Essex Rock - Pelagic Publishing

Essex Rock

Geology Beneath the Landscape

  • Vividly brings to life the fascinating and surprising geology of this complex corner of the British Isles.
  • Links features in today’s landscape with a deep-time county history stretching back 500 million years.
  • Packed with exceptional full-colour diagrams, illustrations and photographs.
    £29.99
    We currently have 944 in stock.

    • A lifetime of innovative thinking has come pouring out in one volume. As the authors say, if we are to look after the future of our natural world, then we need to understand what has brought us to this point. This magnificently illustrated volume presents Essex and its ever-evolving landscape in a truly insightful manner. A book with interest for one and all.
      —Dr Richard J Hubbard, geologist and author of The Smugglers Trail
    Subject: geology
    Tags:
    • Essex
    • geology
    • landscape

    Description

    All landscapes are built on rock: from hard stone for building with, to the softest clay or sand. Each piece of rock is a storehouse of prehistorical information; even a simple pebble from the garden has its own complex tale to tell. Geology is the great detective science that can unlock these secrets. In this entertaining and eye-opening book, the authors take a deep dive – quite literally – into their home county of Essex.

    We are all living in an ice age, an ongoing event that has hugely affected Essex over the last 3 million years. Yet this county was born more than 500 million years ago. Our story begins when the land we know as Essex was part of a large continent close to the South Pole, tracing the geological processes that continue to shape the countryside around us. The form of the land, boulders on village greens, road cuttings, cliffs, stones in church walls – they can all bring geology to light in unexpected and fascinating ways.

    Aimed at a general readership with no scientific background, chapters progress from fundamentals to intricate details of geological investigations and cutting-edge research. Richly illustrated with photographs and colour diagrams, here the geology of a county is visualised and brought to life as never before, along with pertinent environmental insights in the light of climate change that is happening now.

    DOI: 10.53061/YKSO7005

    Readership

    Essex Rock is ideal for anyone interested in landscape, fossils, wildlife, walking, history, archaeology and more – all those who share a sense of wonder.

    Table of Contents

    1. Reconstructing Essex
    2. The rocks of Essex
    3. The deep history of Essex
    4. The geological structure of Essex
    5. The drowning of the island
    6. Seashores and swamps
    7. Palm trees and crocodiles
    8. Giant sharks and shell banks
    9. Ice age Essex
    10. Looking into the Essex landscape
    11. Uncovering Essex geology
    12. Rock and people
    13. The future of Essex rock

    Sites and views of Essex
    Geological collections and displays
    Index
    Maps and charts
    About the authors

    Reviews

    • This book will be a great read for anyone at all interested in geology and in explaining our landscapes, even if they don’t live in Essex. It is the perfect book to encourage future citizen scientists in the sphere of Earth science.
      —David Bridgland, Geologists' Association Council Member and Professor of Geography, Durham University
    • It is hard to believe that the rocks of Essex provide evidence for tropical seas, the river Thames, when it flowed from Wales to the North Sea and a glaciation that covered the northern parts of the county. But it is true! In this clearly written and beautifully illustrated book (a coloured illustration on virtually every page) Ian and Ros Mercer describe and provide an insight into this little known landscape.
      —Jim Rose, Emeritus Professor, Royal Holloway, University of London
    • A lifetime of innovative thinking has come pouring out in one volume. As the authors say, if we are to look after the future of our natural world, then we need to understand what has brought us to this point. This magnificently illustrated volume presents Essex and its ever-evolving landscape in a truly insightful manner. A book with interest for one and all.
      —Dr Richard J Hubbard, geologist and author of The Smugglers Trail
    • A revelatory book, enabling me to understand how the landscape I love was formed and the soils I farm were created. The superb illustrations, together with a most informative and readable text bring to life Essex’s entire geological history.
      —Ashley Cooper, Essex farmer and author of Our Mother Earth
    • I have one word left for this book - 'brilliant'.
      —Chris Darmon, Down to Earth
    • I was stunned by the quality of the photographs and diagrams which support the clear and lucid text...Ian and Ros Mercer take the reader on a fascinating journey encompassing Essex's geological history.
      —Nicholas Pierpoint, Magazine of the Geologists' Association
    • The authors have done a great service to the naturalist community in producing enjoyable, readable text without sacrificing erudition... Essential for anyone with an interest in Essex and soft-rock landscapes, this book is also for the person who just thinks they might be interested. After a few minutes you surely will be.
      —Dr Chris Gibson, British Naturalists Association
    • I thoroughly recommend this book. It is one of the best I have reviewed in recent years.
      —Jon Trevelyan, Deposits Magazine
    • This book is an exemplary treatment of the subject and is highly recommended.
      —Mick Massie, The London Naturalist
    • I have had one of the most enjoyable and enlightening experiences in reading this weighty tome. The detail and knowledge shared makes this one of my outstanding reads of the year... I can see this book finding a place on the bookshelves of professional geologists, amateur geologists, and, indeed, anyone with an interest in natural history... This is an outstanding book and one that has been a pleasure to review.
      —Gordon Neighbour, Geoscientist

    About the Author

    Ian Mercer worked for the British Geological Survey and Geological Museum for 25 years and was Director of Education for the Gemmological Association of Great Britain for nearly two decades. After working as a geologist in the energy sector, Ros Mercer was a geology and physics teacher for more than 20 years. They have been leaders for the Essex Rock and Mineral Society for many years; UK national advisors for U3A Geology; and officers for GeoEssex – the county geoconservation steering group. In 2020, together they were awarded the Halstead Medal by the Geologists’ Association for their achievements as 'ambassadors in the promotion of geology, contributing to education at all levels'. Ian Mercer is the author of several books on related subjects.

    Bibliographic Information

    • 416 pages
    • 500 colour figures and photographs, 50 b/w figures, 70 maps
    • 70 tables
    • BISAC SCI031000, SOC003000, 1.1.2.2.0.0.0
    • BIC RBG, RBGF, 1DBKEAX, HD