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Handbook of Seismic Properties of Mineral, Rocks and Ores
Tectonophysics 376 (2003) 135 – 136 www.elsevier.com/locate/tecto
Book review Handbook of Seismic Properties of Mineral, Rocks and Ores by Shaocheng Ji, Qin Wang, Bin Xia, Polytechnic International Press, Montreal 2002, p. 630, ISBN 2553-01032-X, $110 US The most directly measurable parameters reflecting the nature of the Earth’s interior are seismic wave velocities and seismic velocity determinations are necessary in providing a characterisation of the structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. They are, however, of limited use because inferences about rock compositions drawn from wave velocities (at lease Pwave velocities) are not unique. The basic reason for this ambiguity lies in the fact that seismic properties at depth are determined by numerous lithologic factors such as mineralogical and chemical composition, rock fabric, and by physical factors such as pressure and temperature that control the in situ rock properties in a complex manner. Constraints in the composition of the deep crust and the upper mantle are best determined by combining seismic velocities derived from geophysical measurements with those of relevant crystal and mantle rocks determined in the laboratory at high pressure and temperature. In recent years, seismic anisotropy, which is an important property of many rocks constituting the Earth’s crust and upper mantle, has become increasingly important in earth science investigations, due to the marked improvements in methods of generation and detecting seismic shear waves. Particularly, the determination of shear wave splitting in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle has raised much interest. Seismic azimuthal anisotropy, manifested by shear wave splitting (elastic birefringence), can provide important geophysical evidence of deformation, because the orientation and the magnitude of anisotropy is, in general, strongly related to the internal, straininduced rock fabric. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2003.08.012
In the Handbook of Seismic Properties of Minerals, Rocks and Ores, Ji, Wang and Xia perform an admirable job in compiling a large number of compressional (P) and shear wave (S) data published over the last four decades and by focusing, in particular, on the directional dependence of wave propagation (anisotropy). The book is divided in two parts. Each part is introduced by a short chapter. The first addresses particularly the different average approaches (Voigt, Reuss, Hill and geometric averaging) for the determination of the elastic moduli of rock-forming minerals. The second relies on various techniques used for the determination of the reported P- and S-wave velocities, the accuracy of the reported data, and the coefficient of seismic anisotropy (A) on the basis of the velocities measured in the three structural directions X, Y and Z that are related to the foliation and lineation of the rocks. In Part 1 (94 references), the authors address the single-crystal elasticity of 53 common rock-forming minerals by presenting 3D velocity calculations for compressional (Vp) and shear wave velocities (Vs1, Vs2) and shear wave splitting (Vs1 Vs2) along with the bulk (K) and shear ( G) moduli of monomineralic aggregates of 22 common rock-forming minerals with the calculated Voigt (V), Reuss (R), Hill (H) and geometric ( G) averages. Part II presents tabulated P- and S-wave velocities and corresponding anisotropy and shear wave splitting data of crustal and upper mantle rocks as functions of pressure and temperature, together with their sample locality, lithology, density, porosity humidity (wet or dry) and the source literature (247 references). The rock types are listed alphabetically, and the room temperature Vp and Vs data and corresponding anisotropies are given for three different pressure ranges (to 200 and 600 MPa and 1.0 GPa), according to the maximum pressures reached in the experiments reported in the literature.
136
Book review
The data describing the temperature dependence of Vp and Vs and corresponding anisotropies are listed for two temperature regimes (up to 600 and 1000 jC [900 jC]) with pressures mostly up to 600 MPa (1000 MPa). Averages of P- and S-wave velocities at room temperature and pressure up to 3 GPa are compiled separately, and a great number of samples for which the seismic velocities and anisotropies have been measured are characterized by their chemical and mineral modal compositions. Finally, the tabulated data are complemented by figures representing the relationship between intrinsic (600 MPa) seismic velocities (Vp and Vs) and density, as well as the frequency distributions of intrinsic Vp and Vs anisotropy, the variation of mean Poisson’s ratio of 23 main lithologic categories and the effect of the alpha – beta quartz transition on P- and Swave velocities in quartzite. The handbook is a concise and thorough reference book of seismic properties of rocks ready to apply to interpretations of seismic reflection and refraction data. In particular, by focussing on the directional dependence of wave propagation in crustal and mantle rocks, the book fills an important niche. The coverage of the literature is exhaustive and the references, along with a glossary of symbols and abbreviations, enable the interested reader to further pursue any particular
subject in greater depth. Unfortunately, there are some regrettable omissions. I miss a link between calculated 3D velocity surfaces of single crystal (Part I) to polycrystals by presenting 3D velocity surfaces in Part II for at least a number of relevant crustal and mantle rocks, together with their relation to inherent structural elements (foliation XY, lineation X). Furthermore, as was done for the figures, a grouping of tabulated velocity data into magmatic rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks and ores, in addition to alphabetically ordering, would make an access to the data of interest easier. Nevertheless, this handbook, with its wealth of data, is a welcome addition to the literature in Petrophysics. The layout of the book is exceptionally clean. At about US $110, it is reasonably priced, although it is undoubtedly beyond the budget of most students. It is a must-have for all seismologists, along with others interested in quantitative petrophysical data, and it should be carried by academic libraries to serve students with an interest in seismic studies as a permanent reference. Hartmut Kern Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, Kiel 24098, Germany E-mail address: [email protected]
