Last updated on February 5th, 2026 at 11:10 pm
Earle, S 2019, Physical Geology 2nd Edition, viewed on 29 January, 2026, <https://collection.bccampus.ca/textbook/LWnyAr3H/>.
Description
Physical Geology is a comprehensive introductory text on the physical aspects of geology, including rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciation, groundwater, streams, coasts, mass wasting, climate change, planetary geology and much more. It has a strong emphasis on examples from western Canada, especially British Columbia, and also includes a chapter devoted to the geological history of western Canada. The book is a collaboration of faculty from Earth Science departments at Universities and Colleges across British Columbia and elsewhere.” (BCCampus | Physical Geology 2nd Ed. )
Chapters and sections
These chapters and sections are available to read here: BCCampus | Physical Geology 2nd Ed.
1.1 What is Geology?
1.2 Why Study Earth?
1.3 What Do Geologists Do?
1.4 Minerals and Rocks
1.5 Fundamentals of Plate Tectonics
1.6 Geological Time
Summary
2.1 Electrons, Protons, Neutrons, and Atoms
2.2 Bonding and Lattices
2.3 Mineral Groups
2.4 Silicate Minerals
2.5 Formation of Minerals
2.6 Mineral Properties
Summary
3.1 The Rock Cycle
3.2 Magma and Magma Formation
3.3 Crystallization of Magma
3.4 Classification of Igneous Rock
3.5 Intrusive Igneous Bodies
Summary
4.1 Plate Tectonics and Volcanism
4.2 Magma Composition and Eruption Style
4.3 Types of Volcanoes
4.4 Volcanic Hazards
4.5 Monitoring Volcanoes and Predicting Eruptions
4.6 Volcanoes in British Columbia
Summary
5.1 Mechanical Weathering
5.2 Chemical Weathering
5.3 The Products of Weathering and Erosion
5.4 Weathering and the Formation of Soil
5.5 The Soils of Canada
5.6 Weathering and Climate Change
Summary
6.1 Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
6.2 Chemical Sedimentary Rocks
6.3 Depositional Environments and Sedimentary Basins
6.4 Sedimentary Structures and Fossils
6.5 Groups, Formations, and Members
Summary
7.1 Controls Over Metamorphic Processes
7.2 Classification of Metamorphic Rocks
7.3 Plate Tectonics and Metamorphism
7.4 Regional Metamorphism
7.5 Contact Metamorphism and Hydrothermal Processes
Summary
8.1 The Geological Time Scale
8.2 Relative Dating Methods
8.3 Dating Rocks Using Fossils
8.4 Isotopic Dating Methods
8.5 Other Dating Methods
8.6 Understanding Geological Time
Summary
9.1 Understanding Earth Through Seismology
9.2 The Temperature of Earth’s Interior
9.3 Earth’s Magnetic Field
9.4 Isostasy
Summary
10.1 Alfred Wegener: The Father of Plate Tectonics
10.2 Global Geological Models of the Early 20th Century
10.3 Geological Renaissance of the Mid-20th Century
10.4 Plate, Plate Motions, and Plate Boundary Processes
10.5 Mechanisms for Plate Motion
Summary
11.1 What is an Earthquake?
11.2 Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
11.3 Measuring Earthquakes
11.4 The Impacts of Earthquakes
11.5 Forecasting Earthquakes and Minimizing Damage and Casualties
Summary
12.1 Stress and Strain
12.2 Folding
12.3 Fracturing and Faulting
12.4 Measuring Geological Structures
Summary
13.1 The Hydrological Cycle
13.2 Drainage Basins
13.3 Stream Erosion and Deposition
13.4 Stream Types
13.5 Flooding
Summary
14.1 Groundwater and Aquifers
14.2 Groundwater Flow
14.3 Groundwater Extraction
14.4 Groundwater Quality
Summary
15.1 Factors That Control Slope Stability
15.2 Classification of Mass Wasting
15.3 Preventing, Delaying, Monitoring, and Mitigating Mass Wasting
Summary
16.1 Glacial Periods in Earth’s History
16.2 How Glaciers Work
16.3 Glacial Erosion
16.4 Glacial Deposition
Summary
17.1 Waves
17.2 Landforms and Coastal Erosion
17.3 Landforms and Coastal Deposition
17.4 Sea-Level Change
17.5 Human Interference with Shorelines
Summary
18.1 The Topography of the Sea Floor
18.2 The Geology of the Oceanic Crust
18.3 Sea-Floor Sediments
18.4 Ocean Water
Summary
19.1 What Makes the Climate Change?
19.2 Anthropogenic Climate Change
19.3 Implications of Climate Change
Summary
20.1 Metal Deposits
20.2 Industrial Materials
20.3 Fossil Fuels
20.4 Diamonds
Summary
21.2 Western Canada during the Precambrian
21.3 Western Canada during the Paleozoic
21.4 Western Canada during the Mesozoic
21.5 Western Canada During the Cenozoic
Summary
22.1 Starting with a Big Bang
22.2 Forming Planets from the Remnants of Exploding Stars
22.3 How to Build a Solar System
22.4 Earth’s First 2 Billion Years
22.5 Are There Other Earths?
Summary
About the Author
Steven Earle was born in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. He earned a BSc in geology from the University of British Columbia in 1975 and a PhD in geochemistry from Imperial College (London University) in 1982. He worked as a geologist and geochemist in the mineral exploration industry in western Canada from 1978 to 2000. For 20 years he developed and taught a wide range of earth science courses at Vancouver Island University. He currently designs and teaches distance courses for Thompson Rivers University (Open Learning), and also helps to grow food and manage the Community Bus on Gabriola Island. He maintains that the best way to see rocks is from a kayak. (BCCampus | About the Author)
How to access
Physical Geology 2nd Ed. is available in multiple digital formats including online, PDF and ePub through BCCampus Collections. You can also order a print copy via BCCampus OpenED | Physical Geology 2nd Ed.
References
- BCCampus 2026, About the author, viewed on 5 February, 2026, <https://opentextbc.ca/physicalgeology2ed/back-matter/about-the-author/>. This page provides biographical information about the author of Physical Geology, 2nd edition: Steve Earle.
- BCCampus OpenEd 2026, Physical Geology – 2nd Edition, viewed on 29 January, 2026, <https://opentextbook.docsol.sfu.ca/store/product/otb089-02/>. This page provides the ability to order a print copy of Physical Geology – 2nd Edition.
- Earle, S 2019, Physical Geology 2nd Edition, viewed on 29 January, 2026, <https://collection.bccampus.ca/textbook/LWnyAr3H/>. This is the official location of the online/pdf version which also contains corrections between 2019 and 2025.
- New Society Publishers 2025, Steve Earle, viewed on 29 January, 2026, <https://newsociety.com/book-author/steven-earle/>. This page provides a biography of Steve Earle, geologist and lecturer.
- Worldcat 2025, Physical Geology 2nd Edition, viewed on 26 January, 2026, <https://search.worldcat.org/title/953970655>. This page provides information about the open textbook copy of Steven Earle’s Physical Geology.