Description |
336 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm |
Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 318-328) and index. |
Contents |
Geological time-scale -- Antediluvian Sauria -- Murchison names the permian -- Death of catastrophism -- Concept that dared not speak its name -- Impact! -- Diversity, extinction and mass extinction -- Homing in on the event -- Life's biggest challenge -- Tale of two continents -- On the river Sakmara -- What caused the biggest catastrophe of all time? -- Sixth mass extinction? -- Glossary |
Summary |
Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. Far less well-known is a much greater catastrophe that took place at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago: at least 90 percent of life was destroyed, both on land and in the sea. . . . This book documents not only what happened during this gigantic mass extinction but also the recent rekindling of the idea of catastrophism. -Dust jacket. |
Subject |
Extinction (Biology) -- History.
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Extinction (Biology) |
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History. |
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Catastrophes (Geology)
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Catastrophes (Geology) |
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Geology, Stratigraphic -- Permian.
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Geology, Stratigraphic. |
Chronological Term |
Permian |
ISBN |
050005116X |
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