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California Natural History Guides #79
Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region
Why does a bit of ocean floor lie on top of Mt. Diablo? Why is Red Rock, that small, knobby island in San Francisco Bay, red? Why is Loma Prieta high? This book is for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors who want to explore the geologic world of this spectacular area, to learn about its shapes, colors, and rocky foundations. Doris Sloan illuminates the colorful geologic mosaic that surrounds San Francisco Bay and lucidly explains the complex and fascinating processes that have forged it over millions of years.
In a lively and engaging style, Sloan describes forces such as the movement of tectonic plates, erosion, the waves on the coast, and human activity. She provides background information on the processes, time frame, and rocks that are the key to understanding the Bay Area landscape and geologic history, then turns to distinct regions of the Bay Area and to San Francisco Bay itself.
* Superbly illustrated with 139 color photographs, 41 drawings, and 29 maps
* Covers Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties
* Gives clear, nontechnical explanations of complex topics including plate tectonics and the Bay Area's fault systems
* Suggests locales in parks and open space preserves to view Bay Area geology in action
In a lively and engaging style, Sloan describes forces such as the movement of tectonic plates, erosion, the waves on the coast, and human activity. She provides background information on the processes, time frame, and rocks that are the key to understanding the Bay Area landscape and geologic history, then turns to distinct regions of the Bay Area and to San Francisco Bay itself.
* Superbly illustrated with 139 color photographs, 41 drawings, and 29 maps
* Covers Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties
* Gives clear, nontechnical explanations of complex topics including plate tectonics and the Bay Area's fault systems
* Suggests locales in parks and open space preserves to view Bay Area geology in action
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 12, 2023
Several features set this book apart from many other Bay Area geology books:
1. The introduction to the Bay spans 3 chapters. Chapter 1 frames the timescale and describes basic geologic processes, Chapter 2 focuses entirely on plate tectonics, and Chapter 3 focuses on the 3 major basement rocks (Franciscan, Great Valley, Salinian). This gives the reader a deep context for the rest of the book, and introduces the reader to the language necessary for interpreting later geological information.
2. This book is comprehensive. Most books say "Bay Area" when they mean "SF and Oakland, plus maybe Hayward". This book actually dedicates space to all 9 counties, and covers everything from Vacaville to Hollister and from the Farallons to the San Joaquín Valley.
3. The author connects information across the chapters and regions to create a coherent narrative for Bay Area geology. Many guidebooks simply look at the tip of the iceberg and cover the key highlights. In contrast, the author actually compares the different regions and demonstrates how the different state parks, geologic features, outcrops, faults, etc., are all actually connected as part of single geological region.
4. Pictures. The author outdid herself here - she includes topographic maps, geologic maps, road maps, maps of tectonic blocks. diagrams for fault movements and subduction and types of landslides, cross-sections, and over 100 color plates of representative rocks and outcrops. The text and images support each other tremendously, and together bring the geology to life.
I loved this book, and anyone who is interested in Bay Area geology (from a newbie to an expert) should get this guide.
1. The introduction to the Bay spans 3 chapters. Chapter 1 frames the timescale and describes basic geologic processes, Chapter 2 focuses entirely on plate tectonics, and Chapter 3 focuses on the 3 major basement rocks (Franciscan, Great Valley, Salinian). This gives the reader a deep context for the rest of the book, and introduces the reader to the language necessary for interpreting later geological information.
2. This book is comprehensive. Most books say "Bay Area" when they mean "SF and Oakland, plus maybe Hayward". This book actually dedicates space to all 9 counties, and covers everything from Vacaville to Hollister and from the Farallons to the San Joaquín Valley.
3. The author connects information across the chapters and regions to create a coherent narrative for Bay Area geology. Many guidebooks simply look at the tip of the iceberg and cover the key highlights. In contrast, the author actually compares the different regions and demonstrates how the different state parks, geologic features, outcrops, faults, etc., are all actually connected as part of single geological region.
4. Pictures. The author outdid herself here - she includes topographic maps, geologic maps, road maps, maps of tectonic blocks. diagrams for fault movements and subduction and types of landslides, cross-sections, and over 100 color plates of representative rocks and outcrops. The text and images support each other tremendously, and together bring the geology to life.
I loved this book, and anyone who is interested in Bay Area geology (from a newbie to an expert) should get this guide.
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March 15, 2015The single best resource I've seen on how to read the landscape around us in the Bay Area. You start with the basics: pillow basalt (undersea lava), radiolarian chert (layers of tiny silica marine plankton), and greywacke (the debris of ancient undersea mudslides). Then you learn about the fault systems which have jumbled up blocks of these rocks like a gigantic millions-of-years-long game of Rubiks Cube, the process changing some of them into metamorphic rocks.
