Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands, Visited During the Voyage of HMS Beagle
Together with Some Brief Notices on the Geology of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope

Volcanic Islands is one of Darwin's most important geological works and provides insights into the development of his thought.

Charles Darwin (Author)

9781108072335, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 June 2011

192 pages, 2 maps
21.6 x 14 x 1.1 cm, 0.25 kg

Charles Darwin (1809–1882) published Observations on the Volcanic Islands in 1844. It is one of three major geological works resulting from the voyage of the Beagle, and contains detailed geological descriptions of locations visited by Darwin including the Cape Verde archipelago, Mauritius, Ascension Island, St Helena, the Galápagos, and parts of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Chapter 6 discusses the types of lava found on different oceanic islands. There is an appendix of short contributions by two other scholars: descriptions of fossil shells from Cape Verde, St Helena and Tasmania by G. B. Sowerby and of fossil corals from Tasmania by W. Lonsdale. The book is illustrated with woodcuts, maps and sketches of specimens. It provides valuable insights into one of the most important scientific voyages ever made, and the development of Darwin's ideas on geology.

1. St. Jago, in the Cape de Verde archipelago
2. Fernando Noronha
3. Ascension
4. St. Helena
5. Galapagos archipelago
6. Trachyte and basalt. Distribution of volcanic isles
7. New South Wales
Appendix: Description of fossil shells G. B. Sowerby
Description of fossil corals from the Palaeozoic formation of Van Diemen's Land W. Lonsdale
Index.

Subject Areas: Earth sciences [RB]