Product Description
Reading the rocks like pages in a book, Geology Underfoot in Southern California offers an inside view of the southland's active and sometimes enigmatic landscape. Twenty vignettes each weave a geologic story of a particular scene, relationship, or feature. Some spotlight well-known landmarks, while others describe subtle relationships among the earth's awesome forces. Together these snapshots introduce readers to southern California's rich, dynamic, and even flamboyant geology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A good beginning guide for a new geologist
A nice guide if you plan on going out into the field and exploring the world around you. It inspired me to get out of the car and do more walking so I could see geology at work for myself. If you were just looking for a book to explain geological places and processes in California it probably would not suffice.I would compare it to a travel book about the hidden places in a certain area rather than a general guide.

Excellent introduction to the geology of the area
This well-prepared and engaging work provides an excellent way for the layman to appreciate points of geological interest in the area. The style is approachable and seeks to simplify, without over-simplifying, and to solicit the reader to use his or her imagination. It is well researched and practical, giving no problems finding places, parking and so on. This book is recommended.

Like Rocks? Wonder about the Landscape?
This book has triggered day-trips & camping expeditions in our family. I've had the pleasure of leading my children and their friends to moments of discovery and learning & shared wonder and beauty with my father--all based on this book.

It starts with a six page description of SoCal's geological history, then jumps into 20 sites of interest. A glossary, "Sources of Supplementary Information," and an index round out the book.

Each site receives its own chapter, replete with photographs, maps, geological diagrams, and even driving directions, as needed. I'm not a serious geologist, but landscape features fascinate me. The explanations that the authors give work well for me: I can understand them well enough to explain them to children.

If you're interested in how the land has been shaped, if you're willing to turn off the tube & make contact with the natural world, then this book is for you. One of the best "field guides" to geology I own. One of my favorites, too. (The companion volume, GEOLOGY UNDERFOOT IN DEATH VALLEY AND OWENS VALLEY, is also an excellent book).

(If you'd like to dialog more about this book or review, click on the "about me" link above & drop me an email. Thanks!)

Excellent, but different from "Roadside" series
If you've used the "Roadside Geology of..." series, this is a bit different.It's more of a "sites of interest" type of book.It lists 20 sites in the southern California area, from Mammoth Lakes outto the coast, and south to Needles and San Diego.The sites arewonderfully explained, with aerial photos, illustrations, and maps.Thisis definitely aimed at the casual tourist, with very little knowledge ofgeology necessary.As a professional Geologist, it's one of those booksI'd give a non-Geologist friend.

Excellent reading for the amateur or layperson geologist.
This is one of the best designed books of it's kind.Full of maps created by the author to help the reader locate interesting sites described along with easy to understand explanations of the covered material.Makes geology fun for all ... Read more

Product Description
The "Land of Enchantment," New Mexico is as varied in its scenery as its nickname suggests. With desert lowlands in the south and high, hoary peaks in the north, with rugged volcanic uplands and colorful plateaus, with high plains along its eastern border, and with a great rift valley that quite literally slashes the state in two, New Mexico's landscape tells a dramatic story that spans more than one billion years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Lots of info............
These Roadside books are always very good and this one is no exception.

The best of tourist geology
I have persused through several Roadside Geology book, so I was pretty sure of what I was ordering.This book is wonderful to read before road trips, while on road trips and after road trips.My family and I have a much better understanding of and appreciation for what we are seeing on our trips.I highly recommend this series for anyone the least bit interested in geology.

Roadside Geology of New Mexico
Outstanding!Since I travel frequently to and through New Mexico, this book was everything I hoped for.Familiar terrain takes on a new meaning now.The seller (BookPlanet) delivered the book promptly, at a reasonable price, and in new condition.Very satisfactory deal all the the way around.John Bradshaw

Not what I expected- Very interesting, great resource
I expected a pretty dry book regarding a pretty dry subject. I was wrong.

This has stimulated my interest in geology. Each time we travel now, we take this book and the Roadside History of NM book with us. It makes our trips through New Mexico much more interesting. We stop and look at the places these books mention and read about the events that occured there and what the rocks are telling us. Sometimes we even take side trips to see things that are mentioned in one of these two books.

I particularly like how this book has diagrams and pictures to help clarify what it is exactly I'm looking at. There are answers to questions I wouldn't have thought to ask in this book.

If you drive through NM quite a bit, this is a good book to have with you as you travel. Even if you don't think you are interested in geology, this book is a good book to have.

Answers to all your questions
Over the years, I have been saving up pictures and memories of geologic curiosities in New Mexico. I had meant to ask a geologist and/or look up books on the subject, but never quite got around to it.When we lived in Taos, I wanted to know more about the geological ages evidenced in the rock layers at the Rio Grande Gorge bridge.When we lived in Los Alamos, I was fascinated by the sculptured sandstone pinnacles in the canyon lands that look man made (but are not).When we lived in Santa Fe and environs, I wanted to know how climate and human interaction had altered the land and what the countryside must have looked like to ancient Indian peoples in that place.And now that we're living between Grants and Gallup, I'm most interested in the lava flow of the Malpais region.This author says that "The youngest flow is less than 1,000 years old and may figure in Indian legends as 'fire rock' that buried the fields of Indian ancestors."To the East is Mt. Taylor, an "eroded composite volcano."

So it's all here - the answers to all my questions and more - with photographs and diagrams and history.It covers all of New Mexico and into the states it touches - Arizona, Colorado and Texas (as well as the four corners region going into Utah).From Precambrian to Quarternary ages, from ancient flood plains and the Rio Grande rift to mountain rock glaciers and the Palisades, it's all here in this little gem of a book.

