Nicolas Desmarest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicolas Desmarest
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| Born | 16 September 1725 Soulaines-Dhuys
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| Died | 20 September 1815 |
| Nationality | French |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | geology |
| Influences | Buffon |
Nicolas Desmarest (16 September 1725 – 20 September 1815) was a French geologist. He made important discoveries about how the Earth's surface was formed, especially about volcanoes and valleys.
Contents
Who Was Nicolas Desmarest?
Nicolas Desmarest was a smart French scientist who studied the Earth. He was one of the first people to understand how rocks and landscapes were shaped over long periods. His work helped create the science of geology, which is the study of the Earth's physical structure and substances.
His Early Life and Learning
Nicolas Desmarest was born in a place called Soulaines in France. He went to school in Troyes and Paris. To pay for his education, he worked as a teacher. This shows he was very determined to learn!
He became very interested in the Earth after reading a book called Theory of the Earth by Buffon. In 1753, Desmarest won a prize for an essay he wrote about how England and France might have been connected in ancient times. This made many people notice his talent. Later, he got a job studying and reporting on how things were made in different countries. By 1788, he became the inspector-general of industries in France.
Discovering Earth's Secrets
Desmarest loved to explore. He often walked long distances to study the Earth's structure. In 1763, while exploring a region in France called Auvergne, he noticed something amazing. He saw that the basalt rocks there looked like old lava flows. These rocks were similar to the famous columns of the Giant's Causeway in Ireland.
He realized that these rocks were proof of ancient volcanoes that were no longer active. This was a big idea at the time! It helped people understand that the Earth's surface had changed a lot over millions of years due to volcanic activity.
In 1774, after visiting the area many times, he published an essay about his findings. He even included a geological map with his essay.
How Valleys Are Formed
Nicolas Desmarest also studied how valleys were made. He was the first person to suggest that valleys were created by the streams and rivers flowing through them. He explained that the water slowly wears away, or erodes, the rocks over a very long time. This process carves out the valleys we see today. Before him, many people thought valleys were formed by sudden, big events. His idea was a major step in understanding how landscapes change.
His Legacy
Nicolas Desmarest died in Paris in 1815. His ideas about volcanoes and how valleys are formed were very important for the future of geology. In 1823, his son, Anselme Gaëtan Desmarest, published an even better version of his father's geological map. Nicolas Desmarest's work helped scientists understand that the Earth's surface is constantly changing, even if it happens very slowly.
See also
In Spanish: Nicolas Desmarest para niños
