Geology Underfoot in Southern Utah

by Richard L. Orndorff

Standing before any of southern Utah's enigmatic landforms, it's clear, there's a story here. What carved the goblins in Goblin Valley, the domes at Capitol Reef, the towering sandstone walls of Zion Canyon, and Bryce's hoodoo fairyland, not to mention all those arches and natural bridges? _Geology Underfoot in Southern Utah_ explores the stories behind 33 sites - some world-famous, others off the beaten path. Marvel at tales of ancient eruptions, deserts, seas, and swamps; the movements of massive rock units over eons; and the rock's interactions with the life above it, including humankind. Along the way, visit dinosaur trackways, old mines, rock glaciers, oysters in the desert, and much more. Includes 146 black-and-white photographs, 31 maps, 37 black-and-white figures, bibliography, glossary, and index.

Genres: Geology, Science, Nonfiction, Nature

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2006

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Not quite as lucid as Leo Hinze's "Utah's Spectacular Geology" but close. My only complaint is I wish the book would do a better job of teaching the ready how to identify the major formations visible in a typical southern Utah canyon or cliff face, without making the reader extract his own model or cheat sheet out the entire book. I guess there is no shortcut to thorough study.

[Stan Paulsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nicely written and independent chapters allow reading on specific topics of interest. After having this book 2 days my kids and I saw some very cool dinosaur tracks right off the road I was driving on anyway. Very handy to have.

[Kyri Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good companion to Fillmore's Geology of the Parks, Wildlands, and Monuments of Southern Utah which seems not to have a goodreads record.