The Geology of the Parks Monuments & Wildlands of Southern Utah [Paperback]

Robert Fillmore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2000

This detailed interpretive guide explains the forces that created Utah's unforgettable scenery, while providing road logs of highways and major backroads through the Grand Staircase of the Colorado Plateau.

Where in Utah can you find a fossilized ant hill that is at least fifty million years old? Do you know the location of an ancient beach that disappeared along with the dinosaurs that strolled it? Find out in The Geology of the Parks, Monuments, and Wildlands of Southern Utah.

This fascinating and authoritative guide belongs on the dashboard or in the backpack of every visitor to southern Utah or student of its natural history. More than sixty illustrations and nearly three dozen photographs accompany clear explanations of the spectacular geologic features of this landscape, including Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks, as well as the Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument.

Section I of the volume surveys chronologically the origins of the formations and structural features and the geologic processes that have shaped the Colorado Plateau. Section II provides road logs with mile-by-mile geologic descriptions of key sections of highway traversing this area.

This detailed interpretive guide turns any windshield into a window of opportunity for understanding the forces that created Utah’s unforgettable scenery—whether it be a breathtaking panorama or a dazzling array of fins and fractures, pillars and pedestals, or cliffs and chasms.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I particularly recommend it to novices and dilettantes …wishing to understand southern Utah geology. I picked up this book and could hardly put it down until I had read every word. The book was easy to read and combined technical knowledge with general information.”—Western North American Naturalist

“It is literate and well illustrated with color photographs and explanatory maps and geologic diagrams. Technical language is kept to a minimum…. Professional geologists will appreciate the comprehensive descriptions and the up-to-date mainstream explanations and discussions. Fillmore’s book is the best available guide to the region.”—Journal of Geoscience Education

 

“Unlike most popular guidebooks, [this book] doesn’t just focus on famous landmarks. Fillmore encourages exploration by devoting the first half of the book to a description of Utah’s general geologic setting, giving readers the background they need to understand the geology along any canyon hike or plateau bike ride. Less adventurous folks will appreciate the book’s second section, which points out features along popular roads in Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.”—High Country News

“I’ve read almost all Utah geology books aimed at the general reader, and this recent book by Robert Fillmore is the best so far.”—Redrock Wilderness

About the Author

Robert Fillmore is professor of geology at Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison. His articles, abstracts, and chapters have appeared in many journals and books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: University of Utah Press; First Edition edition (April 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874806526
• ISBN-13: 978-0874806526
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Specific Locations

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent desc of parks geology, August 27, 2001

By 

J. Perreault - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Geology of the Parks Monuments & Wildlands of Southern Utah (Paperback)

fillmore spends the first 2/3's of the book discussing, via geologic time periods, the formations laid down in so. utah, and the conditions which created the formations - it is wonderfully written for the layperson to the non-professional but very interested geologist - the final third is dedicated to describing roadside geology starting from east of capital reef and traveling to just west of zion - overall an excellent book and definitely worth the read for anyone interested in understanding more about the beautiful areas that are so. utah

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a student of Professor Fillmore, October 28, 2003

By 

Christopher Dorion "Risendemon" (Gunnison, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Geology of the Parks Monuments & Wildlands of Southern Utah (Paperback)

Being a Geology major learning under Professor Fillmore, his book helped me many times in my research. Not only does he do a great job describing the geology of southern Utah, but his enthusiasm for the area shines through in his writing. Fillmore also has a knack describing very technical processes in ways which anyone can understand.

The first chapter in his book consists of basic principles of geology. This covers most of the forces behind the deposition of the various formations in Utah. These include the geologic rock cycle, basic igneous and sedimentary classifications, rock deformation, monoclines/anticlines/synclines, and the geologic time scale.

The second part consists of a chronological description of the geology of southern Utah, starting from the Pennsylvanian (about 12,500 million years ago) and running all the way to the Quaternary (present). This is the part which comes in really useful for research, because not only does Fillmore write in very easy to understand language, but he also cites all of his sources, mostly from scientific papers, in an easy to look up GSA format.

The third part comes in handy for the tourist and fossil hounds out there! Once you are familiar with the geology of Southern Utah, Fillmore takes you through a mile-by-mile tour, pointing out various rock outcrops and explaining what caused them to form. This is a wealth of knowledge which can make any drive through southern utah an educational experience for the whole family.

This book is a must have for anyone wanting to know about the geology of southern Utah. The material within is very well researched by a college professor of geology, who has a love for the area he is writing about.

---
Christoph

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars layman's dream, April 14, 2000

By 

alison mayes (bow mar, colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Geology of the Parks Monuments & Wildlands of Southern Utah (Paperback)

Robert Fillmore is most gifted in his abilites to cogently describe the unique geology that yields this region's unsurmounted depth and beauty.

No one, geologist or casual traveller, should enter Utah without this compelling guide.