Theory of the Earth; or an Investigation of the Laws Observable in the Composition, Dissolution, and Restoration of Land Upon the Globe

James Hutton was an 18th century Scottish geologist, physician, chemist and naturalist. He originated the theory of uniformitarianism — a fundamental principle of geology — that explains the features of the Earth's crust by means of natural processes over geologic time. Hutton's work established geology as a science, and as a result he is often referred to as the “Father of Modern Geology”. From the American Museum of Natural History: “Hutton came to believe that the Earth was perpetually being formed; for example, molten material is forced up into mountains, eroded, and then eroded sediments are washed away. He recognized that the history of the Earth could be determined by understanding how processes such as erosion and sedimentation work in the present day. His ideas and approach to studying the Earth established geology as a proper science. In the late eighteenth century, when Hutton was carefully examining the rocks, it was generally believed that Earth had come into creation only around six thousand years earlier (on October 22, 4004 B.C., to be precise, according to the seventeenth century scholarly analysis of the Bible by Archbishop James Ussher of Ireland), and that fossils were the remains of animals that had perished during the Biblical flood. As for the structure of the Earth, “natural philosophers” agreed that much bedrock consisted of long, parallel layers which occurred at various angles, and that sediments deposited by water were compressed to form stone. Hutton perceived that this sedimentation takes place so slowly that even the oldest rocks are made up of, in his words, “materials furnished from the ruins of former continents.” The reverse process occurs when rock exposed to the atmosphere erodes and decays. He called this coupling of destruction and renewal the “great geological cycle,” and realized that it had been completed innumerable times.” In the famous last sentence of his book, Hutton states: “The result, therefore, of this physical enquiry, is that we find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end.” Contents Theory Of The Earth: Plates Part 1. Prospect Of The Subject To Be Treated Of Part 2. An Investigation Of The Natural Operations Employed In Consolidating The Strata Of The Globe Part 3. Investigation Of The Natural Operations Employed In The Production Of Land Above The Surface Of The Sea Part 4. System Of Decay And Renovation Observed In The Earth Chapter 1 Chapter 2. An Examination Of Mr Kirwan's Objections To The Igneous Origin Of Stony Substances Chapter 3. Of Physical Systems, And Geological Theories, In General Chapter 4. The Supposition Of Primitive Mountains Refuted Chapter 5. Concerning That Which May Be Termed The Primary Part Of The Present Earth Chapter 6. The Theory Of Interchanging Sea And Land Illustrated By An Investigation Of The Primary And Secondary Strata Chapter 7. Opinions Examined With Regard To Petrifaction, Or Mineral Concretion Chapter 8. The Nature Of Mineral Coal, And The Formation Of Bituminous Strata, Investigated Introduction Chapter 1. Facts In Confirmation Of The Theory Of Elevating Land Above The Surface Of The Sea Chapter 2. The Same Subject Continued, With Examples From Different Countries Chapter 3. Facts In Confirmation Of The Theory, Respecting Those Operations Which Re-Dissolve The Surface Of The Earth Chaper 4. The Same Subject Continued, In Giving Still Farther Views Of The Dissolution Of The Earth Chapter 5. Facts In Confirmation Of The Theory Respecting The Operations Of The Earth Employed In Forming Soil For Plants Chapter 6. A View Of The Economy Of Nature, And Necessity Of Wasting The Surface Of The Earth, In Serving The Purposes Of This World Chapter 7. The Same Subject Continued, In Giving A View Of The Operations Of Air And Water Upon The Surface Of The Land Chapter 8. The Present Form Of The Surface Of The Earth Explained, With A View Of The Operation Of Time Upon Our Land Chapter 9. The Theory Illustrated, With A View Of The Summits Of The Alps Chapter 10. The Theory Illustrated With A View Of Thevalleys Of The Alps Chapter 11. Facts And Opinions Concerning The Natural Construction Of Mountains And Valleys Chapter 12. The Theory Illustrated, By Adducing Examplesfrom The Different Quarters Of The Globe Chapter 13. The Same Subject Continued Chapter 14. Summary Of The Doctrine Which Has Been Now Illustrated