The Geologic Time Scale 2012 by Gradstein, Felix; Ogg, J.G.; Schmitz, Mark D.; Ogg, Gabi M.;

Long description:

The Geologic Time Scale 2012, winner of a 2012 PROSE Award Honorable Mention for Best Multi-volume Reference in Science from the Association of American Publishers, is the framework for deciphering the history of our planet Earth. The authors have been at the forefront of chronostratigraphic research and initiatives to create an international geologic time scale for many years, and the charts in this book present the most up-to-date, international standard, as ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy and the International Union of Geological Sciences. This 2012 geologic time scale is an enhanced, improved and expanded version of the GTS2004, including chapters on planetary scales, the Cryogenian-Ediacaran periods/systems, a prehistory scale of human development, a survey of sequence stratigraphy, and an extensive compilation of stable-isotope chemostratigraphy.

This book is an essential reference for all geoscientists, including researchers, students, and petroleum and mining professionals. The presentation is non-technical and illustrated with numerous colour charts, maps and photographs. The book also includes a detachable wall chart of the complete time scale for use as a handy reference in the office, laboratory or field.

Table of Contents:

Volume 1

PART I INTRODUCTION
1. Introduction, F. M. Gradstein
2. Chronostratigraphy: linking time and rock, F. M. Gradstein and j. G. Ogg

PART II CONCEPTS AND METHODS
3. Biochronology, F.M.Gradstein
4. Cyclostratigraphy and astrochronology, L. A.hinnov and f.j.hilgen
5. The geomagnetic polarity time scale, J. G. Ogg
6. Radiogenic isotopes geochronology, M.Schmitz And M. Villeneuve
7. Strontium isotope stratigraphy, J. M. Mcarthur, R. J. Howarth and G.Shields
8. Osmium isotope stratigraphy, B. Peucker-Ehrenbrink and G. Ravizza
9. Sulfur isotope stratigraphy, A. Paytan
10. Oxygen isotope stratigraphy, E. Grossman
11. Carbon isotope stratigraphy, M. Saltzman and E. Thomas
12. A Brief History of Plants on Earth S.R. Gradstein and H. Kerp
13. Sequence chronostratigraphy, M. Simmons
14. Statistical procedures, F. P. Agterberg, O. Hammer and F.M. Gradstein

PART III
15. The Planetary time scale, K.TANAKA AND B.HARTMANN
16. The Precambrian: the Archean and Proterozoic Eons, M.van Kranendonk and co-authors
17. The Cryogenian Period, G. A. Shields, A.C. Hill and B. A. MacGabhann
18. The Ediacaran Period, G. Narbonne, S. Xiao and G.A. Shields
Bibliography

Volume 2

PART IV GEOLOGIC PERIODS PHANEROZOIC
19. The Cambrian Period, S. Peng, L. Babcock and R. A. Cooper
20. The Ordovician Period, R. A. Cooper and P. M. Sadler
21. The Silurian Period, M. J. Melchin, R. A. Cooper and P. M. Sadler
22. The Devonian Period, T. Becker, F. M. Gradstein and O. Hammer
23. The Carboniferous Period, V. Davydov, D. Korn and M. Schmitz
24. The Permian Period, CH. Henderson, V. Davydov and B. Wardlaw
25. The Triassic Period, J. G. Ogg
26. The Jurassic Period, J. G. Ogg
27. The Cretaceous Period, J. G. Ogg and L. Hinnov
28. The Paleogene Period, N. Vandenberghe, R. Speijer and F.J. Hilgen
29. The Neogene Period, F.J. Hilgen, L. Lourens, and J. van Dam
30. The Quaternary Period, B. Pillans and P. Gibbard
31. The Prehistoric Human Time Scale, J.A. Catt and M.A. Maslin
32. The Anthropocene, J.Z Alasiewicz, P. Crutzen and W. Steffen

Appendix 1- Recommended color coding of stages
Appendix 2 - Radiometric ages used in GTS2012, M.D. Schmitz
Appendix 3 - Biochronology of Paleogene and Neogene Microfossils, E. Anthonissen, J.G. Ogg.