Introducing Geology
Introducing Geology
This section contains non-specialist books and guides on different themes in geology, such as fossils, regional geology, mining and
minerals. Field equipment and educational items on a geological theme are also available. Earthwise Publications cover a range of topics,
from the influence of geology on the taste of a good malt whisky to the causes and effects of earthquakes, and are written for amateur
geologists, students, walkers, or people who simply want to know more about the geology of Britain. These books and guides offer well-
illustrated geological information, presented in a clear concise manner.
Exploring the landscape of Charnwood Forest and Mountsorrel. Ambrose, K. 2007. ISBN
9780852725702 £12
A5 52- page book with colour illustrations and 1:25 000 scale map.
Leicestershire’s Charnwood Forest is the area where the oldest fossils in Britain were found – they are almost
600 million years old. The geology of the area is explored in this book and map pack, which describes ten walks
in Charnwood Forest, explaining the geology in clear, simple terms. The book is full colour and illustrated with
photographs and diagrams. The accompanying map shows the different rock types to be found in the area.
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an important political frontier zone almost 2000 years ago. This exploration of the landscape shows that this was a major frontier zone
some 500 million years before Hadrian built his Wall.
A geological walk around Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood. McGrath, A. 2004. 0852724861 £2
A5 32-page paperback with photographs, maps and illustrations. This book describes two walks in rural
Leicestershire and gives an overview of how the landscape we see today was formed through time. Aimed at the
interested amateur, this pocket-sized guide will be an informative and friendly companion on these walks.
Whisky on the rocks — origins of the water of life. Cribb, S and J. 1998. 0852722907 £6.50
Malt whisky distilleries use local waters which have percolated through the ancient rocks of Scotland. This book
describes the geology of Scotland and Northern Ireland in relation to the important whisky producing districts,
and offers new insights into factors that influence the taste of single malt whiskies. Fully illustrated throughout by
renowned wildlife artist Richard Bell.
Lead Mining landscapes of the North Pennines. Forbes, I. 2003. 0902178202 £9.95
The North Pennines, which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a European Geopark, may be
forgiven for assuming that it is a truly natural landscape. Undeniably beautiful though it is, this is far
from a wholly natural landscape and is in no sense the ‘wilderness’ it has been claimed. This book explores
the wealth of factors, natural and human, particularly in relation to the lead mining industry, which have
shaped the unique area we see today. Published by Durham County Council.
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Guidecards
These concise guidecards provide a wealth of information on the geology of many popular tourist areas of England and Wales - from
fossiliferous heritage coasts to historic buildings of London. Holiday Geology Guides provide an illustrated description of the district,
while Holiday Geology Maps show the geology superimposed on the topography. Fossil Focus cards describe the common fossils which
can be found in the UK. All guidecards feature colour diagrams and photographs and are produced as folded A3 laminated cards.
Guidecards for the North York Moors and the Lake District maps illustrate the geology draped over a 3D satellite image of the landscape.
Concise guidecards with many diagrams and photographs, providing a wealth of information on major fossil groups found in Britain and
Europe, including trilobites, ammonites, fish, corals and plants.
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Echinoids Woods, M A 1999 0852723180 £1.95
Fish Wilkinson, I P 2000 0852723504 £1.95
Foraminifera Wilkinson, I P 1997 08052722982 £1.95
Gastropods Wilkinson, I P 2002 0805272389X £1.95
Graptolites Wilkinson, I P 2002 08052723903 £1.95
Ostracods Wilkinson, I P 1996 0805272263X £1.95
Plants Wilkinson, I P 1999 08052723237 £1.95
Trilobites Molyneux, S G 1999 08052723385 £1.95
Guidecards offering insights into the geology and evolution of the Falkland Islands, South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia.
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Title Author Publication ISBN Price
date
South Georgia: a Stone, P and 2002 0852724462 £1.95
landscape from rock, Walton, D
ice and sea
South Georgia: the Stone, P 2003 0852724667 £1.95
rocks and fossils
Rocks and fossils of the Falkland Islands. Stone, P, Aldiss, D and Edwards, E.
