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Metamorphic complexes of Asia
OOM-7037/85/53.00
Geochimrcu n Cwnwh~micu ALIU Vol. 49. pp. 309410 0 Pcrgamon Press Ltd.1985.Rintedin U.S.A.
+ .oO
BOOK REVIEWS
Pe&ga~& and Soil Taxonnmy, by L. P. Wilding N. E. Smeck and G. F. Hall. Vol. I Concepts and Interaction+ Vol. II The Soil Orders. 1983. Elsevier. US $49.00 and $55.25. THE PHRGE “Soil Taxonomy” has been appropriated to the specific system of soil classification produced by researchers associated with the U.S. Department of Agricuhure, and refined over the years through seven approximations. The first of these two volumes deals briefly with the historical development of soil science and of Soil Taxonomy, then goes on to look at modelling of soil systems, spatial variability of soils, geomorphology, chemistry and mineralogy, soil biology, the etTectsof climate and time, and the hydrology qf wet soils. The second volume has ten chapters, each devoted to one of the ten soil orders of the classification. If you want a descriptive rundown of soil types and the factors influential in their formation this is the book for you. If you are looking for a rigorous examination of the chemical, physical and biological aspects of soil science you won’t find it here. The second volume is the more valuable of the two, each soil order being clearly described by a group of well known experts specialising in each of the various soil types. By contrast the first volume is disappointing, having little intellectual depth and containing some surprising errors These range from relatively trivial things such as the statement that olivine is “an essential mineral of basalt” (p. 141) through tenninological problems, i.e. the superseded “pedogenic chlorite” (p. 156. p. 167) is used for hydroxy interlayered vermiculite. even though elsewhere (p.
Metamorphic Complexes of Asia, edited by V. S. Sobolev (transl. by D. A. Brown). Pergamon Press. Oxford, 1984, 322 pp. + Appendix, $60.00. IN 1967 the International Union of Geological Sciences initiated a program to produce a metamorphic map of the world. In 1978 one component of this project, the Metamorphic Map of Asia was published on a scale of I:5 000 000. The present monograph is essentially an expanded version of the original Explanatory Notes (in Russian) to this map. It represents a formidable compilation covering the diverse metamorphic geology of the entire continent of Asia and is naturaIly dominated by details of the metamorphic belts (complexes) of the U.S.S.R., drawn from Russian literature. The discussions of geology in other countries of Asia are mainly from Russian translations of articles by authors famili with the local geology of India. Japan. Iran. etc. The book is divided into five chapters with the first four covering the metamorphic complexes of: (I ) the basement of Pmcambtian platforms, (2) Precambrian fold regions, (3) Pak!ox& fold regions, (4) Mesozoic and Cenozoic fold regions. The last chapter is a synthesis of patterns of association between metamorphism, tectonics and magmatism and fivoun a model of crustal evolution dominated by verticaI tectonics with limited compressive phases rather than the theory of plate tectonics accepted by most western eaith scientists. The appendix contains a compilation of relevant radiometric age determinations from Russian lab oratories and a similar compilation of ages of metamorphic rocks in Japan. There is no index. Each chapter on metamorphic complexes is subdivided into discussions of specific
309
156) the latter, correct term is used, to the ultimate mistakes of chapter 2. Chapter 2 begins with a discussion of thermodynamics as applied to soil. It contains the statement “the terms equilib rium and steady state are often loosely applied to soil systems without rigorous definition” (p. 61). Leaving aside the sloppy English, (it’s not the soil systems to which the last three words refer), the sentence is perfectly true. Indeed the authors provide several ilhrstrations of their own. For example classical thermodynamics is said to apply only to closed systems (p. 56). On another page (p. 61) it is said to apply only to isolated systems. Open systems get their licks too: “the thermodynamics of open systems is genemIly referred to as non-equihbrium thermodynamics*’ (p. 56), and “equilibrium is not applicable to open systems” (p. 67). The confusion reaches its acme (or its nadir) with a meaningless scheme (table 3.2) that purports to show relative entropy changes in selected soil forming processes. As with most multi-authored books, the writing is uneven, although the chapter on histosols stands out as an example of clear and elegant scientific prose. At its price I hesitate to recommend it to researchers in general. Make do with a library copy if you can. Sometime, the academic community must get together to counter the legahsed rip&s (rips&?) perpetrated on the fair body of scholarship by big league publishers. University of Guelph Gueiph. Ontario NlG 2 WI. Canada
Ward Cheswonh
metamorphic areas. These discussions, of necessity, are of variable depth as many areas of Asia have received limited study (i.e. Indochina) but in general consist of descriptions of lithology of the metamorphic rocks, their mineral assemblages. ages of sedimentation and metamorphic events, and the relationships between metamorphism. tectonics and magmatism. The English translation is quite readable but for someone not very familiar with Asian geography and geology the discussions of the majority of individual metamorphic complexes are often very difficult to follow. There are numerous references to geologic and tectonic units and geographic locations whose interrelationships are inadequately explained. Reference to the Metamorphic Map of Asia (S 165.00) is of little help in deciphering the discussions as the Map does not contain geologic or tectonic units and the geographic names are difficult to discern. There are a number of maps in the monograph which should help the situation but they too are of limited value as the units of interest are often not named. In addition these maps invariably lack a scale, a larger frame of reference, contain frustrating numbered legends and are often so densely detailed to make tracing of individual units extremely difficult. With these shortcomings and its cost, the merits of the book am confined to presenting a comprehensive starting point, of dominantly Russian literature. for further detaikd study and library research on specific metamorphic complexes of Asia.
