Representative Reference Sources for Geology

When searching for information in geology, its best to start by establishing a basic understanding of the terms and concepts in the field.  Reference works such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks and great for this type of information.

 

Dictionary of Geological Terms                                                                   R 550.03 A512d 1976

Just as the title says, this dictionary contains only terms used in the field of geology.

 

Encyclopedia Britannica                                                                                 Online

An online version of the popular print encyclopedia, it is a great source for basic information in multiple subject areas.

 

Encyclopedia of Minerals                                                                              R 549.03 R648e 1990

Along with entries covering every accepted mineral species, this source also has black and white and color photos, and drawings of rare species.

 

Macmillan Encyclopedia of Earth Science                                              R 550.3 M167 1996

This encyclopedia’s contents are geared specific towards the earth sciences.

 

Magill’s Survey of Science: Earth Science Series                                 R 550 M194 1990

Over 140 articles cover the major subfields of earth science and other related subjects.

 

McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology                      R 503 M147e 2002

This encyclopedia is geared only to the topics and terms as they relate to science and technology.

 

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Finding Books and Other items in the Library

To find books and other resources on geology in our collection, it is best to start by going to the ALEX online catalog and searching by subject.  If a subject search is not successful, searching by keyword broadens your search and retrieves more information.

 

Browse by call number:

·         548  Crystallography

·         549  Mineralogy

·         550  Earth sciences

·         551  Geology, hydrology, meteorology

·         552  Petrology

·         553  Economic geology

·         554-559  Earth sciences by Region

 

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Resources for Finding Articles on Geology

For the latest information from authoritative sources, use scholarly journals.  Some online library databases like Academic Search Complete or  JSTOR are general databases that contain information from multiple disciplines. The following databases are other examples, typically more specific in nature, that contain information concerning this discipline.

 

Wiley InterScience (Formerly Blackwell Synergy)

browse journals by a specific subject area, like Geology,  or use the advanced search option to find articles covering a specific topic.

GeoBase

Allows you to search international literature dealing with geography, geology, and ecology.

 

GPO Monthly

Provides access to US government publications, searchable by keyword, title, or author.

 

OMNIFILE/MEGA

Contains a number of databases provided by H.W. Wilson, including General Science Full Text and Applied Science & Technology Full Text.

 

 

Journal Finder

If you are having trouble finding the full text of a journal, Journal Finder can help point you towards the right database. 

 

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Web Resources in Geology

There are a great many resources on the web that could be helpful to your research. The following are only a few examples. For more web resources in this area, check out the library's delicious list of websites.

 

Bridgewater’s Environment Science Department

The home of Bridgewater College’s Environmental Science department

 

American Geological Institute

This non-profit organization provides information and resources to geologists including career information. It also provides access to the image bank at Earth Science World.

 

Directory of Open Access Journals

Open access journals are e-journals that offer free full-text access. This site indexes open access journals that are refereed or peer-reviewed.

 

E-Journals.org

This site indexes e-journals from a variety of different disciplines. International journals are not always in English. Full-text is usually only available through a subscription to the journal.

 

Geolink

This site discusses the basic issues in geology, along with providing resources like a glossary of geology terms and links to geological surveys around the world.

 

Geology.com

Provides information on all the major issues of geology for all levels of scholarship. It also provides links to maps covering the US and the world, along with resources for teachers.

 

Science.gov

Access to over 50 million pages of information provided by U.S. government agencies. The websites are arranged by topics, including Earth and Ocean Sciences.

 

United States Department of the Interior

Provides links government organizations concerned with geology such as the National Parks Service, US Geological Survey, and The Bureau of Land Management.