Bretz, J Harlen Caves of Missouri ISBN 13: 9780988668508

Caves of Missouri - Softcover

9780988668508: Caves of Missouri
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 

In this reprint of a classic piece of cave literature, the famed geologist, J Harlen Bretz, gives a detailed account of the formation and history of Missouri caves. Caves of Missouri contains over 450 surveyed caves, with in-depth geological and cultural histories, and 168 illustrations, including cross sections, maps, and photographs. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Missouri's natural and cultural history.

Selected Text from the Introduction

The caves of Missouri are many and varied. No one will ever know how many caves Missouri has, nor is it possible that everyone will ever agree on a definition of a cave. Is a rock shelter, broad along the hillside but shallow in penetration of the hill a cave? Is a natural bridge a cave? Is a hole that can barely be crawled into for only a few feet a cave? Is it a cave if one’s light shows an opening into which he cannot force his way? Is it a cave if a former cavity has become completely filled with mud or broken rock? Even if we should rule out such cavities in limestone or dolomite, the State still has hundreds of underground openings into which one may penetrate beyond the reach of daylight. In terms of human experience, we generally think of a cave as being a natural roofed cavity in rock which may be penetrated for an appreciable distance by a human.

Before this study was undertaken, the Missouri Geological Survey had already compiled a list which contained the names and locations of 210 caves distributed among 40 counties. This list, with much information about a number of the caves, was made during the spare time of Willard Farrar, the Survey’s cave enthusiast. Many of the caves were visited by him personally and printed sources were searched for information. Statements from his manuscript which appear in this publication are identified by his name in parentheses. The list has now grown to include 437 caves in 55 counties. In this work, 250 of these caves have some description and 133 were investigated by the writer.

By far the largest number of Missouri caves are located in the southern half of the State, which is generally referred to as the Ozark plateau or dome. Almost all of the State is underlain by limestone and dolomite formations in which ground water dissolves out caves. Thus, the area north of the Missouri River may well contain as large a proportion of caves as do the Ozarks, but the cover of glacial drift and the lack of deep stream valleys north of the river conspire to keep us ignorant of their existence.

Most of Missouri’s caves have had some attention from venturous individuals. Ask almost any old-timer in the Ozarks about wild caves in his region, and his answer usually will be, “When I was a boy, I explored back into—”. It has not been feasible for the Survey to collect information on all the small, distant, or difficult caves. The guiding principle of this study has been to examine those that promised good returns without undue expenditure of time. The returns most desired were something more than locations, dimensions, and descriptions. A reading from Nature’s record of the history of each cave has been sought. Only from that can we obtain an understanding of the changing geological conditions which have given us the caves of Missouri.

A point stressed in the history of almost every cave is that it is older than the latest broad uparching of the Ozark dome. That regional uplift was responsible for the subsequent stream erosion which has today exposed the cavities that were made before the latest doming occurred.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:
J Harlen Bretz (1882 - 1981) was an American geologist and professor at the University of Chicago. Bretz was best known for his revolutionary ideas about the origins of the Channeled Scablands of eastern Washington. His ideas, though eventually proven correct, contradicted the prevailing theory of the day. He was also an authority on caves and cave formation, authoring several works on caves.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherJ. Missouri
  • Publication date2012
  • ISBN 10 0988668505
  • ISBN 13 9780988668508
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages582
  • Rating

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Seller Image

Bretz, J Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Softcover Quantity: 5
Seller:
GreatBookPrices
(Columbia, MD, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 19204401-n

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 27.91
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Bretz, J. Harlen
Published by J. Missouri 11/26/2012 (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Paperback or Softback Quantity: 5
Seller:
BargainBookStores
(Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback or Softback. Condition: New. Caves of Missouri 1.86. Book. Seller Inventory # BBS-9780988668508

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 30.56
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Lucky's Textbooks
(Dallas, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Mar2317530075388

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 28.86
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
California Books
(Miami, FL, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # I-9780988668508

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 35.00
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2024)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Paperback Quantity: 20
Print on Demand
Seller:
Save With Sam
(North Miami, FL, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. Brand New! This item is printed on demand. Seller Inventory # 0988668505

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 35.97
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

J. Harlen Bretz
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Paperback Quantity: 1
Print on Demand
Seller:
Grand Eagle Retail
(Wilmington, DE, U.S.A.)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. In this reprint of a classic piece of cave literature, the famed geologist, J Harlen Bretz, gives a detailed account of the formation and history of Missouri caves. Caves of Missouri contains over 450 surveyed caves, with in-depth geological and cultural histories, and 168 illustrations, including cross sections, maps, and photographs. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Missouri's natural and cultural history. In this reprint of a classic piece of cave literature, the famed geologist, J Harlen Bretz, gives a detailed account of the formation and history of Missouri caves. Caves of Missouri contains over 450 surveyed caves, with in-depth geological and cultural histories, and 168 illustrations, including cross sections, maps, and photographs. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Missouri's natural and cultural history. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780988668508

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 36.81
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J. Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New PAP Quantity: > 20
Print on Demand
Seller:
PBShop.store US
(Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.)

Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. THIS BOOK IS PRINTED ON DEMAND. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # L0-9780988668508

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 36.96
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Books Unplugged
(Amherst, NY, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition. Seller Inventory # bk0988668505xvz189zvxnew

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 44.93
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J Harlen
Published by J. Missouri (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Book Deals
(Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published. Seller Inventory # 353-0988668505-new

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 44.93
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bretz, J. Harlen
Published by J MISSOURI (2012)
ISBN 10: 0988668505 ISBN 13: 9780988668508
New Softcover Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Russell Books
(Victoria, BC, Canada)

Book Description Softcover. Condition: New. Special order direct from the distributor. Seller Inventory # ING9780988668508

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 34.95
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 9.99
From Canada to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

There are more copies of this book

View all search results for this book