Published Sources for Westchester Geology

This listing is in two parts:
(1) Suggested Readings with annotations about content and difficulty.

(2) Bibliography - Comprehensive listing.

(Background pattern from a photograph of "Snowflake" (Inwood) Marble, Thornwood.)

Suggested Readings


Flint, Richard Foster (1971) Glacial and Quaternary Geology, John Wiley & Sons, 692p
Flint's book has been a virtual Bible of glacial geology. Although recent research has made some of the information out of date, this is still an old and trusted friend to the student of glacial geology.

Imbrie, John, & Imbrie, Kathrine Palmer (1979) Ice Ages, Enslow Publishers, 224p

This is a book written for the general public by two Yale scholars, eminently qualified in the study of the earth's climates and glaciers. It is easy reading for the layman.

Isachsen, Yngvar (1980) Continental Collisions and Ancient Volcanoes: The Geology of South-Eastern New York, New York State Geological Survey Educational Leaflet #24, 1980, 15p

Written by a professional geologist from the New York State Geological Survey, the pamphlet is interesting, up to date and accurate, yet relatively easy to read.

Jensen, David E. (1978) Minerals of New York State, Ward Press, 219p

Jensen's book contains a detailed alphabetical listing of the minerals of New York State and where they have been found. References to Westchester and other local mines and quarries are included.

Kratochvil, Gary L., Winters, Harold A., & Guth, Peter L. (1983) West Point Area Geology Field Trip, Department of Geography & Computer Science at West Point Military Academy, 24p

This brief field trip guide book features a remarkably informative field trip through the Hudson Highlands near West Point.

Lafavore, Michael (1987) Radon: The Invisible Threat, Rodale Press, 256p

Mr. Lafavore's book is a popular paperback guide to the nature of radon contamination, radon danger in our homes, and how to deal with it. While there are some critical issues about radon contamination that have yet to be resolved in consensus, the author has taken care to be factual, comprehensive and reasonable in his approach.

Maslansky, Stephen P. (1983) Continental Collisions to Corporate Parks, in "Westchester EnvironmentÓ, published by the Federated Conservationists of Westchester, Inc. at SUNY Purchase, February & March issue, 2p

Mr. Maslansky is a former resident of Westchester County and geological consultant. His article combines the local geologic history with a cultural history of local mines, and information about geologic points of interest.

New York-New Jersey Trail Conference & The American Geographic Society (1971) New York Walk Book, Doubleday/Natural History Press, 340p

Although most of the book is about hiking trails in the New York City region, the chapter that deals with the local geology is very clearly written.

New York State Geological Association (1958), Field Guide Book to the 30th Annual Meeting At Peekskill NY, Hosted by The City College, 50p

Each year the New York State Geological Association holds an annual meeting to feature field trips in a particular region of New York State. The field trips features in these guides have excellent details and insights, although they may be difficult for the layman to follow. The 1958 field guide includes four field trips in Westchester. The 1968 Guidebook includes bedrock field trips in the White Plains area, Pelham Bay Park and the Cortlandt Complex. The 1975 edition includes a field trip in Mamaroneck. In the 1980 book, Ratcliffe's Ramapo-Canopus fault system field trip ends in Westchester. The 1989 guidebook includes a bedrock field trip in the Peach Lake area and a glacial excursion along the Hudson River. (Guidebooks may be purchased from Dr. James F. Olmsted, Executive Secretary of NYSGA, Center for Earth and Environmental Sciences, SUNY College at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901)

New York State Geological Survey, Geology of New York: A Simplified Account, (1991), New York State Museum and Science Service Educational Leaflet #28, Albany, 283p

Written for the general public, this book is both professionally accurate and relatively easy to understand. It was written as a reference for students, teachers and others interested in our natural history.

New York State Geological Survey, (1970) Geologic Map of New York: Lower Hudson Sheet, & (1989) Surficial Geologic Map of New York, Lower Hudson Sheet, Prepared and sold by the New York State Museum & Science Service, Albany

These large and fairly detailed maps of the region have been prepared by the geologists of the New York State Geological Survey. At $15 for the complete set, it's quite a bargain. At the time of writing, four of the five New York State surficial (glacial geology) sheets have been published.

Pough, Frederick, H. (1976) A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals, 4th Edition, Houghton-Mifflin Company, Boston, 317p.

This is the largest selling basic book on minerals ever published. As a part of the Peterson Field Guide Series, it is widely available in bookstores. The photographs and textual information are excellent. If an amateur mineral collector is to have one book to start with, this is it.

Schuburth, Christopher J., (1968) The Geology of New York City and Environs, Natural History Press, 304p.

As a guide to the geologic history of the area, this book is now out of date and difficult to follow. It was written before the ideas of plate tectonics could be incorporated. However, some of the field trips are very good. Field trip C to the Palisades and the Watchung Mountains is particularly informative.

