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Principles of mineral behaviour
BOOK
REVIEWS
Principles of Mineral Beitaviour, by A. PUTNISand J. B. C.
MCCONNELL.Blackwell, 1980. 257 pp. 845.00 (cloth), 524.95 (paper). volume is the first of a series of geoscience texts edited by A. Hallam which are intended to cover modern geologic materials which may be taught in a single course. The authors in their preface further express their opinion that major advances in the theory of processes in minerals have failed to penetrate normal mineralogical texts and they hope that their work will correct this oversight. They have written the book in a descriptive style as it is intended primarily for undergraduates. The reviewer believes that this volume will occupy the niche that the authors and editor hope to fill. although the book requires a considerable background of knowledge and is more suitable for graduate level perusal. As the authors’ state the material tends to be descriptive. and is not amenable to calculation at the present time. it thus requires the reader to take many of the statements as articles of faith. The arrangement of subjects is very concentrated with a heavy emphasis on electron microscopy and the reviewer would have appreciated a more detailed explanation of the electron microscope photographs to help him decipher them; further many of the phase diagrams illustrated have strange kinks in their phase boundaries. which are artifacts of drafting. Overall the book represents an advance in the mineralogical literature and is recommended to all persons who study minerals. The material in the book comprises the following: Chap I: lnrroduction to Mineral Behhaciour. The chapter is a review of the philosophy of the book, with emphasis on the difference between theoretical and real behaviour. There is a discussion of the principles of electron microscopy and diffraction together with reasons for the importance of these techniques. Chap II: Topics include disorder (positional. distortional, substitutional). entropy, internal energy, relationship of structure to thermodynamics. solid solution (omission. interstitial). Chap III: Mineral Structures. Very well written discussion of packing of spheres, common crystal structures. some silicate structures. with crystal chemistry of common types. Chap IV: Bask Thermodynamics. Free energy versus temperature diagrams. reverstble and irreversible changes. solid solution thermodynamics (quasi-chemical model), Raoult’s Law (but not Henry’s). relationship between free THIS
Biogeochemistry of Amino Acids, edited by P. E. HARE. T. C. HOERINGand K. KING. JR. Wiley. 1980. 538 pp., f30.50.
AMINOacids were discovered in fossils just,over 25 years ago with Dr Abelson playing a key role in early studies. It was fitting that the Geophysical Laboratory (together with the NSF) should sponsor a conference to mark both the 25th year of amino acid studies and Dr Abelson’s retirement as its President. The three day conference was held in Virginia late in 1978 and brought together representatives from the major research groups involved in these studies. It
energy diagrams and phase diagrams. Kinetic problems that affect phase diagrams, effect of fine particle exsolution. Chap V: Processes in ,%finerals. This long chapter deals with classification of transformation-discontinuous (discrete domainstcontinuous (small differences over whole crystal)-modulations. Reconstructive and displacive transformations-high-low quartz-first and second order transformations-transformation kinetics. e.g. tridymitequartz. calcite-aragonite. diamond-graphite. Ostwald’s step law. nucleation and critical radius, homogenous nucleation, coherent, semi-coherent and incoherent interfaces and nucleation. A discussion of diffusion and growth of precipitates which is simplified and rather difficult to follow-spinodal decomposition (on p. II0 the wording suggests that the equilibrium phases on a solvus are joined by a common tangent to the ‘minima’ which is misleading). Strain energy. coherent spinodal. control of orientation of intergrowths. wavelengths of spinodal modula!ions and relationship to gradient energies and strain energies. Transitional phases occurring when crystal structures diger. Guinier-Preston zones. Order-disorder transformations, twin domains. antiphase domains. conservative and nonconservative antiphase boundaries. Non-stoichiometry and ordering intuitive argument that large superstructures are less stable than small superstructures. Continuous and discontinuous order. Diffusion. rick’s Law. types of diffusion, temperature dependence. Chap VI: Kir~rrics. Activated state. Arrhenius equation and plots. time-temperature-transformation (TIT) diagrams. determination of activation energy of diffusion and nucleation. Heterogenous and homogenous (TTT) diagrams. Exsolution textures and determination of cooling rates. Chap VII: Mirrerul Trurt$orrnations I. Polymorphic transitions. polymorphic transformations in feldspars. pyroxenes. amphiboles. chalcopyrite. Al&O, nolvmorphs. high pressure transformations: olivine and spineI.Ghan VIII : Minrrul Trunsformuriom Il. Transformation involving exsolution. feldspars. pyroxenes. pyrite-pyrrhotite. spinels. oxidation exsolution. Chap IX : More Comples rrar~.vforrnarion Behoriour. Cubanite. omphacite. pyrrhotite. plagioclase.
Deparrntent c+ Geoloy!. McMaster Urtirer.sit!. Hamilrorl 16. Onrurio Cuwdo US 4M 1
B. J.
BURLEY
had as one of its major aims improved communication among the many scientific disciplines involved in amino acid research. This book is the result of the conference. It gives an overv,iew of an active and developing field and brinps together contributions from many disciplines with the techniques of the biochemists and organic chemists being combined with the theoretical understanding of the physical chemists to provide methods useful for geologists. archaeologists. palaeontologists. and geochemists. The book is divided into four sections and each is introduced with some brief comments by the editors. Part I on
1965
REVIEWS
Principles of Mineral Beitaviour, by A. PUTNISand J. B. C.
