Darwin-L Message Log 8:34 (April 1994)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<8:34>From DARWIN@iris.uncg.edu  Tue Apr 12 20:35:18 1994

Date: Tue, 12 Apr 1994 21:35:00 -0500 (EST)
From: DARWIN@iris.uncg.edu
Subject: Hard rock and soft rock
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Organization: University of NC at Greensboro

Just an explanatory note to follow Bonnie Blackwell's message on paleobotany
and paleontology.  Non-geologists might not be familiar with the geologists'
jargon "hard rock" geology and "soft rock" geology.  To a considerable extent
this distinction corresponds to the distinction we have talked about in
other fields between "structural" approaches and "historical" approaches to
a given subject.  Hard rock geologists study igneous and metamorphic rocks,
which are ordinarily not fossiliferous, and their work often has a structural
and geophysical emphasis.  Soft rock geologists study sedimentary rocks, the
primary fossil-bearing rocks, and their work usually has a strong historical,
paleontological, and stratigraphic emphasis.  The two domains certainly
interact, but it is an interesting distinction to consider.  Perhaps one of
our geological members could explain the different nuances of these terms
better than I have.

Bob O'Hara, Darwin-L list owner

Robert J. O'Hara (darwin@iris.uncg.edu)
Center for Critical Inquiry and Department of Biology
100 Foust Building, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina 27412 U.S.A.

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