Product Description
Robert H. Dott Jr. and John W. Attig wrote Roadside Geology of Wisconsin to help residents and visitors alike "envision mastodons roaming in front of glaciers 12,000 years ago, feel storm waves pounding sea cliffs 500 million years ago, and hear volcanoes exploding 1,900 million years ago." With lively prose, detailed maps, black-and-white photographs, and shaded-relief images, the authors succeed in their goal: unraveling the 2,800 million years of geologic history recorded in Wisconsin's rocksIntroductory sections describe the geology of each region, and thirty-five road guides locate and interpret the rocks, sediments, and landforms visible from the state's highways, including the Great River Road in the Mississippi Valley.Roadside Geology of Wisconsin delves further into the geologic history of specific sites such as Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, the Wisconsin Dells, the geologically renowned Baraboo Hills, and more than twenty-five state parks.Features of and access points to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail are noted. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Could be much, much better
I was ecstatic when this book arrived in the mail; a tour guide for Wisconsin's fascinating geology was like a dream come true.Unfortunately this book is not nearly as readable as it should be.It is far too heavy on scientific names and proper nouns, reading more like a dry list of facts than a guide to the dynamics of geology.Compare this to the WPA Writer's Guide to Wisconsin and it doesn't hold a candle.

Normally the folks at UW Extension are masters at making their expertise accessible to anyone, but they sure didn't do that here.I'm going to keep reading through the book because I want to learn the information inside, but it's a rough slog.Here's hoping a better writer attempts the same project soon.

It is not just ordinary rolling hills, the geology of Wisconsin is interesting!
As a non-scientist I enjoyed this book. It made me want to know more about the geology of Wisconsin and made sense of land formations I have seen on my drives through the state. Wisconsin is more than ordinary rolling hills. Nice pictures and diagrams. Background information and definitions especially helpful to review basic geology.

Roadside Geology of Wisconsin
I have several of the Roadside Geology Series and have found them to be very readable for a novice, and Wisconsin is no exception.

As usual I got it after the fact, and wish I had it before.Our trip would have been that much more interesting if I had known all the interesting things I know now.

I highly recomend any and all Roadside Geology books.

Very Interesting
I once bought a Roadside Geology of Wyoming when travelling there and found it to be really interesting and helpful in our travels there.I have lived in Wisconsin for more than 40 years and decided to get this book. I was really surprised how much I learned about my own state.This book will add interest to any trip we take.

Great book - who knew there were diamonds in Wisconsin?
I took this book with on our last drive across the state and put it to good use.The way the book is organized, coupled with the detailed index, made it easy to identify the geological features we encountered.It also includes a glossary and suggestions for additional reading.The writing style makes it accessible to the layperson, but enough information is given to place it on par with the college level geology course I took in the past. ... Read more

Product Description
Physical Geology, 12th edition, 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

Customer Reviews (5)

Good
I needed this book for my class and I found it here for a much better price than at the local/school book stores.

Chernicoff is better
If this is the designated textbook for a college class, youre SOL. It's ok as far as it goes, but it seems to me to be more on the level of a high school book. Really kinda dumbed down. If you just want a good reference book for a subject youre really interested in, I would recommend Physical Geology by Chernicoff.

Ideally fits for the "Basic Geology" class
I've bought this book for the "Basic Geology" class.

The narration style of the book is relatively easy for the comprehension (compared to other science-related books). The illustrations are well-designed and really helpful. The links to web resources at the end of each chapter provide more details and visuals for those interested to go deeper into the subject.

Due to the authors' origin being the USA, the case studies and examples largely refer to the Northern America. It might not be very interesting for someone living in the Central Europe, like myself, still the principles and concepts behind the cases are more/less universal, so it does not make the book less attractive.

A Good Beginning Geology Textbook.
I teach a college-level geology course called "Planet Earth." At a lot of other universities it would be called "General Geology" or "Physical Geology." If you're going to be a geologist, this is probably where you start. Of course, most students aren't going to be geologists, they just want an interesting, meaningful and fun way to get their university science requirements out of the way. It's a fun course for me to teach. I enjoy students at the beginning level. Of course, you need a good textbook and the "Physical Geology" book has worked well for me and I've used it up through the last three editions. It's too expensive for what you get, but that's true for almost all geology textbooks.

This book has a good organization. I can teach geology in the way I want and I don't have to change the order of the chapters at all. Of course, I can't make it through the entire book as there's just too much to cover during a single semester. It's overwhelming! All geology textbooks are that way. I just tell the students that they're getting more for their money, but few of them appreciate the humor. In any case, it's an easy read for me and I like the examples and illustrations. It has all kinds of "In Greater Depth" boxes and I hope the students read and appreciate these little extras as they're quite good. I just don't have the time to cover them all. All in all, I've had better results with this textbook than with many others and I'd attribute it to the quality and readability of the book. Students seem to lie it, and that's part of the battle.

