Principles of Geology

[Hanrahan 2983]

E D W A R D   N A P I E R , 

 

D O C T O R A T E 

 

O N   T H E   S U B J E C T   O F

 

G E O L O G Y

T H E

P R I N C I P L E S   T H E R E O F

 

 

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P R I N T E D   I N   H E L E N A

 

B Y

 

T H E   N O R T H E R N    

G E O G R A P H I C A L

A C A D E M I C   P R E S S

 

I N 

 

A N N O   D O M I N I   MDCCLXXVII

 

 

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G E O L O G Y,

    Or the study of the earth, is a budding field pioneered by Sir Charles Napier, and now expanded upon by Dr. Edward Napier. It concerns itself with the matters of earth and rock, investigating both the material makeup and design of the earth, as well as the processes by which ‘earth’ comes to be, and the forms that such processes may leave us with. There are many tools by which to investigate these three subjects, but yet still many mysteries and techniques to be discovered.

 

 

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Materials of the Earth

 

As with all systems of measurement and classification, there are subdivisions and trees of metrics. The foundational classification is that of   

 

ROCK

 

A Rock is any naturally occurring mass of mineral or aggregate matter. All materials are composed of grains, held together in various shapes and patterns. What kind of Rock, and How much of it varies on the method of formation. Over time, Rocks change into different forms in a cyclical manner. This is called the Rock Cycle. Rocks are classified twofold - by composition, and by formation. There are three main groups of rocks, as divided by these classifications.

 

IGNEOUS

Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling of magma, and are the newest of all formed rocks. When magma from a volcanic breeches the surface, and cools by air or water, it forms extrusive rock, such as basalt. When magma cools inside the earth, within a cavern or such - it forms intrusive rock, the most common of which is granite.

 

 

SEDIMENTARY

Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation of fragments of earlier rocks, minerals, and organic materials - or by crystalline precipitates, called sedimentation. This process causes sediments (grains, gravels, and pieces of rock) to settle and accumulate. This sedimentary mat then undergoes compaction and cementation. The source of sediments comes from the weathering of earlier rocks by way of erosion in an area, and then transported  - or deposited by natural methods, such as water, wind, or glacial movement. Sedimentary rocks often contain petrified bones, imprints and other unique ainigmata. Most sedimentary rocks are limestone or Sandstone. All sedimentary rocks form due to the actions of gravity, and are formed originally in a horizontal layer, called strata.

 

 

METAMORPHIC

Metamorphic Rocks are formed by any rock type - sedimentary, igneous, or predating metamorphic rock - to different temperatures and pressures to which the original was formed. This is called Metamorphism, a change in form. There are three varieties of metamorphic rock, and all are defined by how the new rocks form. There is magmatic metamorphism - magma heats surrounding rock, warping it and denaturing it into something else. There is pressure metamorphism - when sediments deep underground are driven to metamorphose due to the extreme pressures of the weight of mountains upon them. Then finally, there is a mix - both magma heat and pressure, this is regional metamorphism. Depending on the structure, metamorphic rocks may be divided into two varieties. Textured rocks - with bumps, ridges, or pocks are foliated. All those that are not, and simply smooth are non-foliated. From there, the definitions become more nuanced - Metamorphic rocks are among the most varied and complex type of Rock. There are Schists, Gneisses, Slates, and Phyllites. One of the most Common Metamorphic Rocks is Marble, of which our civilizations have used in great abundance.

 

 

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Processes of the Earth

 

    The Earth, as with any other natural system is prone to change, destruction, formation, reduction, and transformation. Our landscape is marked by actions of the water, wind, ice, fire, and living things. Water erodes and breaks apart even the strongest of rocks, as does wind over millions of years - ice too, shrinks and expands, breaking up the earth - and living things may mark it, bury it, stretch and bust it with roots and mats of dirt and weight. By far the most common, and central to the formation of rocks is 

 

E R O S I O N

 

Erosion is the process by which soil, rock, and minerals are removed from one location, broken down, and transported to another. It is the chief of all surface geological processes, and the one most relevant to our study at the moment. The breakdown process forms sediments which are critical in forming certain types of rocks. The rates of erosion are controlled by the action of geomorphic factors - such as rainfall, wear in rivers, coastal erosion by the sea and wave, glacial grinding, abrasion, landslides and so forth. The steepness of slopes, the speed of the wind and water, and the makeup of the rocks themselves will all factor into how fast something may erode. There is a secondary factor in the movement of materials and earth:

