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T The Abyss The Abyss of Time: A study in
geological time and Earth history
H
Paul Lyle
E
of Time Geologists are among that group of scientists who must
A factor the passage of time into their investigations.
Thus they have a perspective on time that sets them
B
apart from many other researchers. The proposition
Y that geological time is vast, encompassing thousands
A study in
of millions of years, is relatively recent. It is a concept
S
that remains controversial and is not accepted by many
S
geological time people who believe the Earth to have been made to a
timetable covering no more than ten thousand years.
O
Paul Lyle examines how man’s fascination with time
and Earth history
F has developed from our earliest ancestors’ recognition
of the cycles of the sun and the moon. He considers
T both the passage of time as a series of non-repeatable
Paul Lyle has retired from his post as a lecturer in geology at events, Time’s Arrow, and contrasts that perspective of
I
the University of Ulster and devotes his time to writing on M Paul Lyle time with that which looks at time as a series of repeated
geological issues. processes, Time’s Cycle. Both senses of time may be used
to explain geological features on the Earth’s surface.
E
The author argues for a greater understanding of geological
or ‘deep time’ as society becomes more aware of the
L
vulnerability of the Earth’s resources to over-exploitation
Y
by an expanding consumer society. This proposition,
L
coupled with the controversies surrounding global warming,
E
emphasises the importance of understanding geological
time in economic and political decision-making. This is
a book for those interested in the intellectual challenge
presented by the extent of geological time. While written
for those environmentalists and policy-makers who wish
to better place their concerns and decisions in proper
context this is also a book that offers to share a geologist’s
appreciation of time with the widest possible audience.
D
U
ISBN: 978-1-780460-39-0
N
E
D
DUNEDIN I
N DUNEDIN
Cover photo: Grand Canyon Colors 2
9 781780 460390 EDINBURGH◆LONDON
©Bryant Jayme (Shutterstock) ID 9878158
T The Abyss The Abyss of Time: A study in T The Abyss The Abyss of Time: A study in
geological time and Earth history
geological time and Earth history H
H
Paul Lyle
Paul Lyle E
E
of Time Geologists are among that group of scientists who must A of Time Gfacetoolro gthiset sp aarsesa agme oonf gti mthea ti ngtroo uthpe oirf isncvieensttiigstast iwonhso. must
A factor the passage of time into their investigations.
Thus they have a perspective on time that sets them
Thus they have a perspective on time that sets them B
B apart from many other researchers. The proposition
apart from many other researchers. The proposition
Y that geological time is vast, encompassing thousands
Y that geological time is vast, encompassing thousands A study in
of millions of years, is relatively recent. It is a concept
S A study in of millions of years, is relatively recent. It is a concept S that remains controversial and is not accepted by many
that remains controversial and is not accepted by many S geological time people who believe the Earth to have been made to a
S
geological time people who believe the Earth to have been made to a timetable covering no more than ten thousand years.
timetable covering no more than ten thousand years. O
O and Earth history Paul Lyle examines how man’s fascination with time
and Earth history Paul Lyle examines how man’s fascination with time F has developed from our earliest ancestors’ recognition
F has developed from our earliest ancestors’ recognition of the cycles of the sun and the moon. He considers
of the cycles of the sun and the moon. He considers T both the passage of time as a series of non-repeatable
T Paul Lyle has retired from his post as a lecturer in geology at both the passage of time as a series of non-repeatable events, Time’s Arrow, and contrasts that perspective of
I
Paul Lyle has retired from his post as a lecturer in geology at I the University of Ulster and devotes his time to writing on events, Time’s Arrow, and contrasts that perspective of M Paul Lyle time with that which looks at time as a series of repeated
the University of Ulster and devotes his time to writing on M Paul Lgeolyogicall isesues. time with that which looks at time as a series of repeated processes, Time’s Cycle. Both senses of time may be used
geological issues. processes, Time’s Cycle. Both senses of time may be used E to explain geological features on the Earth’s surface.
to explain geological features on the Earth’s surface. The author argues for a greater understanding of geological
E
The author argues for a greater understanding of geological or ‘deep time’ as society becomes more aware of the
L
or ‘deep time’ as society becomes more aware of the vulnerability of the Earth’s resources to over-exploitation
Y
L by an expanding consumer society. This proposition,
vulnerability of the Earth’s resources to over-exploitation
Y L coupled with the controversies surrounding global warming,
by an expanding consumer society. This proposition,
E
L coupled with the controversies surrounding global warming, emphasises the importance of understanding geological
E time in economic and political decision-making. This is
emphasises the importance of understanding geological
a book for those interested in the intellectual challenge
time in economic and political decision-making. This is
presented by the extent of geological time. While written
a book for those interested in the intellectual challenge
for those environmentalists and policy-makers who wish
presented by the extent of geological time. While written
to better place their concerns and decisions in proper
for those environmentalists and policy-makers who wish
context this is also a book that offers to share a geologist’s
to better place their concerns and decisions in proper
appreciation of time with the widest possible audience.
context this is also a book that offers to share a geologist’s D
U
appreciation of time with tIShBeN w: i9d7e8s-1t -p78o0s4s6ib0-l3e9 a-0u dience.
