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Rocks

An atlas of rocks and minerals: each one a record of the conditions that made it.

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Orange scheelite crystal on gray matrix rock

Scheelite

Scheelite, a calcium tungstate, is the main source of tungsten for tools and alloys.

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Fossilized worm-like patterns in dark shale rock

ZZosterophylls 

Zosterophylls are an extinct group of early vascular plants that lived during the Silurian and Devonian periods. They are significant in paleobotany and evolutionary biology for their role in understanding the evolution of vascular plants, the transition from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems, and the origins of modern plant lineages. 

Reference: Kenrick, P., & Crane, P. R. (1997). “The Origin and Early Diversification of Land Plants: A Cladistic Study.” Smithsonian Institution Press. 

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Fiery meteor entering Earth's atmosphere (catastrophism)

CArchives: Glossary

Catastrophism is the geological doctrine that Earth’s history has been shaped primarily by sudden, short-lived, and violent events, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and floods. This contrasts with the principle of uniformitarianism, which emphasizes gradual processes. While modern geology recognizes the importance of both catastrophic events and gradual processes, catastrophism was historically significant in debates about Earth’s history and the development of geological theories. 

Reference: Oreskes, N. (1999). The Rejection of Continental Drift: Theory and Method in American Earth Science. Oxford University Press.

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