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What did Charles Lyell describe in Elements of Geology?
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Charles Lyell
Charles Lyell, detail of a replica in oil by Lowes Cato Dickinson, 1883; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Published in 1838, Charles Lyell's Elements of Geology provided a detailed description of European rocks and fossils, ranging from the most recent specimens—which were Lyell's specialty—to the oldest known examples at the time. Like his earlier work, Principles of Geology, this well-illustrated text was periodically updated and enlarged to reflect ongoing scientific advancements.1