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Environmental geology of metropolitan Detroit
Book Reviews
Environmental Geology of Metropolitan Detroit. D.T. Rogers, Clayton Environmental Consultants, Inc., Novi, MI, 1996, 152 pp. + XV, $50. This short paperback book is designed for engineers and environmental geologists interested in the hydrogeology and geomorphology of SE Michigan. It focuses on "the relationship between urbanization and the near-surface geologic and hydrogeologic environment" (p. ix). "Iqaebook will be useful for those persons working with the environmental geology of the Detroit area, especially those who are as yet unfamiliar with the local geology. The book assumes that the reader has little or no background in these topical areas. Identification of geologic and geomorphic features "especially sensitive to environmental contamination" (ix) is a stated goal of the author. The book represents a data-gathering exercise, with some minimal synthesis as well. The book begins, appropriately, with a chapter devoted to the geology of the region, with the stated region of interest being SE Michigan in general, and the Detroit area in particular. This chapter contains some much-dated information, including a discussion of the long-abandoned four-glaciation model for the Midwest US. Glaciai terminology is old, throughout this chapter and the entire book. Nonetheless, the lack of highly current, geological information in the background chapter is not a fatal flaw, since later chapters contain vital information on the local geology, most of which iis new and accurate. The majority of the book discusses data and conclusions from hydrogeologic investigations in the area (the author appears to be employed at a local consulting company). As such, it will serve as a valuable resource to others in the area who are involved in similar work. The author also provides some new data, however, which resulted from some exploratory subsurface drilling. It is noteworthy that the author has taken the time to catalog and summarize these data; the work can benefit future researchers and consultants. Michigan is one of the most contaminated states, with regard to pollution of near-surface aquifers and indiscriminate dumping of toxic compounds, with nearly 2000 such sites in the Detroit area alone. This small book does an admirable job of bringing information on surficial geology and its possible contamination together into one
375
readable source. For example, the appendices list contaminant, geologic and hydrogeologic information for over 200 sites in the Detroit area, which when compiled, result in an impressive spatial coverage. And the text provides data on the common contaminants found in the near-surface stratigraphic units in the area, as well as a brief overview of their contaminant hydrologies. One of the major contributions of this book is the surficial geologic maps, presented in color. These maps may assist local developers and consultants in better utilizing and (hopefully) working in harmony with the local geology. In general, the findings are discussed in a spatial context, one that is pleasing to this geographer. Several small things about this book should be noted. First, non-metric units are used throughout, despite the 1996 publication date. Second, singlesentence paragraphs abound. Third, the reference list is dated and somewhat brief (64 total references, many of which are maps). Despite these small problems, other aspects of the book are redeeming: spelling and grammatical errors are few, and figure quality is good (though photo quality is low and most photos shown are not needed). This is a book that presents little that is really new, but it does do a reasonable job of synthesizing hydrogeologic and geomorphic data for a large midwestern city. As such, it meets its goals, and will find a small niche of faithful users. Academics, looking for a good reference book on the topic of groundwater contamination and local geological constraints, will not want to look here. However, local consultants in SE Michigan will find this book a useful, inexpensive addition to their libraries. RANDALL J. SCHAETZL
(East Lansing, MI)
Landslides / Glissements de terrain. Kaare Senneset, (Editor). A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1996, 3 vols., 1992 pp., 1419 figs., 303 tables, $US 370, ISBN 90-5410-819-3 (vol. 1), ISBN 90-5410-820-7 (vol. 2) ISBN 90-5410-821-5 (vol. 3). These three volumes represent the Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Landslides, held
Environmental Geology of Metropolitan Detroit. D.T. Rogers, Clayton Environmental Consultants, Inc., Novi, MI, 1996, 152 pp. + XV, $50. This short paperback book is designed for engineers and environmental geologists interested in the hydrogeology and geomorphology of SE Michigan. It focuses on "the relationship between urbanization and the near-surface geologic and hydrogeologic environment" (p. ix). "Iqaebook will be useful for those persons working with the environmental geology of the Detroit area, especially those who are as yet unfamiliar with the local geology. The book assumes that the reader has little or no background in these topical areas. Identification of geologic and geomorphic features "especially sensitive to environmental contamination" (ix) is a stated goal of the author. The book represents a data-gathering exercise, with some minimal synthesis as well. The book begins, appropriately, with a chapter devoted to the geology of the region, with the stated region of interest being SE Michigan in general, and the Detroit area in particular. This chapter contains some much-dated information, including a discussion of the long-abandoned four-glaciation model for the Midwest US. Glaciai terminology is old, throughout this chapter and the entire book. Nonetheless, the lack of highly current, geological information in the background chapter is not a fatal flaw, since later chapters contain vital information on the local geology, most of which iis new and accurate. The majority of the book discusses data and conclusions from hydrogeologic investigations in the area (the author appears to be employed at a local consulting company). As such, it will serve as a valuable resource to others in the area who are involved in similar work. The author also provides some new data, however, which resulted from some exploratory subsurface drilling. It is noteworthy that the author has taken the time to catalog and summarize these data; the work can benefit future researchers and consultants. Michigan is one of the most contaminated states, with regard to pollution of near-surface aquifers and indiscriminate dumping of toxic compounds, with nearly 2000 such sites in the Detroit area alone. This small book does an admirable job of bringing information on surficial geology and its possible contamination together into one
375
readable source. For example, the appendices list contaminant, geologic and hydrogeologic information for over 200 sites in the Detroit area, which when compiled, result in an impressive spatial coverage. And the text provides data on the common contaminants found in the near-surface stratigraphic units in the area, as well as a brief overview of their contaminant hydrologies. One of the major contributions of this book is the surficial geologic maps, presented in color. These maps may assist local developers and consultants in better utilizing and (hopefully) working in harmony with the local geology. In general, the findings are discussed in a spatial context, one that is pleasing to this geographer. Several small things about this book should be noted. First, non-metric units are used throughout, despite the 1996 publication date. Second, singlesentence paragraphs abound. Third, the reference list is dated and somewhat brief (64 total references, many of which are maps). Despite these small problems, other aspects of the book are redeeming: spelling and grammatical errors are few, and figure quality is good (though photo quality is low and most photos shown are not needed). This is a book that presents little that is really new, but it does do a reasonable job of synthesizing hydrogeologic and geomorphic data for a large midwestern city. As such, it meets its goals, and will find a small niche of faithful users. Academics, looking for a good reference book on the topic of groundwater contamination and local geological constraints, will not want to look here. However, local consultants in SE Michigan will find this book a useful, inexpensive addition to their libraries. RANDALL J. SCHAETZL
(East Lansing, MI)
Landslides / Glissements de terrain. Kaare Senneset, (Editor). A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1996, 3 vols., 1992 pp., 1419 figs., 303 tables, $US 370, ISBN 90-5410-819-3 (vol. 1), ISBN 90-5410-820-7 (vol. 2) ISBN 90-5410-821-5 (vol. 3). These three volumes represent the Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Landslides, held