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Geological evolution of North America
183 is placed in the Jurassic rather than the Cretaceous, as almost universally accepted. It would be churlish, though, to quibble overmuch, and such small failings do little to counter the overall good impression. By and large, Levin's assessments are sound and his conclusions reasonable, and no elementary student is likely to be seriously misled on any important matter. A. Hallam, Birmingham
GEOLOGICAL
EVOLUTION
OF
NORTH AMERICA C.W. Steam, R.L. Carroll and T.H. Clark, 1979. Geological Evolution o f North America. John Wiley. New York, N.Y., 3rd ed., 566 pp., £ 11.95, U.S. $ 22.50. Since the publication in 1960 of the first edition, T.L. Clark's and C.W. Stearn's Geological Evolution o f North America has been widely regarded as an excellent generalized treatment of the regional geology of North America. A second edition appeared in 1968 that retained the same regional approach to historical geology and essentially the same arrangement of text material. Now comes the newest edition of this w o r k and, in my judgment, the best so far. A third author, R.L. Carroll, has joined Clark and Stearn to produce not just another revision but a practically brand new book. Readers familiar with the structure and content o f the earlier editions will discover a complete rewriting and reorganization of topics in this newest version. The most prominent change is the thoroughly 'plate tectonics' viewpoint regarding the geologic history of North America. For example, the Taconic Orogeny in the Appalachians is treated along the lines of the Dewey and Bird model involving subduction with island arc and trench development, a rising tectonic source land, and gravity sliding to emplace Taconic 'thrust' sheets. Another major change involves the elimination o f a separate section concerning the evolution of life. The new edition weaves treatments of the various fossil groups into discussions o f the different geo-
logic provinces. To illustrate, shallow marine Paleozoic invertebrate communities are included in the chapters dealing with the craton. Mesozoic vertebrates are covered in the same chapter that examines the Cordilleran Orogeny. Geological Evolution o f North America is a t e x t b o o k intended for undergraduate courses in historical or regional geology. The first part of the book consists of strictly background material appropriate for beginning geology students. Such topics as the structure of continents and ocean basins, plate tectonics, geosynclines and orogenesis, interpretation of the stratigraphic record, origin and earliest history of the earth, and the origin and evolution o f life are treated in these introductory chapters. The rest o f the book covers the development through time of the major tectonic elements of North America. First the craton is analyzed using the sequence approach of Sloss. The next sections deal with the evolution of the Cordillera and Appalachians, respectively. Included in the latter is a final chapter (titled 'The Break-up of Pangaea') wherein the development of the Triassic basins of eastern North America and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Coastal Plains is covered. The geology of the Arctic Ocean borderlands and the late Cenozoic Ice Age constitute the final (and shortest) major division of text material. An Appendix summarizing the taxonomy and morphology of the important fossil plant and animal groups follows the t e x t discussions. It recommend this book enthusiastically to any teacher as an outstanding text for classroom use. The writing style and illustrations continue the high quality established in the earlier editions. The text is easy to read and understand. The diagrams and photographs are abundant, clear, and beautifully reproduced. A touch of color helps liven up the drawings. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the principal ideas presented plus study questions and suggestions for further readings. Geological Evolution o f North America is a superb t e x t b o o k summarizing the most current ideas regarding the geologic history of this continent. As such, any general reader desiring a fairly simple yet comprehensive analysis of the evolution of North America
184 would be well advised to obtain a copy of this book. R.C. Whisonant, Radford, Va.
NEW V I E W OF THE EARTH S. Uyeda, 1978. The New View o f the Earth. W.H. Freeman, San Fracisco, Calif., 217 pp., U.S. $14.00 (hard cover), U.S. $ 8.80 (soft cover).
