Based on well tried itineraries and extensive research, this field guide provides an authoritative and fully illustrated introduction to Auvergne, the premier volcanic area of France and a part of the Massif Central. Auvergne is endowed with spectacular scenery, highly accessible geology, well preserved volcanic and glacial landforms, and a wide variety of rock types. The footpath and road system gives easy access not only to the geology but also the attractive villages and hill towns, with their fine architecture and excellent regional cuisine.
The early chapters of the book describe the general physiography, provide advice on preparing to visit the region, with notes on climate, transport and accommodation, and an outline of Auvergnat geology. The main text is devoted to the itineraries, divided by region, with a chapter on the geology of each followed by detailed routes, supplemented by maps and photographs. The coverage comprises Puy-de-Dôme and Allier, Massif du Sancy, Monts du Cantal and Haute Loire. The concluding part of the book contains notes on non-geological topics and useful appendices, including a glossary of terms, list of key viewpoints and information boards, notes on museums and information centres, descriptions of Auvergnat towns and villages, with recommended hotels and campsites, followed by a bibliography, website list and, finally, a geological timescale.
Students, amateurs and professionals will welcome this clear and helpful introduction to a highly attractive and accessible region, blessed with beautiful scenery and much to fascinate the geologist. It may also enrich the interest and environmental understanding of the enquiring tourist who knows that there is much more to Auvergne than the mineral water of the television advertisements.
Preface
Auvergne - an island surrounded by land
Climate; Transport; Accommodation
The sequence of events; The basement rocks and their metamorphism; The granitic rocks of Auvergne; Sedimentary rocks; Recent volcanic rocks
Excursion 1 Gorges de la Sioule
Excursion 2 Royat-Orcines walking tour
Excursion 3 Northern maars, Strombolian cones and flow fields
Excursion 4 The area around Puy de Dome
Excursion 5 The southern area of the Chaine des Puys
Excursion 6 Col des Goules–Puy Pariou–Puy de Dome–Col de
Ceyssat walking tour
Excursion 7 Puy des Goules–Grand Sarcoui–Puy Chopine–Puy
des Goutes–Beauregard
Excursion 8 Royat–Puy de Gravenoire–Gergovie–Montrognon–Vermonton
Development of the Dore-Sancy volcano
Rock associations of the Mont Dore
Excursion 1 Murol–Le Marais–Tartaret–Lac Chambon (walking
tour)
Excursion 2 Murol–Chambon-sur-Lac–Chaudefour Valley–Rocher
de l’Aigle–Besse-en-Chandesse–Lac Pavin
Excursion 3 Murol–Col de la Croix St–Robert–Grande Cascade–Le
Mont-Dore–Sancy summit
Excursion 4a Le Mont-Dore–La Bourboule–Le Salon-du-Capucin–Le
Mont-Dore
Excursion 4b Le Salon-du-Capucin–Station-du-Chastreix–Sancy–Chastreix–La
Tour-d’Auvergne–Bort-les-Orgues
Excursion 5 Le Mont-Dore/Murol–Ravine d’Enfer–Clé
du Lac–Col de Guéry–Roches Sanadoire and Tuilière–Orcival–Villejacques
Excursion 6 Le Mont-Dore–Pic de Sancy walking tour
General geological evolution of the Cantal region
Evolution of the Cantal volcano
Rock types and magmatic evolution
Excursion 1 St-Avit–Herment–Bourg-Lastic–Gorges d’Aveze–Tauves–Bort-les-Orgues
Excursion 2 Bort-les-Orgues–Route du Falgoux–Puy Mary–Roche
Noire–Vallee de Mandailles–Col du Pertus–St Jacques des Blats–Thiezac
Excursion 3 Thiezac–Polminhac–St-Simon–Col de Breul–Col
Legal–Bastide–Le Fau–Fontanges–Salers–Mauriac
Excursion 4 Thiezac–Arpajon–Carbonet–Roches-du-Carlat–Rocher-des-Perdus–Col
de Curebourse–Thiezac
Excursion 5 Thiezac–Murat–Falls of Saillant–Talizat–Andelat–St-Flour
Excursion 6 St-Flour–Neuveglise–Tagenac–Cussac–Tanavelle–St-Flour
Excursion 7 Thiezac – local walking tour
Excursion 8 Aurillac–Miecaze–St-Mamet–Serrieres–St-Santin–Decazeville–Aurillac
Excursion 1 Walking tour around Le Puy-en-Velay
Excursion 2 Le Puy–Orgues d’Espaly–Mont Denise–Le Marais–Polignac–Monistrol–St-Privat–Polignac–Chaspinhac–Le
Puy
History; Flora; Birds, butterflies and moths; Cuisine
Appendix 1 Viewpoints and information boards; Visitor and information
centres; Towns and villages: hotels and campsites; Chemical analyses of
igneous rocks
Glossary; Bibliography, related reading and websites; Index
SERIES: Classic Geology in Europe 2
216×138mm 176pp. 28 line drawings, 38 photographs
ISBN: 1-903544-05-X PB £14.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-903544-05-1
Published in 2001
Subject: Volcanology & seismology
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