Exploring the Berryessa Region (Backcountry Press, June 2020) tells the story of the southern end of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, a region rich in geologic and biologic diversity. Full of fascinating details, the book helps visitors explore the Berryessa Region by car. Authors include the late UC Davis professor emeritus Eldridge Moores and his wife Judy Moores, naturalist Marc Hoshovsky, UC Davis professor emeritus Peter Schiffman and UC Davis alumnus Bob Schneider.

Eldridge was born on October 13th, 1938, in Phoenix, Arizona. He received his B.S. from the California Institute of Technology (1959) and an M.A. (1961) and a Ph.D. (1963) from Princeton University. His postdoctoral work on the Vourinois ophiolite complex in northern Greece led to a major breakthrough in tectonics.

Eldridge was the first to identify ophiolites — peculiar sequences of igneous and sedimentary rocks exposed on land — as remnants of ancient oceanic crust. Eldridge focused on this topic throughout his career and was recognized as a world leader in understanding the origin and significance of ophiolites throughout Earth history.

Professor Schiffman was a mineralogist and petrologist whose research interests are in the metamorphism of volcanic rocks in active and fossil hydrothermal systems in terrestrial and submarine settings. He was a field geologist, petrologist and geochemist, and his research largely focused on hydrothermal systems (active and ancient). In addition, he served as department chair and was for many years the director of the microprobe facility. He was also an avid fan of playing and listening to music, and an upbeat and cheerful presence in the department. 

View the book at Cambria Press