If you're just trying to understand geology on your own and don't intend to take a college-level course, you might find this a good book but it would depend on your own diligence and persistence. Understanding geology on your own is not the easiest way to go, but I'd say this is one of the better books if you're willing to try. Plummer (and the others) also suggest a host of supplemental readings and internet sites to aid the process. I suppose most people would chose many of the popular geology books, but these would probably rank more as entertainment than serious learning. This is a good textbook, one of the better ones I've used in my 40 plus years of teaching beginning geology.

Gary Peterson

It's science
This book covers the basics of geology in a not too boring of a way... it is a science book so it can't get too exciting for the average student, but its very thorough. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A good book for amateur geologists...
This book is a good introduction to the overall principals of geology as well as to the specific geology of the eastern US.There's lots of diagrams, maps, photos and an easy to read text. Sections includebackground information about geology, the major geological features of anarea and what you would see along the major highways of that area. ... 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 (5)

Clear guide for the non-geologist
My 13 year old son and I just finished a 1000 mile trip son through Washington, Idaho, and Montana. This series of books was our companion. My son read it aloud as we drove. We both learned a lot about the Columbia river basin, and the cascade mountains.

After reading it, my son could spot and identify the different general rock types and color changes described.

An excellent companion with good diagrams and short sections that convey the most important (and observable) facts.

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

Product Description
Creationist author Dr. John Morris takes the reader on a tour of the earth's crust, describing all of the components, explaining earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes, geysers, and so much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Wonders of Creation Series
We used this series at our Christian homeschool co-op.I didn't use all the series in my class but everyone I used I was impressed.Hard to find science books that do not make theories sound like proven fact.Would recommend this series.

Great resource for any children's home library
This book is very clearly written at a student's level and is a wonderful earth science resource. Explaining fossils, sedimentary rocks and glaciation and plate tectonics from a biblical perspective, the Geology Book is a wonderful, accurate and informative resource. The many, many colorful pictures that fill the pages grab students' attention while helping them "visualize" the processes explained in the text and the free online study guide that is made available helps teachers turn this text into a wonderful and indepth study. For students who learn best through literature, this book could easily be paired with A Grand Canyon Adventure

Excellent source of general geology knowledge
This book by John Morris gives wonderful insights into the wide field of modern geology knowledge. If you are a lay person in geology but interested to learn about it - this book is a "must read". This book is even more important to read if you have children who began to study geology at school and thus ask you questions about that.

In addition to technical knowledge, this book exposes a reader to the truth that everything around us is created by God of the Bible and evidence about that is everywhere, just as the Bible says in Romans 1:19-20. The book also gives much material to see that evidence (i.e. facts) is neutral and the way a person interprets it is completely driven by a person's worldview. Read this book and you'll see that the Biblical worldview makes way more sense than an evolutionary worldview.

Call it...theology...please.
The reviewer herein tagged as "a reviewer" is quite correct in his/her assessment of this book. I was looking for a basic geology science book, and since I have known the Morris family, I thought I would find an objective science book. Wrong. This book is targeted to children.

What I find remarkable is the comment by another reviewer, a "Brown," who makes the following remarkable observation in favor of the book: "Also, to the reviewer that commented that this book belongs in the "religious section," if that were the case, then any book trying to present the case for evolution would belong there as well. In order for anything to be accepted as scientific fact, one criterea is that it has to be observable. Anything beyond that is restricted to the area of theory and (yes, even for an evolutionist) faith."

Now, if what this reviewer says is true, then Dr. Morris, take note. In fact, pp. 73-75 (chapter 8) describes "the future earth", according to the Bible, of course, but then within the context of a dispensational, pre-millennial theological context (theology is not science). If what Brown (above) says is correct, that true science must fall within the realm of the 'observable' (which I would agree), then we have a real problem with Dr. Morris' book as he jumps from the observable, within the limits of the Bible (which is apriori assumption) to the purely spectulative in chapter 8, which is purely deductive reasoning.

Sadly, this book and most of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) is essentially what I call a "Tinker Tank" (not Think Tank) for creationist theology, and not a genuine think-tank for real creation science. These folks spend their time antagonizing low-level evolutionists into "debates" which they edit to favor their worldview, and little, if any, core time in the field or laboratory. Here again, Philip Johnson, Michael Behe, et al., make the scientific case for creation within a more unblemished scientific context. You may wish to wet your appetite with the excellent DVD, "The Privileged Planet." I wish I could give more than one star to this book. I truly wish that these folks would enter the scientific arena without theological assumptions, and provide honest research, as others have, and not stand on the shoulders of theology. Writing about science does not science make.

Good Book
For openers, I'd like to add to the previous review as a Baptist by saying that we also still believe in the young earth view.

Also, to the reviewer that commented that this book belongs in the "religious section," if that were the case, then any book trying to present the case for evolution would belong there as well.In order for anything to be accepted as scientific fact, one criterea is that it has to be observable.Anything beyond that is restricted to the area of theory and (yes, even for an evolutionist) faith.

