Insights: A Laboratory Manual for Historical Geology

Author(s): Clair Ossian

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Insights: A Laboratory Manual for Historical Geology provides a broad, general approach to Historical Geology essential to geology majors and engaging to non-majors as a powerful tool covering the basics of geology.

Insights focuses tightly on essentials of historical Geology education. By selecting Insights, your students will learn the core principles of Historical Geology, without having purchased a manual containing subject modules that most Geology educators will not be able to squeeze into a one-semester course.  This organization and content management will provide a significant price savings to your students.

Geological educators can use the materials in the manual at several levels. There is more than enough to satisfy the most demanding students. To become a well-rounded Geology Major student, Historical Geology is an essential.

Each subject listed below is filled with tools, hints and clear writing. Wherever possible, Insights shows students how to master a topic using clearly designed keys and lucid explanations.

Insights keys and study aids teach students to recognize fossil materials, master mapping techniques and comprehend the intimidating topics of evolution, and geological relative and absolute time. Insights helps students systematically use scientific approaches and not simply memorizing general appearances. Extraordinary and exceptional photographs plus line drawings help students master this complex subject area.

Insights is beneficial for geology majors and non-majors as a powerful tool covering the basics of Historical Geology:  

  • Identifying common fossils
  • Relative time and absolute time
  • The ordering of geologic events
  • Stratigraphy and correlation
  • Paleontology
  • Geological structures
  • Interpreting geological maps

For students just needing to fulfill their science course requirements, Insights is lively, replete with engaging exercises and the illustrations that serve to hold their attention better than any other similar book on today’s market.

Insights emphasizes principles and methods by which geologists discover the origins and evolving nature of our planet over time. Study of these processes is essential in understanding how the Earth is changing, and to give students insight into the methodology and goals of Historical Geology. These topics are essential if students are to understand how planetary materials relate to our complex and ever-changing Earth.

 

See companion text, Insights: A Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology, now available separately to give more flexibility in organizing course content. 

The combined texts, Insights; A Laboratory Manual for Physical and Historical Geology, is also available for those wishing to purchase both titles as one unit.

CHAPTER 1 Measuring Geological Time

CHAPTER 2 Stratigraphy and the Ordering of Geological Events

CHAPTER 3 Physical Stratigraphy

CHAPTER 4 Introduction to Paleontology

CHAPTER 5 Paleontology and Identification of the Major Phyla—Part One

CHAPTER 6 Paleontology and Identification of the Major Phyla— Part Two

CHAPTER 7 Applied Paleontology

CHAPTER 8 Geological Structures

CHAPTER 9 The Beginnings. Continental Drift and the Discovery of Plate Tectonics

CHAPTER 10 The Mechanisms of Plate Tectonics

CHAPTER 11 Geologic Maps—Part One

CHAPTER 12 Geologic Maps—Part Two

APPENDICES

GLOSSARY

CREDITS

INDEX

Clair Ossian
Clair Russell Ossian is an Emeritus Professor of Geology at Tarrant County College, Hurst, Texas where he was awarded Distinguished Faculty Member in 2011. His career includes nearly twenty years in geological research as a paleontologist and sedimentologist, experiencing many challenges world wide while working in the petroleum industry, retiring as Principal Research Geologist from ARCO Oil and Gas Co. Field research during that time involved projects in diverse settings, including Alaska, Canada, China, Indonesia, Norway, Africa and numerous projects within the rest of the United States.

Before, during and after that phase of his career, he has continued to teach Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Environmental Geology and Field Courses. Dr. Ossian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), a Master of Science degree from Michigan State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Texas (Austin). Both graduate degrees are in geology and paleontology.

Professor Ossian has published numerous papers on sedimentology, vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology and his current research is centered on the geology of Egypt. His most recent research involved providing geological support for an archaeological excavation in the Egyptian delta.

He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society of Sigma XI, the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), the Egyptian Exploration Society and is a Certified Geologist with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.


A long time resident of north Texas, he and his wife have raised two children, a son and a daughter. They currently share their home with a pair of Chinese chowchow dogs. Hobbies include gardening, raising Japanese koi fish, growing water lilies, carpentry, photography and writing. Travel continues to be a great pleasure for them, proving many opportunities for new experiences . . . and new geological insights.
 