 

 

T E C T O N I C   U P L I F T

 

Although the mechanics by which the Earth protrudes itself is a mystery - and will likely remain so for centuries, the clear results of the action cannot be denied. By some subterranean process, the earth itself rends up, and pushes material up. This process is most commonly found in jagged mountains, and is most likely responsible for the mountains themselves. Several investigations into areas that have experienced uplift has found that rocks - sedimentary veins in particular may be entirely turned ninety degrees, from a horizontal line to a vertical line. Furthermore, Oceanic petrified remains have been found at the top of mountains, where clearly there never could have been aquatic life.

 

 

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Formations of the Earth

 

With the processes of the Earth discussed, the formations are now the focus. A true list of all the formations that may be found on the earth would be beyond the realm of print, several of the most notable examples will be listed, and their cause explained. By far the most common of all formations are those left by the action of erosion. Such formations left by erosion are;

 

Badlands

Valleys

Cliffs

Mesas

Buttes

Gullys

Ravines

Canyons

Coulees

Hoodoos

Ergs

Water Gaps

Dunes

Mogotes

Arches

 

Many of the recognizable land features are formed by water action, either recently, or of long ago. Because the settling of rock is rarely uniform - some rocks wear away faster than others, leaving the harder rock in place, and entirely removing the weaker rock, showing us, for example - how an igneous rock formed. With the soft sediments removed, there may be a core of hard, igneous rock - and by looking at its shape and composition, we may determine how it formed inside the original, yet long gone rock. 

 

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The Matter of Age 

 

    It is a most uncomfortable thing to discuss - but with this research has come an irrefutable discovery. The world, although dated by our Calendars to be Seventeen-hundred and Seventy-Seven years old (at the date of writing) is a mythological fabrication. Using the analysis of Erosion principles, and understanding the process by which rock is formed - although not precisely, an age can be attached to rocks, and geological features. 

 

Across the land - and previous lands, there have been the most remarkable of all erosion features, mesa canyons. Now if we look at how the process of sedimentary rocks form - it is clear that it is a slow process, that takes time - a nearly immeasurable amount of time. And yet, if one stands at the bottom of the striped mesa - it is clear that there are several hundred, if not thousand layers of differing types of sedimentary material. If one was generous - very generous, and said it took one year to form a 5 millimeters of sedimentary rock - why, a canyon that was 125 feet deep would easily correspond to being at least 7,620 years old. If one was less generous - the answer could be as high as 381,000 years old. Personally, I suspect the latter far more truthful.

 

Taking this into account - we must then evaluate the rate of erosions upon rocks in riverbeds. Erosion is a slow process, even among sand and dirt, and it will take many years - fifty, or one hundred - for a river to shift course due to cutting into the banks, and collapses. For water to erode a canyon of rock and earth to the rates that have been recorded in history - with some canyons measuring up to three-hundred feet deep, and fifty feet wide - again, if one was generous - would have to have taken up to 17,000 years to erode such a chasm by water action, and possibly much longer. 

 

Between these two geological discoveries, I find it difficult to find other logical explanations. Both are caused by phenomena we may observe in real time and replicate via experimentation - so they are true, only now applied on a much larger scale. What this means for Theology and our own perspective on the world, that I cannot answer - but what I can say, is there is plenty more mystery buried in the earth - and I encourage others to investigate, research, and publish to add to the slow unraveling of this enigmatic tapestry. 

 

[GoodGuyMatt 7113]

Brandt Barclay, a Haeseni smith smiled as he read through the study, finding it helpful and nicely put together... starting to read through it as he’d sit atop the walls of Reinmar, watching out towards the fields of wheat.

[Lojo613 1882]

Tancred smiles at the name on the cover from the bow of the Green Company boat “Ah, gut vurk Herr Napier, makes me eager to zee Helena ein more time..”

[FlemishSupremacy 6115]

Elathion prepares to burry random rocks at random places to confuse these people!