Now, onto the book itself.
The illustrations were indeed excellent, and the content was well written.It would probably go over the head of a first grader (unless the first grader can read words like "radioisotope" and is at least familiar with the periodic table of elements.)The book reads like a textbook, and isn't one I would picture a kid reading just for fun, unless he or she is deeply interested in geology, (but if they are, they'll get alot out of this book.)I'd recommend it as a homeschool textbook, or for a school library. ... Read more

Product Description
If it's important for you to incorporate the scientific method into your teaching, this lab manual is the perfect fit. In every exercise there are scientific method boxes that provide students with insight into the relevance of the scientific method to the topic at hand. The manual also includes "In Greater Depth" problems, a more challenging probe into certain issues. They are more quantitative in nature and require more in-depth, critical thinking, which is unique to this type of manual. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Confusing Manual, Confusing Class
Geology was my only science class in college.I should have picked something else.I just couldn't understand it.I feel like someone who is really into geology would appreciate this book and lab manual, but I was just confused the whole time.I feel like the lab manual didn't always correspond with the chapters in the book, which only added to my confusion.

That being said, I'm probably not the best person to review this, being as I could barely understand the subject.Someone who is really great at geology might really like this.I felt it was confusing, though.

could be a textbook in its own right
I'm not sure about this. It calls itself a lab manual. Yes, it is spiral bound, with perforated pages for easy detachment, like many such manuals. Yet the text seems like that of a conventional geology book. Perhaps what really distinguishes the manual as such is the extensive problem sets. One to each chapter.

But if you want to learn geology, and do not have the accompanying Physical Geology book, you can still profitably and enjoyably read this manual. There is enough text and illustrations here to adequately convey lessons to a motivated reader. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on the best-selling Earth: Portrait of aPlanet, Essentials of Geology offers the sameengaging writing, spectacular artwork, andhelpful pedagogy as the parent text in a moreconcise format.This accessible introductionintegrates traditional geologic concepts withthe most recent theoretical advances, among them theories of plate tectonics and Earth systemsscience. The Second Edition has been carefullyupdated, including coverage of recent eventssuch as Hurricane Katrina, and offersunparalleled multimedia tools for instructorsand students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Geology book
the book was in good condition, although they had mentioned a few water stains I couldn't find any however they said there weren't any highlight marks and there were.All and all the book was in good condition and for the price I am happy.

Absolutely Amazing!
It was great. Brand new, just as described. I was grateful because it was cheaper than the used copies at my school and my school didn't have any new copies.

Good textbook reading
Easy and interesting to read. Not as hard of a fight to get through as other school textbooks.

Must Have!
If you have any interest in geology or earth science, then this is the book to have. The author has performed extensive field work in geology,( I have some of his other publications), and he has written this book with that in mind.
The clarity of his illustrations go beyond any other book I have seen. His descriptions are easily understood.
Buy a not so "great condition" if you must but get one! Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!
And "No" I'm not related to him nor have I ever met him. :)

Very clear and nice giud to start with.
Well, this is the first time for me to readabout geology as I'm trying to change my career, I found exactly what I need to know about geology as a beginner, it starts from the first moment of forming the universe encluding all the hypothisis, theories and reasons, then goes thru formation of the earth. The writer took in account the level of the reader, no deep background required, what you know from high school is more than enough and the book will take care of every thing else with very detailed explaination, nice discussed contexts, and ilustrated with clear figures and photos. I recommend this to those who want to start geology. ... Read more

Product Description
Modern civilization's dependence upon an increasing volume and diversity of minerals makes the search for new ore deposits ever more difficult. Now available from Waveland Press, Guilbert & Park's text presents ideas, principles, and data fundamental for beginning economic geologists to understand the genesis and localization of ore deposits and of the minerals associated with them. The authors comprehensively describe the physical and chemical characteristics of ore deposits, and correlate them with environments and conditions of deposition since ore deposits are best interpreted as extensions of the environments responsible for their enclosing rocks. Examples and illustrations emphasize structural, chemical, and temporal controls and encourage the three-dimensional thinking used by productive explorationists as they face unsolved problems. This upper-level undergraduate text is fully illustrated and meticulously indexed. Its reliable, authoritative coverage assumes an upper-level command of chemistry and physics, as well as mineralogy, petrology, and structural geology. Outstanding features include: 1) develops and combines the abilities of the explorationist and of the researcher of ore-forming processes; 2) structures the geologic descriptions into groupings recognized by researches and explorers alike; 3) builds confidence, revitalizes curiosity, and encourages expanded thinking; 4) emphasizes that the days of "easy" discovery of outcropping ores are not over; and 5) includes revised, expanded, and updated descriptions of districts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Classic and indispensible
This is the classic text of economic geology. Although each deposit is unique this book links much empirical data together in a way that aids understanding, eventually allowing the diligent reader to be a savvy prospector anywhere in the world. An excellent geological guide for geophysicists and indispensible for prospectors and explorationists in mining. Does not require any geology knowledge if you have a good minerology or geochemistry reference and are willing to hustle and learn some minerology as you go.

