GeoGuide – serie

This book is based on over 150 scientific papers about the Dogu’a Tembien district in Ethiopia. To reach a broader public of people interested in geosites and human-environment interactions, the authors here add a geoguide about this mountain district in Ethiopia(13°30’ N, 39°10’ E; upto 2850 m high) which shows a varied lithology.A large team has carried out research in that district over the past 23 years, including long stays in the areas. Numerous viewpoints and geosites are only accessible on foot; hence the authors prepared the book as a trekking guide, which will enhance sustainable tourism in the same time. This edited work summarises the study results in the international literature into a comprehensive book, which comprises 35 thematic chapters, detailed description of 573 km of trekking routes to access the landscape and the most scenic excursion points, as well as the necessary logistical information. A state-of-the-art trekking map is included asa digital annex.

This book describes in detail numerous geological sites throughout the mountains of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Eastern Arabia. The region is well known for its oil and gas reserves in the desert interior, and Permian-Mesozoic shelf carbonates exposed in the mountains of the Musandam peninsula, Jebel al-Akhdar and Saih Hatat, where deep wadi canyons provide impressive three-dimensional views into the crust. The region has numerous globally important geological sites, including the world’s largest and best-exposed ophiolite complex, the Semail Ophiolite, which is a vast thrust sheet of Cretaceous ocean crust and upper mantle emplaced onto the Arabian continental margin. Other sites include spectacular fossil localities, subduction zone metamorphic rocks (eclogites, blueschists, amphibolites), fold-thrust belts, giant sheath folds and Precambrian salt domes, as well as the huge sand dunes of the Rub al’Khali, the Empty Quarter, and the separate Wahiba (Sharkiyah) sandsea of Eastern Oman.Written by Mike Searle, who has worked on geological research projects throughout Oman and UAE almost every year since 1978, this book describes the field geology of each site and includes a wealth of maps, field photos and diagrams illustrating key features. It also discusses the history of exploration of Arabia and the search for its hidden geological secrets. The book provides the geological basis for the establishment of a series of World Heritage Sites, National GeoParks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) throughout the region. As such, it is of interest to geologists, tourists, mountaineers, trekkers, rock climbers and naturalists.

This volume provides an overview and tour (with many interesting stops along the way) of Devonian and Ordovician intraplate magmatism and associated sedimentary rocks and tectonics in the regions of Kuznetsk Alatau, Minusinsk Basin and Khakassia in western Siberia. All chapters were written by experts, many of which have been studying these regions for decades. The first book to present and review this information in English for an international audience, it includes both overviews of the magmatic and associated sedimentary history, and selected key field sites, which are described in detail.

This book provides a synthesis of the physiography and geodynamics of the entire Pyrenean orogen and its foreland basins, providing the "big picture" (structure of the orogen and chronology of its formation, overview of its post-orogenic evolution, and Quaternary and recent landscape history). One part of the book proposes a 6–7 day itinerary across the eastern and east-central Pyrenees, two areas that currently provide the richest, best-documented, and most carefully curated database on the post-orogenic evolution of the mountain belt. The book deals with three complementary topics: (i) geodynamics, i.e. the long-term post-orogenic evolution of the Pyrenees since the declining stages of tectonic collision ca. 30 million years ago, and within the wider reference frame of Iberia, the Western Mediterranean, and the Atlantic margin; (ii) geomorphological processes and landforms that have conspired to shape the eastern part of the French and Spanish Pyrenees in response to base-level and climate-related changes over than same time period; (iii) geoheritage, i.e. educational vignettes of the flagship landscape units and typical geological sections of the study area. Written as a field guide, it is designed to help readers to construct discovery-based itineraries through the region (with options and variants depending on time and physical ability), allowing them to appreciate the key landscape and geoheritage features over the course of 1 week, with potential for much more.This GeoGuide is primarily aimed at confirmed geoscientists from most disciplines in Earth science, at postgraduate students engaged in field studies, and at curiosity-driven, educated amateurs keen to enhance their understanding of spectacular or enigmatic features encountered on their travels.

This book aims to introduce scientists and educated laymen to the fascinating geology of the Bergell Alps, first with some background information on geology, tectonics, minerals and rocks and then to lead readers on excursions to observe geological features in the field. We believe the best way to make readers familiar with local geology is to lead them to intriguing outcrops. Such books are common in North America, but missing in Europe, particularly for the Alps. With this work, we use hands-on experience at a series of sites to educate readers how individual outcrops, moraines, landslides or other features contribute to our broader understanding of the region’s unique geology.

