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The Physical Principles of Rock Magnetism (Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics, 2)
Sedimentary Geology, 12 (1974) 297--300 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam -- Printed in The Netherlands Book Reviews
Mining Geophysics. D.S. Parasnis, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1973, 2nd ed., 395 pp., Dfl. 70.00 This is an updated and enlarged edition of the well-received book first published in 1966. This book should be on the shelves of mining geologists who must be familiar with geophysical exploration methods. Mining geophysics is a rapidly developing field and the author has included the new methods in his revision. In particular, these new topics include VLF, INPUT, Radiophase, complex impedance IP, EM vector diagrams, and the effect of magnetic permeability on EM anomalies. Also, Fortran source programs are given in full for calculating gravity and magnetic anomalies of two-dimensional bodies. Another new feature is that Systeme International (SI) units are used throughout in the text and formulas. After a philosophical introductory chapter, the general techniques of surveying, data acquisition and presentation are described. Next, the magnetic method is reviewed, with emphasis on interpretation of results. Self-potentials are treated in a short chapter, followed by a good, qualitative descriptive discussion of electromagnetics. Induced polarization is covered separately in a nicely composed chapter supplementing the section on resistivity. Gravity surveying as used in mining exploration is well developed on an elementary level, again with the principal emphasis on interpretation. Eleven appendices supplement the mathematical developments and provide derivations of the more important formulas. The references list and index are complete, which are desirable features for a work at this level. Mining Geophysics should be noted by all mining geophysicists, geochemists, and geologists, and it should be ordered for all exploration libraries. JOHN S. SUMNER (Tucson, Ariz.)
The Physical Principles of Rock Magnetism (Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics, 2). Frank D. Stacey and Subir K. Banerjee. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1974, 195 pp., 13 tables, 72 illus., Dfl. 60.00 Interest in rock magnetism revived in the early 1950s on account of the possibility of predicting the movements of continents in the geological past and its applications in the field of geology such as the prediction of earthquakes and in fabric analysis. It has provided the geologist with a new tool to tackle some of the perplexing and controversial problems which defied a clear-cut solution while for the physicist it has opened up a new and exciting
298 branch of research which allows him to see how the principles of physics are applied to the solution of practical problems in the geophysical sciences. Several books at both the academic and popular level have since been written on continental drift and the new global tectonics. In several important areas the results of research in rock magnetism have confirmed and opened up further avenues of thought in the topics just mentioned. However, with the exception of Nagata's first attempts at writing a book on rock magnetism, no comprehensive book which deals with the principles of rock magnetism and also at the same time provides the most up-to-date thinking in this field has been published. Stacey and Banerjee's book is most certainly a very welcome and excellent addition to this field of study. As stated by the authors the principal sources of the ideas presented in the theoretical parts of the book are based on earlier reviews of the subject by Neel (1955) and Stacey (1963). As such the book has tended in some respects to follow the pattern set up by the review papers. The first three chapters are rightly devoted to the magnetic properties of solids and minerals, and ferromagnetic domain theory. Although no detailed derivations of formulae are given, the mathematical reasoning is treated to a sufficient length for the non-physicist to follow the arguments being presented. The properties of the two most important magnetic minerals in rocks, viz., magnetite and hematite, are discussed in two separate chapters. A chapter on thermal activation effects lays the groundwork for a discussion of magnetic viscosity and thermoremanent magnetization. A chapter each is devoted to "Depositional Remanent Magnetization", "Chemical Remanent Magnetization", "Altering Field Demagnetization and Anhysteretic Magnetization", "Piezomagnetic Effects", "Reversals of Remanent Magnetization", and "Magnetism in Meteorites". In each of the chapters the authors have introduced new insights into the problems at hand and have also provided clues for further research into topics such as the mechanism of meteorite magnetization, the prediction of earthquakes by a magnetic effect, the pseudo single domain effect, etc. Quite a number of the significant findings of the Queensland Group are discussed in the book. The chapter on magnetism in meteorites is interesting and is in keeping with the current interest in space programs. The book is highly recommended to research workers and new entrants to the field of research in rock magnetism. R.S. BHATAL (Singapore)
Compaction of Argillaceous Sediments. (Developments in Sedimentology, 16). Herman H. Rieke III and George V. Chilingarian. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1974, 424 pp., 217 ill., 49 tables, Dfl. 85.00 Several years ago Elsevier started editing a series of books of great pretentions (Developments in Sedimentology). This series is intended to provide the industrial scientist and the researcher with advanced texts which synthe-
