The Geology of the Atlantic Southeast is written to augment introductory courses in physical and historical geology taught within the area encompassing the southern Appalachians.  For over 150 years, many classical geologic and tectonic concepts originated and were successfully tested in this region extending from northern Virginia through Georgia, and from eastern Tennessee to the Atlantic.  The Geology of the Atlantic Southeast presents a synopsis of nearly 2 billion years of geologic history documenting the birth and destruction of continents and ocean basins.  After a brief introduction to the physiographic provinces of the region, the chapter follows a standard historical sequence from the Proterozoic to the present.  Each section relates general packages of rocks to corresponding geologic environments such as continental rifts, passive continental margins, volcanic arcs, terranes, and collisions.  The text ties the rock successions and environments to relevant tectonic and orogenic events and teaches the student the process of interpreting historical and regional geology from the rock record.  Where appropriate, the chapter also highlights important mineral and energy resources of the region produced from different rock sequences.  The final section of the text focuses on environmental issues of interest and concern including coastal erosion, seismic activity, hydrology, and tropical storms.

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About the Author

John R. Huntsman is a licensed geologist employed as an Associate Professor of Geology in the Department of Geography and Geology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  Collecting fossils from blocks of limestone scattered along the banks of the Monongahela River in southwestern Pennsylvania sparked Huntsman’s interest in geology during grade school.  Gifts of mineral specimens and a testing kit along with trips to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh added to his increasing excitement about the science.  Huntsman earned a B.S. in Geology from Mount Union College and graduate degrees (M.A. and Ph.D.) from Bryn Mawr College.  He began teaching structural geology at UNCW in 1978 where he continues to teach and generate a variety of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.  During his career, he has done research in the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania through North Carolina, and in the Cordilleran regions of Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.  His teaching has included field trips and instruction throughout the Appalachians and parts of the Cordillera.  Huntsman has professional consulting experience in a variety of topics including mapping and evaluation of mineral and energy resources, and environmental assessment and remediation. He has published geologic maps with the United States Geological Survey and the North Carolina Geological Survey in addition to refereed publications in international journals, and presentations at international, national, and regional professional meetings. 

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The series can be bound into any Cengage Learning text to create a more compelling regional edition to help you highlight relevant material.

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We are actively seeking authors who are interested in developing content of local and regional interest in the earth sciences. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a contributing author for our earth science regional geology modules, please send us a brief description of the region you’d like to cover. 

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