Understanding Ethiopia is a detailed description of Ethiopia’s geological story and enables non-specialist readers to share the author’s thrill at gaining a deeper insight into the processes which produced, and continue to shape, this amazing country. Ethiopia’s spectacular landscapes, ranging from mountains over 4500m high to salt plains 150m below sea level, are a reflection of the geological processes that formed the country. Indeed, its history and the historical sites, for which it is renowned, are largely determined by geology. Readers learn why and how Ethiopia’s geology is both unique and dynamic, as here the earth’s crust is in the process of breaking apart.

In 1931, the cluster of craters at Henbury Cattle Station south of Alice Springs in Central Australia was one of the first places on Earth where a group of impact structures could definitely be linked to the fall of iron meteorites. It was also the first place where radial rays and loops of ejected rock material, comparable to those seen around craters on the Moon, were observed. As such it was one of the primary observation sites associated with the science of meteoritics in its infancy. In this work the authors present previously unpublished documents covering early research at the Henbury site, provide an extended data set on the distribution of meteoritic material at Henbury craters, and compare recent discoveries on the mechanics of hypervelocity impacts with evidence collected over 80 years of research at the Henbury meteorite craters. In their conclusion, the authors suggest a new hypothesis for the fragmentation and incident direction of the crater-forming bolide, on the basis of a more complete set of data compared with previous models.

This is the first book describing the glorious geology of Iceland’s Golden Circle and four additional excursions:(1) the beautiful valleys and mountains of the fjord of Hvalfjördur, (2) the unique landscape and geothermal fields of the Hengill Volcano, (3) the explosion craters, volcanic fissures, and lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, and (4) the volcanoes (Hekla, Eyjafjallajökull, Katla), waterfalls, sandur plains, and rock columns of South Iceland. The Golden Circle offers a unique opportunity to observe and understand many of our planet’s forces in action. These forces move the Earth’s tectonic plates, rupture the crust, and generate earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, channels for rivers and waterfalls, and heat sources for hot springs and geysers. The Golden Circle includes the famous rifting and earthquake fracture sites at Thingvellir, the hot springs of the Geysir area, the waterfall of Gullfoss, and the Kerid volcanic crater. As the book is primarily intended forpeople with no background in geosciences, no geological knowledge is assumed and technical terms are avoided as far as possible (those used are explained in a glossary). With more than 240 illustrations – mostly photographs – explaining geological structures and processes, it is also a useful resource for geoscientists.

This GeoGuide provides an overview of the geology of Alnö, combined with an up-to-date field itinerary. Covering all major geological aspects, it offers an essential summary of Alnö and its intriguing magmatic rocks in a compact form suitable for field excursions and home study alike. As one of the type localities for carbonatite, the late Proterozoic Alnö ring complex has been a crucial site for carbonatite-related research (next to the Fen complex in Norway), and provided one of the earliest test beds for this unique group of igneous rocks. Five geological excursions introduce the visitor to the most rewarding outcrops, including detailed descriptions and a wealth of high-quality colour photographs. The excursions are complemented by a detailed review of the history of scientific investigation on Alnö and, in particular, a catalogue of exotic and common minerals associated with the complex’s carbonatitic and alkaline silicate rocks. Finally, a summary of its trace element and isotope geochemistry as well as a brief outlook on Alnö’s potential as a future source of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) completes the book.

The book thoroughly describes Iceland’s geological development and its current geological processes, taking into account both geographic and geo-ecological aspects. Furthermore, it includes suggested excursions especially for individual tours. The most popular tourist “highlights” (e.g. the Golden Circle with þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geyser) should certainly not be excluded. But there is so much more to explore apart from the main tourist routes - and sometimes only a few kilometers away. Examining various regions of the country, each proposed stop is sufficiently described so that it is easily accessible (especially for individual tourists). A wealth of maps, graphics and images illustrate and supplement the coverage. This invaluable guide is aimed in particular at individual tourists to Iceland. It provides those tourists wishing to explore Iceland on their own with a wide range of suggestions for their trip.  In addition, numerous excursion suggestions for the west, southwest and south, including the Westman Islands, are described in detail.