Book review Handbook of Seismic Properties of Mineral, Rocks and Ores by Shaocheng Ji, Qin Wang, Bin Xia, Polytechnic International Press, Montreal 2002, p. 630, ISBN 2553-01032-X, $110 US The most directly measurable parameters reflecting the nature of the Earth’s interior are seismic wave velocities and seismic velocity determinations are necessary in providing a characterisation of the structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. They are, however, of limited use because inferences about rock compositions drawn from wave velocities (at lease Pwave velocities) are not unique. The basic reason for this ambiguity lies in the fact that seismic properties at depth are determined by numerous lithologic factors such as mineralogical and chemical composition, rock fabric, and by physical factors such as pressure and temperature that control the in situ rock properties in a complex manner. Constraints in the composition of the deep crust and the upper mantle are best determined by combining seismic velocities derived from geophysical measurements with those of relevant crystal and mantle rocks determined in the laboratory at high pressure and temperature. In recent years, seismic anisotropy, which is an important property of many rocks constituting the Earth’s crust and upper mantle, has become increasingly important in earth science investigations, due to the marked improvements in methods of generation and detecting seismic shear waves. Particularly, the determination of shear wave splitting in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle has raised much interest. Seismic azimuthal anisotropy, manifested by shear wave splitting (elastic birefringence), can provide important geophysical evidence of deformation, because the orientation and the magnitude of anisotropy is, in general, strongly related to the internal, straininduced rock fabric. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2003.08.012
In the Handbook of Seismic Properties of Minerals, Rocks and Ores, Ji, Wang and Xia perform an admirable job in compiling a large number of compressional (P) and shear wave (S) data published over the last four decades and by focusing, in particular, on the directional dependence of wave propagation (anisotropy). The book is divided in two parts. Each part is introduced by a short chapter. The first addresses particularly the different average approaches (Voigt, Reuss, Hill and geometric averaging) for the determination of the elastic moduli of rock-forming minerals. The second relies on various techniques used for the determination of the reported P- and S-wave velocities, the accuracy of the reported data, and the coefficient of seismic anisotropy (A) on the basis of the velocities measured in the three structural directions X, Y and Z that are related to the foliation and lineation of the rocks. In Part 1 (94 references), the authors address the single-crystal elasticity of 53 common rock-forming minerals by presenting 3D velocity calculations for compressional (Vp) and shear wave velocities (Vs1, Vs2) and shear wave splitting (Vs1 Vs2) along with the bulk (K) and shear ( G) moduli of monomineralic aggregates of 22 common rock-forming minerals with the calculated Voigt (V), Reuss (R), Hill (H) and geometric ( G) averages. Part II presents tabulated P- and S-wave velocities and corresponding anisotropy and shear wave splitting data of crustal and upper mantle rocks as functions of pressure and temperature, together with their sample locality, lithology, density, porosity humidity (wet or dry) and the source literature (247 references). The rock types are listed alphabetically, and the room temperature Vp and Vs data and corresponding anisotropies are given for three different pressure ranges (to 200 and 600 MPa and 1.0 GPa), according to the maximum pressures reached in the experiments reported in the literature.
136
Book review
The data describing the temperature dependence of Vp and Vs and corresponding anisotropies are listed for two temperature regimes (up to 600 and 1000 jC [900 jC]) with pressures mostly up to 600 MPa (1000 MPa). Averages of P- and S-wave velocities at room temperature and pressure up to 3 GPa are compiled separately, and a great number of samples for which the seismic velocities and anisotropies have been measured are characterized by their chemical and mineral modal compositions. Finally, the tabulated data are complemented by figures representing the relationship between intrinsic (600 MPa) seismic velocities (Vp and Vs) and density, as well as the frequency distributions of intrinsic Vp and Vs anisotropy, the variation of mean Poisson’s ratio of 23 main lithologic categories and the effect of the alpha – beta quartz transition on P- and Swave velocities in quartzite. The handbook is a concise and thorough reference book of seismic properties of rocks ready to apply to interpretations of seismic reflection and refraction data. In particular, by focussing on the directional dependence of wave propagation in crustal and mantle rocks, the book fills an important niche. The coverage of the literature is exhaustive and the references, along with a glossary of symbols and abbreviations, enable the interested reader to further pursue any particular
subject in greater depth. Unfortunately, there are some regrettable omissions. I miss a link between calculated 3D velocity surfaces of single crystal (Part I) to polycrystals by presenting 3D velocity surfaces in Part II for at least a number of relevant crustal and mantle rocks, together with their relation to inherent structural elements (foliation XY, lineation X). Furthermore, as was done for the figures, a grouping of tabulated velocity data into magmatic rocks, metamorphic rocks, sedimentary rocks and ores, in addition to alphabetically ordering, would make an access to the data of interest easier. Nevertheless, this handbook, with its wealth of data, is a welcome addition to the literature in Petrophysics. The layout of the book is exceptionally clean. At about US $110, it is reasonably priced, although it is undoubtedly beyond the budget of most students. It is a must-have for all seismologists, along with others interested in quantitative petrophysical data, and it should be carried by academic libraries to serve students with an interest in seismic studies as a permanent reference. Hartmut Kern Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, Kiel 24098, Germany E-mail address: [email protected]