Teach Yourself Geology (David A. Rothery)

Ian Adams

Active member
Teach Yourself Geology by ?David A. Rothery? (2003)

I guess, like so many folk grasped by the underworld of caving, a spark of interest was ignited by the prospect of better understanding the strange environment that had become our adventure?s playground. So many times had I looked upon the abyss and understood (pretty much) nothing of the enchanted wonder that surrounded me. Quite naturally my mind turned towards the science of Geology ?.

I had no illusions that the journey of understanding would be easy. Good job really because it wasn?t. Having selected what I thought to be the easiest and best book to begin my learning, I quickly came to realise just what a vast arena Geology really is. When I suggest it is vast, I mean really vast. Within this planet there is a mathematical probability of over three million unique geological phenomena?s ? and, within this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million more earth-type planets...and in all the universe, three million million galaxies like this one. And in all of that, and perhaps more, I cannot yet properly comprehend the enormity of even the simplest of caves.

So, to the book; by the time I has read through the first section (basic geology and the Earth) I found I had learned two things. Firstly, I realised I now understood much less than I did before I began reading and, secondly, I knew I needed to start again because I could not coagulate the knowledge. The more I repeated this process, the more the jigsaw pieces seemed to fit. On the fourth pass through I came to realise that I was only ever going to achieve a very basic understanding unless I entertained the prospect of becoming a scholar.  As much as I was ?bitten? by this fascinating insight, I did not have the time (years) to dedicate to learning involved. Instead, I contented myself with the wealth I had so far achieved ? leaving the book on my shelf (with some companions) as a reference tool. That was many moons ago and I still use it, even today.

I also now understand why the word ?Easy? does not appear in the title.

A tome of discovery.

:)

Ian


 

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droid

Active member
This is an excellent introduction to 'local' geology. Highly readable.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=geology+of+britain+peter+toghill&index=stripbooks&tag=googhydr-21&ref=pd_sl_4pm8txiebe_e&adgrpid=49935393341&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=259122068079&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3499222459928331133&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9041125&hvtargid=kwd-316089353251
 

Jenny P

Active member
This one isn't in the British Caving Library, although we do have quite a number of books on geology.  Mostly they are very specialist books and include some of the series of publications by the government on specific areas where these are related to caving.

The suggested book by Toghill looks interesting and I don't think we have that.
 

langcliffe

Well-known member
I had the privilege of being taught by David Rothery. A great guy who is passionate about his subject.
 
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