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Geochemistry of organic substances
1314
Book reviews
evidence of crater form&ion. Geologists will find this book’s descriptions of micro- and macro. scopic shock products (including 255 well-printed photomicrographs) of great value in such studies. As a source book it falls short in only one respect: a lack of control. A definitive volume on shock metamorphism should include the results of a thorough review of other violent geologic phenomena, notably explosive volcanism and kimberlite emplacement, to demonstmt,cr that they are incapable of producing shock features. Despite these shortcomings, however, Shock Metamorphism of Xaturnl Materials is a gootl book. Its appearance during this year of lunar adventure is particularly appropriate, for the lunar surface will undoubtedly contain shocked materials. In the future, as shock metamorphism and impact structures become more familiar, we will, I expect, see Earth in truei perspective and come to admit that Chicken Little and his friends were often correct. &nith,conian Astrophysical 60 t%rdsn Street Cambridge,
Ma88achwetts
Observatory
.r. S. DICKEY, Jrt.
02138
S. M. MANSKAYA and T. V. DROZDOVA: c)eochemistrjr of mc &~b#&n~. First English edition, translated from the Russian and edited by LEONARD SHAPIROand IRVING A. BREQER. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1968. xxiv & 345 pp. $7.0.0 ($18). THIS is a truly outstanding and timely book that will have wide appeal to all earth scientists. It will be of particular interest to organic geochemists, economic geologists, limnologists, and environmental biologists, as well as to all those concerned with water quality and the pollution of l&es and streams with metals and organic substances. Essentially, the monograph deals with the signi6cance of organic substances in the migration and aonoentration of ohm&al elements in geological systems. Considerable attention is given to the accumulation of elements of industrial importance in coals and shales. The title is a misnomer in that it fails to convey the true purpose and intent of the book. The volume consists of twelve well-written chapters arranged into two parts. Part I on “Mineralized Orgtio Substances and their Formation” consists of the following four chapters dealing with rather broad aspeats of organic geoohemistry. 1. The Chemical Structures of Compounds that Participate in the Formation of Mineralized Organic Substances. Occurrence in Contemporary and Ancient Deposits 2. Orgenia Suhst~ces in Peat and their Formation 3. Organic Constituents of Coal and their Origin 4. Organic Substenoes in Fresh Water and Marine Deposits. Emphasis in the above chapters is given to the possible role of organio substances in the migration and conoentration of ohemioal elements in sediments and sedimentary rooks. Included are such diverse topics as organic substanoes in water, peat, and marine sediments, origin and composition of hnmic acids and coal, and d&genesis of organic substanoes in sedimentary rocks. Specialists in the field will immediately observe inadequate coverage of some subjects and too greet an emphasis on others. The material on chemical structures of proteins, polysaccharides, etc., oould have been elimin&ed. As with other sections of the book, little work since 1961 has been cited; thus, new advances are not covered. Despite these limitations, and in view of the limited space available for extensive coverage, the authors have done a commendable job in presenting a complex and difficult subject. Part II on the “Concentmtion of Metals by Organic Substanoes in Sedimentary Rooks” includes eight chapters (numbers 6 through 12) on the geochemistry of the elements which occur in assooiation with fossil organic matter. 5. Signifloance of Organio Substances in the Migration and Concentration of Chemical Elements. 6. Conoentration of Uranium by Organic Matter in Sedimentary Rocks. 7. Ibid., clmmanium.
