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Kimberlites, Diatremes, and Diamonds: Their Geology, Petrology, and Geochemistry
Geochimica
et Cosmochimica
Pergamon Press
Acra
Ltd 1980.Printed
Vol.44.pp. 1039
10 1040
in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
Kimberlites, Diatremes, and Diamonds: Their Geology, Petrology, and Geochemistry, edited by F. R. BOYD and
HENRY0. A. MEYER.American Geophysical Union, 1979, Cat. No. SpoO24, 408 pp. $19.00. THE SECONDInternational Kimberlite Conference was held in Sante Fe, New Mexico, in October 1977. Volume I of the Proceedings contains the 33 presented papers dealing specifically with petrography, chemistry and classification of kimberlites and kindred rocks. Volume II (reviewed below) consists of those papers dealing with xenoliths and megacrysts from mantle sources. The first 4 papers of Volume I appear under the principal heading Diamonds. In general, these studies, which examine the characteristics of specific inclusions in diamonds or the color and morphology of diamonds as potential indicators of environment of diamond genesis, leave me with the impression that the ‘handle’ of classification has not yet been grasped. Under the major heading KimberIi&s, the following 24 papers are subdivided into the categories of Field Relations (S), Mineralogy and Petrology (lo), Geochemistry (5) and Experimental Studies (4). The ultimate
The Mantle Sample: Inclusions in Kimberlites and Other Volcanics, edited by F. R. BOYDand HENRY0. A. MEYER.
American Geophysical Union, 1979, Cat. No. SPO025, 432 pp. $19.00. THE 33 PAPERSpublished here as Volume II of the Proceedings of the Second International Kimberlite Conference illustrate the progress made since the First Kimberlite Conference of 1973. Evidence suggestive of, for example, pervasive upper mantle metasomatism is more routinely recorded and incorporated into partial melting models now than then. The volume is subdivided into 5 areas of emphasis: Geophysics (2 papers) dealing with overall modeling theories; Eclogites and Peridotites From Kimberlites (12): Meaacrvsts (9); kenoliths From the Colorado Plateau (jj coitaining much data from some of the localities visited by Conference participants; and Xenoliths From Basalts and Other Volcanics (5). P-T estimates of equilibration based on coexisting spinels and on silicate assemblages enable some re-
Fluids in the Earth’s Crust, by W. S. FYFE,N. J. PRICEand A. B. THOMPSON. Elsevier, 1978. 383 pp. $49.75. THE VOLUME outlines current knowledge in diverse fields of earth science around the central theme of the role of fluids in tectonic, metamorphic and geochemical processes. The transdisciplinary volume illustrates how deformation processes, mineral reaction and mass transfer interact to control dynamic evolution in the earth’s crust. In other words, it endeavors to interphase the fields of metamorphic petrology and rock mechanics with fluid behaviour providing the phenomenological link.
goal to describe and then explain the heterogeneity of kimberlites within a consistent magmatic model has certainly proven interesting, if somewhat elusive. A quotation from the Elthon and Ridley paper is appropriate: “Petrologitally, kimberlites are extremely complicated.” Skinner and Clement are to be commended for making some sense of the complications by formulating a classification scheme based on modal abundance of 5 primary minerals (diopside, monticellite, phlogopite, calcite, serpentine). The final 5 papers are grouped under the subtitle Diatremes and Carbona&es.
Technically, editing has been good, with only a few typographical errors evident. Unfortunately, the process of reproduction has resulted in some detail loss, particularly from photomicrographs. The abundance of data and the diversity of interpretations make this publication a worthwhile reference.
