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Metamorphic processes, reactions and microstructure development
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 13 (1976) 161—166 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam — Printed in The Netherlands
161
BOOK REVIEWS Journal of Volcanology and GeothermalResearch. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., Amsterdam— Oxford—New York, N.Y., subscription price for 1976: Dfl. 117.00/US $44.95 (one volume, four issues). With the vast number of scientific periodicals already in circulation, a new journal should only appear with the soundest of motivations. The first number of a new Elsevier Earth Sciences Journal Journal of Volcanology and GeothermalResearch has recently appeared and there is no doubt that this is a most welcome and much needed addition to the Earth Science literature, Volcanology has been a much neglected branch of Earth Science and its classic literature is scattered widely throughout numerous and sometimes obscure journals. There has, however, been a recent explosion of interest in understanding volcanism, due to three main reasons. Firstly, exploration of the Solar System has demonstrated that volcanism is ubiquitous to the Earth-like planets and has been a major process in the evolution of their crusts and atmospheres. Secondly, the need to explore alternative energy resources has made scientists realise that understanding how magma behaves in the upper levels of the crust can be of applied as well as of pure academic interest. Thirdly, volcanologists are now no longer prepared to accept just qualitative descriptions as an adequate approach for understanding volcanic processes. The opening issue contains five papers with diverse themes covering most of the major topics which are within the advertised scope of the journal. The journal hopes to attract papers covering all aspects of volcanism. The origin and evolution of magma, the effect of volcanic activity on the atmosphere and the extraction of geothermal energy are just a few of the main topics which are to be covered, The papers in the first issue are all orginal, stimulating, and well-presented and the editorial and reviewing standards are high. The policy of rapid pub-
lication is adhered to and an author can expect to see his work appear within a period of months. Delays of two or three years can no longer be acceptable for any journal wishing to receive high quality, original manuscripts. The Editor-in-Chief, Professor A.R. McBirney discusses the rationale for the new journal in a stimulation preface. The only major criticism of the present reviewer, who has invested in a years subscription, is the cost. If the first issue is typical (101 pages) then the subscription price appears excessive for four issues per year. Undoubtedly every library wishing to stock the major Earth Science literature should acquire this new journal. The indications are from the first issue that some classic contributions will be published in the future which will be of wide interest to all scientists concerned with the evolution of planetary surfaces or with the exploitation of geothermal resources, as well as volcanologists and petrologists. Elsevier, Professor McBirney and his colleagues on the Editorial Board are to be congratulated for producing an exciting and long overdue journal. R.S.J. SPARKS (Lancaster)
Metamorphic Processes, Reactions and Microstructure Development. R.H. Vernon. Thomas Murby (George Allen & Unwin), London, 1976, 247 pp., UK £7.60. This is a small but excellent textbook of metamorphic geology with special emphasis on the studies of chemical reactions and microstructural (textural) development in metamorphism. It is well-written and useful. The problems of individual metamorphic mmerals, petrographic details, large-scale structures and tectonics are outside the scope of this book. Among the recent textbooks in metamorphic petrology or geology, Winkler’s book,Petrogenesis of Metamorphic Rocks (4th ed., 1976) comprehensively
162
basis of synthetic experiments,whereas my book, Metamorphism and Metamorphic Belts (1973) em-
chemical and physical study of the meteorites in their care. Dr. Wasson gives an admirable account of our pres-
phasizes the mineralogic and tectonic aspects of metamorphism. Vernon’s treatment of metamorphic reactions is generally more theoretical than those in these two books. He gives a concise and comprehensive
ent knowledge of meteorites, looked at especially from their value as clues to the processes going on in the early history of the solar system. He has chapters on their historical classification, their composition,
review of thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Therefore, in the graduate education of metamorphic geology, Vernon’s book will be complementary to others, The microstructures as discussed in Vernon’s book, would be of direct interest to students of metamorphic petrology. Though there are some good textbooks in structural geology partly dealing with meta-
mineralogy and petrology and their trace elements and isotopes. Geophysical techniques have not been applied so thoroughly as geochemical ones and for example the meaning of the frequently found remanent magnetization is yet obscure. Dr. Wasson reviews clearly the interpretation of the data in terms of parent bodies, their breakup and accretion.
