Friday, November 15, 2024

A Fully Revised 2nd Edition of "Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau"

"Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau", first published in 2008, is now available in a fully revised and completely updated 2nd Edition! Published by the Grand Canyon Conservancy, it is being featured as a special Holiday offering here. The book will make a fantastic gift for your Earth-minded friends and family! (I recommend buying directly from here as proceeds go to support Grand Canyon National Park. 

New cover of the 2nd Edition of "Ancient Landscapes"

We continually have to answer the age-old question, "So if I own the 1st Edition, why should I buy the new edition?" Here are the main reasons:

1) All of the more than 70 paleogeographic maps are fully updated with new information included as Ron Blakey continually updates his maps, using the latest geologic information and more advanced computer tools. Additionally, we have enlarged the area covered in each map to include more of Nevada and California, areas that figure prominently in the geological history of the Colorado Plateau. 

A paleo-map from the 1st Edition (left) and the same map in the 2nd Edition. Note that much more landscape
is included to the west, north and south with better color renditions.

2) The paleo-maps have moved to their own dedicated section in the book, such that flipping through the maps yields an animation through time. And, each maps' explanation now resides adjacent to the map on the opposite side of the spread.  

Sample page of the Coconino Sandstone - all of the information shown on the map is described on
the opposite side of the spread including a photo of the deposit.

3) Most of the photographs throughout the book have been upgraded and replaced. Most are of much better quality and at higher resolutions (the 1st Edition in 2008 relied heavily on photos scanned from film slides with the resolution being less than optimum). Two examples shown here.

From Chapter 1 for the Precambrian

From Chapter 5 for the Triassic and Jurassic

"Ancient Landscapes" has had a tremendous run in its 16 years! It came out one month after the financial collapse of Lehman Bros. in October 2008. At $35 per copy, we fretted that it would fail. Exactly the opposite happened and it has become a valuable tool for professional and avocational geologists. Expanded with 46 additional pages, the price has only gone to $38 per copy! Get your hands on this valuable resource here.