Geology of New York : A Simplified Account (New York State Museum's Educational Leaflet # 28) with New York State Geological Highway Map (Educational Leaflet (New York State Museum), No. 28.) [Paperback]

Yngvar W. Isachsen (Author, Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 155557162X | ISBN-13: 978-1555571627 | Publication Date: May 15, 2000 | Edition: 2nd

This 300 page book is profusely illustrated with nearly 200 figures. It explains how the State's bedrock was formed and how its landscape evolved. This publication is essentially a reprint of the 1st edition: modifications include several changes in geologic age dates and in stratagraphic tables. Major improvements are the addition of a subject index, a list of illustrations, and a list of tables. The State's bedrock geology and glacial features are discussed by region so readers can focus easily on the many examples of geologic phenomena in every part of the state. A detailed table of contents and summaries at the beginning of each chapter guide the reader to specific information. Chapters 1-3 provide a context for grasping the big picture. This section discusses the enormity of geologic time to help the reader appreciate how slowly many spectacular geologic events unfold. It explains continental drift with the plate techtonic theory. This theory describes the earth as a heat engine that operates with incomparable slowness. Continents drift about, oceans open and close, mountains build and erode...This theory provides a theme that connects and explains the major events of geologic history. Chapters 4-10 describe the bedrock of New York State by region. These chapters focus not only on what type of rock is present but also on how it came to be there. The seven regions covered are the Adirondack Mountains, Hudson Highlands and Manhatten Prong, Hudson-Mohawk Lowlands and Taconic Mountains, Northern Lowlands and Tug Hill Plateau, Erie Lowlands and Allegheny Plateau, Newark Lowlands, and Atlantic Coastal Plain. Much of the section on surface deposits (Chapters 11-14) is devoted to the Ice Age. Chapter 12 sums up the history of the Pleistocene Epoch in New York State. Chapter 13 lists glacial features found across the state today. Also included in the section are chapters on the Tertiary period (before the Ice Age) and the Holocene Epoch (after the Ice Age). Chapters 15-18 discuss how the geologic environment influences human activity. Topics covered are mineral resources, surface water, groundwater, earthquakes, and engineering geology. Technical terms are defined when they first appear in the text and are compiled in a glossary, as well. The glossary, which defines 800 words and phrases, is an invaluable tool for readers with little or no background in geology. An appendix contains drawings of common fossils, a physiographic map of the U.S., a map of New York's fault systems, a series of 61 block diagrams showing the plate tectonic evolution of eastern North America, and a list of statewide maps related to geology that are available from the New York State Museum. This publication includes a separate full color folded sheet (22 X 56 inches, printed on both sides) titled the "New York State Geologic Highway Map", as part of its illustrations. This sheet includes four parts: Plate 1, A View from Space: New York and Surrounding Areas; Plate 2, Geologic Map and Cross Sections (both Plates 1 & 2 at 1:1,000,000 scale for easy comparison); Plate 3, Legend for the Geologic Map (layed out as a state-wide stratigraphic correlation chart); Plate 4 includes two New York regional maps, a physiographic map and a tectonic map and two index maps of New York, one of routes of geological field guides and one of points of geological interest. This Highway Map illustrates many of the concepts in the book.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This is one of the New York State Museum's most popular publications. It is the required textbook utilized by college and university professors across New York State for their introductory geology courses.

About the Author

Dr. Ed Landing has been New York State Paleontologist since 1986. He arrived at the NYS Museum in 1981 following receipt of a BS at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master's and doctorate at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and post-doctoral appointments at the University of Waterloo (Ontario), US Geological Survey in Denver, and University of Toronto. His research has focused on the earlier invertebrate fossils of the eastern and western US, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Quebec, Maritime Canada and Newfoundland, southern Britain, Morocco, and the Middle East.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: New York State Museum; 2nd edition (May 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155557162X
• ISBN-13: 978-1555571627
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for New York Geology......, October 6, 2002

By 

Jerry (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Geology of New York : A Simplified Account (New York State Museum's Educational Leaflet # 28) with New York State Geological Highway Map (Educational Leaflet (New York State Museum), No. 28.) (Paperback)

In spite of it's title, this account, weighing in at 280 pages, is far from "simplified". It is a comprehesive work, with numerous chapters on earth history, plate tectonics, bedrock, surficial materials, mineral resources, hydrogeology, and engineering geology. It is profusely illustrated with charts and diagrams. At least seven State Survey geologists prepared chapters for this book.

The book includes a New York State Geological Highway Map. This is a beautiful 1:1,000,000 scale time/stratigraphic bedrock map of the state, with lots of statigraphic charts and a satelite image A "photo mosaic of the state on the flip side.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Geology of New York State in a Nut Shell !, January 7, 2001

By 

Luna di Luna "ES Teacher" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Geology of New York : A Simplified Account (New York State Museum's Educational Leaflet # 28) with New York State Geological Highway Map (Educational Leaflet (New York State Museum), No. 28.) (Paperback)

This Leaflet I found was was very useful for thoses students who are researching particular areas in the Upstate Regions Of New York State. The language used with in the this leaflet is very easy to understand, especially if you are novice to the field of Geology. What is most useful is the many geologic time scales that give a vast amount of information in one page. I found this very useful especailly if I was studing for paleontology and field study classes. I countinue to use this leafel in my class room, mostly to help introduce topics in paeloenvironemnts, plate tectonics, and econmic geology. Each reading, which constits of 10-15 pages, includes questions at the end of each unit. I found these questions not only help to improve teh reading comprehension of my studnets, but also help to insite descussion and further research in these areas.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New York Geology, July 28, 2005

By 

Robert W. Burns (Ilion, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Geology of New York : A Simplified Account (New York State Museum's Educational Leaflet # 28) with New York State Geological Highway Map (Educational Leaflet (New York State Museum), No. 28.) (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in New York's Geology. The map included with the book is an excellent visual aid and for someone like me who is interested in finding fossils gives a good idea of the time periods represented.