Product Description

The small chunk of North America enclosed within the state boundaries of Connecticut and Rhode Island includes parts of at least six former continents, microcontinents, and volcanic island chains, each with its own geologic history. Roadside Geology of Connecticut and Rhode Island introduces readers to the sequence of mountain-building collisions that welded the pieces of land together and to the subsequent upwelling of magma that nearly broke them apart again. Twenty road
guides, complete with maps, photographs, and diagrams, locate
and interpret the rocks and landforms visible from the state s
highways and at nearby parks and historic sites. Readers will discover stretched pebbles at Purgatory Chasm, folded marble
at Kent Falls State Park, Eubrontes footprints at Dinosaur State Park, and glacial moraines protruding from the waters of Long Island and Block Island Sounds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #212326 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
James W. Skehan is a professor emeritus in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Boston College and a director emeritus of
Weston Observatory. He holds a doctorate in geology from Harvard University as well as a master s in theology from Weston College. As a Jesuit priest and geologist, he actively promotes dialogue between scientists and theologians. In 2002 he was honored to have Skehanos quadrangularis, a trilobite that lived 505 million years ago, named for him. Skehan is the author of Roadside
Geology of Massachusetts as well as many other books and articles.

Customer Reviews

Chapters focus on different sites, geologic experiences, and local history
Any library strong in U.S. regional geology and any collection with a focus on the East Coast will welcome Roadside Geology of Connecticut and Rhode Island, an addition to the expanding U.S. series. Connecticut and Rhode Island's geology is covered in chapters that focus on different sites, geologic experiences, and local history. With maps, charts, and lots of easily-absorbed detail, this lends to a destination-bound traveler's take-along tote as well as to public lending libraries.

Wonderful book
I learned so much from this book. You can learn a lot from this book about Connecticut and what is in this state. A great learning tool for yourself and your family.

Yes, small states can have interesting geology too
If you were impressed by "Roadside Geology of Massachusetts",expect the same detailed, yet quite readable, treatment by the same author. Dr. Skehan is lucky to have 3 of the smallest states as his assignment, enabling him to cover nearly every significant aspect of the present and past geology of these states in a space equal to that devoted to many much larger states in others of this book series. Just because these states lack tall mountains, present volcanic activity, or great mineral wealth, by no means assume that their geology is boring and simple to grasp. As with most other northern Atlantic seaboard states, their terrain includes bits of a number of exotic land masses from the distant past welded on during tectonic plate collisions, as well as evidence of past rift valleys associated with the breakup of Pangea, as detailed in this book. This is the first book among the the many in this series that I possess that includes color photographs(quite a few), perhaps an indication of a new trend?