Rocks and Riches: Exploring California’s Stunning Geology

Take a road trip through deep time and California history, with a friendly expert geologist at the wheel.

From its epic earthquakes to its famed epithet "the Golden State," California as we know it would not exist without geology. Gary L. Prost, an expert geologist born and raised in California, embarked on a quest to better understand the state's rocky history. His road trips have culminated in Rocks and Riches, an accessible and entertaining look at the land that has shaped the lives of all Californians. With humor and abiding curiosity, Prost examines the workings of deep time, the fascinating and troubled legacies of the Gold Rush, and the ways geology continues to influence life in California today. Visiting 56 stops of geologic interest, he traverses the Marin and Sonoma coasts, the Central Valley, the Sierra Foothills, Yosemite, and the Basin and Range country, ending with an extended journey through Death Valley to meditate on the awe-inspiring intensity of California's deserts. Including dozens of illustrations and road maps, as well as guidance for fellow travelers, Rocks and Riches is both a practical handbook and an invitation to see California's landscapes with wonder.

Gary L. Prost has been working as a geologist for more than fifty years, specializing in mineral and oil exploration. He studied geology at the Colorado School of Mines, obtaining his PhD there in 1986. His employers have included the United States Geological Survey and several oil companies, and his work has taken him to more than thirty countries. Now retired, he leads field trips and does public outreach on topics of geological interest. His books include The Geology Companion, The United Kingdom's Natural Wonders, South America's Natural Wonders, and the two-volume North America's Natural Wonders. He lives in El Cerrito, California.