I'm guessing most people aren't going to sit down and read this whole book through from cover to cover, as it is quite repetitive, but it can still be valuable for visitors and locals alike -- especially those who enjoy hiking and biking. Great tips on the best areas in each county to see notable rocks and other geologic evidence. The Bay Area's geology is not as visually stunning as that of the Cascades or the Colorado Plateau, but that makes it even more critical to understand the details of what you're looking at.
I'm guessing most people aren't going to sit down and read this whole book through from cover to cover, as it is quite repetitive, but it can still be valuable for visitors and locals alike -- especially those who enjoy hiking and biking. Great tips on the best areas in each county to see notable rocks and other geologic evidence. The Bay Area's geology is not as visually stunning as that of the Cascades or the Colorado Plateau, but that makes it even more critical to understand the details of what you're looking at.
May 4, 2009
A very satisfying introduction to the geology of the Bay Area. It includes a good introduction to basic geology, which I certainly needed. The book looks and feels like a field guide and I actually went on several trips that were suggested by the book. A plethora of pictures helps in the learning process.
At times, it's a bit too heavy on the individual types of rocks at any given geographic location. I would have liked to have that balanced with a good description of why the particular areas look as they do. However, that being said, the book gives a strong general overview of the larger geologic processes that shaped the Bay Area.
I know I'll never again look at a rock in the Bay Area the same way.
At times, it's a bit too heavy on the individual types of rocks at any given geographic location. I would have liked to have that balanced with a good description of why the particular areas look as they do. However, that being said, the book gives a strong general overview of the larger geologic processes that shaped the Bay Area.
I know I'll never again look at a rock in the Bay Area the same way.
April 15, 2016
Really excellent overview of Bay Area geology. I feel like I have a better high-level understanding of where the Franciscan, Salinan, and Great Valley rocks come from and where to expect them, which is definitely an improvement on my prior state of knowledge. What's lacking is any help in field recognition of different rocks. The guides to specific locales are very helpful, but I still don't still like I can look at a rock outcrop and say too much about it unless it's obviously serptinite or packed with fossils or something. Regardless, maybe that's for another book to tackle. This one is great at what it does.
July 23, 2020
It is a great resource, perhaps could be made more readable, but I don't quite know how.
It has been nice to sort of understand why I see such red soil at Coyote Hills (it is radiolarian chert!), or what the green rocks are at Henry Coe (serpentinite). Since reading this, I have also seen the Tafoni formations at Skeggs, and explored Los Trancos with their virtual San Andreas Fault tour. Restricted by the coronavirus lockdown, it has not been possible to travel far and see everything, but it has been a good learning experience knowing what's where and what a truly remarkable region Bay Area is, geologically speaking.
Having said that, I still feel like I don't understand the whys mostly.
It has been nice to sort of understand why I see such red soil at Coyote Hills (it is radiolarian chert!), or what the green rocks are at Henry Coe (serpentinite). Since reading this, I have also seen the Tafoni formations at Skeggs, and explored Los Trancos with their virtual San Andreas Fault tour. Restricted by the coronavirus lockdown, it has not been possible to travel far and see everything, but it has been a good learning experience knowing what's where and what a truly remarkable region Bay Area is, geologically speaking.
Having said that, I still feel like I don't understand the whys mostly.
April 22, 2024
I would not have expected a geological guidebook to be a page turner, but this one was just that. The geological setting of the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most fascinating ones on the planet, but also one of the most complicated ones, and this book is the perfect introduction to such complexity. I am so glad to have read it from cover to cover. I learnt so much and so many awe-inspiring aspects of the place where I feel lucky to live.
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September 30, 2020[The KQED podcast “Bay Curious” included a brief interview with the author herein: The Bay Area During the Ice Age (Think Saber-Tooth Cats and Mammoths).]
September 5, 2021
A lovely book I fully expect to reread. It’s helped me to appreciate more fully (and deeply) the incredible landscape around me. Full of suggestions for scenic hikes, drives, and sights to see the complex geology of the Bay Area.
February 27, 2009
If you are at all interested in geology and rocks and your local environs, and you live in the SF Bay Region, tHis is a great thing to read at leisure, or throw into your bag when on a trip, so that as you're lying on a beach you can figure out that you are on a fault and why those cliffs look like they do, and that there are cool fossils to be found. I'm loving it. Great pictures and easy to understand interesting explanations.
October 23, 2009
Photography by John Karachewski. After some introductory material on rocks and plate tectonics, the author, starting in Marin County, moves clockwise around the bay describing the jumbled geology of the Bay Area – greywacke, serpentine, pillow basalt – along with discussion of the famous faults.
July 27, 2011
Excellent reference book. Reads well too - great photos and diagrams, decent review of geological processes and plate tectonics. Fascinating subject matter - the chapters on the Bay, Marin and SF reveals a very fluid topography. Stoked to take this book with me on my next hike.
Want to read
July 21, 2008
October 23, 2014
Doris Sloan is amazing! Awesome book!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews