The Geology Shelf
Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Eastern California, second edition
Allen F. Glazner, et al.
https://www.allenglazner.com
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780878427079, $24.00, PB, 326pp
https://www.amazon.com/Geology-Underfoot-Valley-Eastern-California/dp/0878427074
Synopsis: Eastern California is a geologically dramatic region with the ever-present risk of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, flash floods, and sand storms. It also features spectacular and easily viewed rocks and landforms.
With the publication of a newly expanded second edition of "Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Eastern California", authors Allen Glazner and Art Sylvester build on co-author Robert P. Sharp's insights to produce a full-color illustrated guide to 33 amazing geologic sites in Death Valley and the surrounding region.
Readers will learn how stones slide across the Racetrack playa, find the rocks missing from Dantes View, and visit the rim of the Long Valley caldera, an enormous depression left by a supervolcano eruption far larger than any that has occurred since the dawn of human civilization.
Critique: Profusely, informatively and beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photography, "Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Eastern California" is an impressively detailed compendium of geological information that is remarkably 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary, a bibliographic listing of sources, an index, and a geological checklist, "Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Eastern California" is highly recommended for community and academic library Geology collections in general, and as a textbook for supplemental California Geology curriculum studies lists in particular.
Editorial Note #1: Allen F. Glazner has conducted geological research in the Sierra Nevada and eastern California since his undergraduate days, and retired from teaching in 2019. He is a co-author of "Geology Underfoot in Yosemite National Park" and of both editions of "Geology Underfoot in Southern California". He has a website at
https://www.allenglazner.com
Editorial Note #2: Arthur Gibbs Sylvester teaches UC Santa Barbara courses in structural geology, field geology, and petrology. His research includes fieldwork in Norway, Italy, Grand Teton National Park, the Tahoe-Sierra, and the Salton Trough. He has led more than 300 field trips in southern California for student, industrial, and professional geologists. He is on Wikipedia at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_G._Sylvester
Editorial Note #3: Robert P. Sharp (1911-2004) originated the Geology Underfoot series. A true polymath who could explain complex concepts to anyone, his specialty fields included sand dune physics, glaciology, and planetary sciences. He was among the first to interpret dune processes in orbital imagery from Mars and received the Penrose Medal from the Geological Society of America, its highest honor, in 1977. In further recognition of his contributions to diverse fields, a mountain and a glacier in Antarctica, a Mars-crossing asteroid, and a mountain on Mars have been named in his honor. He is on Wikipedia at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_P._Sharp
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