Library Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2022.030.001 |
Title |
Golden Rocks: The Geology and Mining History of Golden, Colorado |
Accession number |
2022.030 |
Object Name |
Book |
Author |
Anderson, Donna S., Haseman, Paul B. |
Summary |
Golden Rocks is a guide to the geology and mining history of the town of Golden, Colorado written for the non-geologist, lay-person. The book consists of two parts. The first part develops the geologic history of Golden, building from the oldest to youngest rocks and recounting mountain-building episodes. The most famous of those is the Laramide Orogeny, which is well-expressed in the geology of Golden. Massive erosion and how the Ice Ages further sculpted the Golden landscape bring the geologic discussion to the present day. The geologic story concludes with a chapter on surface and groundwater. The story of water quality in Clear Creek recounts part of the mining-pollution legacy of the Colorado Front Range. Groundwater, including historic intermittent springs, rounds out first part of the book. The second part of the book discusses the history of the major commodities mined within Golden: gold and smelting, coal, clay, and aggregate, building stone, and limestone. Those chapters discuss mining methods, the White Ash Mine disaster of 1889, mine locations and timelines, and historic structures, along with some of the major players in those efforts. The second part concludes with legacies of mining-related historic railroads; coal and clay mine subsidence; and finally changing attitudes toward mining in the late 1960s. Changing attitudes brought about a move to preserve many former and proposed mine areas as dedicated (legal) open space in Jefferson County. The book includes a glossary of terms that are highlighted in the text, as well as a short Geologic Primer to develop a shared language of terms for the non-specialist. Signed copy. |
Published Date |
2021 |
Physical Description |
Hardcover (8.5" x 11.25") |
Search Terms |
Brick-making industry Clay mining Mining |
Additional Media |
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