reviews and discusses metamorphic reactions on the
morphic rocks, they are not so easy to read. So,
Vernon’s book will contribute to the improvement of the structural background of petrology students as well as the petrologic background of geology students. The book includes the following chapters: 1: Background discussion; 2: Equilibrium aspects of metamorphic reactions; 3: Kinetics of metamorphic reactions; 4: Reactions in metamorphic rocks; 5: Stable metamorphic microstructures; 6: Deformation, recovery and recrystallization processes; 7: Deformation, recovery and recrystallization of some common silicates (quartz, olivine, layer silicates and plagioclase); and 8: Relationship between chemical and physical processes in metamorphism. Vernon shows no interest in the historical background of problems. So, Pentti Eskola, J.B. Thompson, Bruno Sander and W. Schmidt, for example, are not or hardly cited in the book. He tries to show only a present-day cross-section of the science. AKIHO MIYASHIRO (Albany, N.Y.)
S.K. RUNCORN (Newcastle upon Tyne)
ofthe Moon, Z. Kopal and R.W. Carder. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 50. D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, 1974, 237 pp.
Mapping
The determination of the shape of the Earth and other bodies of the solar system is one of the oldest branches of science the Venerable Bede in the 7th century gave reasons why the Earth was spherical from observations of the different altitude of stars as seen in his journeys to and from Rome. The shape of the Moon soon after Galileo’s first use of the telescope in 1609 became an important astronomical investigation and the broad outlines of the features, the origins of which have been the subject of much debate in the last 50 years, were noted. The use of photography followed in the last century and the heights of lunar features, determined relatively by measuring shadows cast and —
absolutely by the use of the geometrical laboratories,
Meteorites “Classification and Properties John T. Wasson. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1974, 316 pp. “.
There was an old joke that three quarters of all meteorites which had fallen to the Earth now rest on the bottom of the ocean bed and most of the remaining quarter was in the Britsh Museum and that it was a moot point which group were less accessible for scientific investigation. Things have improved and museum curators are now aware of the great importance of
have been measured from the ground only to be replaced in recent years by the powerful space techniques. A great impetus to the study of the Moon’s shape was of course provided by the Apollo project and the general scientific question of determining the shape of the Moon gave way to its detailed mapping. Professor Kopal and Dr. Carder have given a most valuable account of the early development of the subject and of the recent upsurge as part of the Apollo project. Their account is well illustrated by ancient as well as modern
161
BOOK REVIEWS Journal of Volcanology and GeothermalResearch. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., Amsterdam— Oxford—New York, N.Y., subscription price for 1976: Dfl. 117.00/US $44.95 (one volume, four issues). With the vast number of scientific periodicals already in circulation, a new journal should only appear with the soundest of motivations. The first number of a new Elsevier Earth Sciences Journal Journal of Volcanology and GeothermalResearch has recently appeared and there is no doubt that this is a most welcome and much needed addition to the Earth Science literature, Volcanology has been a much neglected branch of Earth Science and its classic literature is scattered widely throughout numerous and sometimes obscure journals. There has, however, been a recent explosion of interest in understanding volcanism, due to three main reasons. Firstly, exploration of the Solar System has demonstrated that volcanism is ubiquitous to the Earth-like planets and has been a major process in the evolution of their crusts and atmospheres. Secondly, the need to explore alternative energy resources has made scientists realise that understanding how magma behaves in the upper levels of the crust can be of applied as well as of pure academic interest. Thirdly, volcanologists are now no longer prepared to accept just qualitative descriptions as an adequate approach for understanding volcanic processes. The opening issue contains five papers with diverse themes covering most of the major topics which are within the advertised scope of the journal. The journal hopes to attract papers covering all aspects of volcanism. The origin and evolution of magma, the effect of volcanic activity on the atmosphere and the extraction of geothermal energy are just a few of the main topics which are to be covered, The papers in the first issue are all orginal, stimulating, and well-presented and the editorial and reviewing standards are high. The policy of rapid pub-
lication is adhered to and an author can expect to see his work appear within a period of months. Delays of two or three years can no longer be acceptable for any journal wishing to receive high quality, original manuscripts. The Editor-in-Chief, Professor A.R. McBirney discusses the rationale for the new journal in a stimulation preface. The only major criticism of the present reviewer, who has invested in a years subscription, is the cost. If the first issue is typical (101 pages) then the subscription price appears excessive for four issues per year. Undoubtedly every library wishing to stock the major Earth Science literature should acquire this new journal. The indications are from the first issue that some classic contributions will be published in the future which will be of wide interest to all scientists concerned with the evolution of planetary surfaces or with the exploitation of geothermal resources, as well as volcanologists and petrologists. Elsevier, Professor McBirney and his colleagues on the Editorial Board are to be congratulated for producing an exciting and long overdue journal. R.S.J. SPARKS (Lancaster)