2005. 0852724942. £9
The Falkland Islands have a remarkable geological history: African origins going back 1000 million
years, a 400 million-year-old shoreline teeming with marine life, and ice age 300 million years ago
succeeded by the spread of forests, and emigration to the New World as the Atlantic Ocean opened a
mere 150 million years ago — with rotation so that north became south in the process. This colourful
account illustrates the rocks and fossils, shows how their features reveal the details of those ancient
environments, and explains how more recent climate changes has wrought the rocks into the unique
Falkland landscape.
Posters
The Lake District and surrounds. 1992. Flat. 0751823635. £5 (inc VAT)
A digitally enhanced satellite map of the Lake District obtained from the Landsat 5 satellite at an altitude of 700 km. 1:200 000 scale.
Size: 900 × 650 mm.
Scottish Natural Heritage, in association with the BGS, has produced the ‘Landscape fashioned by geology’ series of books covering the
regions of Scotland. They are well- illustrated with photographs and diagrams describing the evolution of the landscape in relation to
the underlying geology. They assume no geological knowledge on the part of the reader – only an interest in how Scotland’s diverse
landscapes evolved.
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Title Author Publication ISBN Price
date
Ben Nevis and Stephenson, D 2007 9781853975066 £4.95
Glencoe
Outer Hebrides Goodenough, K 2007 9781853975073 £4.95
South west Macmillan, A 2008 9781853975202 £4.95
Scotland
North east Leslie, G 2009 9781853975219 £7.95
Scotland
Argyll and the Due 2011 9781853976087
Islands
Moray and Due 2011 9781853976094
Caithness
Orkney and Due 2011 9781853976025
Shetland
Scotland – Due 2011 9781853976711
creation of its
natural landscape
This book presents detailed, comprehensive information in a user-friendly way: sites of national or international significance are de-
scribed and illustrated through photographs and large-scale maps. Published by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland; 298pp plus
index, full colour. 260 x 180 mm.
The last glacial termination in Northern Ireland. McCabe, A M. and Dunlop, P. 2006. 9780852725290 £10
This book chronicles the detailed sequence of events caused by the last great ice sheet in the Irish Sea Basin that affected Ireland,
Scotland England and Wales. Published by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland. Fully illustrated with coloured maps, diagrams and
photographs. 93 pages. 260 x 180 mm.
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Geological maps and geological memoirs are listed elsewhere in this catalogue.
Books and Guidecards published by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland in association with the Geological Survey of Ireland.
A story through time: the formation of the scenic landscapes of Ireland (north). McKeever, P J. 1999. 1899702237 £7
A comprehensive account of the geology and evolution of the landscape of the north of Ireland. Fully illiustrated. 100 pages; 200 x 210
mm.
These ‘popular’ publications are aimed at walkers and amateur geologists. The walkers guides, each featuring local walks, comprise a pack
of 14 or more laminated cards (250 x 97 mm). The explorers’ guides are 8-page A5 ‘fold-out’ guidecards.
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Field equipment
A range of hand lenses, protractors, clinometers. Other items of field equipment, including compasses and geological hammers are
available only from the Geology Shops at Keyworth, Edinburgh and London, but please telephone for information on availability before
making a visit. Prices include VAT.
Hand lenses
Quality hand lenses for rocks, minerals, fossils, flora and fauna:
A x10 glass folding hand lens. Triplet lens, 18mm diameter. Made in Belarus (supplied with quality Order Code 6000004990. £12.50
inspection certificate in Russian). Exceptional value, high quality lens.
B x10 glass folding hand lens. Triplet lens, 20.5 mm diameter. Hexagonal shape; supplied with Order Code 6000006381. £14.50
leather case. High grade, made in China.
C Ruper ‘Professional style’ x10 glass folding hand lens. Doublet lens 20 mm diameter. Chrome Order Code 6000002734. £22.00
plated; supplied with plastic case. Made in Japan.
D Ruper ‘Professional style’ x10 & x20 glass dual folding hand lens. Doublet lenses, 14 mm and Order Code 6000003218. £28.00
8 mm diameter. Chrome plated; supplied with plastic case. Made in Japan.
Other hand lenses are normally available in our shops.
A B C D
E BGS Knox Protractor. Professional grade protractor for National Grid maps, with 8 scales Order Code XZKNOX £12.50
(1:10 000, 1:10 560, 1:25 000, 1:63 360, 1:50 000) in Imperial/metric measures, plus angular protractor.
