"Sixteen geologic field guides explore areas in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Montana"--

Prepared in conjunction with the 2016 GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, this volume contains sixteen guides to field trips in this rich geologic region. The four "Great Surveys" of the late 1800s ventured west to explore and document the region's unknown natural resources and collect valuable geologic information. Many of the field guides in this volume, aptly titled Unfolding the Geology of the West, will cover the same hallowed ground as the early geologic expeditions.

Allow yourself to be taken back into deep geologic time when strange creatures roamed the Earth and Western North America looked completely unlike the modern landscape. Volcanic islands stretched from Mexico to Alaska, most of the Pacific Rim didn’t exist yet, at least not as widespread dry land; terranes drifted from across the Pacific to dock on Western Americas’ shores creating mountains and more volcanic activity. Landscapes were transposed north or south by thousands of kilometers along huge fault systems. Follow these events through paleogeographic maps that look like satellite views of ancient Earth. Accompanying text takes the reader into the science behind these maps and the geologic history that they portray. The maps and text unfold the complex geologic history of the region as never seen before. Winner of the 2021 John D. Haun Landmark Publication Award, AAPG-Rocky Mountain Section

"Rough-Hewn Land tells the geologic story of the American West--the story of its rocks, rivers, mountains, earthquakes, and mineral wealth, including gold. It tells it by taking you on a 1000-mile-long field trip across the rough side of the continent from the California coast to the Rocky Mountains. This book puts you on the outcrop, geologic hammer in hand, to explore the evidence for how the spectacular, rough-hewn lands of the West came to be. When North America broke free from Eurasia and Africa some 200 million years ago, it triggered a cascade of violent geologic events that shaped the West we see today. As the west-moving continent crunched across the seabed of the ancient Pacific, islands and assorted pieces of ocean floor collected against its prow to build California--and plant gold there too. Meanwhile, mountains squeezed upward from California to Colorado, and vast quantities of molten rock seeded the crust with precious metals while spewing volcanic fire across the land. Later, the land stretched like an accordion to form the washboard-like Basin and Range province and Great Basin within it, while California began to crackle along the San Andreas fault. Throughout the West today, a near-constant drumroll of earthquakes testifies to a world still reshaping itself in response to the ceaseless movements of the Earth's tectonic plates. Rough-Hewn Land weaves these stories into the human history of the West. As we follow the adventures of John C. Frémont, Mark Twain, the Donner party, and other historic characters, we see how geologic forces have shaped human experience, just as they direct the fate of the West today"--

Prairie, Peak, and Plateau: A Guide to the Geology of Colorado stands as a monumental anthology that unveils the rich tapestry of Colorado's geological marvels through a symphony of scholarly perspectives. This collection harmonizes diverse literary stylesfrom empirical studies to evocative narrativeseach contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the state's unique geological framework. The anthology encapsulates a wide spectrum of topics, from the erosion-sculpted prairies to the towering Rockies and the stark plateaus, reflecting the geographical diversity and significance of Colorado's landscapes. The editors, John and Halka Chronic, have meticulously curated works that highlight the dynamic and often dramatic geological forces at play, making this collection an essential exploration of Earth's natural processes. The contributing authors, guided by the Chronic's expert editorial hand, bring an array of backgrounds in geology, environmental science, and history, collectively enriching the anthology's depiction of Colorado's geological identity. Their contributions resonate with the broader scientific and educational goals of the anthology, aligning with historical and cultural narratives that have shaped our understanding of nature's artistry. This collaborative effort transcends mere academic discourse, inviting readers into a dialogue that intersects science, history, and the intrinsic beauty of the natural world. Prairie, Peak, and Plateau is an indispensable resource for students, educators, and enthusiasts of geology and environmental science. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with Colorados geological splendor through a lens of multifaceted narratives and analyses. This anthology not only educates but also inspires a deep appreciation for the complexities and aesthetics of Earth's structural canvas. Readers are encouraged to delve into this collection, where each page promises to expand horizons and foster a profound sense of connection with the planet's enduring legacy.

