Further geological reading

This page contains some ideas for further reading on the subjects of geology and geological conservation in Cornwall and the south west. It also provides the titles of some local guides and details of museums with geological collections to visit.

Geology of Cornwall and the south-west

• Cornish Rocks and Minerals by Simon Camm. Published by Alison Hodge 2010.  ISBN 0 13 978-0-906720-71-4.  Profusely illustrated introduction to rocks and minerals, describing the minerals found in each area, plus a gallery and description of Cornish minerals. £6.95

• The Geology and Landscape of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by Simon Camm. Published by Alison Hodge 2011.  ISBN 0 13 978-0-906720-83-7.  Profusely illustrated introduction to rocks and minerals, with descriptions of different areas complete with annotated photos. Both this book and the one above are truly 'pocket books', excellent to take with you when you go exploring! Both are written for the general public but have plenty of information for the more knowledgeable. £6.95

• Minerals of Cornwall and Devon by PG Embrey and RF Symes. Published by British Museum (Natural History), London and the Mineralogical Records Inc., Tucson, Arizona 1987. Hardback and paperback; ISBN 0-565-00989-3 (pb). Wonderful book by Peter Embrey and Bob Symes with vast numbers of excellent photos of specimens in the Natural History Museum's collection, and much else. Out of print.

• Cornwall's Geology and Scenery - an Introduction by CM Bristow. Published by Cornish Hillside Publications 1996, 2004. ISBN 1 900147 38 6 (2nd ed., pb). Written in layman's language and with many photographs and diagrams to display Cornwall's geological riches. Out of print.

• Cornwall's Geological Heritage by P Stanier. Published by Twelveheads Press 1998. ISBN 0 906294 22 3. Basic introduction to rocks and minerals, with gazetteer of key sites with brief description. Out of print

• The Coasts of Cornwall by E Bird. Published by Alexander Associates, Fowey 1998. ISBN 1 899526 01 3. Out of print, but well worth having, if you can find a second hand copy.

• The Geology of Cornwall edited by EB Selwood, EM Durrance and CM Bristow. Published by University of Exeter Press 1998. ISBN 0 85989 432 0. Written by geologists for geologists. £16.99

• The Geology of Devon edited by EM Durrance and DJC Laming. Published by University of Exeter Press 1982. ISBN 0 85989 0. A revised edition has been promised for some years. £17.99

• British Regional Geology South West England by EA Edmonds, MC McKeown and M Williams. HMSO 1975. ISBN 11 880074 4. Good overview but a bit out of date now. £9.00

• Gold in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon by GS Camm. Published by Cornish Hillside Press 1995. H/b and p/b but out of print... free download here. Yes, the same Simon Camm who wrote the two pocket books - Simon had a career in industry, as a lecturer and consultant, and CSM Museum curator.

Geological conservation in Cornwall and the south west

• Igneous Rocks of South-West England by PA Floyd, CS Exley and MT Styles. Geological Conservation Review Series Number 5. Published by Chapman and Hall, London 1993. ISBN 0 412 48850 7. Over 50 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are described, with excellent detailed maps and photographs. £117.50

• Quaternary of South-West England by S Campbell, CO Hunt, JD Scourse and DH Keen. Geological Conservation Review Series Number 14. Published by Chapman and Hall, London 1998. ISBN 0 412 833 220 8. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are described, of which more than half are located on the Isles of Scilly. £150.

• The marine Devonian stratigraphy of Great Britain by BE Leveridge and R Shail. 2011. Request access here.

• The first two books above are expensive for the layman, but useful references to consult for sites in your local area.

• Earth Heritage produced by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England, NatureScot, and Natural Resources Wales. Free biennial geological and landscape conservation magazine.

Local guides

• A Geology Guide to North Cornwall by J Macadam. Published by North Cornwall Coast and Countryside Service. 1995.  ISBN 1 900046 00 8. Out of print

• Bodmin Moor: 400 million years in the making by J Macadam. Published by Caradon Countryside Service. 2003. ISBN 0 948410 03 5. Free, published in 5 languages and downloadable via links below.  

