Child of Gondwana: The Geological Making of Tasmania

by Keith Corbett

197 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3 things you need to know about Tasmanian geology:
1. Dolerite
2. Glaciers
3. Dolerite carved by glaciers

[Andrew Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lived in Tasmania for over 30 years and have been surrounded by the amazing geological history that Keith Corbett recounts in this fascinating read. He very effectively paints the picture of the origins of this beautiful little island since the dawn of time and through the ages. It has added a whole dimension to what I see when I look around me at the Tasmanian landscape.

[Mungo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for understanding how Tasmania got to where is geologically in nice clear sections and some great diagrams and photos. By the end of the book, I had a clear understanding of the different areas of Tassie. This book actually inspired me to pursue a degree in geology which I am greatly enjoying. Just getting to learn about the complex history of the rocks underneath our feet is quite humbling and inspiring.

I, like another reviewer, did take issue with the use of geological terms with no explanation. I found myself looking up terms and going back pages to see if I'd missed something. The other review also pointed out the clumsy writing surrounding his own life and of indigenous peoples, which I found to be true as well. Additionally, sometimes the writing went too far into details about locations without context, so a reader not familiar with Tasmania would have to scour a map to see what he means.

But I don't want to hate on this book as I reckon it's still great for gathering an overall understanding of Tasmanian geology and would recommend it to anyone interested in such things!