Golden Rocks: The Geology and Mining History of Golden, Colorado

2022-05-10 | CGS Admin

We’ve received the go ahead to help distribute this marvelous (and FREE!) 100+ page digital publication from the talented and insightful Donna Anderson and Paul Haseman. Their passion for geology and for communicating the fascinating and often surprising facts about Golden and its geologic history show through every page of this brand new and informative book.

To download your free PDF copy, you will need to make a store account and add the publication to your cart. Once you submit your order, you will receive a direct download link. Enjoy! It’s a fantastic read, especially if you are one of the lucky folks who live in Golden where you can simply look around and experience the geology firsthand. Or, if you are a visitor, it will add immeasurably to your appreciation of our town as you also visit the other attractions in the area (including the Museum of Earth Science on the Colorado School of Mines campus).

From Chapter 1:

Have you ever wondered how the landscape around the City of Golden came to be? Why are North and South Table Mountains so flat? What’s up with all those rock fins on the back-nine at Fossil Trace Golf Course? What are those white stripes along the sharp ridge west of State Hwy-93 to Boulder? Were there ever any dinosaurs in Golden? Where did those round rocks in the Armory Building come from? Did anyone ever find any gold in Golden? Did you know that Golden was a mining town from 1870 through the 1950s? And, that most of the public open space in and around Golden has its roots in mining?

This book answers these questions and more by unraveling the tapestry of the Golden landscape. You will discover the origins of what you are walking or cycling by, driving across, golfing over, or simply just seeing every day when you walk out of your home. You will learn the story behind Golden’s good drinking water. You will learn how Golden’s early settlers used their local rock materials to build Golden and Denver, a legacy that still provokes controversy.

Thanks again to the authors for both their generosity in making this publication freely available and their dedication to public science education!