What's So Great About Granite? (What's So Great About Geology?) [Paperback]

Jennifer H. Carey (Author), Marli Bryant Miller (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: What's So Great About Geology? | Publication Date: October 1, 2009

Even if they don t know much about rocks, most folks can name at least one place they have encountered granite; but ask them about the rocks graywacke, gneiss, or rhyolite, and they may give you a funny look. That s because speckled, sparkly, and beautiful granite is common and easy to identify. In everyday life you ll find countertops, headstones, flooring even whole buildings made of granite. In the natural world it forms random boulders in fields and many of the planet s loftiest peaks. Commonness aside, no two granites are alike; it is a mysterious rock that crystallizes from magma miles and miles below the surface, far beyond the reach of human observation.

The first title in the What s So Cool About Geology Series, What s So Great About Granite? brings this enigmatic rock to the light, exploring some of its mysteries with lively and lucid prose. Learn why some granite is pinkish while some is gray; why some granite crumbles in your hands while other granite can t be crushed by a tank; and why some granite is solid and unbroken for miles while some is riddled with cracks. Illustrated with crisp, stunning photographs and informative figures, What s So Great About Granite? is a must-have for anyone interested in one of the world s most fascinating rocks.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jennifer H. Carey grew up on granitic rock of the Mount Ashland pluton in southern Oregon. Her interest in geology began early while panning for gold in clear streams sparkling with mica, searching for agates on Oregon beaches, and hiking in the mountains. She obtained a BA in geology at Carleton College and an MS in environmental studies at the University of Montana. She has edited geology books at Mountain Press Publishing Company in Missoula, Montana, since 1995.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Mountain Press Publishing Company; First edition (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878425632
• ISBN-13: 978-0878425631
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #940,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What's So Great about Granite?, November 2, 2009

By 

Barney Considine (Missoula, Montana USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's So Great About Granite? (What's So Great About Geology?) (Paperback)

In her Introduction, Jennifer Carey says; "Though the book delves into complex topics, I tried to keep the technical jargon to a minimum and the tone light. I want readers of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy this celebration of granite."

Ms Carey has done all that she said she was going to do. There are catchy titles and cartoons. Any high school student should be able to handle the reading level and it is in the reach of a dedicated seventh or eighth grader. The concepts are another matter. Geology can't be interesting without being somewhat complex and this author hasn't shied away from the task. Amateur lay-geologists, young or old, will stop and study a bit. Others will do well to read the book at least twice.

The book tells what granite is and what differentiates it from other igneous and metamorphic rock. Granite comes in many shapes and sizes. It forms from liquid magma under pressure and deep in the earth. The book tells us how. Granite's constituent elements and crystalline structure govern everything from its color to how resistant it is to weathering. Do you want to know how scientists tell the age of rocks? This too is in the 73 pages of text in this little book. The author caps it off with an index, bibliography, glossary, and an appendix telling us where we might find granite in the United States.

Granite can almost be called the bedrock of the world. The oldest rocks known are granite. If you don't see granite where you live, you probably live on sedimentary fill in mid-America.

The photographs in "What's So Great about Granite?" are by Marli Bryant Miller. There are lots of them. They are in color and contribute significantly to the text. Unfortunately, the photographer is based in the western United States and the eastern part of the country is somewhat underrepresented.

Yes, it is great to know about granite. But there are lots of other interesting rocks and geologic processes. Let us hope for some more books by Jennifer Carey. Geology is too often presented only in technical reports and theses that are boring and nearly incomprehensible to laypeople. The contribution that this book makes to the literature is very real, and as solid as granite.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A choice pick for addition to science collections, January 19, 2010

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What's So Great About Granite? (What's So Great About Geology?) (Paperback)

Just because it's everywhere doesn't mean it's not a valuable resource. "What's So Great About Granite?" discusses the origins of granite, a common stone with an extraordinary past. Discussing the rock, how it forms, and how it gets its crystals, Jennifer Carey forms a read aimed at young rock lovers who want to feed their never ending curiosity about their natural world. "What's So Great About Granite?" is a choice pick for addition to science collections.