A perfect resource to accompany you when you're touring New Mexico either on the main highways or off the beaten track, you can go as deeply into the geology of the area you're seeing as you want or simply check out what type of rock you're looking at.*Roadside Geology of New Mexico* by Halka Chronic is exactly what I was looking for in one compact volume, and I'm most please to have discovered it.

pamhan99@aol.com ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excellent science or study text for young adults, especially recommended for high school library collections.
Written by award-winning science author David Lambert and The Diagram Group, The Field Guide to Geology is an overview of the geologic history of the Earth. Accessible to middle and high school students as well as lay readers alike, The Field Guide to Geology is now updated with two new chapters: one on new technologies used to measure behavior of the Earth's complex systems in real time, and one on notable scientists whose research advanced the field of geology. The Field Guide to Geology includes more than 750 two-color maps, charts, and illustrations, and covers everything from plate tectonics to the distinctions between types of rock and stone to how rivers and seas shape the land to means used to date rocks and much more. An excellent science or study text for young adults, especially recommended for high school library collections.

And how is this a field guide?
The words "field guide" imply a book that can be carried in the field to identify features (e.g. "Audubon Field Guide" series).A looser interpretation would be a manual that teaches people to interpret features in the field (e.g. Robert Compton's classic "Geology in the Field"). David Lambert's "The Field Guide to Geology" is neither.It is a simple introduction to geology accompanied by many drawings and diagrams.The book is useful for high school earth science students and younger, but any basic college-level physical geology text provides a more thorough introduction to geology -- with more sophisticated graphics, too.

So, if you want a snapshot of important concepts in basic physical geology, take a lookat "Field Guide to Geology" or search in Wikipedia under "Geology."If you want a detailed introduction, take a look at an introductory-level college physical or historical (for fossils) geology textbook.If you want a true field guide, there are many good series such as the Audubon or Peterson series.

Excellent beginner book.
As a student in engineering geology, I found this book to be
a very good reference but with no in-depth reading. For the novice, I would recommend
this to see if you're interested in the field of geology; but for an intermediate
or advanced geology enthusiast, I would recommend a more scientific book.

There are no photographs but rather drawings of the various
components of geology. The artist did well, but nothing can amount to the incredible
display of mass wasting, or the delicate detail of Micas

This is an excellent guide for beginning geology students.
This is an excellent guide for beginning geology students and a very good review for more advanced students.Should be on all geologist's shelves. ... Read more

Product Description
The rocks and landforms have not changed much since the publication of the first edition of the Roadside Geology of Colorado in 1980, but our understanding of them has. With expanded coverage, updated maps, new photographs, and the latest geologic interpretations, this nontechnical guide introduces you to the tumultuous geological history of Colorado s mountains, plateaus, and plains. The second edition includes tours of Black Canyon in Gunnison National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, Great Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve, Mesa Verde National Park, and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A glossary and index round out this excellent traveling companion
Intended especially for travelers and vacationers interested in taking in Colorado's geological sites, yet accessible to budding geologists everywhere, Roadside Geology of Colorado is now in an updated second edition with new tours of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and much more. Written in nontechnical terminology for lay readers, and featuring numerous two-color maps and black-and-white photographs, Roadside Geology of Colorado is filled cover to cover with eye-opening driving tours. A glossary and index round out this excellent traveling companion for anyone interested in observing the natural rocky beauty of Colorado firsthand.

Roadside Geology of Colorado
This is a very good series of "Roadside Geology" of various states.The writers are experts in their states and highly qualified geologists.The series does not cover all states and there is one large gap - not a roadside geology book on Michigan.This is one of the significant states in the mid- west and has a lot of interest.It is close by Lake Michigan and there are interesting questions about the formation of this lake as well as Lakes Huron and Superior - all surrounding the land mass of Michigan.

Great book--I don't drive anywhere in Colorado without it.
This is a very handy book.It's arranged by road name and by stretch of road--if you find yourself on, say, I-70 westbound from Denver, go to the table of contents and you'll quickly find something like "I-70, Denver to Dillon Reservoir."Go to that section and you'll find a small map, geological diagrams, and probably a photograph.There's also an introductory chapter that gives an overview of Colorado geology and geological history, as well as very clear explanations of geological terms.

Driving on Colorado highways you see some pretty amazing rock formations, and visitors to the state are always asking about them.This book will tell them (and you) anything you might want to know, and explain it clearly.I keep my copy in the car, and consult it often.

Very useful handbook for those interested in landscapes
I like to travel throughout Colorado and have found this book to be very useful in understanding the form and geologic history of the landscape I am travelling through. The book is well illustrated and detailed enough to beuseful, at least for the person with a non-professional interest ingeology. My major regret is that it is not available on CD or tape so thatit could be more efficiently used with only one person in the car! ... Read more

Book Description
HISTORICAL GEOLOGY: EVOLUTION OF EARTH AND LIFE THROUGH TIME teaches students basic geologic principles as well as how scientists apply these principles to unravel Earth?s history. Wicander and Monroe present a balanced overview of both the geological and biological history of Earth as a continuum of inter-related events. These events reflect the underlying principles and processes that have shaped our planet. The authors also explain the historical development of these basic principles and processes, and their importance in deciphering Earth history. Three major themes?time, evolutionary theory, and plate tectonics?are woven together throughout the book. These themes help students link essential material to enhance their understanding of historical geology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

strong explanation of evolution
The authors give a strong explanation of biological evolution, from its earliest unicellular origins to the present. Much fossil and DNA evidence is summarised. Including recent findings in fossil digs from the 90s.

They point out that many so-called missing links are not. For relations between genera, families, orders and classes, the intermediate forms ("links")are often present in the fossil record. Amongst the cases cited are the origins of whales and sea cows.

More generally, the book has numerous instances where transitions found in fossils are explained in terms of limbs or bones developing, or suchlike, so that you can clearly see how one fossil is the evolutionary ancestor of another later fossil. As in the early fishes. Where those who developed jaws with bones were then more able to hunt other fishes; a strong evolutionary advantage. While the move onto land is shown in fossils that had fins with muscles. This allowed for propulsion above water, where the original advantage was to let the fish move around under water, in mud or vegetation.

