Destiny or Chance Revisited

Stuart Ross Taylor is a trace element geologist and an Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University. His research has covered wide-ranging topics involving trace element geochemistry, from the composition and evolution of the Moon, to tektites and the continental crust of the Earth. He has a DSc from the University of Oxford, is a Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Sciences and has received the Goldschmidt Medal of the Geochemical Society, the Leonard Medal of the Meteoritical Society and the Bucher Medal of the American Geophysical Union. Professor Taylor is the author of 240 scientific papers and nine books, including Planetary Crusts (with Scott McLennan, 2008) which won the 2010 Mary Ansari Best Reference Award of the Geoscience Information Society. He carried out the initial analysis of the first lunar sample returned to Earth at NASA, Houston in 1969 and Asteroid 5670 is named Rosstaylor in his honour.

'This book is an encyclopaedic reference of the vast range of intertwining phenomena and processes which compete to shape the paths of planet-making. It is comprehensive, thorough, and admirably up-to-date. With many intriguing historic antidotes and vivid analogies, Taylor lucidly conveys some deep concepts in layman terms, without the distraction of intimidating formula or excessive jargon. It is a must-have for all amateurs or professionals who are fascinated by our place in the Universe.' Douglas Lin, Lick Observatory, University of California

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Prologue; 2. The Universe; 3. Forming planets; 4. The exoplanets; 5. Our Solar System; 6. Earth and Moon; 7. Perspectives; Appendix A. Sources; Appendix B. The geological time scale on the Earth; Appendix C. The geological time scale on Mars; Appendix D. The geological time scale on the Moon; Index.