South America’s Natural Wonders

Gary L. Prost obtained his BSc in geology from Northern Arizona University in 1973 and an MSc (1975) and PhD (1986) in geology at Colorado School of Mines. Over the past 45 years, he has worked for Norandex (mineral exploration), Shell U.S.A. (petroleum exploration worldwide), the U.S. Geological Survey (geologic mapping, coal), the Superior Oil Company (mineral and oil exploration), Amoco Production Company (worldwide oil exploration, remote sensing, and structural geology), Gulf Canada (international new ventures), and ConocoPhillips Canada (Canadian Arctic exploration, gas field development, oil sands development, and reservoir characterization). He spent over 20 years working as a satellite image analyst in the search for hydrocarbons and minerals in more than 30 countries. During this time, he applied structural geology and remote sensing to exploration, development, and environmental projects. The second half of his career was spent working on regional studies, new ventures and frontier exploration, and oil and gas field development. Now retired, his most recent work has been in public outreach, leading field trips and educating the public on topics of geological interest. He is the principal geologist for G.L. Prost GeoConsulting of El Cerrito, California, and has been a registered professional geologist in Wyoming (United States) and in Alberta and the Northwest Territories (Canada). He has published six books, including The United Kingdom’s Natural Wonders (Taylor and Francis, 2023), North America’s Natural Wonders Volumes 1 and 2 (Taylor and Francis, 2020), The Geology Companion: Essentials for Understanding the Earth (Taylor & Francis, 2018), Remote Sensing for Geoscientists: Image Analysis and Integration (third edition, Taylor & Francis, 2013), and the English–Spanish and Spanish–English Glossary of Geoscience Terms (Taylor & Francis, 1997). He is currently on his next volume, Geologic Tours of the World – Europe’s Natural Wonders Volume 1, Western Europe.

1. Patagonia – Torres Del Paine, Chile, to Fitz Roy Massif, Argentina 2. Neuquén Basin and Andean Foothills – Neuquén to Mendoza, Argentina 3. From the Sea to the Sky – The Atacama Desert from Antofagasta to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile 4. In Darwin’s Footsteps – Mendoza, Argentina, to Valparaiso and the Colchagua Wine Region, Chile