The New View o f the Earth by Sieya Uyeda is worthwile reading for anyone who is interested in the dynamic nature and evolution of the solid earth. It presents an upto-date summary of our knowledge about how the continents and ocean basins have evolved and the inter-action between the earth's outer shell and the dynamic processes within the earth. Dr. Uyeda's organization and fluid writing style make the book enjoyable to read and easy to understand. Principles, processes and terms are clearly and concisely explained, as they are introduced, to assist the layman and beginning geology student. The book makes an excellent introductory text for plate tectonics. However, the b o o k is not just for the beginner. Uyeda's talent of focusing on major unresolved problems makes the book equally valuable to the advanced student and research scientist. T. Hilde, College Station, Texas
GRAPTOLITES, BRACHIOPODS A N D CORALS FROM N O R T H E R N CANADA D.E. Jackson, A.C. Lenz and A.E.H. Pedder, 1978. Late Silurian and Early Devonian Graptolite, Brachiopod and Coral Faunas from Northwestern and Arctic Canada.
Geol. Assoc. Can., Waterloo, Ont., Spec. Pap. No. 17, 159 pp., 7 textfigures, 2 tables, 4 textplates of graptolites, 10 brachiopod plates and 30 coral plates.
This is a beautifully produced hardback publication with an extremely useful, wellillustrated and concise content. In essence it places the three chosen groups of fossils in their structural, palaeogeographic and stratigraphic setting and deduces from them a viable biostratigraphy. The tectonic setting is very clear (shown in textfigures 1--3) and includes a definition and brief account of the named platforms, troughs and highs. The biostratigraphy sections include definitions of the zones and assemblages and their first use in the literature relevant to northern Canada. I would take issue with the authors' statement on p. 11, whilst discussing stages, that 'British geologists now elevate the ludlovian and Downtonian to series rank'. As far as I am aware they have never been regarded as anything else, certainly not as Stages. All the plates are good, particularly the coral plates which are also aesthetically pleasing. The graptolite drawings (plates 1--4) are in some cases redrawn from previous publications and the penmanship is a little heavy. In one case the name has changed from an earlier publication (pl. 4, fig. 10) and in this case a cross reference would have been useful. Some of the redrawing loses technical accuracy assuming the earlier drawing was correct. The coral plate magnifications are mostly at useful x2 and x4, but the brachiopod and graptolite plates are distinctly less useable in this respect. In summary this publication is impressive in scope, very valuable in detailed content, and is produced in a manner robust enough to long survive the constant handling it will surely receive.
R.B. Rickards, Cambridge
GEOLOGICAL
EVOLUTION
OF
NORTH AMERICA C.W. Steam, R.L. Carroll and T.H. Clark, 1979. Geological Evolution o f North America. John Wiley. New York, N.Y., 3rd ed., 566 pp., £ 11.95, U.S. $ 22.50. Since the publication in 1960 of the first edition, T.L. Clark's and C.W. Stearn's Geological Evolution o f North America has been widely regarded as an excellent generalized treatment of the regional geology of North America. A second edition appeared in 1968 that retained the same regional approach to historical geology and essentially the same arrangement of text material. Now comes the newest edition of this w o r k and, in my judgment, the best so far. A third author, R.L. Carroll, has joined Clark and Stearn to produce not just another revision but a practically brand new book. Readers familiar with the structure and content o f the earlier editions will discover a complete rewriting and reorganization of topics in this newest version. The most prominent change is the thoroughly 'plate tectonics' viewpoint regarding the geologic history of North America. For example, the Taconic Orogeny in the Appalachians is treated along the lines of the Dewey and Bird model involving subduction with island arc and trench development, a rising tectonic source land, and gravity sliding to emplace Taconic 'thrust' sheets. Another major change involves the elimination o f a separate section concerning the evolution of life. The new edition weaves treatments of the various fossil groups into discussions o f the different geo-
