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Garnet Books

Stories in Stone: How Geology Influenced Connecticut History and Culture

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Exploring the many facets of Connecticut's unique geology

In a series of entertaining essays, geoscientist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer describes how early settlers discovered and exploited Connecticut's natural resources. Their successes as well as failures form the very basis of the state's Chatham's gold played a role in the acquisition of its Charter, and Middletown's lead helped the colony gain its freedom during the Revolution. Fertile soils in the Central Valley fueled the state's development into an agricultural power house, and iron ores discovered in the western highlands helped trigger its manufacturing eminence. The Statue of Liberty, a quintessential symbol of America, rests on Connecticut's Stony Creek granite. Geology not only shaped the state's physical landscape, but also provided an economic base and played a cultural role by inspiring folklore, paintings, and poems. Illuminated by 50 illustrations and 12 color plates, Stories in Stone describes the marvel of Connecticut's geologic diversity and also recounts the impact of past climates, earthquakes, and meteorites on the lives of the people who made Connecticut their home.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2009

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Jelle Zeilinga de Boer

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144 reviews19 followers
November 15, 2023
A fascinating history of Connecticut, written by a geologist. I suppose if you have no connection to the state and have no particular interest in geology, then this book may not be for you. But if you have even a little bit of those two interests then absolutely check this out! There were a few brief parts which got a bit too deep in the weeds of geological processes for me to really follow, but overall this book was quite engaging and has changed the way I experience the landscape around me.
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