Red Rock Country: The Geologic History of the Colorado Plateau
Donald L. Baars.

Written in 1972; I wouldn't take any wager that Set had not read this one long ago. I picked it up from the local library while walking to the Chinese restaurant, so that I'd have something to read over my hot and sour soup and kung pao chicken.

Actually quite interesting, almost gripping, if you can imagine such a thing in a geology book. Baars has a flair for describing the geology as you would see it on a trip through the region. His description of a boat trip down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon is probably a classic. He describes most of the other basins of the Colorado Plateau as well, in similar fashion. Kind of gets the wanderlust going in me.

His description of the Paradox Basin is quite fascinating and, so far as I know, still accurate. Likewise, the stratigraphy hasn't changed all that much since 1972. Well, you know what I mean; the rock beds haven't changed in millions of years, but our names for them haven't changed that much since 1972, either. Some I recognize from out my way, which is kind of fun.

What is almost painful in its absence is any hint of plate tectonics. Still controversial in 1972, I believe, and Baars not only does not mention plate tectonics, he seems to be going out of his way to even have any occasion to give any opinion on plate tectonics. The Ancestral Rocky Mountains and Uncompaghre Uplift just seem to have happened. Likewise the Sevier Orogeny and subsequent tension. Likewise the various marine transgressions. You can learn a lot about these events and the approximate dates of their occurrence, but so far as you would know from this account, the ocean just decided to wash across the continent at one point. Baars doesn't even mention Wilson cycles. Kind of strange to a 21st century reader.

There are probably good, more up-to-date books out there now. I think I may even have one or two on my Amazon wish list. This one is still a good read, if you are willing to focus on the Colorado Plateau and not worry about the greater tectonic setting. ( )