The Sierra Foothills was formed during the Mesozoic collision with the Paleozoic Shoo Fly Complex when a series of island arcs, and spreading ridge centers accreted and subducted beneath the continental margin of the Sierra Nevada during the Nevadan Orogeny. This book presents the regional geologic setting of the Sierra Nevada Foothills terrane offering tectonic models for oceanic plate-continental collisions followed by geological evidence collected from the New Hogan Reservoir for supporting evidence. Tectonic models are proposed to help understand subduction zone processes and terranes where chaotic conditions prevail.
The text is written in a moderately technical format using geological terms intended for advanced coursework settings. The book is recommended for upper level undergraduate or graduate study in California geology, Sierra Foothills studies, and subduction-accretionary processes.
The author previously published a five part book series entitled Introduction to Global Plate Tectonics I through V covering plate tectonics theory, and historical geology of the major continents in 2014 and 2015. A two book series entitled Introduction to Geomorphology I: Physiographic Provinces, Landscape & Geologic History; Introduction to Geomorphology II: Structure, Landforms, and Geologic Processes published in 2015. Both book sets are written at a lower technical level more suitable for community college and lower undergraduate level courses in physical geology, physical geography, or general earth science type courses.