Excerpt from Geology of Colorado and Western Ore Deposits This treatise contains the substance of a series of elementary lectures delivered by the author to the students of the Colorado State School of Mines. It is published with a view of meeting some of the needs of the general public, of the ordinary miner, and of the unscientific many, rather than with an idea of offering technical matter for the discussion of the scientific few. The materials are derived from the writer's own researches, and from the most reliable resources available to him, such as the standard text-books and the valuable published reports of the United States Geological Survey. The writer having for a time been connected with that survey, knows full well how high a value is to be attached to those reports, which must remain for all time as a standard of reference for those interested in the geological relations of the mines of Colorado and Western States. The first part of the work contains a rough sketch of general Geology, for the benefit of those who are not familiar with the terms used in this science. The sketch is further applied to the local geology of Colorado. The second part refers to the phenomena of veins and ores, and their surroundings, as illustrated by Colorado. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The Geology, Ecology, and Human History of the San Luis Valley explores the rich landscapes and diverse social histories of the San Luis Valley, an impressive mountain valley spanning over 9,000 square miles that crosses the border of south-central Colorado and north-central New Mexico and includes many cultural traditions. Twenty-six expert scholars and educators—including geologists, geographers, biologists, ecologists, linguists, historians, sociologists, and consultants—uncover the natural and cultural history of the region, which serves as home to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the San Juan Mountains, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and the Rio Grande headwaters. The first section, “The Geology and Ecology of the San Luis Valley,” surveys the geomorphology, hydrology, animal and plant life, conservation, management, and mining of the valley’s varied terrain. The second section, “Human History of the San Luis Valley,” recounts the valley’s human visitation and settlement, from early indigenous life to Spanish exploration to Hispanic and Japanese settlements. This section introduces readers to the region’s wide range of religious identities—Catholic, Latter-day Saint, Buddhist, Jehovah’s Witness, Amish, and Mennonite—and diverse linguistic traditions, including Spanish, English, Dutch, Danish, Japanese, and Mayan. The final section, “Travel Itineraries,” addresses recreation, specifically fly-fishing and rock climbing. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the endemic flora and fauna, human history of indigenous lifeways, and diverse settlement patterns that have shaped the region. The Geology, Ecology, and Human History of the San Luis Valley will appeal to students and scholars of geology, ecology, environmental history, and cultural history, as well as residents and tourists seeking to know more about this fascinating and integral part of Colorado and New Mexico. Contributors: Benjamin Armstrong, Timothy Armstrong, Deacon Aspinwall, Robert Benson, Lorrie Crawford, Kristy Duran, Jeff Elison, Eric Harmon, Devin Jenkins, Bradley G. Johnson, Robert M. Kirkham, Bessie Konishi, Angie Krall, Richard D. Loosbrock, Richard Madole, A. W. Magee, Victoria Martinez, James McCalpin, Mark Mitchell, R. Nathan Pipitone, Andrew Valdez, Rio de la Vista, Damián Vergara Wilson

"Fascinating.... Lays a foundation for understanding human history."—Bill Gates In this "artful, informative, and delightful" (William H. McNeill, New York Review of Books) book, Jared Diamond convincingly argues that geographical and environmental factors shaped the modern world. Societies that had had a head start in food production advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage, and then developed religion --as well as nasty germs and potent weapons of war --and adventured on sea and land to conquer and decimate preliterate cultures. A major advance in our understanding of human societies, Guns, Germs, and Steel chronicles the way that the modern world came to be and stunningly dismantles racially based theories of human history. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, the Rhone-Poulenc Prize, and the Commonwealth club of California's Gold Medal.

Written with the general reader in mind, this is the updated edition of the classic on the geology of the red rock and canyon country of the Fours Corners region of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.