logic provinces. To illustrate, shallow marine Paleozoic invertebrate communities are included in the chapters dealing with the craton. Mesozoic vertebrates are covered in the same chapter that examines the Cordilleran Orogeny. Geological Evolution o f North America is a t e x t b o o k intended for undergraduate courses in historical or regional geology. The first part of the book consists of strictly background material appropriate for beginning geology students. Such topics as the structure of continents and ocean basins, plate tectonics, geosynclines and orogenesis, interpretation of the stratigraphic record, origin and earliest history of the earth, and the origin and evolution o f life are treated in these introductory chapters. The rest o f the book covers the development through time of the major tectonic elements of North America. First the craton is analyzed using the sequence approach of Sloss. The next sections deal with the evolution of the Cordillera and Appalachians, respectively. Included in the latter is a final chapter (titled 'The Break-up of Pangaea') wherein the development of the Triassic basins of eastern North America and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Coastal Plains is covered. The geology of the Arctic Ocean borderlands and the late Cenozoic Ice Age constitute the final (and shortest) major division of text material. An Appendix summarizing the taxonomy and morphology of the important fossil plant and animal groups follows the t e x t discussions. It recommend this book enthusiastically to any teacher as an outstanding text for classroom use. The writing style and illustrations continue the high quality established in the earlier editions. The text is easy to read and understand. The diagrams and photographs are abundant, clear, and beautifully reproduced. A touch of color helps liven up the drawings. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the principal ideas presented plus study questions and suggestions for further readings. Geological Evolution o f North America is a superb t e x t b o o k summarizing the most current ideas regarding the geologic history of this continent. As such, any general reader desiring a fairly simple yet comprehensive analysis of the evolution of North America
184 would be well advised to obtain a copy of this book. R.C. Whisonant, Radford, Va.
NEW V I E W OF THE EARTH S. Uyeda, 1978. The New View o f the Earth. W.H. Freeman, San Fracisco, Calif., 217 pp., U.S. $14.00 (hard cover), U.S. $ 8.80 (soft cover).
The New View o f the Earth by Sieya Uyeda is worthwile reading for anyone who is interested in the dynamic nature and evolution of the solid earth. It presents an upto-date summary of our knowledge about how the continents and ocean basins have evolved and the inter-action between the earth's outer shell and the dynamic processes within the earth. Dr. Uyeda's organization and fluid writing style make the book enjoyable to read and easy to understand. Principles, processes and terms are clearly and concisely explained, as they are introduced, to assist the layman and beginning geology student. The book makes an excellent introductory text for plate tectonics. However, the b o o k is not just for the beginner. Uyeda's talent of focusing on major unresolved problems makes the book equally valuable to the advanced student and research scientist. T. Hilde, College Station, Texas
GRAPTOLITES, BRACHIOPODS A N D CORALS FROM N O R T H E R N CANADA D.E. Jackson, A.C. Lenz and A.E.H. Pedder, 1978. Late Silurian and Early Devonian Graptolite, Brachiopod and Coral Faunas from Northwestern and Arctic Canada.
Geol. Assoc. Can., Waterloo, Ont., Spec. Pap. No. 17, 159 pp., 7 textfigures, 2 tables, 4 textplates of graptolites, 10 brachiopod plates and 30 coral plates.
This is a beautifully produced hardback publication with an extremely useful, wellillustrated and concise content. In essence it places the three chosen groups of fossils in their structural, palaeogeographic and stratigraphic setting and deduces from them a viable biostratigraphy. The tectonic setting is very clear (shown in textfigures 1--3) and includes a definition and brief account of the named platforms, troughs and highs. The biostratigraphy sections include definitions of the zones and assemblages and their first use in the literature relevant to northern Canada. I would take issue with the authors' statement on p. 11, whilst discussing stages, that 'British geologists now elevate the ludlovian and Downtonian to series rank'. As far as I am aware they have never been regarded as anything else, certainly not as Stages. All the plates are good, particularly the coral plates which are also aesthetically pleasing. The graptolite drawings (plates 1--4) are in some cases redrawn from previous publications and the penmanship is a little heavy. In one case the name has changed from an earlier publication (pl. 4, fig. 10) and in this case a cross reference would have been useful. Some of the redrawing loses technical accuracy assuming the earlier drawing was correct. The coral plate magnifications are mostly at useful x2 and x4, but the brachiopod and graptolite plates are distinctly less useable in this respect. In summary this publication is impressive in scope, very valuable in detailed content, and is produced in a manner robust enough to long survive the constant handling it will surely receive.
R.B. Rickards, Cambridge