Customer Reviews

Dictionary of Geological Terms: Third Edition (Rocks, Minerals and Gemstones)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The "Dictionary of Geological Terms" is a must have for geology professionals and amateurs alike. I am constantly referring to mine. It is one of the handiest and most used books in my colection.

This Dictionary may be adequate for earth science educators or amateur enthusiasts, but not for more advanced users. Some terms are out of date or inadequately defined, and many more technical terms are not included. My third year Geology undergraduate students and fellow graduate students found it insufficient.

I've had this dictionary for over 2 months now, and I have yet found a geological term that is not in this book. The definitions are simple and easy to understand. I recommend this book to any one that is interested in the science of geology. Good for profesionals and students. This book has every geological term from 'aa' to 'zweikanter'.

I am a geology major and found it annoying to have to go through all of my text books to make sure I was spelling and using words properly when writing papers. I've only had this book a week and it has made writing my semester geomorphology project so much easier. Having all the terms in one place is such a convenience. Although I am relatively new to the field, I would recommend this to anyone in the geosciences. It was recommended to me by a Ph.D. so it has to at least be decent. It's not a bad price either. Check it out.

This is a good basic dictionary. It's not meant to be comprehensive, but covers the basics quite well. It was a required text in my undergraduate studies, and it serves nicely at that level.

There is no way I could have survived 4 years of college level geology without this text. This is a must have book for the student of the geological sciences.

This dictionary perfoms well for the beginner in geology or the intermediate student. Granted, most technical jargon is defined, though sometimes the definitions are a bit questionable. There is, however, some advanced and basic terminology that is absent. I sold my old geology dictionary (sorry, I didn't write anything about it down) and bought this one, and I regret doing so.

To all working geologists!
You should all have this on your desks! I used it to study for the ASBOG exam and have since found it invaluable in my working life. It has all the odd and obscure geological terms that we all have heard in college but have since forgotten.
Its a great reference!

After spending five years at the university studying geology, I would estimate that I can readily define less than half of terms in this dictionary. I just don't use them in my work. However, that is still pretty good considering that this comprehensive volume covers terminology from astrogeology, cartography, crystallography, mineralogy, economic geology, geochemistry, geomorpholgy, geophysics, glacial geology, hydrology, oceanograhy, palontology, petrology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and volcanology. The American Geological Institute used some of the top men in each field for this latest revised edition.

I've come to the conclusion over the years that the various branches of geology have evolved more specialised terms than any of the other sciences. That's why it is so easy for a specialist in another field, or a rock hound with a dictionary, to trip you up. That's also why you need your own copy of this book....

Oh yes, I could also see where this volume could be of help in preparing for the Advanced Test in Geology for the Graduate Record Exam- you never know what they are going to throw at you, either.

As a geology student, I found this book was needed every day. My professors recommended it to me and I needed it while reading textbooks and articles and studying for tests. I couldn't have made it without this book.