Geology is also emphasised. Often giving rise to various ore and petroleum bodies found today. Plus plate tectonics is shown to account for the continental drifts and the breakup of Gondwanaland. ... Read more

Book Description
Why does a bit of ocean floor lie on top of Mt. Diablo? Why is Red Rock, that small, knobby island in San Francisco Bay, red? Why is Loma Prieta high? This book is for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors who want to explore the geologic world of this spectacular area, to learn about its shapes, colors, and rocky foundations. Doris Sloan illuminates the colorful geologic mosaic that surrounds San Francisco Bay and lucidly explains the complex and fascinating processes that have forged it over millions of years.
In a lively and engaging style, Sloan describes forces such as the movement of tectonic plates, erosion, the waves on the coast, and human activity. She provides background information on the processes, time frame, and rocks that are the key to understanding the Bay Area landscape and geologic history, then turns to distinct regions of the Bay Area and to San Francisco Bay itself.

* Superbly illustrated with 139 color photographs, 41 drawings, and 29 maps
* Covers Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties
* Gives clear, nontechnical explanations of complex topics including plate tectonics and the Bay Area's fault systems
* Suggests locales in parks and open space preserves to view Bay Area geology in action ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

learning about the bay area
Just begining to learn about the wonders of geology and particularly interested in what makes the bay area unique.
This book contains lots of maps and info and interesting things to do around the bay area to learn about how the area was created.
Most sections ( north bay,south bay, east bay, the bay itself, etc) have places to visit, explore that makes the book an interactive experience.
I've gone to a few of the places and expect to explore more.

Excellent for amateurs & pros alike!
If you have any interest in California geology, this is the book for you.The pictures are beautiful; the text is well written and easy to understand even for those with no background in geology.It is a wonderful source for planning weekend trips.A great gift for anyone interested in the outdoors.

Good overall view of geologic scenerio in SF Bay Area
Well written and easy to understand description of the geologic wrecking yard that is the San Francisco Bay area - even for a layman.

Best Bay Area natural history book I have ever seen!
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and as an avid amateur naturalist, I have collected many regional nature guidebooks-- maybe most of them.I just received this book, having ordered it just based on the title and little else.What a pleasant surprise!-- It is probably the best regional natural history book I have ever seen.

If you are an avid amateur naturalist like me, maybe the following is familiar: You pick up a nice general geology or rock atlas book, and find it beautiful and comprehensive; but when you try to match an actual local observation to this catalog of all possible rocks and structures in the world, you are left with uncertainty.And you quickly lose interest in this guesswork.Well, if you are in the Bay Area, you will feel extremely lucky when you get this book in your hands.It focuses on things you are likely to see here; it shows regional patterns to further help you understand what is what.As a result you will find the topic tangibly relevant, and your local explorations more interesting and fulfilling.

Another amazing aspect of this book is its fullness and quality.You would expect a regionally focused work to be a glorified pamphlet of highlights.On the contrary, this book has the feel of an expensively produced comprehensive geology introduction.(Judging by the cover photo you might not realize (I didn't) that it's a relatively thick (300+ page) book.)It ties everything to the big picture of geologic time.It is full of shiny color photos and color-coded maps.It is extremely well written!-- the writing shows obvious care in making explanations simple and intuitive to nonspecialists.So it is as if we have been given a full geology introduction text (and a great one at that!) written from scratch completely focused on the Bay Area.I might call it the nearest thing I've seen to a "scientific cosmology of the Bay Area"!

I'm not a specialist, but I can vouch for the contents in the following way.Over the years I've collected and bookmarked the most interesting and up-to-the-minute local geology content from the web.For instance, the USGS geologic quadrangle maps.This book seems to collect together all the same good stuff-- and reproduces them in summary form (but in color still!).

In summary, I have not seen a guide written more lovingly for the Bay Area explorer. ... Read more

Product Description
Twenty-five years after writing the groundbreaking Roadside Geology of Northern California, David Alt and Donald W. Hyndman have written an entirely new book--with expanded coverage, new photos and maps, and the latest interpretations of California's turbulent rocks. Geologic road guides include tours of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Kings Canyon National Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, and the San Francisco Bay area. Learn about earthquake prediction, gold mining, pillow basalts, cinder cones, and more with this book as your guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Fun and useful book
I've used this book many times over the years on trips up and down the state of California. Driving up interstate 5, it can turn an otherwise boring trip up the central valley into something actually fun. For example, the author explains that the low moutains that parallel much of I-5 to the west in the central and north valley are known as the Central Valley Sequence, and mark the subduction zone for the Pacific and north American plates. Very cool. I'd been driving by those mountains for twenty years before I brought Alt's book on one trip and discovered that.

Clearly and concisely written, it's an interesting guide to the observable geological features of much of California. Although not for real rock hounds or petrologists, it still dispenses a great deal of interesting and useful information, and will be especially helpful to fans of natural history who lack formal training in geology but who want to learn something about it for their state.

Roadside Geology of Northern and Central California
This is definitely a good book. I have already taken it on a few road trips, and have had a good time learning about the geology of the area I was at. It has also been updated with more info about the bay area (compared to the older prints).

Helpful guide
This is an updated version of the book and is an improvement over the previous one.It's intended for use by casual readers and does a very fine job of it.

Don't just drive by
Begins with an accessible description of the major processes that worked to form the diverse and dramatic geology of Northern California.It is a good introductory discussion and introduces most of the concepts referred to in the rest of the book.The roadside guides identify appropriate points of interest and do a good job describing their significance.My only major complaint typifies each of the offerings in this series.The geologic maps (which I believe are the most helpful tool in Geologic synthesis) are in red, black and white are not very clear at all but there are a number of other helpful diagrams that make the text more readable.The text might be a bit of a slog for someone without a Geology background but would not be impossible and should be fairly accessible with just a little initiation.And, after all, Northern California's geology is too sublime for it to just be a bunch of rocks we drive by.

