Geology of British Columbia: A Journey Through Time

by Sydney G. Cannings, Richard J. Cannings, JoAnne Nelson

Sydney Cannings and Richard Cannings tell the story of the province's geology and the history of its living creatures. Starting 200 million years ago, when there was no British Columbia west of the present Rocky Mountains, the authors take us on a journey through time, describing the collisions of island chains called terranes, the sliding of plates, the erupting of volcanos, and the movement of glaciers that created British Columbia as we know it today. They also describe the rich legacy of fossils left behind as a result of all this geological activity.

This updated edition has been extensively revised to reflect the current thinking about plate tectonics and the geological history of British Columbia. There are also seven new maps and a number of new photographs. An appendix lists the various types of rock in British Columbia.

Genres: Nonfiction, Geology, Science, Nature, Canada, Reference

178 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Sydney Cannings is a zoologist working on endangered species for the provincial government in Victoria, British Columbia. He is the author, along with Richard J. Cannings and Richard A. Cannings, of The Birds of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Anton Grabreck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should be titled “The intertwined ecological and geological evolutions of British Colombia”.
The first half is straight geology while the second half is ecology in reference to the last 13000 years of geological and climate evolution (since the ice age).
The first half (geology) is beautifully written and almost reads like poetry still while using complex geological jargon. The second half is more inquisitive and ties together the geological relevance in the evolution of ecology - recognising the fact that nature is constantly changing.

Although I would absolutely froth over both geological and ecological sections if they were split into seperate books and went a bit deeper, as it is now left me a bit disappointed and searching on my own for answers on why the different BC geology is what it is.
With the changing topics and sometimes heavy jargon in multiple expert fields the book feels confused. Is it for tourists? Locals? Ecological researchers? Geologists?
I was looking for a book on BC Geology so I feel a bit shammed.

[Terry Steinborn · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very disappointing book for me. I had expected to get information on the nature and history of the rocks making up British Columbia on a scale that could best be described as at least regional, if not local. The book had the usual very broad brush explanation of the evolution of western North America, then got into some more detail on glaciation and glacial features developed over relatively recent time. Actual discussion of the rocks making up the magnificent scenery of BC, rather than just the superficial glacial aspects. I guess it is to be expected considering the book was written by a zooloogist, an biologist-endangered species specialist, and a geologist, who really didn't seem too involved with the writing of the book. A book on geology of a region cries out for good maps, and this was a serious lack in this book.

[Jim Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really impressed with this handsomely produced but affordable ($22 Cdn) book. I'm not a geologist but have been able to understand much of it, looking up terms as I read. Lots of great, color photos and maps. The geology of BC is complex, but this book really helps in getting an overview. I correspond with JoAnne Nelson, the main author, who works for the BC gov as a geologist. She says she wrote this "at the end of her desk" while working as a gov geologist. It sounds like a labor of love. It shows. It's really well done.

I especially enjoyed the maps that traced the movement in deep time of the terranes that currently make up most of BC from their various far-flung locations around the globe.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book for people interested (even a little bit) about BC geology. While it sounds like a textbook, it is very easy to read, and has lots of graphics to help get across more complex ideas. The book goes into just enough detail that I feel next time I'm driving around, I'll be able to know a bit more about the rock and soil around me, but not so much detail that I'm going to get overwhelmed and not remember any of it.

The book is divided up into two parts: the geology, and then post-glacial ecology, which discussed how species changed before, during, and after the ice age, and how they migrated into BC as the glaciers melted. This was a great touch, as the glaciers affected our topography so much, but we might not realize how it also affected our ecology.

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has never been even remotely adjacent to geology during my time in academia this book was a solid read!

The first third focuses heavy on geology and was filled with jargon I had to slog through, and the last two thirds slowly wind through time to explore ecology in more recent (last million) years. I put down the book for a long time and finished fast after getting through the first part.

Lots of other reviewers have complaints of not going deep enough into geology, but I loved it! It read like a full on chronicle of the formation of land, and the evolution of flora and fauna in BC. I felt like a kid again reading eyewitness books. Love!

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I DNF this one. It's a topic I am really interested in and despite the introduction's claim that this book "is designed to both entertain and educate nature lovers of all kinds", I found it very inaccessible and written in a manner that was hard to follow. Perhaps geology students/experts would be a better audience? I did not appreciate the use of unexplained jargon (especially considering the lack of a glossary), nor the (relatively crude) maps.

[David Northgraves · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read but the low rating is primarily due to the title. It honestly only reads as a purely Geology focused book for half of it, and the other half is more focused on ecology. That's totally fine, and it was a good read, but I think a book with this title should be more focused on Geology, and a mid-rating is deserved but shouldn't discredit the readability of the material.l.

[Sananab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, although not accurately named. Only the first half is really about geology, with the second half being more about wildlife distribution patterns as the last ice age ended.

[Ruth Hartnup · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. Clear, fascinating and beautifully illustrated.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live in the Pacific Northwest this is a must read

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

We live in a fascinating place. So much to see. This book made me want to explore.

[Cayley]

This wasn’t my favorite. The writing style made it difficult to understand, even for a geology-related major. I also didn’t expect the entire second part to be about the ecology, when I favor the geology aspect that the title describes it to be.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting read about BCand the valley I live in