D N
U E
ISBN: 978-1-780460-39-0 D
N
E DUNEDIN IN DUNEDIN
DUNEDIN DIN DUNEDC©oBvrIeyra pnNht oJatyom: Ge r(aSnhdu Cttearnsytoocnk C) oIDlo r9s8 27 8158 9 781780 460390 EDINBURGH ◆ LONDON
Cover photo: Grand Canyon Colors 2
©Bryant Jayme (Shutterstock) ID 9878158 9 781780 460390 EDINBURGH ◆ LONDON
The Abyss of Time
Ptolemaic orbits from Harmonia Macrocosmica, by Andreas Cellarius, 1661.
Other earth science titles from Dunedin
for the general reader include:
Volcanoes and the Making of Scotland (2015)
Second edition, Brian Upton, ISBN: 9781780460567
Edinburgh Rock: The Geology of Lothian (2006)
Paperback edition (2013) ISBN: 9781780460338
Death of an Ocean: A Geological Borders Ballad (2009)
Paperback edition (2013) ISBN: 9781780460345
For further details of these and other Dunedin
Earth and Environmental Sciences titles see
www.dunedinacademicpress.co.uk
Title page
The Abyss of Time
A study in geological time
and Earth history
‘The mind seemed to grow giddy by looking so far into the abyss of time.’
John Playfair (1748–1819) on seeing the unconformity at Siccar Point, read
1803, Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1805)
Paul Lyle
Formerly lecturer in geology, University of Ulster
DUNEDIN
EDINBURGH ◆ LONDON
Published in the United Kingdom by
Dunedin Academic Press Ltd
Head Office:
Hudson House, 8 Albany Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3QB
London Office:
352 Cromwell Tower, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8NB
www.dunedinacademicpress.co.uk
ISBNs
9781780460390 (Hardback)
9781780465432 (ePub)
9781780465449 (Kindle)
© Paul Lyle 2015
The right of Paul Lyle to be identified as the
author of this work has been asserted by him
in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
or stored in any retrieval system of any nature without prior written permission, except for
fair dealing under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 or in accordance with the
terms of a licence issued by the Copyright Licensing Society in respect of photocopying or
reprographic reproduction. Full acknowledgment as to author, publisher and source must be
given. Application for permission for any other use of copyright material should be made in
writing to the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Typeset by Makar Publishing Production, Edinburgh
Printed in Poland by Hussar Books
Contents
Contents
Acknowledgements vii
Preface ix
Chapter 1: In good time 1
Chapter 2: Tempus fugit – time flies 9
Chapter 3: The importance of understanding time 25
Chapter 4: The early chronologers 34
Chapter 5: Time’s arrow and time’s cycle 53
Chapter 6: The determination of relative time – beds in order 83
Chapter 7: Measurement of absolute time – the age of the Earth 108
Chapter 8: Archaeological time 137
Chapter 9: Time future 171
References and further reading 193
Index 195
Illustration credits 203
v
To Sylvia with love and gratitude – bon ton roulet – let the good times roll…
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
It is a pleasure to acknowledge those many people who have encouraged and
helped me during the course of this project. Principal among those was John
Arthurs; his comprehensive and perceptive comments on an early draft of the
manuscript did much to improve the content and layout of the book and I
thank him for his efforts. The comments from an anonymous reviewer were
also extremely useful in the final revision of the text. I am grateful to Edward
and Isa Ferguson for their helpful comments on parts of the manuscript and
for again allowing me to use Anrhin as a writing retreat. My thanks go also to
Rachel and Gary Smylie who provided invaluable photographic and computer
support without which I would have been floundering.
My friends and colleagues among the diverse geological community
in Ireland have always been free with opinions and comments, gratefully
received in the spirit in which they were delivered, and I feel privileged to be
part of such a vibrant network. My thanks to you all, you know who you are.
As always the contribution made by Sylvia Lyle has been immense and I
thank her again for her constant support and encouragement. I appreciate her
consistent willingness to pass comment on whatever piece of text I happen to
be working on, even if I don’t always subscribe to her analysis!
They also serve who cheer me on from over the water, so thanks to Gareth
and Yvonne and Simon and Jen. Future time belongs to Beth and Jack.
Irrespective of all such support, any errors or omissions are solely my
responsibility.
vii
Description:Geologists are among that group of scientists who must factor the passage of time into their investigations, and they thus have a perspective on time that sets them apart from many other researchers. The proposition that geological time is vast, encompassing thousands of millions of years, is relati