Mining Geophysics. D.S. Parasnis, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1973, 2nd ed., 395 pp., Dfl. 70.00 This is an updated and enlarged edition of the well-received book first published in 1966. This book should be on the shelves of mining geologists who must be familiar with geophysical exploration methods. Mining geophysics is a rapidly developing field and the author has included the new methods in his revision. In particular, these new topics include VLF, INPUT, Radiophase, complex impedance IP, EM vector diagrams, and the effect of magnetic permeability on EM anomalies. Also, Fortran source programs are given in full for calculating gravity and magnetic anomalies of two-dimensional bodies. Another new feature is that Systeme International (SI) units are used throughout in the text and formulas. After a philosophical introductory chapter, the general techniques of surveying, data acquisition and presentation are described. Next, the magnetic method is reviewed, with emphasis on interpretation of results. Self-potentials are treated in a short chapter, followed by a good, qualitative descriptive discussion of electromagnetics. Induced polarization is covered separately in a nicely composed chapter supplementing the section on resistivity. Gravity surveying as used in mining exploration is well developed on an elementary level, again with the principal emphasis on interpretation. Eleven appendices supplement the mathematical developments and provide derivations of the more important formulas. The references list and index are complete, which are desirable features for a work at this level. Mining Geophysics should be noted by all mining geophysicists, geochemists, and geologists, and it should be ordered for all exploration libraries. JOHN S. SUMNER (Tucson, Ariz.)
The Physical Principles of Rock Magnetism (Developments in Solid Earth Geophysics, 2). Frank D. Stacey and Subir K. Banerjee. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1974, 195 pp., 13 tables, 72 illus., Dfl. 60.00 Interest in rock magnetism revived in the early 1950s on account of the possibility of predicting the movements of continents in the geological past and its applications in the field of geology such as the prediction of earthquakes and in fabric analysis. It has provided the geologist with a new tool to tackle some of the perplexing and controversial problems which defied a clear-cut solution while for the physicist it has opened up a new and exciting
298 branch of research which allows him to see how the principles of physics are applied to the solution of practical problems in the geophysical sciences. Several books at both the academic and popular level have since been written on continental drift and the new global tectonics. In several important areas the results of research in rock magnetism have confirmed and opened up further avenues of thought in the topics just mentioned. However, with the exception of Nagata's first attempts at writing a book on rock magnetism, no comprehensive book which deals with the principles of rock magnetism and also at the same time provides the most up-to-date thinking in this field has been published. Stacey and Banerjee's book is most certainly a very welcome and excellent addition to this field of study. As stated by the authors the principal sources of the ideas presented in the theoretical parts of the book are based on earlier reviews of the subject by Neel (1955) and Stacey (1963). As such the book has tended in some respects to follow the pattern set up by the review papers. The first three chapters are rightly devoted to the magnetic properties of solids and minerals, and ferromagnetic domain theory. Although no detailed derivations of formulae are given, the mathematical reasoning is treated to a sufficient length for the non-physicist to follow the arguments being presented. The properties of the two most important magnetic minerals in rocks, viz., magnetite and hematite, are discussed in two separate chapters. A chapter on thermal activation effects lays the groundwork for a discussion of magnetic viscosity and thermoremanent magnetization. A chapter each is devoted to "Depositional Remanent Magnetization", "Chemical Remanent Magnetization", "Altering Field Demagnetization and Anhysteretic Magnetization", "Piezomagnetic Effects", "Reversals of Remanent Magnetization", and "Magnetism in Meteorites". In each of the chapters the authors have introduced new insights into the problems at hand and have also provided clues for further research into topics such as the mechanism of meteorite magnetization, the prediction of earthquakes by a magnetic effect, the pseudo single domain effect, etc. Quite a number of the significant findings of the Queensland Group are discussed in the book. The chapter on magnetism in meteorites is interesting and is in keeping with the current interest in space programs. The book is highly recommended to research workers and new entrants to the field of research in rock magnetism. R.S. BHATAL (Singapore)
Compaction of Argillaceous Sediments. (Developments in Sedimentology, 16). Herman H. Rieke III and George V. Chilingarian. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1974, 424 pp., 217 ill., 49 tables, Dfl. 85.00 Several years ago Elsevier started editing a series of books of great pretentions (Developments in Sedimentology). This series is intended to provide the industrial scientist and the researcher with advanced texts which synthe-