Christian Leopold von Buch
Christian Leopold von Buch, usually cited as Leopold von Buch, was a German geologist and paleontologist born in Stolpe an der Oder and is remembered as one of the most important contributors to geology in the first half of the nineteenth century. His scientific interest was devoted to a broad spectrum of geological topics: volcanism, petrology, fossils, stratigraphy and mountain formation. His most remembered accomplishment is the scientific definition of the Jurassic system.
Christian Leopold von Buch, by Carl Joseph Begas (1850)
Statue of Leopold von Buch in Berlin, sculpted by Richard Ohmann
The Jurassic is a geologic period and stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period 201.4 million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 145 Mya. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic Era and is named after the Jura Mountains, where limestone strata from the period were first identified.
Portrait of Alexandre Brongniart, who coined the term "Jurassic"
Folded Lower Jurassic limestone layers of the Doldenhorn nappe at Gasteretal, Switzerland
Middle Jurassic strata in Neuquén Province, Argentina
Tidwell Member of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic), Colorado