Reference works provide quick access to basic information about your topic. You should select the type of reference work you want depending on the type and depth of information you need.
Dictionaries:
Encyclopedias:
Handbooks, Manuals, & Field Guides:
NOTE: The lists below are a mix of print and electronic resources. E-books are marked with a padlock and require a UCSBnet ID and password to access when off campus.
Subject dictionaries are a great way to familiarize yourself with words and phrases used in geology and Earth science. Use them to find definitions and background information on your topic.
Chambers Earth Sciences Dictionary
Concise Oxford Dictionary of Earth Sciences
Dictionary of Concepts in Physical Geography
Dictionary of Geological Terms
A Dictionary of Geology and Earth Sciences
Dictionary of Geotechnics
Dictionary of Mining, Mineral and Related Terms
Dictionary of Petrology
Earth Sciences Reference
Elsevier's dictionary of environmental hydrogeology : in English, French, and German
Elsevier's Dictionary of Mining and Mineralogy
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Hydrogeology
Facts on File Dictionary of Geology and Geophysics
Glossary of GeologyGlossary of Mineral Species
Glossary of Mineral Synonyms
Illustrated Glossary of Petroleum Geochemistry
Illustrated Petroleum Reference Dictionary
Magill's Survey of Science, Earth Science Series
Simon and Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric CreaturesSpecialized encyclopedias provide excellent introductions to many aspects of geology and Earth science. Articles are usually written by experts in the subject, and will include a bibliography to get you started on your research.
Earth Science (5 vol. on different topics)
Encyclopaedia of Solid Earth Sciences
Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs
Encyclopedia of Earth and Space Science
Encyclopedia of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
Encyclopedia of Gemstones and Minerals
Encyclopedia of Geochemistry by 
Encyclopedia of Geochemistry
Encyclopedia of Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism
Encyclopedia of Lakes and Reservoirs: Geography, Geology, Hydrology and Paleolimnology
Encyclopedia of Minerals
Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments
Encyclopedia of Paleontology
Encyclopedia of Prehistory
Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science
Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks
Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers
Encyclopedia of Soil Science
Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment
Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics
Encyclopedia of the Solar System
Encyclopedia of World Regional Geology
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: The Ultimate Reference to 355 Dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods, Including More Than 900 Watercolours, Maps, Timelines and Photographs by 
International Petroleum Encyclopedia 2010Handbooks, Manuals, & Field Guides are useful for both work out in the field and in the lab. They are often good for finding established techniques for doing something.
AGI Data Sheets
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fossils
Cambridge Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils
Deep-Water Processes and Facies Models
Environmental Geology: Handbook of Field Methods and Case Studies
Facts on File Earth Science Handbook
Fossil Collector's Handbook
Fossils: A Photographic Field Guide
Geotechnical Engineering Investigation Handbook
Handbook of Geotechnical Investigation and Design TablesHandbook of Mineralogy
Hey's Mineral Index: Mineral Species, Varieties, and Synonyms
Igneous Rocks: A Classification and Glossary of Terms
Manual for Soil Analysis - Monitoring and Assessing Soil Bioremediation
Manual of Applied Field Hydrogeology
Manual of Mineral Science
Mineral Reference Manual
Minerals of California
Physical Properties of Rocks and Minerals
Satellite Geology and Photogeomorphology
Seismic Stratigraphy, Basin Analysis and Reservoir Characterisation [handbook]
Visualization of Digital Terrain and Landscape DataPhysical Properties of Rocks: Fundamentals and Principles of Petrophysics
Valles Marineris is the largest canyon on Mars. It is as long as the United States and spans about 20 percent (1/5) of the entire distance around Mars.
Depth: up to 7 km (4 mi)
Length: 4000 km (2500 mi)
Photo Source: NASA
