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ISBN 978-0-8078-3077-2

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ISBN 978-0-8078-5786-1

Published: February 2007

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Copyright (c) 2007 by the University of North Carolina Press. All rights reserved.



Spotlight on: Kevin G. Stewart and Mary-Russell Roberson authors of Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas: A Field Guide to Favorite Places from Chimney Rock to Charleston on discovering the geological sites of the two states that really rock.

Q: Of all the areas explored in your book, which was your favorite one to visit and why?

Mary-Russell: I love waterfalls, so I'm especially fond of Stone Mountain State Park, DuPont State Forest, and Chimney Rock Park. Stone Mountain is a big expanse of bare rock, which is beautiful to look at and fun to hike on. I also really like JockeyÕs Ridge State Park because there are so many gorgeous patterns in the sand to explore.

Kevin: I find myself drawn to those places that tell a really spectacular geologic story, as well as being scenic. So my favorites are Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, and, perhaps surprisingly, Flanner Beach. Flanner Beach may seem like just a quiet strip of sand along the Neuse River, but the sediment layers there provide a very clear record of how sea level can rise dramatically during a global warming event.

Q: What sorts of attributes make the landscapes of the Carolinas unique? What inspired you to write about this region in particular?

Mary-Russell: I wanted to write a book about the geology of the Carolinas for a general audience because several years ago I went looking for a book like that and it didn't exist! The geology here is complex because there have been lots of continental collisions and rifts that have deformed the bedrock. Sometimes itÕs hard to find the bedrock under all the vegetation, but when you do itÕs always fascinating.

Kevin: There aren't many places on Earth where you can see such geologic variety all within a dayÕs drive. All of these different rocks and landscapes are part of a really interesting geologic story that begins almost two billion years ago. It is this rich and diverse history that motivated me to write this book, and it continues to motivate me to research the geology of the Carolinas.

Q: What was the biggest challenge in taking a scientific field such as geology and writing it "in a way that nonscientists can understand," as you state in the book's preface?

Mary-Russell: It's always a challenge to explain complex concepts in a way that keeps the reader's interestÑand itÕs a challenge I really enjoy.

Kevin: So much of geology is not intuitive, such as an event that happened millions of years ago or a process occurring deep in the EarthÕs mantle, where we can't see it. ItÕs a challenge to present these kinds of topics in a way that is clear and simple, but not so simple that people get the wrong idea.

Q: One of you is a geology professor and the other is a science writer. What was it like to collaborate on this book?

Mary-Russell: Both of us care a great deal about accuracy and clarity. It worked well to have one of us (Kevin) focusing on the accuracy of the content and the other one of us (me) focusing on the clarity of the writing. First we would talk about the major points to include in a chapter, then I would write a first draft that left plenty of holes for Kevin to fill in. HeÕd go through and add information, then give it back to me to polish the prose. Some of the chapters went back and forth more than a dozen times!

Kevin: The collaboration worked very well for the reasons that Mary-Russell stated. In addition, Mary-Russell contributed a lot of content explaining how the geology affected the recent human history of the Carolinas.

Q: What are the major geological differences between North and South Carolina?

Kevin: The state line was drawn long after the geology was created, so there really aren't any major differences. The boundaries between the major geologic terranes trend northeast-southwest, and they cut right across the state line. One difference is that North Carolina extends a bit farther west than South Carolina, so South Carolina doesn't have the billion-year-old rocks of the western Blue Ridge Mountains.

Q: Some of your sites are museums—the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the Museum of Life and Science, for example. What are some other public resources for those interested in learning the geologic history of the Carolinas?

Kevin: Both the North Carolina and South Carolina geological surveys have websites and publications aimed at the public. The Museum of North Carolina Minerals, located at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and North Carolina Highway 226 (milepost 331), has great rock and mineral displays, as well as educational information. The South Carolina State Museum in Columbia has an exhibit called Carolina Natural that showcases insect collections, shells, and a wide variety of animal and plant fossils, including the skull of a saber-toothed cat found in South Carolina.

Q: How does the geology of the Carolinas help us learn more about the cultural history of the region?

Mary-Russell: Geology has influenced our culture in many ways. For example, the first gold rush in the United States was in North Carolina. Many historians think that gold mining encouraged the development of engineering and mechanical knowledge and skills that later set the stage for the Carolina Piedmont to become a leader in manufacturing textiles and furniture.

Kevin: Settlers needed waterpower for their mills, so many early inland towns such as Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, and Columbia arose where the hard rock of the Piedmont meets the soft sediments of the Coastal Plain. At this boundary, known as the Fall Zone, the rivers drop rapidly, and the waterfalls located there were perfect for powering mills.

Q: You often discuss fault movements and erosion in the book. Are there any areas in particular that are more dangerous because of these natural geologic processes?

Kevin: There was a magnitude 7 quake near Charleston, South Carolina, in 1886, so clearly this is an area that is susceptible to large, damaging earthquakes. Smaller earthquakes are common in the western part of the Carolinas, but they rarely exceed magnitude 3, which is too small to create any damage. The greatest hazards are landslidesÑthe 2004 Peeks Creek landslide destroyed 15 homes and killed 5 people.

Q: Are any of these natural sites protected? If not, what kinds of threats do they face, either by natural or human elements?

Mary-Russell: About half of the sites are in state parks. Most of the others are in national or state forests, state historic sites, or are protected by private groups such as the Nature Conservancy. Chimney Rock Park was privately owned by a family that recently sold the park to the state of North Carolina. It will eventually be part of the new Hickory Nut Gorge State Park.

Kevin: All the places are subject to the normal wear and tear of erosion, but the most fragile parts of the Carolinas are along the coast. Barrier islands are essentially piles of sand, and storms can move huge quantities of sand in just a few hours or days. Global warming and the associated rise in sea level threaten all of the low-lying coastal areas in the Carolinas.

Q: Who is this book written for?

Mary-Russell: We thought of our primary audience as curious people who like to spend time outdoors and would be interested in learning about a new way of understanding what they see. With just a little knowledge and inspiration, everyone can notice rocks and landforms and speculate about how they might have formed. We think our book will also be a great resource for earth science teachers in the Carolinas and their students.

Kevin: It's also a good resource for professional geologists. We included the most up-to-date research on the geology of the Carolinas, so although the language is simple, the concepts are sophisticated and current.

CONTACTS
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