ESS102H1 Lecture Notes - Abraham Gottlob Werner, Neptunism, Plutonism
Document Summary
An early controversy on the origin of rocks related to the question of earth"s origin. Viewed from a quarter millennium later, this controversy is often portrayed as a battle between the two eminent scientists and their schools of thought . But: scientific controversy should not be primarily a battle between people, but between ideas. However: battle between 2 titanic personalities is easier to report (and to remember) Rocks we see originated by sedimenting or precipitating out of a primeval ocean. Rocks we see originated by cooling of molten magma. James hutton, scotland: the neptunists, abraham cottlob werner (1749-1817) (freilberg, saxonia) Studied law and mining in frielberg and leipzig. Freilberg (saxonia: silver discovered in 1180 bergakademie (mining academy) founded in 1765. His classification is linked to theory of their origin/how they formed (neptunist theory: (hot, turbulent) primeval ocean, ocean cooled and calmed; rocks precipitated out, ocean drained (or was sucked) away produced further sediment, volcanic activity.
