Geology Books

OKANAGAN GEOLOGY BRITISH COLUMBIA
Published by the Kelowna Geology Committee, 2004
220 pages, 129 illustrations

This attractive easy to read book about the Okanagan has enjoyed spectacular success. Written by a group of community minded scientists, happy to share their insight, experience and expertise, it is an all-time best seller at local bookstores! The original edition has been enthusiastically received at a great number of school districts in the Province, and is even employed at a college and university level. But by far its greatest attraction is its acceptance by the general public. Countless testimonials repeat the often heard comments "I don't leave home without it", or "it's so fascinating to get to know the history of the landscape", and "thank you for writing such a wonderful book". Visitors to the City of Kelowna have especially found it to be a wealth of information and a friendly guide to the natural attractions in the Okanagan Valley. They buy the book to send as presents, they take it on their hikes and outings, they tell others about the geologic history, and it enriches the life of all that are touched by its charm. Kelowna and the Okanagan can be proud that such a publication exists.

Only a handful of other cities in Canada, all of them far larger than Kelowna, have the benefit of a comparable account of the origin of local landmarks and the fascinating events which have shaped the land in which we live.

Clearly there have been many benefits as a result of this book. Not only is it a fine example of a cooperative effort between a number of volunteer scientists, and an accurate and easily understood source of a great variety of geologic and environmental features, dollar-wise it has been a winner. With matching Provincial funds an endowment of $75,000.00 (and growing) has been established at the Okanagan College and University of British Columbia Okanagan . See "Kelowna Geology Committee Bursary". The authors of the book have on countless occasions given of their time to talk to local school children, address a variety of clubs, societies and organizations, present discussions at scientific meetings in the City, provide descriptions and illustrations to city, provincial and regional parks, and make themselves available to the media when they need special knowledge.

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Islands From The Sea
Geologic Stories of Cayman
by Murray A. Roed

Published by Cayman Free Press of the Cayman Islands
Available 2006
Cost: CI $19.95; US $25.95; Cdn $26.95
Distributed in Canada by Sandhill Book Marketing Ltd.,
Kelowna, BC, phone 1-800-667-3848, email: info@sandhillbooks.com

Founded upon the Caribbean Sea, three tiny islands, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac exist as a result of fascinating circumstances of geologic history. The islands have in fact been the focus of an incredible amount of geologic research, especially over the last thirty years, by university scientists and other agencies that involves nearly every learned group in the Northern Hemisphere and some in the South. This research includes over 1000 scientific articles published in a great variety of scientific journals that have worldwide distribution, an admirable and awesome accomplishment. However, the vast majority of the population does not have access to these sources of technical information. Even if they did they would be hard pressed to make much sense of it. The mission of this book is to tell the geologic story of the islands in a non-technical manner. The book will hopefully be of interest to anyone that is curious about the mysterious and wonderful ways of Mother Nature that have created these tropical island paradises.

Four local Cayman experts have contributed to the book, and three prominent geological experts on the Caribbean have reviewed its contents, namely Dr. Brian Jones, Dr. N. Terence Edgar and Dr. Grenville Draper.

New Book: A new book has been produced called "Okanagan Geology South, Geologic Highlights of the South Okanagan , British Columbia". Published in May, 2011, it has been an instant best seller. It begins with a first time history of geological exploration in the south Okanagan and follows pioneers thinking about changing geologic concepts from the 1800's to the latest super experts of the 21st Century. Topics include all aspects of geoscience in the Okanagan Valley, the actual theory of the origin of the valley, the ice ages that have affected it, and the Earth encirciling global tectonics that have formed its present landscape. The book delves deeply but understandably into the subjects of geologic hazards such as landslides and volcanic eruptions, and deals extensively with the vital resource of groundwater, and warns that the utilization of surface water is at a maximum, at the edge of potentially reducing the prospect of further economic growth. But the book presents many more insights into the South Okanagan Valley. Each townsite is featured in the "heart" of the book and identifies all of the interesting landforms, especially accessible along Highway 97, at Summerland, Penticton, Kaledon, Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos. Special parts of the book discuss individual items of the geologic development including the coal industry in the White Lake Basin, the numerous and surprisingly profitable early gold mines. One of the most interesting items is the infrequent but dramatic failures of the silt bluffs in the valley that plunge into the lake creating a mini-tsanami...several stories are included in the book. The book is a must read for just about everyone.