Geology of the Sierra Nevada (California Natural History Guides)

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. It is written in easy-to-understand language for a wide audience. It 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. CONTENTS Acknowledgments Introduction: The Ever-Changing Sierra Geological Features and Where to See Them Do-It-Yourself Rock Identification Key Tables of Geological Features Maps of Geological Sights 1. Geology: Of Time and Rocks 2. The Range Today 3. Being First 4. Plate Tectonics Puts the Sierra Nevada in Its Place 5. Seas of Long Ago 6. Great Is Granite 7. Treasures from the Earth 8. Landscapes of Yesteryear 9. Days of Fire 10. Days of Ice 11. Mono Lake: The “Dead Sea” of the West 12. The Yosemite “Problem” 13. The Mountains Tremble Coda Glossary Suggestions for Further Reading