Overview

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 but equally appealing to the seasoned geologist, 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.

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9781784272791

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Reviews

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 have one word left for this book 'brilliant'. -- Chris Darmon * Down to 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 Mag This book is an exemplary treatment of the subject and is highly recommended. -- Mick Massie * The London Naturalist *

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

Author Information

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. 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.

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