POTTSVILLE, Pa. -- Sunbury Press has released Steve E. Troutman'sGeology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo, and Lykens Valleys: Something about the Earth We Walk On.

About the Book: Author Steve E. Troutman taps his training in geology to take you on a tour of the Mahantongo, Mahanoy and Lykens Valleys from the beginning of time until humans arrived. Steve explains in layman's terms the variety of geological features present as well as the conditions that led to them. He also includes images and discussions about the flora and fauna that were present during the geologic time scale. Excerpt: Let us now consider our local area comprised of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleys. Within the larger Mahantongo Valley is contained the Hoofland Valley. Within in the Lykens Valley is contained the coal bearing rock layers of Bear Valley which is north of Williamstown. Within the Mahanoy Valley is contained the coal bearing rock near Trevorton. All the rocks in the area of our study are sedimentary. These rocks all originated within water or were associated with water as their environment of deposition. Red mud like is found on the Mississippi Delta, forms into red shale layers. Deep water sediments, such as in the Caribbean Sea today, are calcium rich and become limestone. Sands like those found at the ocean beaches are turned into sandstone. These layers of sedimentary rocks are termed rock strata. Sandstone which contains larger sedimentary grains of various sizes including larger pebbles is named conglomerate. About the Author: Steve Troutman was born in 1952, into a family with many living grandparents, all with roots in the Mahantongo Valley of Pennsylvania. He developed an interest in genealogy at an early age due to his parents' interest in family history. Steve studied geology at Franklin and Marshall College, but did not pursue a career in this field. Instead, he continued working for the family business, Troutman Bros. Inc. of Klingerstown, Pa. He is the author of many books on local history and genealogy, including several with his wife, Joan. The Troutmans live and work in the heart of the Mahantongo Valley. Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo, and Lykens Valleys: Something about the Earth We Walk On Authored by Steve E. Troutman List Price: $29.95 8" x 10" (20.32 x 25.4 cm) Full Color on White paper 74 pages Sunbury Press, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-1620065198 ISBN-10: 1620065193 BISAC: Science / Earth Sciences / Geology http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Geology-of-the-Mahanoy-M...