surface processes. The text serves as a critical resource for geologists, paleontologists, and environmental scientists seeking to reconstruct past terrestrial ecosystems, assess sedimentological conditions, and interpret the evolution of landscapes through time. The study explores paleosols as dynamic records of the Earth's surface, detailing how ancient soil horizons, root traces, mineral compositions, and fossilized organic matter offer invaluable clues about prehistoric environmental changes. The book provides essential methodologies for identifying paleosols within sedimentary sequences, shedding light on weathering processes, erosion, and the interaction between soils and sedimentation. A milestone in the study of ancient soils, this book continues to be a vital reference for understanding the geological history written in the world's landscapes.

Seller Inventory # 009580

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Paleosols: Their Recognition and Interpretation
• Publisher: Blackwell Scientific
• Publication Date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0632013362
• ISBN 13: 9780632013364
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

This book contains nine selected reviews and case studies on palaeopedology, including the geological history of soils, time resolution in alluvial stratigraphy, and Quaternary pedogenesis. Case studies illustrating the various approaches to paleosols and their uses in archaeology, stratigraphy, sedimentology and basin analysis are also included.