The Asteroid Impact Connection of Planetary Evolution

1. A paradigm shift in Earth science.- 2. Encounters in space.-  3. Lunar impacts and the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) in the Earth-Moon system.- 4. Impact cratering and ejecta dynamics.- 5. Identification of impact structures.-  6. Impact ejecta and fallout units.-   7. Extraterrestrial geochemical, isotopic and mineralogical signatures.-  8. Precambrian asteroid impacts.- 9. Very large impact structures.- 10. Asteroid impact clusters and isotopic age peaks .- 11. Australian large asteroid impact and possible impact structures.- 12. Impacts and mass extinctions.- 13. Uniformitarian models and the role of asteroid impacts in Earth evolution.- 14. The current danger.- Index.

Endorsements:“Congratulations, Andrew, this volume really captures the science, its multiple facets, and, for your many colleagues, what can be accomplished during a dedicated career.”Gary ByerlyFenton Alumni Professor of Geology andDean of the Graduate School --------------------------------------------------------------“It is a pleasure to see that the record of asteroidal impacts (including probable sites) and their geological effects on our planet has been thoroughly documented in this latest book by Andrew Glikson. While this compilation is likely to represent just the "tip of the iceberg" of the full impact related geology, it nevertheless creates a better wholistic view of this phenomenon, than previous publications.”Victor GostinProfessor of GeologyDepartment of Geology and GeophysicsThe University of Adelaide--------------------------------------------------------------“The paper is a very ambitious summary of many of the key subjects related to the role of impacts in geologic history and, in the end, presents an argument that impacts have driven many of the large-scale events of geologic history, from crustal to biological evolution.”Professor D.R. LoweSchool of Earth SciencesStanford University--------------------------------------------------------------“This monograph is a brilliant synopsis of the role over geological time of asteroid impacts on the evolution of planet Earth.” … “ Dr Glikson, is not just an expert on the topic of asteroid impacts, he has consistently, and rightly so, advocated for some 40 years that large asteroid impacts may have had an important, if not primary, role in shaping the tectonics of Hadean and Palaeoarchean times. Indeed, in the early years of his work on asteroids and their function in Archaean tectono-thermal events, Glikson was well ahead of his time. Inthis monograph Glikson has expertly assembled what is known, poorly known and yet to come, our understanding of asteroid impacts and links with planetary evolution.”Dr Franco PirajnoPrincipal GeologistGeological Survey of Western Australia--------------------------------------------------------------“Glikson is extremely well qualified for the task of compiling a monograph on the effects of asteroid impacts. Over almost 50 years as a geoscientist, he has personally studied numerous impact structures and has published an exceptionally large amount of information on Precambrian crustal evolution.”Dr Arthur HickmanPrincipal GeologistThe Geological Survey of Western Australia--------------------------------------------------------------“Andrew Glikson has been mentored by none other than the late Gene Shoemaker and Robert Dietz, founding fathers of modern impact cratering research. The book covers the full breadth of impact-related studied, from the microscopic to the megascopic, and from both a planetary and terrestrial perspective, while focusing in on the important Australian contributions to this exciting and evolving field - contributions that he himself can lay some claim to.”Peter HainesSenior GeologistGeological Survey of Western Australia