A must-have field reference
As an owner of the original 1975 edition, I was both impressed and dissapointed by the scope of this edition. In the expanded text, modern geologic theory is covered in plain-English in a manner that makes this a must-have for any geology student or enthusiast. An incredible amount of information lies within the covers in easy to digest segments.
The new road maps themselves however suffer from trying to cover too many miles in too few pages. Compared to the 1st edition, the geologic "points of interest" are fewer and farther between and many notable geologic features are missed or ignored.(It's almost as if Alt and Hyndman rushed a couple of weekend trips along various highways while dictating notes as they whizzed by obvious rock formations.)
Still, it's an excellent reference that does a credible job of covering a 100,000+ square mile area full of some of the most varied and complex geology on the planet.
Good reading both at home and on the road and perfect by itself for the casually curious. Students, teachers and rockhounds will find it to be a valuable "companion book" to more detailed texts as this volume presents only "the big picture" as viewed from the roadside. ... Read more

Book Description
When author George Davis conceptualized the cover illustration for the first edition of Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions, he wanted to emphasize that the human adventure of learning comes from doing; and that new insight springs from careful, detailed examination of field relationships, viewed at all scales from rocks to regions. He asked illustrator David Fisher to combine four photos into the single painting, you see here. The geologist is enveloped by challenging structural relationships of folded rocks in outcrop; the curvature of back and neck, torqued as eyes and brain move closer and closer to clipboard, is the classic language of geologic mapping. When George Davis and new co-author Steve Reynolds contemplated the cover illustration for the second edition of Structural Geology of Rocks and Regions, they asked: "Who else is in the picture?" Stepping back, and handing David Fisher a couple of additional photos, the scene suddenly changed. The original geologist who had been sitting on the outcrop recording data is now up and walking around, gathering new data. A second geologist has moved into the new foreground, mapping and sketching a system of small-scale imbricate faults. Again, the head is torqued to handle the requirements of fine description and careful mapping. Like so many structural geologists, she seems to thrive on visualization of three-dimensional relationships. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Fabulous
What should a textbook be? Comprehensive. Authoritative. Clear, readable, and hopefully interesting. Great pictures. Funny.

Well, the last two might not be requirements, but "Rocks and Regions" has all the above attributes. It covers the theory from stress/strain through all forms of deformation structures (joints, faults, folds, foliations & lineations, shear zones) to a part on plate tectonics (that subject really belonging in a geodynamics textbook). If that wasn't what all you wanted there is a short section at the end on things like primary sedimentary structures, mapping (cross-sections and the like), and a chapter on stereographic projection. Much the same material as that which is in pocket guides like the one by Ken McClay, but handy to have in textbook style. Authoritative? Aye. It's 23 years old this year, and in its second edition.

And now to the important stuff. Clear, readable, and interesting. Absolutely. Essential terms are in bold type when defined. As for readability and interesting, I'm so used to the stellar standard of expression used here now that other - previously decent - textbooks are almost unreadable. Interesting examples often not directly from geology are on every few pages. Funny as well. Most importantly, it reads like real people have written it. After describing the process of stress/strain experiments: "For sick fun you might want to try to calculate how much a limestone specimen of 3.00 cm original length will shorten in the first 5 minutes of shortening at a strain rate of 10^-14 s^-1. Then again, you might not want to." Sarcasm and wit abounds, which is better than riveting wonders like Telford's "Applied Geophysics zzzzzzzzz

Sorry about that. Did I mention it was full of great pictures? Unfortunately the edition has no colour illustrations, but it's not a critical drawback. Unlike the poor and often useless quality of many B&W photos in the Geological Society of London handbooks I have, virtually all photographs in Davis & Reynolds are clear and informative. Their sketches are also splendid, plentiful, and always relevant. Even small things are great, like the typeface and page layout.

This is one of the few (very few... okay, perhaps the only) textbook I've paid AUS$100+ for that was worth it.

One of the best!!!!
This book is a really nice reference for undergrads and also for grads students that are interested to go into the structural geology.
Nice graphs and cartoons that show the difficult concepts with simplicity.
A book that verybody should have in your references in structural geology.

MY ALLTIME FAVORITE!!
This structure book is truly the finest example of what an academic text should be. The content is thorough with no categorical difficiencies. Organization is logical and somewhat unique. However, what makes this work so special is the first author's personal style of creativity. Artwork and the written words are done with a joyful flair. Instead of dry technicalities, students find humor and "common sense" descriptions throughout. How-to descriptions are quite successful. It all goes to show that being a good text author has more to do with conveying the heart of a gifted teacher than with being an "expert". In this particular case, the book is a wonderful product of accomplshed experts who happen to be gifted communicators as well. I wish publishers and aspiring authors would use this text as a model in all subjects.

Good Book for undergrads
This book is one of the complete books in structural geology in the sense that it covers structural geology exhaustively follwed by tectonics which allows you to understand the importance of structural geology in the context of larger scales. Another good quality of the book is that a lot of techniques required for solving practical lab problems are explained lucidly.
All in all a very good for undergraduates with no knowledge of geology. Might seem wordy at times but it sure helps.

great textbook for the student of structural geology
I took structural geology at the University of Washington spring quarter1997. Book was excellent and contributed to a reasonably good grade (3.3)for the course. Recommend for students or professors of structural geology ... Read more

Product Description
From the tightly folded formations in the Appalachians across the broad reaches of horizontal sedimentary layers in the Allegheny Plateau, Pennsylvania's rocks record hundreds of millions of years of geologic history that tell an astounding storyThis book enables the reader to recognize the rocks and understand their meaning. It explains the landscapes of Pennsylvania in terms anyone can understand and enjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Geology is fun
Since my husband and I were going to be spending a week in Pennsylvania, I brought the Roadside Geology book of PA along.I was interested in understanding the local geology and was happy to discover three fossil sites within the area we stayed.I was able to look at a Triassic fossil dinosaur footprint at one site and find some Devonian fossils in another.The Roadside Geology book is great for someone who only has a short period of time to explore a particular area.I hope they'll put one out for every state (particularly Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia...hint hint hint.) ... Read more