Content Fine, Print Quality average
The content of this book is great. As a practising geologist, I still find it a useful overview and for junior staff, I recommend it as the first point of reference. I strongly suggest this as a book to get if you haven't.
Having said that, this is not a new 2007 Edition; the content page describes this as a 2007 Reissue by Waveland Press of the 1986 Publication. I compared it directly to a 1986 version we also have in the office, and its the same, except that the 2007 reissue is printed (digital?)copy of the original. I've seen this in another revised edition (Applied Geophysics, Telford). Its OK for B&W line drawings but like any scan or photocopy, photos come out all contrasty and photos of fine rock textures lose much of their detail.The hardback cover is good quality, the paper is OK, but I would much rather have bought a second hand copy of the 1986 hardback
A for content, C for effort, B overall.

As a Textbook...
This book is interesting. It is quite dense in places and gets hard to read, but overall it is very useful. It is the main book in my economic geology class and is supplemented by several others that focus more specifically on other topics.

Just great!
This is an excellent book, absolutely necessary for any geologist or geology student. What more can I say? Maybe: Amazing!!!

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.
... Read more

Product Description
The geologic panorama of Texas is as wide as the state is big, sweeping from volcanic mesas and thrusting mountains in the west to the red canyons of the Panhandle, along tropical sand barriers of the Gulf Coast, and across central limestone plateaus to the hard granitic terrain of central Texas. Learn about the rocks as you come to them--what they are, when they formed, what they mean, and how they fit into the big picture of the geology of Texas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

See Texas in a New Way
I grew up in Texas and have driven most of the roads described in this book.As a native Houstonian, I can't say much for the geology of the region (1000 feet of gumbo clay) - but Spearing makes even that interesting.

This book is valuable on three levels.First, it is organized by roadway...so if you are driving from, as an example, El Paso to Corpus by way of San Antonio, you'll know what to look for.Second, each description of a geologic feature is accompanied by drawings/diagrams that explain how the feature came into existence.Finally, the book includes a number of "gee whiz" factoids...such as the Gulf Coast's status as the third largest aquifer in the US, which bring the region to life.

After reading this book, you'll have a feel for how a large portion of geological processes work...and you'll see landscapes in a new way.

needs further updating
I do love the way this book is written and laid out and concer with the other reviewers that this is THE roadside geology book to have.It is certainly better than the previous 1960s edition (same book title & publisher, different author) as rock formations and roads change.However, after reading some of the descriptions of where to find the formations, I realized, "Hey, that's not there anymore..."i.e. Bergstrom AFB is now Austin's airport and the roads are very different there now than they were in 1991.Another example: Austin chalk formation can't be seen in the place described anymore because of a shopping center. As I get out on the road, I'll be interested to see what else I can/can't find.

Maybe the publishers should have a website where rockhounds can report updates...

A science book for non-geologists
I have a PhD in Math and Physics; but know zip about geology.Find this whole series facinating; but you must have a science bent and a desire for new knowledge to understand it.

WHOLE NEW WAY TO LOOK AT TEXAS
This book is a whole new way to look at my home State. I have been in Texas all my life and 97% of all my driving miles are here. The landscape, rocks, hills, and geology are explained in ways I never knew. It explains what you see from the road on major and some minor highways in all regions of the State. I recognize places shown in the pictures (sadly, in black & white). Now I travel with the book, take color pictures of the places mentioned on the highways I drive, and get a true appreciation of how varied and unique Texas is. Truly, Texas is a Whole Other Country!

Texas Geology: One rock at a time
"Roadside Geology of Texas" is an excellent resource for amateur geologists and travelers. The illustrations are colorful and the data is organized and presented in reference to travel between points of Texashighway segments. It is an excellent travelogue that makes studying of road cuts and identification of mountain skyline profiles more interesting. It has expanded my appreciation of the geographical and geophysical aspects of the terrain. Great book. ... Read more

Product Description
To understand timely issues such as natural disasters and environmental challenges—and to evaluate solutions to related problems—the average citizen needs a basic awareness of the scientific principles that influence our planet. This trusted book makes an often-complex subject accessible to readers with a strong focus on readability and illustrations.Offers a meaningful,non-technical survey that is informative and up to date for learning basic principles and concepts. Includes a revised and expanded GEODe Earth CD-ROM. Updates and revises art and illustrations to include dozens of new high-quality, photographs carefully selected to aid understanding and add realism. Provides a wealth of new special-interest boxes, including "Earth as a System," "People and the Environment," and "Understanding Earth."A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about Earth's geology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Love this book
OK I'm a new to geology. I am amazed to think about the many geologic formations that exsist. The book is a college level book that is both informative and enjoyable to read. It also makes you think. I'm glad I bought the book (yes - I'm cheap I got it used) but I will probably read it twice. Highly recommended for the newbee.

This is not a field guide or a rock ID book but an honest to goodness college level introductory text to introduce physical geology.