MCCONNELL.Blackwell, 1980. 257 pp. 845.00 (cloth), 524.95 (paper). volume is the first of a series of geoscience texts edited by A. Hallam which are intended to cover modern geologic materials which may be taught in a single course. The authors in their preface further express their opinion that major advances in the theory of processes in minerals have failed to penetrate normal mineralogical texts and they hope that their work will correct this oversight. They have written the book in a descriptive style as it is intended primarily for undergraduates. The reviewer believes that this volume will occupy the niche that the authors and editor hope to fill. although the book requires a considerable background of knowledge and is more suitable for graduate level perusal. As the authors’ state the material tends to be descriptive. and is not amenable to calculation at the present time. it thus requires the reader to take many of the statements as articles of faith. The arrangement of subjects is very concentrated with a heavy emphasis on electron microscopy and the reviewer would have appreciated a more detailed explanation of the electron microscope photographs to help him decipher them; further many of the phase diagrams illustrated have strange kinks in their phase boundaries. which are artifacts of drafting. Overall the book represents an advance in the mineralogical literature and is recommended to all persons who study minerals. The material in the book comprises the following: Chap I: lnrroduction to Mineral Behhaciour. The chapter is a review of the philosophy of the book, with emphasis on the difference between theoretical and real behaviour. There is a discussion of the principles of electron microscopy and diffraction together with reasons for the importance of these techniques. Chap II: Topics include disorder (positional. distortional, substitutional). entropy, internal energy, relationship of structure to thermodynamics. solid solution (omission. interstitial). Chap III: Mineral Structures. Very well written discussion of packing of spheres, common crystal structures. some silicate structures. with crystal chemistry of common types. Chap IV: Bask Thermodynamics. Free energy versus temperature diagrams. reverstble and irreversible changes. solid solution thermodynamics (quasi-chemical model), Raoult’s Law (but not Henry’s). relationship between free THIS
Biogeochemistry of Amino Acids, edited by P. E. HARE. T. C. HOERINGand K. KING. JR. Wiley. 1980. 538 pp., f30.50.
AMINOacids were discovered in fossils just,over 25 years ago with Dr Abelson playing a key role in early studies. It was fitting that the Geophysical Laboratory (together with the NSF) should sponsor a conference to mark both the 25th year of amino acid studies and Dr Abelson’s retirement as its President. The three day conference was held in Virginia late in 1978 and brought together representatives from the major research groups involved in these studies. It
energy diagrams and phase diagrams. Kinetic problems that affect phase diagrams, effect of fine particle exsolution. Chap V: Processes in ,%finerals. This long chapter deals with classification of transformation-discontinuous (discrete domainstcontinuous (small differences over whole crystal)-modulations. Reconstructive and displacive transformations-high-low quartz-first and second order transformations-transformation kinetics. e.g. tridymitequartz. calcite-aragonite. diamond-graphite. Ostwald’s step law. nucleation and critical radius, homogenous nucleation, coherent, semi-coherent and incoherent interfaces and nucleation. A discussion of diffusion and growth of precipitates which is simplified and rather difficult to follow-spinodal decomposition (on p. II0 the wording suggests that the equilibrium phases on a solvus are joined by a common tangent to the ‘minima’ which is misleading). Strain energy. coherent spinodal. control of orientation of intergrowths. wavelengths of spinodal modula!ions and relationship to gradient energies and strain energies. Transitional phases occurring when crystal structures diger. Guinier-Preston zones. Order-disorder transformations, twin domains. antiphase domains. conservative and nonconservative antiphase boundaries. Non-stoichiometry and ordering intuitive argument that large superstructures are less stable than small superstructures. Continuous and discontinuous order. Diffusion. rick’s Law. types of diffusion, temperature dependence. Chap VI: Kir~rrics. Activated state. Arrhenius equation and plots. time-temperature-transformation (TIT) diagrams. determination of activation energy of diffusion and nucleation. Heterogenous and homogenous (TTT) diagrams. Exsolution textures and determination of cooling rates. Chap VII: Mirrerul Trurt$orrnations I. Polymorphic transitions. polymorphic transformations in feldspars. pyroxenes. amphiboles. chalcopyrite. Al&O, nolvmorphs. high pressure transformations: olivine and spineI.Ghan VIII : Minrrul Trunsformuriom Il. Transformation involving exsolution. feldspars. pyroxenes. pyrite-pyrrhotite. spinels. oxidation exsolution. Chap IX : More Comples rrar~.vforrnarion Behoriour. Cubanite. omphacite. pyrrhotite. plagioclase.
Deparrntent c+ Geoloy!. McMaster Urtirer.sit!. Hamilrorl 16. Onrurio Cuwdo US 4M 1
B. J.
BURLEY
had as one of its major aims improved communication among the many scientific disciplines involved in amino acid research. This book is the result of the conference. It gives an overv,iew of an active and developing field and brinps together contributions from many disciplines with the techniques of the biochemists and organic chemists being combined with the theoretical understanding of the physical chemists to provide methods useful for geologists. archaeologists. palaeontologists. and geochemists. The book is divided into four sections and each is introduced with some brief comments by the editors. Part I on
1965