NCGS Publications

Besides its regular in-person meetings and field trips, the Northern California Geological Society serves its members with a monthly newsletter, printed guidebooks for field-trip participants, and occasional special publications. In addition, a table full of previously owned geologic books, pamphlets and maps is offered at most meetings as a scholarship fundraiser.

The NCGS Newsletter

Each month it holds a meeting, the NCGS sends its members a newsletter in PDF form via email; paper copies can be delivered by surface mail for an extra charge with the annual membership. Usually around ten pages in length, it includes Society news, abstracts and speaker biographies for the upcoming talk, member contributions and stimulating news releases from reputable sources. As a courtesy to members, a tempting sample for would-be members and a resource for the public, we make these newsletters freely available online one year later. See them here.

Field Trip Reports and Guidebooks

NCGS members have produced illustrated reports of previous field trips, particularly during 2003–2006, for posting online. These can be visited via the table of past field trips. In addition, the printed guidebooks given out during field trips are popular among members. Many serve as resource documents with scientific value for field geologists, as well as being of wider interest to support geological recreation. After five years, NCGS makes most of its field trip guidebooks freely available online in PDF form. These can be downloaded directly from the Past Field Trips page.

Special Publications

The NCGS has a history of producing influential publications. One recent example is the special volume of scholarly papers on Mount Diablo, published in 2021 by the Geological Society of America in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the founding of NCGS. At the same time, NCGS prepared a new geologic map of the Mount Diablo State Park area. Read more about those here.

The Fundraiser Table

Whether by deacquisition or bequest, we collect gently used books, maps, manuals and field guides and offer them to attendees as a scholarship fundraiser on a table in the corner at our meeting place. Sometimes choice rocks, mineral specimens and fossils join them.