A great geology book.
This is the first geology book I have studied.It seems to be fairly complete for an introductory text.The pictures and graphics are excellent and the text easy to follow.A point that needs to be mentioned is that the authors repeat a lot of things multiple times.This is a good thing.It negates the need to go back and look stuff up that was forgotten or missed somehow.Repetition is the key to learning.The authors have done very well in this regard.

Review
The book wasn't in as good a shape as I expected but it wasn't bad either

Fast service!
I received my product quickly and it was exactly as described. No surprises. Very reliable.

Interesting and Easy to Understand
This is a great textbook for anyone who wants to learn more about Geology. It presents complex ideas in an easy to understand format. I bought this for a college course two years ago and I liked it so much that I still have it. ... Read more

Product Description
This Second Edition of Elements of Petroleum Geology is completely updated and revised to reflect the vast changes in the field in the fifteen years since publication of the First Edition. This book is a usefulprimer for geophysicists, geologists, and petroleum engineers in the oil industry who wish to expand their knowledge beyond their specialized area. It is also an excellent introductory text for a university course in petroleum geoscience.
Elements of Petroleum Geology begins with an account of the physical and chemical properties of petroleum, reviewing methods of petroleum exploration and production. These methods include drilling, geophysical exploration techniques, wireline logging, and subsurface geological mapping. After describing the temperatures and pressures of the subsurface environment and the hydrodynamics of connate fluids, Selley examines the generation and migration of petroleum, reservoir rocks and trapping mechanisms, and the habit of petroleum in sedimentary basins. The book contains an account of the composition and formation of tar sands and oil shales, and concludes with a brief review of prospect risk analysis, reserve estimation, and other economic topics.


* Updates the First Edition completely
* Reviews the concepts and methodology of petroleum exploration and production
* Written by a preeminent petroleum geologist and sedimentologist with 30 years of petroleum exploration in remote corners of the world
* Contains information pertinent to geophysicists, geologists, and petroleum reservoir engineers ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great intro book
This was my first introduction into the world of Petroleum Geology. I had already studied most geology in undergraduate, and used this book for an independent study in Petroleum Geology. Read it all the way through and to this day look back and realize how good of a foundation it was. Covers everything it needs to in a very readable format with good examples and illustrations.

One of the Best
Good beginners and professionalpetroleum geology book! I work full time for a private oil company and use this book everyday!

Good Introductory Text
This book is an easy to read and offers a full coverage of topics in Petroleum Geology. I used and use it, amongst others, as a first reference to refresh my memory, before returning to work as an exploration geophysicist.

good introduction book
nice book for introduction. a little bit too much detail though.
I usually scan the book first and come back to read the details.

Elements of Petroleum Geology, Second Edition
This is a great book for any scientist interested in gaining knowledge of petroleum geology. ... Read more

Product Description
Sparkling beaches, tidal estuaries, and granite headlands ornament the Massachusetts coast, while giant folds of gneiss and schist crisscross the interior, squeezed up between colliding continents like toothpaste from a tube. James Skehan explains the geologic history behind the rocks and landforms visible from the state's highways, including such well-known historic features as Bloody Bluff, Beacon Hill, Plymouth Rock, and Walden Pond. Interspersed through the guidebook are tales of pioneering geologists such as Harvard's Louis Agassiz, the first to propose that continental glaciers--not the remnants of Noah's Flood as early settlers had imagined--polished the state's bedrock and deposited its enormous boulders and sand plains.Numerous maps and photographs reveal ancient volcanoes, marble potholes, colorful minerals, dinosaur footprints, and America's first commercial railroad--built with blocks of Quincy granite. Geologic roadguides include tours of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Cape Cod National Seashore, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Mount Greylock State Reservation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Scholarly and Practical
You have to be a curious person to appreciate this book.This book helps you interpret the landscape, and it fills you with awe and wonder. Strongly suggest that you buy the Bedrock Geology Map of Massachusetts to have with you in the car.

Amateur Naturalist's opinion
This book has a great foundation of Massachusetts Geology for the amateur Naturalist.It is wonderful for identification of bedrock for where you are as well as locations of where to find what you are looking for.

Learn Geology Locally!
Skehan uses the fascinating geology of Massachusetts to teach amazing amounts of geology.Great for anybody who'll be traveling around the state who's interested in understanding the land.I want more!

Practical guide for the amateur and specialist
I have been looking for this sort of detailed, hands-on guide to Massachusetts geological formations for a while, & am delighted with Skehan's book.It's a bit of a tome yet readable and easy to bring along on roadtrips and hikes.

Great Guide
I read this book from cover to cover and was impressed with it's depth of information.I then actually brought this book into the field and it served me well.A great guide!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
The geologic features seen in Virginia are as varied as any in the country. Indeed, in 1985 the highway east of Natural Bridge was identified as the most geologically interesting 24 kilometers of roadway in the southeastern United States and one of the four most interesting in the country. In addition to Natural Bridge, you can see caverns still developing their unique architecture, geologic structures developed at the end of the Paleozoic era, fossils of Paleozoic life, preserved beaches from late Precambrian shores, and more, all in a single stretch of highway. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Interesting Travel Guide to Virgina's Natural Features
I purchased this book after enjoying the Wyoming and Yellowstone volumes. However, the Virginia book pales in comparison to the Wyoming and Yellowstone tombs.