Product Description
The fifth edition of the Glossary of Geology contains nearly 40,000 entries including 3,600 new terms and nearly 13,000 entries with revised definitions from the previous edition. Additions and changes reflecting both advances in scientific thought and changes in usage make this 800+ page hardbound reference tool indispensable to professional earth scientists and students. In addition to definitions, many entries include aids to syllabication and background information. The Glossary draws its authority from the expertise of the more than 100 geoscientists in many specialties who have reviewed definitions and added new terms. ... Read more

Book Description
Scott Baldridge presents a concise guide to the geology of the Southwestern U.S. Two billion years of Earth history are represented in the rocks and landscape of the Southwest U.S., creating natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, and Death Valley. This region is considered a geologist's "dream", attracting a large number of undergraduate field classes and amateur geologists. The volume will prove invaluable to students and will also appeal to anyone interested in the geology and landscape of the region's National Parks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

positive reciew of SW geology
I have been looking for this kind of book for years and this hit it right on the spot. The condition and price were also spot on. thanks

It's a terrific book!
This book is terrific! As a foreigner, I learned a lot about the history of geology by reading this book. Highly recommended.

The big geologic picture on a land where geology dominates the view
The title of this book says it all.The story begins two billion years ago and follows the formation of the continental crust of what is now the southwestern US.It then follows that chunk of land to the present, as supercontinents form and disintegrate, island chains collide, and mountains rise and fall.Unlike so many books about the geology of the southwest, Baldridge focuses on the plate tectonics behind the processes.This approach allows the reader to understand the "why" behind advancing and retreating seas, uplifts, faults and volcanoes.The geographic area studied is the southwest, although the Colorado Plateau seems to gather the most attention.It is seen in a broad geological context that includes what happened in places like Death Valley, the Rio Grande Rift and Southern Rocky Mountains. Baldridge places his explanation in standard geologic time, but his chapter breaks are in locations driven by the regional geology, not the standard hierarchy.For a Grand Canyon example, the Chuar and Tonto groups are a single chapter, a fresh (and justifiable) perspective.The story that comes through is a "life story" of the southwest, in which a reader can see the region's geology evolve, illustrating how events in its past shape its response to new conditions.

The book's broad scope means that the history of individual rock layers are often not there - indeed, many layers are not even mentioned (although the fame of Grand Canyon's rock column is evident, most of ours are).The layers serve to illustrate a "story line" driven by the forces acting on the land, they do not break the story into pieces because of what is (or is not) preserved in today's exposures.In developing this evolutionary presentation, Baldridge has to sort through many, often conflicting, hypotheses.He does a good job of finding common threads.In many cases, he presents different mechanisms but concludes with the salient points that seem to be areas of agreement or with the conditions that a solution must explain.

This book is not for the geologically faint of heart.It assumes a pre-existing general understanding of plate tectonics and other geological principles.It is not the place to learn how plate tectonics works, but is the best place I have found to understand how plate tectonics worked on the Colorado Plateau.It will not tell you how the Grand Canyon was carved, how Monument Valley formed, what makes the Supai Group red, or other specific questions.But it does provide the vast historical panorama against which such questions can be asked.From a degree of technicality, it is less technical than Beus and Morales' Grand Canyon Geology, but certainly well beyond Price's Introduction to Grand Canyon Geology.In the preface, Baldridge says his target audience is "upper level undergraduates and graduates."I would expand this to include anyone with a real interest in the Colorado Plateau, and who wants the "big picture" only hinted at in most treatments of the region (like Baars' The Colorado Plateau: A Geologic History).For readers with a more casual familiarity with geology, it could be a difficult read, but the rewards are great for a comprehensive understanding of the area's history.

I liked it - a lot!

Geology of the American Southwest: A Journey Through Two Billion Years of Plate-Tectonic History
An excellent introduction to the geology of the American Southwest, including most of the Colorado Plateau in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, as well as parts of California (in particular Death Valley), Nevada, and Texas. All chapters devote considerable space to a discussion of the plate tectonic settings and paleogeography of the geologic period under consideration. The tectonic settings and processes are of central importance in understanding the amazing and extensive rock record being described. This book contains a host of useful maps, stratigraphic and correlative diagrams, and crisp images of many rock formations discussed in the text. For example, a figure on page 170 I found particularly useful displays a cross section of the famous Jurassic sedimentary rocks spanning the Arizona-Utah border (which is equally applicable to southwestern and far western Colorado), showing schematically but clearly the complex horizontal and vertical relationships, including unconformities, of the major Jurassic rock units present in what can be at times a confusing area of geological terrain. The geology of many of the National Parks and Monuments in the American Southwest, particularly Grand Canyon National Park, is interwoven very nicely with the overall theme and level of the book. All in all, a very useful reference covering 2 billion years of Earth history in this part of the United States, particularly appropriate for undergraduates and graduate students studying geology and the Earth sciences. An extensive bibliography, cited frequently in the text, provides many points of introduction to the supporting literature, and opportunities for further exploration. Undergraduates who plan on participating in a geology field camp in the American Southwest will no doubt benefit by reading this book before their departure. ... Read more

Product Description
The geology of Washington is a story of islands--micro-continents--coming in from the sea. Two hundred million years ago most of Washington consisted of two large islands, each one a scrap of continent, lying somewhere in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. One after the other they docked onto the North American continent, each adding its distinctive bit to the complex geologic and geographic mosaic of western North America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Book for Christmas Gift
Book came in time for Christmas, in spite of the bad weather.

Very Informative
Let's say you have a craving for geology, which is one of the hottest subjects on the planet (you know, molten rock and such).Let's say you want to drive a particular route through Washington State. This book is organized by route (just like the other books in the series) so you can have an expert's explanation of what geologic features you are looking at and how they were formed.

