Studies on the introduction of theories concerning the history of the Earth and the transformation of life into Qajar Iran have mainly focused on how Darwin’s theory of evolution entered Iran and the reactions it provoked, particularly in the religious circles of the period. However, the history of Qajar Iranians’ acquaintance with pre-Darwinian theories has received relatively less attention. This article addresses the subject by introducing and examining two translations from the reign of Nāṣer al-Dīn Shāh. The first is a manuscript titled Tadhkirat al-ʾArḍ-i Nāṣirī, translated by Mīrzā Taqī Khān Kāshanī in 1284 AH (1867 AD) from a work by Louis Figuier. The National Library of Iran has identified it as the first Persian translation in the field of modern geology. The second is a lithographed edition titled ʿIlm-i Ṭabaqāt al-ʾArḍ, translated by Mirzā Yūsef Khān Mostashār al-Vezāreh in 1299 AH (1882 AD) from a work by Nérée Boubée. After describing the two copies bibliographically and reviewing the main currents of pre-Darwinian geology in Europe, the article analyzes the content of the translations in light of these currents. The analysis suggests that the compatibility of these works with a religious account of creation, together with the accessible writing styles of Figuier and Boubée, both pioneers of science popularization in Europe, may have been among the factors influencing their selection for translation.