Shoumatoff, Alex, (1979), Westchester: Portrait of a County, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, Inc, New York, 219p

Shoumatoff is a professional writer who formerly resided in Westchester. His book is a tapestry of topical vignettes. The book is a humanistic look at the land, history, and people of Westchester. Chapter 3 deals with geological topics. Unfortunately, there are a number of errors in geological terminology and interpretation.

Skinner, Brian J. & Porter, Stephen C. (1987) Physical Geology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 750p

As remarkably complete and beautifully illustrated college level text, it includes many recent developments and regional examples of geologic features.

Sorrell, Charles A & Sandstrom, George F. (1973)Minerals of the World, Golden Press, 280p

This is a relatively simple source book for the identification of rocks and minerals. The Little Golden Guide published by the same press (Rocks and Minerals by Zim and Schaffer) could be useful for young readers.

Sullivan, Walter (1984) Landprints: On the Magnificent American Landscape, The New York Times Book Company, 384p

Popular and entertaining, this is a book about modern theories of the formation of the North American continent. Several chapters mention the geologic history of the metropolitan region.

Thaler, Jerome S. (1977) The Westchester Weather Book, George Candreva Environmental Center Inc., Yorktown Heights, 136p

Dr. Thaler is a weather historian who has compiled statistical tables from about a dozen Westchester and Putnam County weather stations. The brief sections on geology, geography and prehistoric climates may be of special interest to the geologic enthusiast.

Van Diver, Bradford B. (1985) Roadside Geology of New York, Mountain Press Publishing Company, 397p

This book features some information about the local region, but the Westchester area doesn't seem to be its strength. Coverage of upstate New York may make purchase worth while for the traveler.

Wycoff, Jerome, (1971) Rock Scenery of the Hudson Highlands and Palisades, Adirondack Mountain Club, 96p

As a paperback guide that provides many insights into details of the landforms of the Hudson Highlands, it contains some excellent photographs. The book may be difficult to locate because of limited printing and distribution.

Zen, E-an, White, W. S., Hadley, J. B. & Thompson, J. B. (editors) (1968) Studies of Appalachian Geology: Northern and Maritime, Interscience Publishers (John Wiley & Sons), 475p

This scholarly work of geological research includes excellent papers about geological research in the Westchester area by Leo Hall, John Rogers and others.


Comprehensive Bibliography

Alavi, Mehdi (1975) Geology of the Bedford Complex and Surrounding Rocks, Southeastern New York, Contribution Number 24, Geology Department, University of Massachusetts, 118p

Baskerville, Charles A., & Mose, Douglas G. (1989) The Separation of the Hartland Formation and the Ravenswood Granodiorite from the Fordham Geniss at CameronÕs Line in the New York City Area, Northeastern Geology, Vol. 11, No. 1 p 22-28

Broughton, J. G., Fisher, D. W., Isachsen,Y. W., & Rickard L. V. (1966) The Geology of New York State: A Brief Account, New York State Museum and Science Service Educational Leaflet #20, Albany, 50p (An extensively revised edition is now in publication.)

Cadwell, Donald H, and others (1989) Surficial Geologic Map of New York: Lower Hudson Sheet, Map and Chart Series Number 40 of the New York State Museum and Science Service, Albany

Drumm, Judith, (1963) Mastodons and Mammoths: Ice Age Elephants of New York, State Museum and Science Service Educational Leaflet Number 13, Albany, 32p

Fisher, Donald W., Isachsen, Yngvar W., & Rickard, Lawrence V. (1970) Geologic Map of New York: Lower Hudson Sheet, Map and Chart Series Number 15 of the New York State Museum & Science Service, Albany

Flint, Richard Foster (1971) Glacial and Quaternary Geology, John Wiley & Sons, 692p

Hall, Leo M. (1968) Field Trip in the vicinity of White Plains, New York, New York State Geological Association Guidebook of the annual meeting of 1968 at Queens College

Hall, Leo M. (1968) Times of The Origin and Deformation of Bedrock in the Manhattan Prong, in Studies of Appalachian Geology: Northern and Maritime, Edited by E-An Zen et al,

Imbrie, John, & Imbrie, Kathrine Palmer (1979) Ice Ages, Enslow Publishers, 224p

Isachsen, Yngvar W. (1980)Continental Collisions And Ancient Volcanoes: The Geology Of South-Eastern New York, New York State Geological Survey Educational Leaflet #24, 1980, 15p

Jensen, David E. (1978) Minerals of New York State, Ward Press, 219p

Johnson, John H. (1976), ÒThe Geology and Mineral Resources of the Lower and Middle Hudson ValleyÓ, The Hudson River Guide, prepared for the 48th Annual Meeting of the New York State Geological Association.

