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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
8 pages in length. Stratigraphy, the scientific study of geological history as devised by English engineer William Smith, came into existence some two hundred years ago. Smith's discovery of identical fossil-bearing rock located in vastly divergent areas of England made him realize that this was something much more than mere coincidence. Taking this knowledge and utilizing it to his benefit, the engineer created stratigraphic maps, which enabled him to "predict accurately the location of undiscovered coal beds" (Florida Museum of Natural History, 1997). Having discovered the same layers of rock and fossil formation existing in opposite locations helped Smith to determine just where hidden coal beds existed; learning that specific rocks layers were associated with coal beds, it became quite a simple task to find those that remained unrevealed. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
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8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: LM1_TLCGeoRock.rtf
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located in vastly divergent areas of England made him realize that this was something much more than mere coincidence. Taking this knowledge and utilizing it to his benefit, the
engineer created stratigraphic maps, which enabled him to "predict accurately the location of undiscovered coal beds" (Florida Museum of Natural History, 1997). Having discovered the same layers of rock
and fossil formation existing in opposite locations helped Smith to determine just where hidden coal beds existed; learning that specific rocks layers were associated with coal beds, it became quite
a simple task to find those that remained unrevealed (Florida Museum of Natural History, 1997). Smiths breakthrough with regard to stratigraphy was based upon two fundamental principles: "each strata of
rock has a characteristic assemblage of fossils, which makes it possible to relate similar strata in different places; and younger strata are superimposed on older strata" (Florida Museum of Natural
History, 1997). With this information, geologists have been equipped with the pertinent tools by which to determine the dates of particular rock layers, as well as ascertain the time
period from which the fossils derived. The fact that Smiths discovery passed through a previously impervious barrier set a brand new precedent for geological history; indeed, this ability to
accurately date geological findings served as the "basis for the scientific division of the history of life on earth" (Florida Museum of Natural History, 1997). To understand the significance of
Smiths discovery, one must first realize how geological study was first addressed centuries ago. Geology, in and of itself, is a scientific field that has long borrowed knowledge and
information from several other fields, such as biology, physics and chemistry. Understandably, geologists of long ago had little upon which to base their assumptions until Smith came along, so
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