Rocks and Riches - Exploring California's Curious Geology

"A road trip through California's geologic history"--

List of contents

Preface

A Very Brief Introduction to California Geology

It’s About Time

Jurassic Coast

Plate Tectonics Means Constant Change

Chapter 1 - Coast Ranges
Marin Headlands 

• Stop 1 - Pillow Basalts at Point Bonita Lighthouse
• Stop 2 - Deformed Franciscan Ribbon Cherts

Mount Tamalpais and San Francisco Bay

• Stop 3 - Rock Springs Trailhead Serpentinite
• Stop 4 - Tamalpais Summit and the Evolution of San Francisco Bay

The San Andreas Fault

• Stop 5 - Bear Valley Visitor Center and the San Andreas Fault

Point Reyes National Seashore

• Stop 6 - Point Reyes Lighthouse
• Stop 7 - Drake’s Beach

Mayacamas Mountains

• Stop 8 - Petrified Forest, Calistoga
• Stop 9 - The Geysers 

The Sonoma Volcanics

• Stop 10 - Palisades of the Sonoma Volcanics
• Stop 11 - Glass Mountain

Napa Valley and the Terroir of Wine

• Stop 12 - Quintessa Vineyards

Chapter 2 – The Central Valley

The Great Valley Sequence

• Stop 13 - The Great Valley Sequence at Monticello Dam

The Devil’s Thicket

• Stop 14 - Mount Diablo 

Chapter 3 - Gold Rush Country 

The Sierra Foothills

• Stop 15 - Empire Mine State Historic Park
• Stop 16 - Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
• Stop 17 - Pre-Sierra Nevada Stream Gravels, I-80 Roadcut at Gold Run
• Stop 18 - Sutter’s Mill and Gold Discovery State Historic Park, Coloma

Placerville 

• Stop 19 Gold Bug Park and Mine
• Stop 20 El Dorado County Historical Museum

Chapter 4 - Sierra Nevada

Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Valley

• Stop 21 - Tunnel View Point

The High Country

• Stop 22 - Olmsted Point and Tenaya Lake
• Stop 23 - Lembert Dome and Tuolumne Meadows
• Stop 24 - Glacial Till 
• Stop 25 - Tioga Pass and Mount Dana View

Chapter 5 – Basin-and-Range

The Eastern Slope

• Stop 26 - Sierra Nevada Metavolcanic Roof Pendant at Tioga Lake
• Stop 27 - Pre-Sierra Nevada Metasediments, Ellery Lake
• Stop 28 - Lateral Moraine

Mono Lake and Lee Vining

• Stop 29 - Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center 
• Stop 30 - Tufa Pinnacles at Mono Lake

Bodie and Travertine Hot Springs

• Stop 31 - Bodie State Historic Park and Ghost Town
• Stop 32 - Travertine Hot Springs

The Long Valley Caldera and Sierra Escarpment

• Stop 33 Wilson Butte, Inyo Craters
• Stop 34 Sierra Nevada Fault View

Mammoth Mountain and Devils Postpile National Monument

• Stop 35 - Earthquake Fault
• Stop 36 - Mammoth Mountain
• Stop 37 - Minaret Vista
• Stop 38 - Devils Postpile National Monument

Owens Valley 

• Stop 39 - Convict Lake
• Stop 40 - McGee Creek Scarp
• Stop 41 - Bishop Tuff and Volcanic Tablelands
• Stop 42 - Owens Valley Fault
• Stop 43 - Alabama Hills
• Stop 44 - Sierra Nevada Fault

Death Valley National Park

• Stop 45 - Father Crowley Overlook
• Stop 46 - Mosaic Canyon
• Stop 47 - Mesquite Flats Dunes
• Stop 48 - Furnace Creek Visitor Center
• Stop 49 - Zabriskie Point
• Stop 50 - Artist’s Palette
• Stop 51 - Devil’s Golf Course
• Stop 52 - Badwater Basin
• Stop 53 - Mormon Point and the Copper Canyon Turtleback 
• Stop 54 - Split Cinder Cone
• Stop 55 - Resting Spring Pass 

Epilogue

Acknowledgements 

Bibliography

Glossary

About the author

Gary L. Prost has been working as a geologist for more than fifty years, specializing in mineral and oil exploration. He studied geology at the Colorado School of Mines, obtaining his PhD there in 1986. His employers have included the United States Geological Survey and several oil companies, and his work has taken him to more than thirty countries. Now retired, he leads field trips and does public outreach on topics of geological interest. His books include The Geology Companion, The United Kingdom's Natural Wonders, South America's Natural Wonders, and the two-volume North America's Natural Wonders. He lives in El Cerrito, California.

Product details

• Authors: Jackson Josh, Gary L Prost
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 22.07.2025
• EAN: 9781597146777
• ISBN: 978-1-59714-677-7
• No. of pages: 304
• Illustrations: black and white and color images
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geology; Camping, Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection, NATURE / Essays, Walking, hiking, trekking, SPORTS & RECREATION / Hiking, TRAVEL / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA), SPORTS & RECREATION / Camping, natural history, Travel & holiday, Nature & the natural world: general interest, Camping & woodcraft, Conservation of the environment, Nature and the natural world: general interest, National parks and nature reserves: general interest, Photography and photographs, Travel guides: caravan and camp-site guides, Agricultural land management, Travel guides: road travel / road trips