The Geosphere

In this part of the book, we examine the solid Earth, the Geosphere. We begin by looking at the great diversity of chemical substances — minerals — that make up the Geosphere. Then we look at the mixtures of minerals — rocks — that are found in the Earth’s crust, and learn how they are recycled over geologic time, the next topic. Then, we examine the tectonic system – the dynamic processes that move plates around and create new rocks from old. Finally, we take a look at tectonic settings, and how they have produced materials that humans have used over recorded history.