• Explore the Landscapes and Rocks of the St Austell Area by J Macadam. Published by Cornwall County Council. 2001. ISBN 1 898166 87 7. Out of print

• A Geological Guide to South East Cornwall by J Macadam. Published by Caradon Countryside Service. 1998. ISBN 0 948410 02 7. Out of print

• Beneath the Skin of The Lizard: Seven coastal walks exploring the geology of the Lizard Peninsula by R Bates and B Scolding. Published by Cornwall County Council. 2000. ISBN 1 898166 09 9. £3.75

• North Coast of Cornwall Bude to Tintagel. Geologists' Association Guide Number 10. 1970. £5.00

• West Cornwall. Geologists' Association Guide Number 19 by A Hall. 1994. ISBN 0 900717 57 2. £7.00

• A Rock and Stroll Story! Portreath Geology Guide and Illustrated Rock Trails by A Marks. Published by Cornwall College. £2.99

• A Geological Trail Between Pendower and Carne by J Macadam. Published by Cornwall County Council. 1997. ISBN 1 898166 02 1. Free publication

• West Cornwall - a Landscape for Leisure by T Goode, M Holder and B Leveridge. Published by the British Geological Survey. 1996. ISBN 0 85272 253 2. Out of print.

Holiday Geology Guides by AJJ Goode, published by the British Geological Survey:

• St Ives to Cape Cornwall. ISBN 0 85272 260 5. 1995. £1.95

• Land's End. ISBN 0 85272 259 1. 1995. £1.95

• Mining in West Cornwall. ISBN 0 85 272306 7. 1998. £1.95

• Cornish Pebbles. ISBN 0 85272 316 4. 1999. £1.95

• Mount’s Bay. ISBN 0 85272 360 1. 2000. £1.95

RGSC Library has collected together links to many scanned books on geology and mining relevant to Cornwall. Most date from 19th century. (RGSC - Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, founded in 1814).

Museums

The Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro, (01872) 272205, houses an extensive mineral collection, including the C18 Rashleigh Collection, the finest collection of Cornish minerals on display anywhere in the world. Permanent displays of Cornish rocks, minerals and mining and quarrying paraphernalia can be seen in the Rashleigh Gallery.  The museum had a major re-display in 2019 and is free to visit. 

Camborne School of Mines Museum, in the foyer of the CSM building on the Penryn Campus, is open 9-5 weekdays. Many specimens not only from Cornwall but also from around the world, donated by former students, are on display. The museum had a major re-display in 2019 and is free to visit, though currently closed because of the pandemic. CSM also has a virtual museum - the Geomincentre - with lots of useful information and images but it has not been updated recently  - take care! It is due to be replaced soon (see below).

Geevor Tin Mine at Pendeen, (01736) 788662, has a Hard Rock Museum (which opened in October 2008) which tells the story of mining at Geevor through a series of collections, photographs and interactive puzzles and challenges. There is a surface tour of the 20th Century mine, with further hands-on activities, and a short underground tour of 18th century mine workings. 

Bodmin Museum, (01208) 77067, has a small but varied collection of rocks, minerals and fossils including a good example of the famous Delabole Butterfly (a flattened shellfish) sold to tourists. Open Easter - October.

Helston  Museum - The Museum of Cornish Life, (01326) 564027, has an excellent collection of minerals from the Lizard (especially Dean Quarry, collected by the late Vince Holyer who was both a local vicar and a geologist). There is other geological and mining material.

Other museums, in Penzance, St Agnes and LIskeard, also have displays of minerals and mining materials.

It is vital to support these remaining museums: sadly, the Cornwall Geological Museum in Penzance is closed. Camborne School of Mines also has a 'virtual museum' for the Cornubian Orefield, and currently a totally new outreach site, using C21 tools, is in development both for the public and students.

Click on a link below to access your language for the 24 page Bodmin Moor: 400 million years in the making booklet.

Some research posters and papers on Cornish geology, produced by CGG members and others, all freely available.

Holocene submerged forest poster: The Holocene of North West Mount's Bay, South West Cornwall - or a tale of missed opportunities. Click on the button above to view  The poster by Frank Howie.