"To many, the earth's crust is a relic of ancient, unknowable history. But to a geologist, stones are richly illustrated narratives, telling gothic tales of cataclysm and reincarnation. For more than four billion years, in beach sand, granite and garnet schists, the planet has kept a rich and idiosyncratic journal of its past." "In Reading the Rock, geologist Marcia Bjornerud serves as the interpreter of the earth's "autobiography." She takes us on an eye-opening tour of deep time, explaining in crystal-clear language the chronicles of growth and change that lie beneath our feet. Both scientist and storyteller, Bjornerud uses anecdote and metaphor to remind us that our home is a living thing with many lessons to teach."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-226) and index.

Prologue : stone crazy 1. The Tao of Earth 2. Reading rocks : a primer 3. The great and the small

4. Mixing and sorting 5. Innovation and conservation 6. Strength and weakness Epilogue : the once and future Earth.