Department of Geology The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada
NEIL D. MACRAE
finements of previously advanced theories of upper mantle melting, fractionation during ascent and cooling histories. An example of the degree of sophistication reached is the paper by Eggler et al. of megacrysts from sites in Colorado and Wyoming revealing crystallization in a mixed liquid of two sources: an undepleted periodotite and a depleted lithospheric wallrock. The loss of detail apparently inherent in the printing technique disturbed me less in Volume II partly because there are fewer photomicrographs and partly because many of those photomicrographs deal with sulfides and oxides-phases which naturally show good contrast. The low cost of the volumes, however, readily offsets any such minor technical flaw, making them easily obtainable and worthwhile additions to the reference shelf. Department of Geology The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada
NEIL D. MACRAE
The volume contains 13 chapters covering: The problem: Fluid motion, geochemical and tectonic processes; Chemistry of natural fluids; volatile species in minerals; Solubility of minerals and physical chemistry of their solutions; Rates of metamorphic reactions; Release of fluids from rocks during metamorphism; Controls of fluid composition: Buffer systems and melting; Experimental rock deformation: The strength of rocks under geological conditions; The quantification of crustal conditions from geological evidence; Permeability, hydraulic fractures and elasticity; Dewatering of the crust; Diapirs and diapirism; Fluids, tectonics and chemical transport. With such a
1039
et Cosmochimica
Pergamon Press
Acra
Ltd 1980.Printed
Vol.44.pp. 1039
10 1040
in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
Kimberlites, Diatremes, and Diamonds: Their Geology, Petrology, and Geochemistry, edited by F. R. BOYD and
HENRY0. A. MEYER.American Geophysical Union, 1979, Cat. No. SpoO24, 408 pp. $19.00. THE SECONDInternational Kimberlite Conference was held in Sante Fe, New Mexico, in October 1977. Volume I of the Proceedings contains the 33 presented papers dealing specifically with petrography, chemistry and classification of kimberlites and kindred rocks. Volume II (reviewed below) consists of those papers dealing with xenoliths and megacrysts from mantle sources. The first 4 papers of Volume I appear under the principal heading Diamonds. In general, these studies, which examine the characteristics of specific inclusions in diamonds or the color and morphology of diamonds as potential indicators of environment of diamond genesis, leave me with the impression that the ‘handle’ of classification has not yet been grasped. Under the major heading KimberIi&s, the following 24 papers are subdivided into the categories of Field Relations (S), Mineralogy and Petrology (lo), Geochemistry (5) and Experimental Studies (4). The ultimate
The Mantle Sample: Inclusions in Kimberlites and Other Volcanics, edited by F. R. BOYDand HENRY0. A. MEYER.
American Geophysical Union, 1979, Cat. No. SPO025, 432 pp. $19.00. THE 33 PAPERSpublished here as Volume II of the Proceedings of the Second International Kimberlite Conference illustrate the progress made since the First Kimberlite Conference of 1973. Evidence suggestive of, for example, pervasive upper mantle metasomatism is more routinely recorded and incorporated into partial melting models now than then. The volume is subdivided into 5 areas of emphasis: Geophysics (2 papers) dealing with overall modeling theories; Eclogites and Peridotites From Kimberlites (12): Meaacrvsts (9); kenoliths From the Colorado Plateau (jj coitaining much data from some of the localities visited by Conference participants; and Xenoliths From Basalts and Other Volcanics (5). P-T estimates of equilibration based on coexisting spinels and on silicate assemblages enable some re-
Fluids in the Earth’s Crust, by W. S. FYFE,N. J. PRICEand A. B. THOMPSON. Elsevier, 1978. 383 pp. $49.75. THE VOLUME outlines current knowledge in diverse fields of earth science around the central theme of the role of fluids in tectonic, metamorphic and geochemical processes. The transdisciplinary volume illustrates how deformation processes, mineral reaction and mass transfer interact to control dynamic evolution in the earth’s crust. In other words, it endeavors to interphase the fields of metamorphic petrology and rock mechanics with fluid behaviour providing the phenomenological link.
goal to describe and then explain the heterogeneity of kimberlites within a consistent magmatic model has certainly proven interesting, if somewhat elusive. A quotation from the Elthon and Ridley paper is appropriate: “Petrologitally, kimberlites are extremely complicated.” Skinner and Clement are to be commended for making some sense of the complications by formulating a classification scheme based on modal abundance of 5 primary minerals (diopside, monticellite, phlogopite, calcite, serpentine). The final 5 papers are grouped under the subtitle Diatremes and Carbona&es.
Technically, editing has been good, with only a few typographical errors evident. Unfortunately, the process of reproduction has resulted in some detail loss, particularly from photomicrographs. The abundance of data and the diversity of interpretations make this publication a worthwhile reference.
Department of Geology The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada
NEIL D. MACRAE
finements of previously advanced theories of upper mantle melting, fractionation during ascent and cooling histories. An example of the degree of sophistication reached is the paper by Eggler et al. of megacrysts from sites in Colorado and Wyoming revealing crystallization in a mixed liquid of two sources: an undepleted periodotite and a depleted lithospheric wallrock. The loss of detail apparently inherent in the printing technique disturbed me less in Volume II partly because there are fewer photomicrographs and partly because many of those photomicrographs deal with sulfides and oxides-phases which naturally show good contrast. The low cost of the volumes, however, readily offsets any such minor technical flaw, making them easily obtainable and worthwhile additions to the reference shelf. Department of Geology The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada
NEIL D. MACRAE
The volume contains 13 chapters covering: The problem: Fluid motion, geochemical and tectonic processes; Chemistry of natural fluids; volatile species in minerals; Solubility of minerals and physical chemistry of their solutions; Rates of metamorphic reactions; Release of fluids from rocks during metamorphism; Controls of fluid composition: Buffer systems and melting; Experimental rock deformation: The strength of rocks under geological conditions; The quantification of crustal conditions from geological evidence; Permeability, hydraulic fractures and elasticity; Dewatering of the crust; Diapirs and diapirism; Fluids, tectonics and chemical transport. With such a
1039