The Geology of Australia provides a vivid & informative account of the evolution of the Australian continent over the last 4400 million years. Starting with the Precambrian rocks that hold clues to the origins of life & the development of an oxygenated atmosphere, it goes on to cover the warm seas, volcanism & episodes of mountain building, which formed the eastern third of the Australian continent. This illuminating history details the breakup of the supercontinents Rodinia & Gondwana, the times of previous glaciations, the development of climates & landscapes in modern Australia, & the creation of the continental shelves & coastlines. Separate chapters cover the origin of the Great Barrier Reef, the basalts in Eastern Australia, & the geology of the Solar System. This second edition features two new chapters, covering the evolution of life on Earth while emphasising the fossil record in Australia, & providing a geological perspective on climate change. From Uluru to the Great Dividing Range, from earthquakes to dinosaurs, from sapphires to the stars The Geology of Australia is a comprehensive exploration of the timeless forces that have shaped this continent.