Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas: A Field Guide to Favorite Places from Chimney Rock to Charleston

Southern Gateways Guides

by Kevin G. Stewart, Mary-Russell Roberson

How were the Appalachian Mountains formed? Are the barrier islands moving? Is there gold in the Carolinas? The answers to these questions and many more appear in this reader-friendly guide to the geology of North Carolina and South Carolina. Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas pairs a brief geological history of the region with 31 field trips to easily accessible, often familiar sites in both states where readers can observe firsthand the evidence of geologic change found in rocks, river basins, mountains, waterfalls, and coastal land formations.

Geologist Kevin Stewart and science writer Mary-Russell Roberson begin by explaining techniques geologists use to "read" rocks, the science of plate tectonics, and the formation of the Carolinas. The field trips that follow are arranged geographically by region, from the Blue Ridge to the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain. Richly illustrated and accompanied by a helpful glossary of geologic terms, this field guide is a handy and informative carry-along for hikers, tourists, teachers, and families--anyone interested in the science behind the sights at their favorite Carolina spots.

Includes field trips to:
Grandfather Mountain, N.C.
Linville Falls, N.C.
Caesars Head State Park, S.C.
Reed Gold Mine, N.C.
Pilot Mountain State Park, N.C.
Raven Rock State Park, N.C.
Sugarloaf Mountain, S.C.
Santee State Park, S.C.
Jockey's Ridge State Park, N.C.
Carolina Beach State Park, N.C.
and 21 more sites in the Carolinas!

Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

Genres: Geology, Nonfiction, Science, Nature

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2007

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children and I have been delving into geology for over a year now in our homeschool. I picked this book up to go over some local things with the kids but ended up reading it cover to cover myself. There are interesting historic tales that go with the areas covered in this book. Did you know there were great geologic and political debates that included Mt Mitchell, or that a giant earthquake hit Charleston, or that the state of NC had to keep buying property near Jockey Ridge because the sand was swallowing up local businesses? If you want a field guide to NC and SC geology this is your best bet. If you want to read snippets of our history and traditions along with geology and have a hunger to read more then this is your book. If it makes me and my kids go off down a rabbit hole of learning it is definitely worth having on my shelf.

[Cecile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruined by incorrect evolutionary dating.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is everything I want in a science book.
- Solid background info
- Engaging, conversational language without watering down concepts
- Sends you on field trips
- I'm excited about the topic now

[JW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the chapters about the coastal plain while I was at the beach. Very interesting. I also found out why we didn't find any fossils when we went to Grandfather Mtn. & Blowing Rock; because most all of those rocks PRE-DATE PLANTS & ANIMALS!!! 1 billion years old. Amazing.

[Rebecca Ferres · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've went on a handful of hikes in the book and they were awesome.