“This book is a must for anyone interested in the outdoors of the Carolinas. Complete with a comprehensive glossary of terms, it is a perfect start for budding geologists of all ages, from 10 to 100.”
--Orrin Pilkey, author of How to Read a North Carolina Beach

“ Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas fills a long-standing void in the plethora of regional field guides. Now you can learn the geologic history of our favorite places to explore."
--Joe Miller, outdoors writer, Raleigh News and Observer

“ This book will be a must for any naturalist traveling in the Carolinas who has an interest in the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of the origin of this most interesting region.”--Willie Calloway, executive director of the South Carolina State Museum  

How old is Grandfather Mountain?

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:

Chimney Rock Park, NC
DuPont State Forest, NC
Whiteside Mountain, NC
Grandfather Mountain, NC
Linville Falls, NC
Mount Mitchell State Park, NC
Stone Mountain State Park, NC
Woodall Shoals, SC
Caesars Head and Table Rock State Parks, SC
South Mountains State Park, NC
Crowders Mountain State Park, NC
Reed Gold Mine, NC
Pilot Mountain State Park, NC
Morrow Mountain State Park, NC
Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, NC
Museum of Life and Science, NC
Landsford Canal State Park, SC
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, NC
Raven Rock State Park, NC
Medoc Mountain State Park, NC
Forty Acre Rock, SC
Roanoke River, NC
Sugarloaf Mountain, SC
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, NC
Santee State Park, SC
Jones Lake State Park, NC
Flanner Beach, NC
Jockey's Ridge State Park, NC
Oregon Inlet, NC
Carolina Beach State Park, NC
Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, SC