Imagine a time of massive flooding when glacial Lake Missoula burst out of the ice dam and drenched most of Eastern Washington with 500 cubic miles of water more than 30 times.You can easily find the evidence today with the help of this book.

Imagine a time when the northern end of Puget Sound was blocked by glacial ice, the level of water in the sound was about 100 feet higher than today, and all the rivers draining into the South Sound were dammed up and forced to escape to the South, through modern-day Black Lake and down the Chehalis River Valley.

Some people worry about Mt. Rainier erupting again, which of course it will. But imagine the numerous and relatively recent mudflows off Mt Rainier which were not even associated with an eruption.Some of these mudflows contained up to a cubic mile of material with the consistency of liquid bricks.The inundated areas are now inhabited by hundreds of thousands of people.All you folks in Sumner and Orting, good luck in the next one!

Once I wanted to be a Geologist, but the projects took too long to complete. If you have this book, at least the explanation is fast and easy to understand for the non-geologist such as myself.All the books in this series are fun to read when traveling through the subject areas.

Thanks, Steve Willie, Olympia, WA

The most practical guide for amateur geologists
Geology has long been a hobby of mine. I own several of these books and thoroughly enjoy them all. The Washington roadside guide has the most meaning to me since I live in Washington State and have had reason to travel throughout the state for the last 12 plus years.I like the authors approach of using highways and cities as reference points. In addition, the pictures add realism. You can actually go to those places and look at the pictures in the book and see exactly what they are talking about.
I think this book is a valuable educational tool as well for people with children. What fun to drive from place to place and learn about what is really under the surface of the ground!Reading the geological story of a particular part of the state made me want to travel there as well. Great books, very easy to read.

An engaging tourbook that can be enjoyed without the car.
This is not a book for rockhounds -- there are no mineral lists, no collecting sites or things like that.It is aimed at a general reader with an interest in geophysical features and phenomena.I'd say it scorespretty well.

The authors focus on what can be seen along, and whatunderlies, many major Washington highways.They deal with both thesurficial geology and the underlying basement rocks.There is an emphasison relating what is right in front of you to "how it got thatway" and how it continues to change today.

Their preface is anexcellent description of plate tectonics, the engine that powers all thegeologic activity.It would be easy for this description to lose thenon-technical reader, but their writing makes it seem clear.Throughoutthe book they have a consistently light but careful prose style.Morepeople would be interested in geology if introductory geology textbooksread like this one! ... Read more

Book Description
Modern civilization's dependence upon an increasing volume anddiversity of minerals makes the search for new ore deposits ever moredifficult. Now available from Waveland Press, Guilbert & Park's textpresents ideas, principles, and data fundamental for beginning economicgeologists to understand the genesis and localization of ore deposits andof the minerals associated with them. The authors comprehensively describethe physical and chemical characteristics of ore deposits, and correlatethem with environments and conditions of deposition since ore deposits arebest interpreted as extensions of the environments responsible for theirenclosing rocks. Examples and illustrations emphasize structural, chemical,and temporal controls and encourage the three-dimensional thinking used byproductive explorationists as they face unsolved problems. This upper-levelundergraduate text is fully illustrated and meticulously indexed. Itsreliable, authoritative coverage assumes an upper-level command ofchemistry and physics, as well as mineralogy, petrology, and structuralgeology. Outstanding features include: 1) develops and combines theabilities of the explorationist and of the researcher of ore-formingprocesses; 2) structures the geologic descriptions into groupingsrecognized by researches and explorers alike; 3) builds confidence,revitalizes curiosity, and encourages expanded thinking; 4) emphasizes thatthe days of "easy" discovery of outcropping ores are not over; and 5)includes revised, expanded, and updated descriptions of districts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Geology-Centered Introduction to Ore Deposits
This is a book on the geology of ore deposits. It is not a book on exploration techniques. Although most of the geology described in this book is on land, there is also discussion of submarine volcanics and oceanic manganese nodules.

Carbonatites are mentioned as bearers of various metals, notably the REEs (rare earths). The authors treat carbonatites as strictly igneous rocks, comparable to kimberlites. The REE-rich Mountain Pass carbonatite of California is mentioned, but not the larger one at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia.

Pegmatites are featured as important carriers of precious metals. These include common metals, as well as exotic ones such as niobium, tantalum, rare earths, and many more. REEs are often found concentrated in the contact-metamorphic aureoles of pegmatites (p. 198). Most pegmatites are late-stage magmatic products, enriched in volatiles as well as elements that don't "fit" the matrices of the common granitic minerals.

Many economic deposits are the result of concentration by alteration processes. Apropos to this, a helpful table of the relative mobility of ions is included (p. 780). Attention is also devoted to skarn deposits.

Details are given about such things as porphyry copper deposits, various hydrothermal deposits, massive sulphide deposits, BIFs (banded iron formations) Mississippi-Valley type deposits, uranium deposits, bauxite, and much more. The chapter on placer deposits includes sketches of important auriferous placers.

There are several schematic sketches in this book. These include such things as the zonal distribution of metal deposits in a lithologic sequence.

Classic textbook, comprehensive and entertaining
More than 20 years after its publication, this book is still (and deservedly) probably the most widely used text on the origin, description and classification of ore deposits.It is written in an entertaining style and provides enjoyment to the reader on a subject that could easily become dry.In 1986, when this book first appeared, many processes of ore formation were suspected but not scientifically proven.Most have since been proven, and Guilbert and Park have been proven correct in their assumptions.The book is in general very comprehensive, although it lacks any description of iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits, the first of which (Olympic Dam in South Australia) was discovered in 1976.For an up-to-date text, the reader can consult the "recent classic" by Robb Introduction to Ore-Forming Processes.The community of geologists has been extraordinarily industrious over the period between the publication of these two books.

