Here are some books that you may find useful during your studies. Search the Bennies catalogue Accessit for more, or browse the Non-fiction collection NFS..
We know how most rocks are formed. Silcrete is something of an enigma, for although there are many interpretations of the origins of individual silcrete bodies, such as those in the Paris Basin, England, Botswana and central Australia, an overarching hypothesis capable of explaining all occurrences is still to be found. This paper reviews the literature of research on predominantly Australian silcretes as well as reviewing their occurrence, mineralogy, geochemistry and petrology.
The formation and transformation of the various rock types can take many paths through the rock cycle depending on environmental conditions, as shown in the diagram above.
The rock cycle is an essential part of How the Earth System Works. Click the image on the left to open the Understanding Global Change Infographic. Locate the rock cycle icon and identify other Earth system processes and phenomena that cause changes to, or are affected by, the rock cycle.
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Climate plays a definitive role in the breakdown of rocks into soils and sediment, a process known as weathering. Rocks found in equatorial climates and exposed to lots of rain, humidity and heat break down or weather faster than similar rocks do when located in areas of the world with dry and cold climates.
Matty discusses the relationship between geology and climate change. A number of climate indicators are preserved in the geologic record, including the energy output from the sun and the composition of the atmosphere.