Coprolite in the News

The social, economic and envirnmental impact of Britain's 19th century fossil industry

Autor*innen

• Bernard O'Connor

Parameter

• 540 Seiten
• 19 Lesestunden

• Wissenschaftsgeschichte & -theorie

Mehr zum Buch

The book explores the extensive fossil excavation efforts in Britain from 1843 to 1918, focusing on the search for coprolites, often mistaken for prehistoric animal droppings. Excavations reached significant depths across various regions, uncovering a rich array of specimens, including dinosaur remains. The debate among geologists over the classification of these fossils highlights the tension between scientific terminology and public perception. Additionally, the high phosphate content of these fossils led to their commercial use in creating superphosphate, the first chemical fertilizer.

• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
• Einband: Paperback