The Roadside Geology books are written to highlight the geology of a specific state. Mountain Press Publishing Company publishes the books, and for 2001 and 2003 they have published two new volumes in this series, Roadside Geology of Massachusetts, and Roadside Geology of Nebraska. In 2002 Mountain Press put out a second edition of Roadside Geology of Colorado. Each of these books is a valuable reference tool for the geologists, whether you live in these states, plan on visiting, or just want to better understand the geology of the United States.
Roadside Geology of Massachusetts, by James W. Skehan.
James W. Skehan, professor emeritus in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Boston College, writes in an easy to follow manner. Dr. Skehan is able to convey many of the tougher topics in geology, like deep time, plate tectonics, and the formation of continents through accretion, in a manner that is a pleasure to read.
Dr. Skehan begins his coverage of Massachusetts's geology with a long introductory chapter. This thorough introduction covers a diverse number of topics to familiarize the reader with the different geologic processes that have played a role in forming the state's geology. Some of the topics covered include a unique way of using your hand to visualize the concept of "deep time", a discussion of the rock cycle, and an overview of plate tectonics.
Dr. Skehan goes on to discuss three supercontinents (Rodinia, Laurentia, and Pangaea) that each had an impact on the geology of Massachusetts. The discussion conveys many important geologic ideas in easy to understand terms, and includes some wonderful maps to help the reader visualize these supercontinents. The Introduction continues with a coverage of the major mountain building events and the exotic terranes that all helped to "build" the State of Massachusetts. Dr. Skehan ends the Introduction with a detailed and easy to follow overview on glaciation and the types of glacial landforms and features.
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