From Crust to Core A Chronicle of Deep Carbon Science

Carbon plays a fundamental role on Earth. It forms the chemical backbone for all essential organic molecules produced by living organisms. Carbon-based fuels supply most of society's energy, and atmospheric carbon dioxide has a huge impact on Earth's climate. This book provides a complete history of the emergence and development of the new interdisciplinary field of deep carbon science. It traces four centuries of history during which the inner workings of the dynamic Earth were discovered, and documents extraordinary scientific revolutions that changed our understanding of carbon on Earth forever: carbon's origin in exploding stars; the discovery of the internal heat source driving the Earth's carbon cycle; and the tectonic revolution. Written with an engaging narrative style and covering the scientific endeavours of more than a hundred pioneers of deep geoscience, this is a fascinating book for students and researchers working in Earth system science and deep carbon research.

1. Why Carbon in Earth Matters; 2. The Origin of Deep Carbon in Deep Space; 3. Deliveries of Cosmic Carbon Continue; 4. On the Nature of Earth's Interior; 5. Earth's Interior Revealed; 6. Thousands, Millions or Billions, the Question of Timing; 7. Physics and Chemistry of Deep Earth; 8. Confronting the Continental Drift Conundrum; 9. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Rift Valley; 10. Earth's Deep Dynamics Discovered; 11. Reversals of Fortune; 12. Deep Carbon's Cycles, Reservoirs and Fluxes; 13. Carbon Bearing Phases in the Mantle; 14. Diamond in the Mantle; 15. Deep Life; Glossary; Biographical notes; References; Index.

Simon Mitton is a Life Fellow at St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. For more than fifty years he has passionately engaged in bringing discoveries in astronomy and cosmology to the general public. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a former Vice-President of the Royal Astronomical Society, and a Fellow of the Geological Society. The International Astronomical Union designated asteroid 4027 as Minor Planet Mitton in recognition of his extensive outreach activity and that of Dr Jacqueline Mitton.