Nicolas Desmarest Encyclopedia Article

Nicolas Desmarest

The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.

(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.

All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.

Nicolas Desmarest

1725-1815

French geologist who demonstrated the volcanic nature of columnar basalts in France's Auvergne region (1765), thus establishing that not all rocks are sedimentary. This was in opposition to Abraham Werner's neptunian theory. Desmarest's most original contribution to geology was a history of eruptions and lava flows from Auvergne's volcanoes (1775). His three-stage physiographical history extended historical geology to volcano studies. As an agent of the French department of commerce, Desmarest served as Inspector of Manufactures at Limoges (1788-91).