Book reviews
1316
8. Ibid., vanadium. 9. Xd., Molybdenum. 10. Ibid., copper. 11. Ibid., Manganese, Cobalt, Nickel, Gold, Silver, Zinc, Beryllium, and oertain other Elements. 12. Migration Characteristios and Concentration of Metals with Oganio Constituents of Sedimentary Rocks. Eaoh of Chapters 6 through 11 contains a section on the geochemical distribution of the element in question. This is followed by a disoussion of the manner whereby the partiaular element is concentrated in coal, shale, peat, aquatic mud, soil, and petroleum (when applioable). Finally, consideration is given to the nature of the bonds whioh exist with organio substances. For the most part, the latter is covered superficially, which oan be explained by the fact that the nature of the organic compounds am usually unknown and must be described by vague terms such as “fossil organic matter, ” “coalitled wood” and “humic and fulvic acids.” Sinoe these substames are involved in the retention of most metals, a certain amount of repetition exists from one ohapter to another, as well as throughout the book. The main theme has been to follow the movement of trace elements from the basic rocks and their subsequent concentration in sediments and sedimentary rooks through the a&ion of living organisms or their metabolic by-products. It was somewhat surprising, therefore, that more attention was not given to the speciflo role of microorganisms in the weathering of rooks and minerals, which is often accomplished by metabolites which have unique chelating characteristios (e.g. organic acids). In summary, this is a very valuable book that will be of interest to all geologists. The book is handsomely bound, relatively free of errors, and written in a style that is easily read and understood. Shapiro and Breger are to be congratulated for bringing this authoritative summary of Russian work in this field to the attention of English-speaking soientista. Depaenent of Agronomy l33iveraityof Illinois urba?m,I.wi7aoi% 61801
F. J. STEVENSON
Analytical Me&o& !or Akmic Abao&ion &e&rophotometry.
The Perk&Elmer Corporation, Norwalk, Connecticut, 06852, U.S.A., 1968. $26.00 (looseleaf). Order as part number 3030162.
THIS looseleaf edition on methods in atomio absorption replaoes an earlier edition (1964) and supplements through 1966. The looseleaf format is used so that future supplements may be conveniently inoorporated into the volume. The beginning of this book contains a 24-page general information section whioh includes information related to the operation of all the instruments in this field although it is of particular value to those who use Perk&Elmer equipment. Suppliers of speoialty reagents, burner operating notes, and descriptions of some possible interferences are examples of the topios covered. The seoond section consists of a bibliography of 891 references on atomic absorption and is complete through 1967. The final and major portion of the book gives speoifio information for the determination of 66 individual elements, as well as the determination of many of these elements in a variety of matrices; most of these matrices are biological or metallurgical although many of the procedures are speci6o for oeramio and naturally oocurring materials which are of dire& interest to geochemists. A book of this type is indispensible to teohnicians and researchers alike, partioularly those with Perkin-Elmer equipment. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation indicates it expects to issue supplements at oloser intervals than has been the ease in the past. Copies of this edition and all future supplements are to be
Book reviews
evidence of crater form&ion. Geologists will find this book’s descriptions of micro- and macro. scopic shock products (including 255 well-printed photomicrographs) of great value in such studies. As a source book it falls short in only one respect: a lack of control. A definitive volume on shock metamorphism should include the results of a thorough review of other violent geologic phenomena, notably explosive volcanism and kimberlite emplacement, to demonstmt,cr that they are incapable of producing shock features. Despite these shortcomings, however, Shock Metamorphism of Xaturnl Materials is a gootl book. Its appearance during this year of lunar adventure is particularly appropriate, for the lunar surface will undoubtedly contain shocked materials. In the future, as shock metamorphism and impact structures become more familiar, we will, I expect, see Earth in truei perspective and come to admit that Chicken Little and his friends were often correct. &nith,conian Astrophysical 60 t%rdsn Street Cambridge,
Ma88achwetts
Observatory
.r. S. DICKEY, Jrt.
