History of Geology

Early Misconceptions Age of Earth

Dilemma-reconciling geologic features with Bible Archbishop Ussher (mid 1600's: Earth created 4004 BC and is 6000 yr old

• catastrophism-geologic features formed by relatively short-lived catastrophic events

Origin of fossils

• Mercati (Italy, 1574)-fossils shells are mere stones which had assumed their peculiar configuration from the influence of heavenly bodies
• Olivi de Cremona-fossils are "sports of nature"

Modern Geology

James Hutton-"father of modern geology"

• 18th Century Scottish physician carefully observed geologic features and natural processes developed a principle called Uniformitarianism
• Uniformitarianism the physical, chemical, and biological laws that operate today operated in the geologic past
• processes active today are responsible for geologic features
• "the present is the key to the past" How true is that statement?