Volcanoes of Northern Arizona: Sleeping Giants of the Grand Canyon Region (Grand Canyon Association) (Paperback)

by Wendell Duffield (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Just south of the Grand Canyon lies a range of volcanic mountains which includes the highest point in Arizona. For the first time, this book provides a popular look at the fiery origin of these volcanic features. With magnificent aerial photographs, original geologic illustrations, and detailed road logs to many of the key features, this book is an indispensable tool for the traveler, the educator, and all who are interested in the remarkable landscape of northern Arizona.

About the Author
Wendell Duffield retired from U.S.Geological Survey in 1997, following thirty-two years of studying volcanoes for that organization. He and his wife, Anne, spend summers in the beautiful lake country of northwestern Wisconsin and winters in the mild climes of northern Arizona. When not playing, he teaches geology at Northern Arizona University, consults in the geothermal-energy patch, and writes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 68 pages
• Publisher: Grand Canyon Association (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938216589
• ISBN-13: 978-0938216582
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #840,160 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #75 in	Books > Travel > United States > States > Arizona > Grand Canyon
  #99 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Earthquakes & Volcanoes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Volcanoes: what they are and how they work, November 27, 2001

By	Ivo Lucchitta, geologist (Flagstaff, Arizona) - See all my reviews

Volcanoes are among the most interesting, awesome, and dangerous of geological phenomena. The also form many of the highest mountains we know-Olympus Mons on Mars, Mauna Kea, Popocatepetl, Kilimanjaro and many others on Earth. In spite of this, the average person has only an imprecise idea of what volcanos are and how they work. Duffield's fine book comes to the rescue.

The book addresses specifically volcanoes to be found in northern Arizona, so includes many pages of road logs intended for the resident or visitor to the area, pleasant excursions whose purpose is to illustrate a wealth of volcanic features. The rest of the book, however, is invaluable to anyone interested in learning more about volcanoes anywhere. Even though Duffield is a professional volcanologist of considerable repute, he uses clear language pleasantly free of technical jargon and aimed at the non-specialist. The many illustrations are lucid and well done, and the wonderful photographs by Michael Collier are a splendid asset.

The person interested in learning about volcanoes won't go wrong with this fine book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and invaluable guide when sightseeing Flagstaff, June 22, 1998

By A Customer

This book covers it all. Accessible text describes in a concise, but not condescending manner, the history of volcanoes in the northern Arizona and Flagstaff area. Excellent, even striking photography. Fine maps and drawings accent the text. This book is suitable reading material for professionals, college students and tourists alike. And an indispensable reference when traveling and sightseeing around Flagstaff, Arizona.

Most people don't realize that Flagstaff is situated near these barely dormant volcanoes which last erupted less than 800 years ago! Highly recommended!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exemplary popular-science writing & gorgeous photos, July 29, 2001

By	Peter D. Tillman (Taos, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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This book is a wonderful introduction to the San Francisco volcanic field, which created the high country around Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountains in Arizona. Duffield writes in a clear, direct style that's a pleasure to read. The book grew out of a long series of talks and lectures he's given around the Flagstaff - Grand Canyon area -- he quotes a fifth-grader who wrote a thank-you note for "being interesting and not boring," which is a nice capsule review of _Volcanoes_.

Although he's writing for a general audience, geologists who aren't intimately familiar with Northen Arizona will learn of some neat new discoveries -- such as the remarkable similarity between the Mt. St. Helens blowout and the Peaks' long-puzzling Inner Basin (p. 25). And that recent lava-dams on the Colorado River (near present-day Lava Falls) made lakes in Grand Canyon nearly half a mile deep!

And anyone with working eyes will be pleased with Michael Collier's splendid aerial photos -- if you're new to Collier, you will want to seek out his beautiful, large-format _Arizona : A View from Above_, which might be the best book of artistic air photos yet published (and which, sadly, is out of print).

Peter D. Tillman
Consulting Geologist, Tucson & Santa Fe (USA)