Size 170 x 125 mm).
F BGS Romer Protractor. Professional grade protractor for National Grid maps, with 5 scales Order Code XZROMER £12.50
(1:10 000, 1:10 560, 1:25 000, 1:63 360, 1:50 000 scales) in metric measures only. An alternative to the
Knox Protractor. Size 115 x 127 mm.
G BGS Scale rule. Professional grade geologists’ scale rule. Shows metric and imperial scales for Order Code XSCALER £5.00
1:10 000 and 1:10 560 scale maps, a strata dip/thickness ready reckoner and a protractor.
Size 153 x 43 mm.
H Maxiclin Clinometer. Reliable clinometer for geological fieldwork. Size 150 x 80 mm. Order Code 6000000340 £14.30
F
E
Data cards
Grain size card. Translucent card with sorting chart, sizing guide and percentage area information for use when looking at sedimentary
rocks. Produced by GeoSupplies Ltd in association with the University of Leicester. Size 150 x 70 mm. Order Code 600000396X. £1.25
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Grain size card. Guide to grain size and roundness. Produced by Geo Supplies Ltd. Included in the Field Datacard Pack (below).
Data Size 67 x 149 mm. Order Code 6000005954. £0.99
Field Datacard pack (not illustrated). A set of 9 handy data cards, produced by Geo Supplies, comprising:
Grain size card (67 x 149 mm). Photographic scale (52 x 149 mm), Sedimentary rocks and their textures (64 x 108 mm), Metamor-
phic rocks (64 x 108 mm), Igneous rocks (64 x 108 mm), Geological timescale (64 x 108 mm), Trace & microfossils (64 x 108 mm),
Sedimentary logging (64 x 108 mm), Mineralogy/crystallography (64 x 108 mm). Order Code 6000002475. £6.99
Geological hammers—a variety of Estwing and ‘Footprint’ brand hammers in several different styles. These items are only available
to callers.
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Historical maps and books
From time to time the BGS produces facsimiles, reprints and new compilations of interesting or historically significant geological maps
and books. Facsimiles may be produced of originals held in the BGS Library or in other important archival collections. In addition to the
following printed publications, ‘print-on-demand’ copies of early ‘One-inch’ Geological Maps and Memoirs can be prepared to special
order (contact the Sales Desk for details).
William Smith, 1769–1839, spent much of his life surveying land for drainage canals, building stones and mines in many parts
of England. He acquired detailed knowledge of the geological features, recognising that fossils were of crucial importance in the
identification of strata. Smith’s Geological Atlas of England and Wales, published between 1819 and 1824, consisted of maps of 21
English counties. These maps represented a significant advance in Smith’s geological knowledge and were very fine productions from
both an artistic and scientific point of view. There is more information about William Smith on the BGS website: [Link]
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William Smith’s 1820 Geological Map of England and Wales Flat. Order Code
WS1820 £10
“A New Geological Map of England and Wales, with the Inland Navigations; Exhibiting
the Districts of Coal and other Sites of Mineral Tonnage. By W Smith, Engineer.”
This map has been digitally re-created from an original of William Smith’s 1820 map
held in the BGS Library. The original was in sections, mounted on linen and folded. This
reproduction has had most of the section-marks and folds removed. It is the same size
as the original, and colour-matched.
Map size: 65cm high × 63.5cm wide.
Murchison’s Wanderings in Russia. Collie, M. and Diemer, J. 2004. 0852724675 now £30 (was £40)
Roderick Murchison was an important figure in geology, establishing the Devonian, Carboniferous and Permian systems of geological
time as part of his lifetime’s work. He produced the first geological map of Russia in 1845. During his Russian field seasons he kept two
sets of journals: scientific journals where he recorded his findings, and private journals where he recorded his thoughts and reflections
on his travels. He wanted to publish these private journals on his return as a 19th century popular science book, to make his discoveries
accessible to the public although he never did: Murchison’s Wanderings in Russia is that book.
Gold-blocked hardback, containing a full-colour life-size reproduction of Murchison’s geological map of Russia and colour reproductions
of the cross-sections; 474 pages. The book is also lavishly illustrated with etchings of Murchison’s field-sketches.
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