Geological Survey of Cana& 601 Booth St. Ottawa, Ontario, KIA OE8. Canada
J. C. Roddick
Geochimrcu n Cwnwh~micu ALIU Vol. 49. pp. 309410 0 Pcrgamon Press Ltd.1985.Rintedin U.S.A.
+ .oO
BOOK REVIEWS
Pe&ga~& and Soil Taxonnmy, by L. P. Wilding N. E. Smeck and G. F. Hall. Vol. I Concepts and Interaction+ Vol. II The Soil Orders. 1983. Elsevier. US $49.00 and $55.25. THE PHRGE “Soil Taxonomy” has been appropriated to the specific system of soil classification produced by researchers associated with the U.S. Department of Agricuhure, and refined over the years through seven approximations. The first of these two volumes deals briefly with the historical development of soil science and of Soil Taxonomy, then goes on to look at modelling of soil systems, spatial variability of soils, geomorphology, chemistry and mineralogy, soil biology, the etTectsof climate and time, and the hydrology qf wet soils. The second volume has ten chapters, each devoted to one of the ten soil orders of the classification. If you want a descriptive rundown of soil types and the factors influential in their formation this is the book for you. If you are looking for a rigorous examination of the chemical, physical and biological aspects of soil science you won’t find it here. The second volume is the more valuable of the two, each soil order being clearly described by a group of well known experts specialising in each of the various soil types. By contrast the first volume is disappointing, having little intellectual depth and containing some surprising errors These range from relatively trivial things such as the statement that olivine is “an essential mineral of basalt” (p. 141) through tenninological problems, i.e. the superseded “pedogenic chlorite” (p. 156. p. 167) is used for hydroxy interlayered vermiculite. even though elsewhere (p.
Metamorphic Complexes of Asia, edited by V. S. Sobolev (transl. by D. A. Brown). Pergamon Press. Oxford, 1984, 322 pp. + Appendix, $60.00. IN 1967 the International Union of Geological Sciences initiated a program to produce a metamorphic map of the world. In 1978 one component of this project, the Metamorphic Map of Asia was published on a scale of I:5 000 000. The present monograph is essentially an expanded version of the original Explanatory Notes (in Russian) to this map. It represents a formidable compilation covering the diverse metamorphic geology of the entire continent of Asia and is naturaIly dominated by details of the metamorphic belts (complexes) of the U.S.S.R., drawn from Russian literature. The discussions of geology in other countries of Asia are mainly from Russian translations of articles by authors famili with the local geology of India. Japan. Iran. etc. The book is divided into five chapters with the first four covering the metamorphic complexes of: (I ) the basement of Pmcambtian platforms, (2) Precambrian fold regions, (3) Pak!ox& fold regions, (4) Mesozoic and Cenozoic fold regions. The last chapter is a synthesis of patterns of association between metamorphism, tectonics and magmatism and fivoun a model of crustal evolution dominated by verticaI tectonics with limited compressive phases rather than the theory of plate tectonics accepted by most western eaith scientists. The appendix contains a compilation of relevant radiometric age determinations from Russian lab oratories and a similar compilation of ages of metamorphic rocks in Japan. There is no index. Each chapter on metamorphic complexes is subdivided into discussions of specific
309
156) the latter, correct term is used, to the ultimate mistakes of chapter 2. Chapter 2 begins with a discussion of thermodynamics as applied to soil. It contains the statement “the terms equilib rium and steady state are often loosely applied to soil systems without rigorous definition” (p. 61). Leaving aside the sloppy English, (it’s not the soil systems to which the last three words refer), the sentence is perfectly true. Indeed the authors provide several ilhrstrations of their own. For example classical thermodynamics is said to apply only to closed systems (p. 56). On another page (p. 61) it is said to apply only to isolated systems. Open systems get their licks too: “the thermodynamics of open systems is genemIly referred to as non-equihbrium thermodynamics*’ (p. 56), and “equilibrium is not applicable to open systems” (p. 67). The confusion reaches its acme (or its nadir) with a meaningless scheme (table 3.2) that purports to show relative entropy changes in selected soil forming processes. As with most multi-authored books, the writing is uneven, although the chapter on histosols stands out as an example of clear and elegant scientific prose. At its price I hesitate to recommend it to researchers in general. Make do with a library copy if you can. Sometime, the academic community must get together to counter the legahsed rip&s (rips&?) perpetrated on the fair body of scholarship by big league publishers. University of Guelph Gueiph. Ontario NlG 2 WI. Canada
Ward Cheswonh
metamorphic areas. These discussions, of necessity, are of variable depth as many areas of Asia have received limited study (i.e. Indochina) but in general consist of descriptions of lithology of the metamorphic rocks, their mineral assemblages. ages of sedimentation and metamorphic events, and the relationships between metamorphism. tectonics and magmatism. The English translation is quite readable but for someone not very familiar with Asian geography and geology the discussions of the majority of individual metamorphic complexes are often very difficult to follow. There are numerous references to geologic and tectonic units and geographic locations whose interrelationships are inadequately explained. Reference to the Metamorphic Map of Asia (S 165.00) is of little help in deciphering the discussions as the Map does not contain geologic or tectonic units and the geographic names are difficult to discern. There are a number of maps in the monograph which should help the situation but they too are of limited value as the units of interest are often not named. In addition these maps invariably lack a scale, a larger frame of reference, contain frustrating numbered legends and are often so densely detailed to make tracing of individual units extremely difficult. With these shortcomings and its cost, the merits of the book am confined to presenting a comprehensive starting point, of dominantly Russian literature. for further detaikd study and library research on specific metamorphic complexes of Asia.
Geological Survey of Cana& 601 Booth St. Ottawa, Ontario, KIA OE8. Canada
J. C. Roddick