Unfortunately, you have to leave the road to see some of the features and some are not so easy to find. While this volume is not as deficient as the Florida volume in allowing the car traveler to see some of the unique features while passing through the area, since some are visible, more detail would be appreciated.

For example, the author fails to cover the Potomac at the Great and Little Falls, between Virginia and Maryland. The geology and natural features of this area is certainly interesting, yet it was is not covered. Covering this area as it pertains to Virginia should have been included.

Also while the book is geared towards the natural landscape, detail could have included some information as to what the early settlors encountered in Virginia when establishing the various settlements at certain locations, as the Florida volume deviates from the standard geology and goes beyond. An example is Norfolk, a natural harbor

Should the publisher consider revising this issue or adding other states such as Maryland and West Virginia, it would be suggested that the Wyoming/Yellowstone formats be followed, as well as adding a bit more detail.I could not give this volume more than 3 stars since it is lacking and not up to the standard established by the Wyoming and Yellowstone books.

Otherwise, while the book is a bit technical for the non-scientific reader, it is an interesting guide to Virginia's natural landscape for the traveler seeking to experience a different side of Virginia.

Dr. Frye was a rare one...


I had the honor of working with Dr. Keith Frye while both an undergraduate and graduate student at Old Dominion University during the 1970's. He honored me by asking me to be his teaching assistant for several of the classes he taught. Dr. Frye was the consumate field and laboratory geologist. He also authored Modern Mineralogy and edited the Encyclopedia of Mineralogy, for which I happily did all the photography. He presented me a copy in appreciation, and I was astounded to see it listed on this site for a mere $645.00!!

As demonstrated in this book he was well familiar with geology of Virginia, his first love was being in the field rock hammer in hand. I spoke with him only months before he died, and as able to write his eulogy for the university paper. I offered as his epitaph, the words found at the bottom of each of his exams..."Honor is assumed of a Geologist." This book is but one on his lasting legacies. I am another.

The book might be too detailed for some readers and not detailed enough for others.Unlike others in the Roadside Guide series, Dr. Frye does not give specific directions to interesting outcrops or road cuts.His is a book painted in broader strokes. Virginia is made up of many varied geological terraines.While a detailed field trip guide book would have been nice, it too much to expect from this small volume.

Keith Patton PG MS BS
Old Dominion University Class of 78 and 80

GOT TO KEEP IT IN THE CAR
IF YOU ROMP THE ROADS OF VIRGINIA AND YOU WONDER ABOUT ALL THOSE ROCKS INFORMATIONS AND ROADCUTS -- TAKE THIS ALONG. ... Read more

Product 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 (6)

Really?
I just took structural geology this semester. This book was little or no help at all.I am giving it 3 stars, since my teacher said that it's the best structure book out there.He even admitted that it wasn't very helpful.I used it maybe 5 times this semester.Honestly save your money or write a better book.

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. ... Read more

Product 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 (6)

excellent
really great book. It explains what geologists think happened to shape the landscape and why they think so (i.e. the evidence and experiments used). Everything is explained in a logical manner and nothing is presented as "it happened like this, just because".

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. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

excellent structural geology textbook for all users
I used this as my textbook for structural geology, and whenever i have a friend who has a question, i frequently refer to this text as a reference. It has simple introductions for those who have not taken a class, as well as a detailed text that makes it an excellent reference.

My new favorite book
The book was in slightly better shape than expected, a few dings in the cover but otherwise pristine... No marks on the pages or folded pages. Arrived sonner than expected. Would definitely do business again.

Structural Geology, Twiss and Moores 1st edition
At first I didn't realize that I buy the first edition instead of the 2nd edition which I am looking for, I receive my book and realize my mistake that's why it is cheaper than I thought it should be, but the book is in a very good condition,and the content is quite similar, so I am not too regret on it and I still can use this book in general

loved it
an excellent primer for the novice geologist. as well, there is a mass of information for even experts.

An excellent book for all levels
This books has an excellent organization and concepts are well defined and concise. A general reference for any undergraduate, graduate or researcher and it should not be out of your general books. ... Read more

Product Description
From the plunging depths of the Grand Canyon to jagged volcanic peaks, from Sedona's vibrant red rocks to the tapered slot of Antelope Canyon, Geology Underfoot in Northern Arizona introduces you to a land of contrasts. At twenty special sites in this timeless landscape, readers can see and sometimes touch evidence of an ancient supercontinent and colliding volcanic island arcs, mighty mountain ranges and tropical seas, thousand-foot sand dunes, a meteor with deep impact, swimming dilophosaurs, a spring that grows rock, and more. The Geology Underfoot series encourages you to get out of your car for an up-close look at rocks and landforms. Books in the series inform, no matter how much geology you know. They're also simply a good read, on-site or in the comfort of your home. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Northern Arizona Geology Revealed
Effective scientific writing directed at the laypersonis difficult to achieve. Many writers either over-simplify or over-complicate. Abbot and Cook seem to have struck a good balance in their "Geology Underfoot in Northern Arizona". Unless you are put off by their occasionally florid prose (words like stunning, majesty, breathtaking, and dazzling often appear)you should find their book a good introduction to a cross-section (pun intended) of the Geology of Northern Arizona.

