The Great Basin Seafloor: Exploring the Ancient Oceans of the Desert West

The Great Basin Desert is appreciated for its stunning vistas. Frank DeCourten's book, The Great Basin Seafloor, interprets the rock record left by more than 500 million years of oceanic activity, revealing the vanished seafloor and its volcanic events and examining fossils to reveal once-thriving ancient marine communities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: University of Utah Press,U.S.

Many people are captivated by the breathtaking beauty of the Great Basin desert, but delving into its geological history offers a deeper appreciation for this remarkable landscape. In his book, The Great Basin Seafloor, Frank DeCourten takes readers on a journey back in time to when the Basin was once covered by a vast ocean teeming with volcanic activity and abundant marine life. Written in a nontechnical manner, this book interprets the rock record left by over 500 million years of oceanic activity, revealing the formation of the Great Basin as mud and sand accumulated and solidified across parts of modern Utah, Nevada, and California. DeCourten skillfully deciphers clues within exposed slopes and canyons, reconstructing the vanished seafloor and its volcanic events. He also examines fossils to uncover the once-thriving ancient marine communities that once inhabited this marine realm.

To enhance the reader's experience, supplemental material is available online, serving as a field guide for those who wish to explore this ancient ocean firsthand while traversing the region. By delving into the geological past of the Great Basin, readers gain a deeper understanding and admiration for this awe-inspiring landscape, appreciating its unique geological features and the rich biodiversity that has evolved over millions of years.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647690496