Michael Benton

Michael J. Benton

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Tennessee

The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time

The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history happened some 251 million years ago. In this cataclysm at least 90% of life was killed, both on land and in the sea, almost bringing evolution to a halt.What caused destruction on such an unimaginable scale?Was it the impact of a huge meteorite, or prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia? In this acclaimed book, newly available in paperback, Michael Benton assembles all the evidence and gives his verdict.

When Life Nearly Died - The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time

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Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. Far less well-known is a much greater catastrophe that took place at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago: 90 percent of life was destroyed, including saber-toothed reptiles and their rhinoceros-sized prey on land, as well as vast numbers of fish and other species in the sea.This book documents not only what happened during this gigantic mass extinction but also the recent rekindling of the idea of catastrophism. Was the end-Permian event caused by the impact of a huge meteorite or comet, or by prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia? The evidence has been accumulating through the 1990s and into the new millennium, and Michael Benton gives his verdict at the very end. From field camps in Greenland and Russia to the laboratory bench, When Life Nearly Died involves geologists, paleontologists, environmental modelers, geochemists, astronomers, and experts on biodiversity and conservation. Their working methods are vividly described and explained, and the current disputes are revealed. The implications of our understanding of crises in the past for the current biodiversity crisis are also presented in detail. 46 b/w illustrations.

Category - Non Fiction / Science

Format - Hardcover

Condition - Good

Listed - 6 months ago

Views - 4

Ships From - Tennessee

Est. Publication Date - Apr 2008

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Category - Non Fiction / Science

Format - Hardcover

Condition - Good

Listed - 6 months ago

Views - 4

Ships From - Tennessee

Est. Publication Date - Apr 2008

Additional Information

Publisher Description

When Life Nearly Died

By:

$2.00

Condition

Format

Meet the seller

Discover more

When Life Nearly Died

By: Michael Benton

'When Life Nearly Died' readers also enjoyed:

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