The greatest ore geology book
This a very good clasic ore deposit book that must have all economic geologist. I recommend the ore textures chapter.

The Geology of Ore Deposits
This book, by Guilbert and Park, is the "Bible" for any economicgeologist on ore deposits.As a graduate student in geology, I amconstantly using it as a reference and use it more frequently than anyother book I have.We used another textbook for my economic geologycourse, but all of us referred to "The Geology of Ore Deposits"when some info was needed.It is also on several professers shelves aswell.Well organized and easy to find specific info. ... Read more

Book Description
This 300 page book is profusely illustrated with nearly 200 figures. It explains how the State's bedrock was formed and how its landscape evolved.This publication is essentially a reprint of the 1st edition: modifications include several changes in geologic age dates and in stratagraphic tables. Major improvements are the addition of a subject index, a list of illustrations, and a list of tables. The State's bedrock geology and glacial features are discussed by region so readers can focus easily on the many examples of geologic phenomena in every part of the state. A detailed table of contents and summaries at the beginning of each chapter guide the reader to specific information.Chapters 1-3 provide a context for grasping the big picture. This section discusses the enormity of geologic time to help the reader appreciate how slowly many spectacular geologic events unfold.It explains continental drift with the plate techtonic theory. This theory describes the earth as a heat engine that operates with incomparable slowness. Continents drift about, oceans open and close, mountains build and erode...This theory provides a theme that connects and explains the major events of geologic history.Chapters 4-10 describe the bedrock of New York State by region. These chapters focus not only on what type of rock is present but also on how it came to be there. The seven regions covered are the Adirondack Mountains, Hudson Highlands and Manhatten Prong, Hudson-Mohawk Lowlands and Taconic Mountains, Northern Lowlands and Tug Hill Plateau, Erie Lowlands and Allegheny Plateau, Newark Lowlands, and Atlantic Coastal Plain.Much of the section on surface deposits (Chapters 11-14) is devoted to the Ice Age. Chapter 12 sums up the history of the Pleistocene Epoch in New York State. Chapter 13 lists glacial features found across the state today. Also included in the section are chapters on the Tertiary period (before the Ice Age) and the Holocene Epoch (after the Ice Age).Chapters 15-18 discuss how the geologic environment influences human activity. Topics covered are mineral resources, surface water, groundwater, earthquakes, and engineering geology.Technical terms are defined when they first appear in the text and are compiled in a glossary, as well. The glossary, which defines 800 words and phrases, is an invaluable tool for readers with little or no background in geology. An appendix contains drawings of common fossils, a physiographic map of the U.S., a map of New York's fault systems, a series of 61 block diagrams showing the plate tectonic evolution of eastern North America, and a list of statewide maps related to geology that are available from the New York State Museum.This publication includes a separate full color folded sheet (22 X 56 inches, printed on both sides) titled the "New York State Geologic Highway Map", as part of its illustrations. This sheet includes four parts: Plate 1, A View from Space: New York and Surrounding Areas; Plate 2, Geologic Map and Cross Sections (both Plates 1 & 2 at 1:1,000,000 scale for easy comparison); Plate 3, Legend for the Geologic Map (layed out as a state-wide stratigraphic correlation chart); Plate 4 includes two New York regional maps, a physiographic map and a tectonic map and two index maps of New York, one of routes of geological field guides and one of points of geological interest. This Highway Map illustrates many of the concepts in the book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

New York Geology
I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in New York's Geology. The map included with the book is an excellent visual aid and for someone like me who is interested in finding fossils gives a good idea of the time periods represented.

A must have for New York Geologists and Earth Science teach
A great reference book.My favorite part is the section with the historical diagrams of orogenies, rifting etc.Each diagram shows a time period and how New York was affected.There is also an abundance of information on fossil bearing strata and mineral locations.The book also does a great job with applying most geological processes to New York.

What a fascinating book
I found this book in the library while doing some research for my own book. I have for the longest time wanted to know what is below ground, what type of rock and stuff is a mile or two or three below me. And this book not only gave me an idea of these things, finally, but it was also just chock full of other little fun facts as well. I've spent hours reading it in the library ...

I tip my hat to the authors, Messrs. Isachsen and Rogers. A very good job. An excellent book for the coffee table, to rally a conversation around. An excellent edition to anyone's personal library.

A "must read" for New York Geology......
In spite of it's title, this account, weighing in at 280 pages, is far from "simplified". It is a comprehesive work, with numerous chapters on earth history, plate tectonics, bedrock, surficial materials, mineral resources, hydrogeology, and engineering geology. It is profusely illustrated with charts and diagrams. At least seven State Survey geologists prepared chapters for this book.

The book includes a New York State Geological Highway Map. This is a beautiful 1:1,000,000 scale time/stratigraphic bedrock map of the state, with lots of statigraphic charts and a satelite image A "photo mosaic of the state on the flip side.

Geology of New York State in a Nut Shell !
This Leaflet I found was was very useful for thoses students who are researching particular areas in the Upstate Regions Of New York State.The language used with in the this leaflet is very easy to understand, especially if you are novice to the field of Geology.What is most useful is themany geologic time scales that give a vast amount of information in one page.I found this very useful especailly if I was studing for paleontology and field study classes. I countinue to use this leafel in my class room, mostly to help introduce topics in paeloenvironemnts, plate tectonics, and econmic geology.Each reading, which constits of 10-15 pages, includes questions at the end of each unit.I found these questions not only help to improve teh reading comprehension of my studnets, but also help to insite descussion and further research in these areas. ... Read more

Book Description

This book teaches what everyone needs to know about geology and how science and scientists work. Readers will discover a new appreciation for their surroundings, learning how to prepare for any number of geologic and environmental threats and how our Earth can continue providing all of our needs for food, shelter, and material well-being as long as we don’t squander these resources. The latest discoveries in the geosciences are covered, including Earth systems interactions, continental tectonics and mountain-building, a vastly expanded treatment of the geologic timescale and the evolution of life, and more. Up-to-the-minute examples of exciting geological processes are presented, such as the most recent volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami, floods, and discoveries on Mars and on the Earth’s own seafloors. For anyone interested in exploring how physical geology impacts the world around us.