Metamorphic Processes, Reactions and Microstructure Development. R.H. Vernon. Thomas Murby (George Allen & Unwin), London, 1976, 247 pp., UK £7.60. This is a small but excellent textbook of metamorphic geology with special emphasis on the studies of chemical reactions and microstructural (textural) development in metamorphism. It is well-written and useful. The problems of individual metamorphic mmerals, petrographic details, large-scale structures and tectonics are outside the scope of this book. Among the recent textbooks in metamorphic petrology or geology, Winkler’s book,Petrogenesis of Metamorphic Rocks (4th ed., 1976) comprehensively
162
basis of synthetic experiments,whereas my book, Metamorphism and Metamorphic Belts (1973) em-
chemical and physical study of the meteorites in their care. Dr. Wasson gives an admirable account of our pres-
phasizes the mineralogic and tectonic aspects of metamorphism. Vernon’s treatment of metamorphic reactions is generally more theoretical than those in these two books. He gives a concise and comprehensive
ent knowledge of meteorites, looked at especially from their value as clues to the processes going on in the early history of the solar system. He has chapters on their historical classification, their composition,
review of thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. Therefore, in the graduate education of metamorphic geology, Vernon’s book will be complementary to others, The microstructures as discussed in Vernon’s book, would be of direct interest to students of metamorphic petrology. Though there are some good textbooks in structural geology partly dealing with meta-
mineralogy and petrology and their trace elements and isotopes. Geophysical techniques have not been applied so thoroughly as geochemical ones and for example the meaning of the frequently found remanent magnetization is yet obscure. Dr. Wasson reviews clearly the interpretation of the data in terms of parent bodies, their breakup and accretion.
reviews and discusses metamorphic reactions on the
morphic rocks, they are not so easy to read. So,
Vernon’s book will contribute to the improvement of the structural background of petrology students as well as the petrologic background of geology students. The book includes the following chapters: 1: Background discussion; 2: Equilibrium aspects of metamorphic reactions; 3: Kinetics of metamorphic reactions; 4: Reactions in metamorphic rocks; 5: Stable metamorphic microstructures; 6: Deformation, recovery and recrystallization processes; 7: Deformation, recovery and recrystallization of some common silicates (quartz, olivine, layer silicates and plagioclase); and 8: Relationship between chemical and physical processes in metamorphism. Vernon shows no interest in the historical background of problems. So, Pentti Eskola, J.B. Thompson, Bruno Sander and W. Schmidt, for example, are not or hardly cited in the book. He tries to show only a present-day cross-section of the science. AKIHO MIYASHIRO (Albany, N.Y.)
S.K. RUNCORN (Newcastle upon Tyne)
ofthe Moon, Z. Kopal and R.W. Carder. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Vol. 50. D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, 1974, 237 pp.
Mapping
The determination of the shape of the Earth and other bodies of the solar system is one of the oldest branches of science the Venerable Bede in the 7th century gave reasons why the Earth was spherical from observations of the different altitude of stars as seen in his journeys to and from Rome. The shape of the Moon soon after Galileo’s first use of the telescope in 1609 became an important astronomical investigation and the broad outlines of the features, the origins of which have been the subject of much debate in the last 50 years, were noted. The use of photography followed in the last century and the heights of lunar features, determined relatively by measuring shadows cast and —
absolutely by the use of the geometrical laboratories,
Meteorites “Classification and Properties John T. Wasson. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1974, 316 pp. “.
There was an old joke that three quarters of all meteorites which had fallen to the Earth now rest on the bottom of the ocean bed and most of the remaining quarter was in the Britsh Museum and that it was a moot point which group were less accessible for scientific investigation. Things have improved and museum curators are now aware of the great importance of
have been measured from the ground only to be replaced in recent years by the powerful space techniques. A great impetus to the study of the Moon’s shape was of course provided by the Apollo project and the general scientific question of determining the shape of the Moon gave way to its detailed mapping. Professor Kopal and Dr. Carder have given a most valuable account of the early development of the subject and of the recent upsurge as part of the Apollo project. Their account is well illustrated by ancient as well as modern