UMass Geosciences Contributions Series

Purpose: The Geosciences Contributions Series was established in 1969 to serve a specific need within the University and the State, in the absence of a Massachusetts Geological Survey, even though there is a State Geologist. Unlike lists of numbered contributions used merely to keep track of papers published in Journals in some departments, the U. Mass. Geosciences Contributions Series is a group of separate bulletins made available to the public at modest cost as a way of disseminating geologic and geographic knowledge of the State and region.

Nature: Many of the contributions are reprints of M. S. and Ph. D. theses used to present more complete information and maps that would be beyond the scope of national journals. Furthermore these have commonly been an effective way to bring out the work of M.S. students subsequently employed full time in geologic industry, who have not had the opportunity to prepare publications for refereed journals. Other numbers are topical summaries or progress reports by faculty. Still others are related to one-time special opportunities, for example, guidebooks for field trips in 1967 (not numbered), 1969 (No. 1), 1978 (No 32), 1983 (No. 46), 1986 (No. 59), 1988 (No. 63-88), 1989 (No 63-89), 1992 (Nos. 66-1 66-2) and 1993 (Nos. 67-1, 67-2). As expected, many of these popular works are out of print, but many are still available. In addition to the numbered contributions, there are a few miscellaneous items listed which were published before the numbered series was established, were published elsewhere, or are individual maps.

Geosciences Publication Fund: Many of the publications were financed by research grants to faculty members, or the financial arrangements of special meetings. Through the income generated by sales of these items, a Geosciences Publication Fund was established that has made possible publication of deserving work, particularly by students, not covered by grants.

Popular Items: Current popular items include Guidebooks for the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conferences for 1992 (Nos. 66-1, 66-2 , two volumes totaling 535 p.) and 1993 (Nos. 67-1, 67-2, this also for the 1993 GSA Annual Meeting, two volumes totaling 796 p.); the Bedrock Geology of Mount Monadnock, New Hampshire (No. 58) by Peter J. Thompson, including a color map and sections available either with the bulletin or separately (No. 58A), and the Bedrock Geology of Central Park, New York City (No. 61) by Bruce Taterka, which includes, incidentally, detailed black and white maps of all the sidewalks and trails of the Park. Two large color map sets have been published, those of the Monadnock area, New Hampshire (see no. 58 above) and those of the Sturbridge Massachusetts area by Henry N. Berry (un-numbered 1992). Either can provide a spectacular wall display.

How To Order: All of these publications may be ordered directly from the Department of Geosciences. You may contact the Publications Secretary for more information by clicking E-mail to Publications Secretary.

Alternatively, you may contact us by normal postal mail or phone/fax at:

Publications Secretary
Dept. of Geosciences
Box 35820
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-5820
U.S.A.

tel: (01)-413-545-2286
fax: (01)-413-545-1200