Summaries of the major features of the geology of North America and the adjacent oceanic regions are presented in 20 chapters. Topics covered include concise reviews of current thinking about Precambrian basement, Phanerozoic orogens, cratonic basins, passive-margin geology of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions, marine and terrestrial geology of the Caribbean region and economic geology.

With more than 130 color photographs and 170 drawings, this book shows how to read geological history: plate movements, earthquakes, glaciers, rivers, seas, and other forces that have shaped the earth over millions of years. Each geological region of eastern North America is described vividly and illustrated with detailed maps and cross sections. Highway tours tell where to go to find the best examples of each kind of formation.