How have we pieced together the geological history of the Earth?

This lecture reviews the different types of rocks and the cycle

of transformation between them, with particular emphasis on stratigraphy.

I will outline the 4 major Eons in Earth's history, and focus on the

earliest Hadean Eon which proceeded from the formation of the Earth to

the end of the epoch of Heavy Bombardment. The Hadean Eon saw the formation

of the primordial atmosphere of the Earth and the formation of the Oceans.

Recorded live on 2009 Oct 7 in Room 1005 Smith Laboratory on the Columbus

campus of The Ohio State University.