Roadside Geology of Massachusetts (Roadside Geology Series) [Paperback]

James W. Skehan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

Sparkling beaches, tidal estuaries, and granite headlands ornament the Massachusetts coast, while giant folds of gneiss and schist crisscross the interior, squeezed up between colliding continents like toothpaste from a tube. James Skehan explains the geologic history behind the rocks and landforms visible from the state's highways, including such well-known historic features as Bloody Bluff, Beacon Hill, Plymouth Rock, and Walden Pond. Interspersed through the guidebook are tales of pioneering geologists such as Harvard's Louis Agassiz, the first to propose that continental glaciers--not the remnants of Noah's Flood as early settlers had imagined--polished the state's bedrock and deposited its enormous boulders and sand plains. Numerous maps and photographs reveal ancient volcanoes, marble potholes, colorful minerals, dinosaur footprints, and America's first commercial railroad--built with blocks of Quincy granite. Geologic roadguides include tours of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Cape Cod National Seashore, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Mount Greylock State Reservation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Skehan's language is down to earth . . . making the intricacies of earth science accessible to all readers. Roadside Geology of Massachusetts makes a great companion for outdoor exploration, and seeing ordinary landscape in a new way." --Margaret Smith, Sentinel Enterprise, Fitchburg, Mass

About the Author

Longtime teacher and researcher James W. Skehan is professor emeritus in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Boston College and director emeritus of Weston Observatory. The National Association of Geology Teachers named him Teacher of the Year in 1976. Skehan 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. While studying Iceland's active geology in 1970, he officiated the first mass ever celebrated on Surtsey Volcano, a newly formed island in the North Atlantic. Skehan fell irrevocably in love with field geology in 1946 on a trip through the red rocks, lavas, and glacial lake clays of the Connecticut Valley. Since then he has searched on several continents for clues as to how and when the mountains and ocean basins around the Atlantic evolved. When tectonic plates were identified in the 1960s, he came to understand that present-day continents were pieced together by the assembly and breakup successively of three supercontinents. Skehan leads excursions to fascinating localities where group members can visualize the formation, movement, and melting of the Concord Glacier 14,000 years ago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 379 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Pr; 1st edition (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878424296
• ISBN-13: 978-0878424290
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #556,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Informative Book, April 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Roadside Geology of Massachusetts (Roadside Geology Series) (Paperback)

Roadside Geology of Massachusetts is an excellent book. Professor Skehan takes the reader on a detailed tour of the State, providing a geologic history for Massachusetts from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. His excellent glossary, copious use of maps and photographs, and easy-to-understand writing style make the book accessible to the lay person: "Roadside" would make an excellent companion for those planning a Massachusetts vacation this summer. This book would also be a great addition to the library of an earth sciences teacher and a handy reference for any Bay State resident.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it if you live in or a traveling through Massachusetts, March 29, 2001

By 

Raymond C. Murray "Ray Murray" (Missoula, Mt. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roadside Geology of Massachusetts (Roadside Geology Series) (Paperback)

Father Jim Skehan has filled a need that has existed for a long time. This book is beautifully written, easy to read and brings together the complex geologic history of Massachusetts for everyone. Read it for geologic background. Read it for an up to date geologic history of the state. Read it as a guide for understanding what you are seeing as you drive around the state. If you are over 50 and a geologist, read it to unlearn all the things you were taught as a student. The Roadside Geology series is great and this may be the best yet.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful guide for the interested visitor, October 1, 2002

By 

boam "boam" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roadside Geology of Massachusetts (Roadside Geology Series) (Paperback)

I have bought other titles in this series when on vacation in the States, so I was delighted to find this book in a bookstore on a recent visit to Boston and Cape Cod. The descriptions of peri- and post-glacial geology were particularly illuminating as I walked beaches and trails on the Cape and Islands. Comparing these descriptions with older books on the geology of the Cape it is amazing how much detail is encompassed in a small number of pages. Similarly, descriptions of other areas familiar to me, such as Cape Ann, Boston and the Concord/Lexington area, all gave me a much better understanding. I look forward to visiting unfamiliar parts of the state, with this book in hand. It is not just for residents, but is a must for the vactioner interested in the natural history or landform of Massachusetts.