U.S. geology bookIn 1809, the first significant U.S. geology book was read by William Maclure before the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, Pa. HisObservations on the Geology of the United States, contained the first chart of United States territory that divided the land into rock types. Though crude, it was the first colored true geological map of the country and one of the world's earliest geological maps. It was published with revisions in 1817 that accepted basalt and granite to be rocks of volcanic origin (thus shrinking the concept of “Neptunian” rocks). Maclure was a wealthy businessman and amateur geologist who emigrated from Scotland and became a citizen in 1796. He is considered the first notable and influential American geologist. |