02138
S. M. MANSKAYA and T. V. DROZDOVA: c)eochemistrjr of mc &~b#&n~. First English edition, translated from the Russian and edited by LEONARD SHAPIROand IRVING A. BREQER. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1968. xxiv & 345 pp. $7.0.0 ($18). THIS is a truly outstanding and timely book that will have wide appeal to all earth scientists. It will be of particular interest to organic geochemists, economic geologists, limnologists, and environmental biologists, as well as to all those concerned with water quality and the pollution of l&es and streams with metals and organic substances. Essentially, the monograph deals with the signi6cance of organic substances in the migration and aonoentration of ohm&al elements in geological systems. Considerable attention is given to the accumulation of elements of industrial importance in coals and shales. The title is a misnomer in that it fails to convey the true purpose and intent of the book. The volume consists of twelve well-written chapters arranged into two parts. Part I on “Mineralized Orgtio Substances and their Formation” consists of the following four chapters dealing with rather broad aspeats of organic geoohemistry. 1. The Chemical Structures of Compounds that Participate in the Formation of Mineralized Organic Substances. Occurrence in Contemporary and Ancient Deposits 2. Orgenia Suhst~ces in Peat and their Formation 3. Organic Constituents of Coal and their Origin 4. Organic Substenoes in Fresh Water and Marine Deposits. Emphasis in the above chapters is given to the possible role of organio substances in the migration and conoentration of ohemioal elements in sediments and sedimentary rooks. Included are such diverse topics as organic substanoes in water, peat, and marine sediments, origin and composition of hnmic acids and coal, and d&genesis of organic substanoes in sedimentary rocks. Specialists in the field will immediately observe inadequate coverage of some subjects and too greet an emphasis on others. The material on chemical structures of proteins, polysaccharides, etc., oould have been elimin&ed. As with other sections of the book, little work since 1961 has been cited; thus, new advances are not covered. Despite these limitations, and in view of the limited space available for extensive coverage, the authors have done a commendable job in presenting a complex and difficult subject. Part II on the “Concentmtion of Metals by Organic Substanoes in Sedimentary Rooks” includes eight chapters (numbers 6 through 12) on the geochemistry of the elements which occur in assooiation with fossil organic matter. 5. Signifloance of Organio Substances in the Migration and Concentration of Chemical Elements. 6. Conoentration of Uranium by Organic Matter in Sedimentary Rocks. 7. Ibid., clmmanium.
Book reviews
1316
8. Ibid., vanadium. 9. Xd., Molybdenum. 10. Ibid., copper. 11. Ibid., Manganese, Cobalt, Nickel, Gold, Silver, Zinc, Beryllium, and oertain other Elements. 12. Migration Characteristios and Concentration of Metals with Oganio Constituents of Sedimentary Rocks. Eaoh of Chapters 6 through 11 contains a section on the geochemical distribution of the element in question. This is followed by a disoussion of the manner whereby the partiaular element is concentrated in coal, shale, peat, aquatic mud, soil, and petroleum (when applioable). Finally, consideration is given to the nature of the bonds whioh exist with organio substances. For the most part, the latter is covered superficially, which oan be explained by the fact that the nature of the organic compounds am usually unknown and must be described by vague terms such as “fossil organic matter, ” “coalitled wood” and “humic and fulvic acids.” Sinoe these substames are involved in the retention of most metals, a certain amount of repetition exists from one ohapter to another, as well as throughout the book. The main theme has been to follow the movement of trace elements from the basic rocks and their subsequent concentration in sediments and sedimentary rooks through the a&ion of living organisms or their metabolic by-products. It was somewhat surprising, therefore, that more attention was not given to the speciflo role of microorganisms in the weathering of rooks and minerals, which is often accomplished by metabolites which have unique chelating characteristios (e.g. organic acids). In summary, this is a very valuable book that will be of interest to all geologists. The book is handsomely bound, relatively free of errors, and written in a style that is easily read and understood. Shapiro and Breger are to be congratulated for bringing this authoritative summary of Russian work in this field to the attention of English-speaking soientista. Depaenent of Agronomy l33iveraityof Illinois urba?m,I.wi7aoi% 61801
F. J. STEVENSON
Analytical Me&o& !or Akmic Abao&ion &e&rophotometry.
The Perk&Elmer Corporation, Norwalk, Connecticut, 06852, U.S.A., 1968. $26.00 (looseleaf). Order as part number 3030162.
THIS looseleaf edition on methods in atomio absorption replaoes an earlier edition (1964) and supplements through 1966. The looseleaf format is used so that future supplements may be conveniently inoorporated into the volume. The beginning of this book contains a 24-page general information section whioh includes information related to the operation of all the instruments in this field although it is of particular value to those who use Perk&Elmer equipment. Suppliers of speoialty reagents, burner operating notes, and descriptions of some possible interferences are examples of the topios covered. The seoond section consists of a bibliography of 891 references on atomic absorption and is complete through 1967. The final and major portion of the book gives speoifio information for the determination of 66 individual elements, as well as the determination of many of these elements in a variety of matrices; most of these matrices are biological or metallurgical although many of the procedures are speci6o for oeramio and naturally oocurring materials which are of dire& interest to geochemists. A book of this type is indispensible to teohnicians and researchers alike, partioularly those with Perkin-Elmer equipment. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation indicates it expects to issue supplements at oloser intervals than has been the ease in the past. Copies of this edition and all future supplements are to be