Ansted's "Gold-Seekers Manual" (1849) attempted to improve the prospects of emigrants to the California gold rush. His other published works include "Geology, Introductory, Descriptive, & Practical" (1844), "The Geologist's Text-Book" (1845), "Syllabus of Lectures on Mineralogy, Geology, and Practical Geology" (1848), "An Elementary Course of Geology, Mineralogy, and Physical Geography" (1850), "The Great Stone Book of Nature" (1853), "The Applications of Geology to the Arts and Manufactures" (1865). He was the co-author with Robert Gordon Latham of "The Channel Islands" (1862).