The Last Billion Years - by Don W Byerly (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Tennessee's geologic history has evolved in myriad ways since its initial formation more than a billion years ago, settling into its current place on the North American supercontinent between 300 and 250 million years ago. Throughout that long span of "deep time," Tennessee's landscape morphed into its present form.
The Last Billion Years: A Geologic History of Tennessee is the first general overview in more than thirty years to interpret the state's geological record. With minimal jargon, numerous illustrations and photographs, and a glossary of scientific terms, this volume provides the tools necessary for readers with little or no background in the subject to learn about the geologic formation of Tennessee, making it an excellent resource for high school students, college students, and interested general readers. Yet, because of the depth of its scholarship, the book is also an invaluable reference for professional geologists.
Recognizing that every reader is familiar with the roles of wind, water, gravity, and organisms in their everyday environment, author Don Byerly employs the Earth Systems Science approach, showing how the five interacting parts of the Earth--the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and cryosphere--have worked together for eons to generate the rock compositions that make up Tennessee's geologic past.
All regions of the state are covered. Featuring a unique time chart that illustrates the state's geologic history from east to west, The Last Billion Years shows that while the geologic aspects of the state's three grand divisions are related in many ways, each division has a distinctly different background. The organization of the book further enhances its usability, allowing the reader to see and compare what was happening contemporaneously across the state during the key sequences of its geologic history. Written in a clear and engaging style, The Last Billion Years will have broad appeal to students, lay readers, and professionals.

Review Quotes

"The Last Billion Years succeeds in conveying scientific information to the general public in a format that is not only easily understood, but useable." --Harry L. Moore, author of A Geologic Trip Across Tennessee by Interstate 40


"This book is the only comprehensive geologic history available on the market for Tennessee. . . . there are no other books like this that are close to being up to date." --Michael A. Gibson, University of Tennessee, Martin

About the Author

Don W. Byerly is professor emeritus of geology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. A founding member of the Tennessee Earth Science Teachers, he is the recipient of the 1999 Neil Minor Award, the prestigious award of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, for exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the earth sciences, the 1999 Tennessee Science Teachers Association's Distinguished Service Award, and the Tennessee Conservation League's 2000 Z. Carter Patten Award for distinctive service to the cause of conservation.