Rather than attempt to describe NAZ geology as a whole (a difficult task) this book presents 20 "vignettes" in each of which a particular geological feature or small area is discussed in some detail. This approach has the disadvantage of discussing geological detail without first discussing geological principles (there is a very basic eight page introduction), but the Abbot-Cooks seem to have pulled it off and with a style and grace seldom seen in popular science books (Timothy Ferris' writing excepted).Admittedly, since several of the vignettes are located within a few miles of my home, and many others within a 100 miles radius, I may have enjoyed the book more than will the typical reader.

All the locations discussed have the advantage for the traveler of being located in stunning (one of their words) scenic areas, as well as areas of geological interest. The "Getting There" sections of the vignettes provide a mini-field trip to each location, with several stops identified along with the features to be seen at each. However, the book has a depth that would cause one to profit from a period of study prior to visiting each location, rather than using the book as simple tour guide. Unfortunately, the black and white photos are often muddy, but the drawings (by Donna Abbot) are elegant and effective.

There is nit to be picked for those who are so inclined, and I am reminded that most books, even well vetted text books, will have errors in fact and presentation. For example, "an astounding 70 percent of creatures" may very well have died during the K-T extinction, but what they really mean is 70 percent of species. Were the rocks now exposed in Jerome and in Prescott really deposited on separate volcanic island arcs?The interpretation of the development of the inner basin of San Francisco Mountain as caused by a land slide, rather than by a Mt St Helens style eruption, does not accord with my reading of specialists studying the area. And the idea that meteor impacts are somehow associated with oil production is entirely fanciful. But none of that, and other minor errors, detracts significantly from the overall value of the book.

A rare combination of effective scientific and literary presentation, this one is highly recommended.

Buy This Book, Now.
If you are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, or if you are considering planning one, buy this book and read it. Likewise, if you have any desire to understand the geologic evolution of the region, buy this book.

My wife and I planned a trip, to the region, almost completely based on this book and we had an amazing time. We had such an amazing time, that when we were finally heading to the Grand Canyon, on the last leg of our journey, we were asking ourselves if we had seen so much as to take away from the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon, itself. Of course, that's no truly possible, so it made a perfect end cap to our journey, but it certainly lends to the book's ability to amaze you with things you may not ever have even heard of.

As a last piece of advice, take special interest in vignette number 12: the desert niagara. There are no signs to this place and it is an interesting journey, just to get there (we did it in a prius, so it's possible without a truck, for many parts of the year, but be forewarned, during the rainy season, it may be impassable for all, but a four wheel drive), but when you arrive, you will thank me. ... Read more

Product Description
You may have heard that Minnesota s ten thousand lakes are the hoofprints of Paul Bunyan s big blue ox, Babe. Don t you believe it! writes author Dick Ojakangas. Though the lakes, which formed at the end of the most recent ice age, may be Minnesota s most famous features, the glaciated countryside disguises a much longer history of volcanoes and plate collisions not surprising when you learn that Minnesota was at the active edge of the fledgling North American continent for several billion years.

Roadside Geology of Minnesota steers you over glacial moraines and till plains to some of the state s unparalleled geologic features, such as the Morton Gneiss, once thought to be the oldest rock on Earth; the St. Peter Sandstone, one of the purest sandstones in the world; the banded iron-formation, the source of iron for the Great Lakes steel industry; and the ancient shorelines of Glacial Lake Agassiz, one of the largest glacial lakes ever to have existed in North America. The book's introduction presents an overview of Minnesota s geologic history, and forty-two road guides discuss the landforms and rocks visible from a car window and at nearby waysides and parks, including Pipestone National Monument, Grand Portage National Monument, and Voyageurs National Park. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Thorough and eminently readable
Now fully disabled, I gained considerable pleasure from the clear, thorough, well-edited and well-illustrated text.Also delighted at the abundance of relevant photos. Professor Ojakangas made an immensely complex picture of Minnesota digestible, even poetic.I've at least one of every volume in this series, and this one is near or at the top with RG of Colorado (2nd ed.).Thanks to both author and publisher.Now I just have to find a way to travel there for a couple of weeks.