Book Description
This laboratory manual is written for the freshman-level laboratory course in physical geology.In this lab, students study Earth materials, geologic interpretation of topographic maps, aerial photographs and Earth satellite imagery, structural geology and plate tectonics and related phenomena. With nearly 30 exercises, professors have great flexibility when developing the syllabus for their physical geology lab course.The ease of use, tremendous selection, and tried and true nature of the labs selected have made this lab manual one of the leading selling physical geology lab manuals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A nice, easy-to-use lab manual
This lab manual addresses a variety of geology topics presented in a simple, easy to undertand style. Each chapter has the main concepts italicized with definitons following. It also has a glossary at the end forexplaining some of the common geologic terms. Exercises are put to assiststudents better understand major geologic concepts. The book containstables, diagrams, and colored pictures presented in an interesting patternand serve as tools for visual aids. It is difinetly the lab manual you needas a non-geology major student. It also helps refreshing your baby geologyinformation if you are a geology student. However, to get the most out ofthis book, you need to have some lab materials, such as, rocks, maps,etc..., available particulary for the rocks and minerals part. ... Read more

Book Description
Physical Geology, 12e, is the latest refinement of a classic introductory text that has helped countless students learn basic physical geology concepts for over 25 years. Students taking introductory physical geology to fulfill a science elective, as well as those contemplating a career in geology, will appreciate the accessible writing style and depth of coverage in Physical Geology. Hundreds of carefully rendered illustrations and accompanying photographs correlate perfectly with the chapter descriptions to help readers quickly grasp new geologic concepts. Numerous chapter learning tools and a richARIS website further assist students in their study of physical geology. ... Read more

Product Description
The geologic story of the Yellowstone Country begins with rocks 2.7 billion years old that are mashed remnants of even older rocks, and continues with processes that shape the land surface today. Striking evidence lies along the park roads and highways leading to the north, south, east, and west entrances to Yellowstone Park. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Book, Great Professor
This was the text for part of our Field Camp.I was fortunate enough to have the Dr. Fritz as my personal guide to Yellowstone National Park.I still use the book as a reference in my personal studies of U.S. Geology.It is must for anyone traveling to Yellowstone with even the most remote interest in Geology.

Yellowstone on a simplified Geological Feature a day
The title sums it all up.The book is indeed useful, you can find all sorts of neat features by using it, but it really is a bit simplified.Perhaps it's just me, but it was GREAT for my kids (8 and 11) who are both, well, they read. Anything. As long as they can catch it.

I got it at the park cuz I was really bored
I'm a nerd. I was left with nothing to read in the cold nights. I was also having trouble sleeping. I thought this book would help.

Yes it put me to sleep because reading about rock and millenia of dirt moving is tiresome.

But what I absorbed made me look at yellowstone in a new way. The bookwas quite clear-and I could see and easily understand how Americas greatestmonument to beauty was madeof millions of years.

It's like seeing theLouvre after taking an art class. The paint on canvass comes alive withhistory and meaning.

So too if you read this. ... Read more

Book Description
Writing with verve and clarity, Mary Hill tells the story of the magnificent Sierra Nevada--the longest, highest, and most spectacular mountain range in the contiguous United States. Hill takes us from the time before the land which would be California even existed, through the days of roaring volcanoes, violent earthquakes, and chilling ice sheets, to the more recent history of the Sierra's early explorers and the generations of adventuresome souls who followed.
The author introduces the rocks of the Sierra Nevada, which tell the mountains' tale, and explains how nature's forces, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, faulting, erosion, and glaciation formed the range's world-renowned scenery and mineral wealth, including gold.
For thirty years, the first edition of Geology of the Sierra Nevada has been the definitive guide to the Sierra Nevada's geological history for nature lovers, travelers, hikers, campers, and armchair explorers. This new edition offers new chapters and sidebars and incorporates the concept of plate tectonics throughout the text.

Written in easy-to-understand language for a wide audience.
Gives detailed information on where to view outstanding Sierra Nevada geology in some of the world's most beloved natural treasures and national parks, including Yosemite.
Provides specific information on places to see glaciers and glacial deposits, caves, and exhibits of gold mines and mining equipment, many from Gold Rush times.
Superbly illustrated with 117 new color illustrations, 16 halftones, 39 line illustrations, and 12 maps, and also features an easy-to-use, interactive key for identifying rocks and a glossary of geological terms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Teachers reference
This is a nice reference source for general geologic information on Sierra Nevada. A definite improvement over the last edition, worth the replacement cost. Too bulky for a field guide unless you like spending your outing buried in a book, but is a great size for student use in class. The breadth of topics is excellent, and material is up to date (not all books available are). For anyone who needs exposure to Sierra Nevada geology, this is a good supplement to the Harden Book

Entertaining but lacking in 'geology'
However titillating this book never quite addressed what I'd hoped to find. I was disappointed that there wasn't much 'geology' in the book other than nice descriptions of how gold wound up where it did and how Half Dome, El Cap, etc. were shaped.On the other hand, it's great for the history of geological exploration and mining in the area (including political intrique between John Muir and 'official' geologists.) Other virtues include lists of noteworthy geological features and great maps and photos.

They're not just rocks, they're history
Three decades ago geologist Mary Hill wrote a handbook to the Sierra Nevada's geologic history and it became the standard guide. The aptly named author has now extensively revised her book. It's an armchair traveler's delight and remains an authoritative guide that will well serve a new generation of hikers, campers, and explorers.

"Geology of the Sierra Nevada: Revised Edition" ($19.95 in full-color paperback from University of California Press) contains almost 200 illustrations, including photographs of rock forms and ma