Kafka, Alan L., Schlesinger-Miller, Ellyn A. & Barstow, Noel L., (1985) ÒEarthquake Activity in the Greater New York Area: Magnitudes, Seismicity and Geologic StructuresÓ, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Vol 75, No. 5

Kratochvil, Gary L., Winters, Harold A., & Guth,Peter L. (1983) West Point Area Geology Field Trip, Department of Geography & Computer Science at West Point Military Academy, 24p

Long, L. E., (1969) ÒWhole Rock Rb-Sr Age of the Yonkers GneissÓ, Geological Society of America Bulletin, V. 80

Markl, R. G., (1971) ÒPleistocene Geology of Croton Point, NY', Transactions of the New York Academy of Science, Submitted January 7, 1971.

Maslansky, Steven P. (1983) ÒContinental Collisions to Corporate ParksÓ, in Westchester Environment, published by the Federated Conservationists of Westchester, Inc. at SUNY Purchase, February & March issue

Merguerian, Charles, & Mose, D.G. (1985) ÒRb-Sr Whole-Rock Age Determination on parts of the Manhattan Schist and Its Bearing on Allochthony in the Manhattan ProngÓ, Northeastern Geology, v.7, no. 1

Merguerian, Charles (1987) The Geology of Cameron's Line, West Torrington, Connecticut, Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section Field Guide of 1987

Merguerian, Charles (1987) ÒGeology of Manhattan Island and the Bronx, New York City, New YorkÓ, Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section Field Guide

Mose, D.G., (1982) Ò1300 Million Year Old Rocks in the AppalachiansÓ, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 93

Morril, Charles (1981) ÒGrenci, Ellis, and The Mellow Golden Granite Of MoheganÓ, North County News (Yorktown Heights), March 4-10, 1981.

Newman, W. S., et al, (1969) ÒLate Quaternary Geology of the Hudson River EstuaryÓ, Transactions of the New York Academy of Science, v31: 1969. New York/New Jersey Trail Conference, (1983) Day Walker: 28 Hikes in the New York Metropolitan Area, Anchor Press/Doubleday, 200p

New York State Geological Association (1958), Field Guide Book to the 30th Annual Meeting At Peekskill NY, Hosted by The City College, 50p (Also see the N.Y.S.G.A. field guide editions of 1968, 1975, 1980 and 1989)

Pellegrini, Thomas, (1975) 'Lower Palaeozoic Metamorphic Stratigraphy of the Mamaroneck Area, New York', New York State Geological Association Guidebook for the 47th annual meeting of 1975 at Hofstra University

Prucha, John J, (1956) ÒGeology of the Brewster Magnetite District of Southeastern New YorkÓ, Circular #43 of the New York State Museum and Science Service, Albany, 48p

Prucha, John J., Scotford, David M., & Sneider, Robert M. (1968) Bedrock Geology of Parts Of Putnam and Westchester Counties, New York and Fairfield County, Connecticut, Map and Chart Series #11, New York State Museum and Science Series. 26p

Retsky,Susan (1988) ÒWestchester Quarries Near ExtinctionÓ, Gannett Westchester Newspapers, May 22, 1988.

Rimawi, Karim (1986), ÒRadon in WestchesterÓ, North County News, Nov. 5-11, 1986

Robbins, Ronald (1984) unpublished senior thesis in the Department of Natural Sciences at the State University of New York at Purchase

Schaffel, Simon (1981) ÒNew York City And The Ice AgeÓ, Spring-Summer 1981 issue of Naho, published by the New York State Museum of the State Education Department.

Schuburth, Christopher J., (1968) The Geology of New York City and Environs, Natural History Press, 304p

Shoumatoff, Alex (1979) Westchester, Portrait Of A County, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 219p

Skinner, Brian J. & Porter, Stephen C. (1987) Physical Geology, John Wiley & Sons, 750p

Sullivan, Walter (1984) Landprints, Times Books, 384p

Tan, Li-Ping, Major Pegmatite Deposits of New York State, (1966), Bulletin Number 408, New York State Museum and Science Service, 140p Tracy, R, Ratcliffe, N and Bender J, (1987) ÒIgneous and Contact Metamorphic Rocks of the Cortlandt Complex, Westchester County, New YorkÓ, Geological Society Of America, Centennial Field Guide, Northeastern Section, 1987

Waldron, Kim Ann (1986) High Pressure Contact Metamorphism in the Aureole of the Cortlandt Complex, Southeastern New York, (Unpublished PhD dissertation under the guidance of Robert Tracy, Yale University Geology Department) 195p

Wissig, George C., (1979) Bedrock Geology of the Ossining Quadrangle, New York, New York State Museum Map and Chart Series Number 30, 54p

Wycoff, Jerome, (1971) Rock Scenery of the Hudson Highlands and Palisades, Adirondack Mountain Club, 96p

Zen, E-an, White, W. S., Hadley, J. B. & Thompson, J. B. (editors) (1968)Studies of Appalachian Geology: Northern and Maritime, Interscience Publishers (John Wiley & Sons), 475p

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Posted 12/99, Revision of 12/99