The Book

“Four Billion Years and Counting: Canada's Geological Heritage” will present the latest view of Canada’s fascinating geology and how this impacts upon the lives of all Canadians. This multifaceted story will be much more than a scenic tour. The book will demonstrate the influence of geology on our wealth and health.

The book will be multi-authored, with text written by leading experts and edited to provide a cohesive story. Enticements for readers will include an exquisite selection of photographs and attractive graphics, all in full colour. The book will be written for a general readership but should also be of interest to geologists. Reviews by specialists and non-geologists will ensure accuracy and a book that will be enjoyable to a broad audience.

Structure of the Book

PARTS AND CHAPTERS

Foreword by Roberta Bondar

Preface


Part 1: FOUNDATIONS

Chapter 1: On the Rocks

Chapter 2: Dance of the Continents

Chapter 3: It's About Time

Chapter 4: Fossils and the Bush of Life

Chapter 5: A Sedimentary Journey


Part 2: EVOLUTION OF CANADA

Chapter 6: Canada’s Geological Geography

Chapter 7: Into Deepest Time
(Canada 4,600 to 2,500 million years ago)

Chapter 8: Finishing the Foundations
(Canada 2,500 to 1,800 million years ago)

Chapter 9: Breathing Space
(Canada 1,800 to 750 million years ago)

Chapter 10: From Icehouse to Hothouse
(Canada 750 to 390 Million Years Ago)

Chapter 11: Canada Crosses the Equator
(Canada 390 to 250 million years ago)

Chapter 12: Pangaea Breaks Up
(Canada 250 to 185 million years ago)

Chapter 13: Canada Emerges
(Canada 185 to 55 million years ago)

Chapter 14: Canada Shapes Up
(Canada 55 to 2 million years ago)

Chapter 15: Deep Freeze and Long Summer

Chapter 16: Peopling Canada

Chapter 17: The Modern Landscape



Part 3: WEALTH AND HEALTH

Chapter 18: Rocks to Riches

Chapter 19: Energizing Canada

Chapter 20: Building Canada

Chapter 21: Water: A Clear Necessity

Chapter 22: At the Beach

Chapter 23: On Dangerous Ground

Chapter 24: Environmental Impacts

Chapter 25: Northern Exposures

Chapter 26: Blowing Hot and Cold


Part 4: CANADA NOW

Chapter 27: Finale

DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF CHAPTERS

Throughout the book there will be a range of "boxes" on subjects that provide extra background on specific subjects:

BOXES ON THE BOOKS

Minerals — Getting to the Core — Rocks of the Deep — Extraterrestrial Visitors — Life Rocks — Spheres of Influence — Wobbling Around — Remote Sensing — Seismic — Lithoprobe — Banded Iron Formations and Stromatolites — Red Beds — The Burgess Shale — Evaporites — Fish — Cretaceous Park — The Rockies — Mammals — Permafrost — Gros Morne — Black Smokers — Uranium — The Carbon Cycle — Political Rocks — Offshore Surficial Mapping