Whatisthatrockyoutcropping?
Averyaccessible bookthat describesand explainsthegeological featuresofthe roadside.Nottootechnical.Niceglossary includedtoexplainmostoftheterms.

very worthy addition to this series
One of the newest of this very informative series, perhaps the most qulaified person to undertake this project was chosen. Dr. Ojakangas has done a great job of reaching the nonprofessional curious. Although most of the surface geology of this sizable state is dominated by glacial deposits, Dr. Ojakangas often goes beyond the surface to dicsuss the apparent geological history in that region and to provide examples of underlying rock outcrops. Profusely illustrated with mostly color photos, diagrams and maps, it is well organized according to 4 rather distinct geological regions. About half the book is devotedto the most interesting and economically important region: the northeast, which Dr. Ojakangas is also most familiar with. Find out why Sioux Quartzite and St.Peter Sandstone, both composed of nearly pure well-rounded quartz sand grains, have such different erosional resistances and commercial uses.

roadside geology book
The book is very informative! I will be trying to visit many of the sites talked about in the book.
The book arrived ahead of schedule and was in perfect condition.

Stellar entry in the Roadside Geology series
Richard Ojakangas is a native Minnesotan whose life has been spent in learning about and teaching Minnesota's geological history. He taught at the U of M in Duluth for over 30 years, and is the author of Minnesota's Geology, which is probably the definitive geology book on the North Star State.

That book, however, is not quite meant for the casual reader (although its less imposing than many other books of the type). Minnesota has lacked a Roadside Geology style book for too long. After years without one, Ojakangas has finally written a book for the non-scientist, the latest in the Roadside Geology series, the Roadside Geology of Minnesota.

It's been worth the wait.

After an introduction to the geological history of Minnesota (as you might expect, the Pleistocene, with its glaciations, gets a lot of space) as well as some basic geology to get those who avoided the rock science in high school or college, the book divides into several sections based on Geography. (Northeastern, Northwestern/Central, Southwestern, Southeastern)In each section, Ojakangas gives a general overview of the Geology of that areafollowed by the meat of the book, Road Guides.

There are plenty of photographs, maps and diagrams to elucidate the text and keep travelers oriented as they visit the various highlighted sites. I learned about plenty of sites that were just off of my route in previous travels that I will definitely visit with book in tow. I had no idea, for instance, of a beautiful beach of rhyolite pebbles lies just 3 miles north of Gooseberry Falls. I'd never heard of Chimney Rock, a spire of sandstone a few miles off of US 61 on the way south from St. Paul. In addition, I have an appreciation for places and locales I have seen, now having a better geological context for them.The composition and nature of Barn Bluff in Red Wing, for instance. I had no idea there's a fault that has shifted the layers on one side of it!

Armchair amateur geologists who buy the Roadside series of volumes will not want to miss this latest volume.I most especially recommend this book, though, for any and all Minnesota travelers interested in the physical geology of the state to buy the book, read it, and then take it with you on your next road trip to, say, Gooseberry Falls, or Winona, or the Boundary Waters, or Pipestone. I certainly will!

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Geology in plain English
This book is a simple way for non-Geology speaking people to discover the marvels of the Geological world. It introduces you to the basics of geology and gives diagrams and examples explaining the geology of the volcanic Hot Spot that is Hawaii. Each island has its own chapter, complete with simple maps and images to match the explanation. Great guidebook if you are a Geologist or are just interested in going to Hawaii to see the volcanoes.

A must for people interested in geology
I love this series, and this one did not disappoint me. In case you are interested in geology and you are going to Hawaii, I can really recommend this one. And who doesn't want to know more about the geology of these islands, especially when you go to the Big Island and visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The only improvement I can recommend is to have clearer maps with clearer indications of points of interest.

Wonderful for a novice like me
I am fascinated with all things Hawaii, particularly the geological features, the volcanoes, etc. I love thinking about how they form, and how in such a short time in the planet's history, they will disappear forever. I know very little about geology, having never taken a course on it in college or reading any books about it. I found this incredibly interesting, understandable, and comprehensive. I've also found some new places to go and can't wait to bring the book with me on my next trip. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars are that the pictures, which are very useful, would be more useful if they were in color.

A must for "what is it?" people visiting Hawaii
On my first visit to the islands, I realized that everything you see evolved from the lava that's usually associated with visits to the Big Island. But each of the islands had the same fiery volcanic past - and it's often very hidden amongst the magnificient landscapes that we all see. What makes black sand? Why is the dirt red? Why is Molokai rectangular? Why is Haleakala Crater so colorful? These and so many other questions are answered in chapters of general informaiton as well as a tour format using popular highways and byways.

This edition (the others in the series are superb as well) does a great job of describing what you're seeing in the widely varied landscapes of the Hawaiian Islands. The author describes the natural history of the elements of the island seen as you drive about, mostly describing the landmasses from a geologic perspective. If you have the slighest interest in how the islands were formed and how they evolved into what you see today, make sure you have this book before you leave. It's very readable, there's no need to have a geology background!

tourism at its best
I love this book.I learned about different types of lava, I can impress my girlfriend with my geological knowledge while we vacation.It is a guide book which will help you at specific locations to identify the geology you are looking at.The beginning gives a good explanation of the general geological principles which apply to Hawaii: volcanology and plate techtonics. ... Read more