Insights: A Laboratory Manual for Historical Geology provides a broad, general approach to Historical Geology essential to geology majors and engaging to non-majors as a powerful tool covering the basics of geology.

Insights focuses tightly on essentials of historical Geology education. By selecting Insights, your students will learn the core principles of Historical Geology, without having purchased a manual containing subject modules that most Geology educators will not be able to squeeze into a one-semester course.  This organization and content management will provide a significant price savings to your students.

Geological educators can use the materials in the manual at several levels. There is more than enough to satisfy the most demanding students. To become a well-rounded Geology Major student, Historical Geology is an essential.

Each subject listed below is filled with tools, hints and clear writing. Wherever possible, Insights shows students how to master a topic using clearly designed keys and lucid explanations.

Insights keys and study aids teach students to recognize fossil materials, master mapping techniques and comprehend the intimidating topics of evolution, and geological relative and absolute time. Insights helps students systematically use scientific approaches and not simply memorizing general appearances. Extraordinary and exceptional photographs plus line drawings help students master this complex subject area.

Insights is beneficial for geology majors and non-majors as a powerful tool covering the basics of Historical Geology:  

  • Identifying common fossils
  • Relative time and absolute time
  • The ordering of geologic events
  • Stratigraphy and correlation
  • Paleontology
  • Geological structures
  • Interpreting geological maps

For students just needing to fulfill their science course requirements, Insights is lively, replete with engaging exercises and the illustrations that serve to hold their attention better than any other similar book on today’s market.

Insights emphasizes principles and methods by which geologists discover the origins and evolving nature of our planet over time. Study of these processes is essential in understanding how the Earth is changing, and to give students insight into the methodology and goals of Historical Geology. These topics are essential if students are to understand how planetary materials relate to our complex and ever-changing Earth.

 

See companion text, Insights: A Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology, now available separately to give more flexibility in organizing course content. 

The combined texts, Insights; A Laboratory Manual for Physical and Historical Geology, is also available for those wishing to purchase both titles as one unit.

CHAPTER 1 Measuring Geological Time

CHAPTER 2 Stratigraphy and the Ordering of Geological Events

CHAPTER 3 Physical Stratigraphy

CHAPTER 4 Introduction to Paleontology

CHAPTER 5 Paleontology and Identification of the Major Phyla—Part One

CHAPTER 6 Paleontology and Identification of the Major Phyla— Part Two

CHAPTER 7 Applied Paleontology

CHAPTER 8 Geological Structures

CHAPTER 9 The Beginnings. Continental Drift and the Discovery of Plate Tectonics

CHAPTER 10 The Mechanisms of Plate Tectonics

CHAPTER 11 Geologic Maps—Part One

CHAPTER 12 Geologic Maps—Part Two

APPENDICES

GLOSSARY

CREDITS

INDEX

Clair Ossian
Clair Russell Ossian is an Emeritus Professor of Geology at Tarrant County College, Hurst, Texas where he was awarded Distinguished Faculty Member in 2011. His career includes nearly twenty years in geological research as a paleontologist and sedimentologist, experiencing many challenges world wide while working in the petroleum industry, retiring as Principal Research Geologist from ARCO Oil and Gas Co. Field research during that time involved projects in diverse settings, including Alaska, Canada, China, Indonesia, Norway, Africa and numerous projects within the rest of the United States.

Before, during and after that phase of his career, he has continued to teach Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Environmental Geology and Field Courses. Dr. Ossian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), a Master of Science degree from Michigan State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Texas (Austin). Both graduate degrees are in geology and paleontology.

Professor Ossian has published numerous papers on sedimentology, vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology and his current research is centered on the geology of Egypt. His most recent research involved providing geological support for an archaeological excavation in the Egyptian delta.

He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society of Sigma XI, the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), the Egyptian Exploration Society and is a Certified Geologist with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.


A long time resident of north Texas, he and his wife have raised two children, a son and a daughter. They currently share their home with a pair of Chinese chowchow dogs. Hobbies include gardening, raising Japanese koi fish, growing water lilies, carpentry, photography and writing. Travel continues to be a great pleasure for them, proving many opportunities for new experiences . . . and new geological insights.