Tectonics As Theory, Tectonics As History Crystal Growth

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464 Textbook Supplement Nature Vol. 295 11 February 1982 subjects are treated superficially. Much of Tectonics as theory, tectonics as history Ollier's presentation focuses on large-scale B.C. Burchfiel tectonics, developing the concepts of plate tectonics and its resultant geomorphic Geology of the Continental Margins. By G. paired metamorphic belts, geosynclines features. From this basis, a great variety of Boillot. Pp.115. ISBN 0-582-30036-3. and collisional tectonics. subjects, such as flow of ice and rock, (Longman: 1981.) £4.95, $11.95. Although advertisements for the book planation surfaces and drainage patterns Geotectonics. By V. V. Beloussov. Pp.330. suggest that some updating has been done are covered in very short sections. Not only ISBN 0-387-09173-4. (Springer-Verlag: for the English edition, it seems to have are modern concepts developed in the 1980.) DM48, $28.40. Tectonics and been minor. Some articles published in book, but reviews of older, historical, and Landforms. By Cliff Oilier. Pp.324. Hbk 1979 have been added to the "further in many cases obsolete, theories are also ISBN 0-582-30032-0; pbk ISBN 0-582- reading" section, but little new data presented. 30033-9. (Longman: 1981.) Hbk £20, $55; appears in the written part of the text. In I was particularly pleased to see that pbk £9.95, $24. my view this is a model-orientated, highly many of the pioneering ideas on tectonics simplified presentation of continental by S.W. Carey are discussed, but I doubt WITH our rapidly increasing understanding margins. The emphasis is on the plate whether a chapter on the expanding Earth of global tectonics, books published on the tectonic development of continental was necessary, particularly when most of subject are commonly outdated within a margins, rather than on what they are the book is devoted to the development of few years of publication. Two of the books really like. plate tectonics. In several places the author reviewed here (Geology of Continental Geotectonics is a slightly-updated trans gives plate tectonic explanations for Margins and Geotectonics) are translations lation of a book published in Russian in various features followed by a disclaimer of previously published works, which 1976. Some of the data presented were pub that other explanations which are originally appeared several years ago and lished as recently as 1978. Even so, the incompatible with plate tectonics, such as book presents a view of the geotectonics of interpretations based on expanding Earth the Earth in the well-known and unique models, should not be discounted. conceptual framework developed by Tectonics and Landforms is well written, Beloussov himself. In the preface it is well organized and well illustrated. suggested that the reader should be familiar Although the author claims to aim at senior with the principles of tectonophysics undergraduates, in my opinion the book is developed in Beloussov's Structural too superficial for students at that level. Geology (published in 1978, in French). I Rather, it would be better suited to an think this would be advisable, as much of introductory audience, but even then the terminology and some of the concep offers a rather uneven overview of a great tual ideas in this work need such a back variety of earth science subjects. D ground. Most of the geological examples and B. C. Burchfiel is a Professor in the Department figures presented are either from older of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the works - 1960s or earlier - or are Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Beloussov's reinterpretations of work by other scientists. The examples cited, as well contain material which is already as those not presented for the same area, somewhat out of date. Tectonics and were apparently selected to develop the Landforms, in contrast, promises an inter author's particular view of geotectonics. esting approach and in some instances Vertical movement of material in the crust, Crystal growth makes excellent use of recent tectonic mantle and core remain the dominant R.A. Howie concepts and their relationship to geomor principle of Beloussov's view of the evo phology. However, books on such broad lution of the Earth; horizontal movements Crystallography: An Introduction for topics often cannot adequately cover each of rocks are considered to be of limited Earth Science (and Other Solid State) subject within their scope, and this one is importance. Basification of continental Students. By E.J.W. Whittaker. Pp.254. no exception. crust leads to the formation of ocean crust. Hbk ISBN 0-08-023805-X; pbk ISBN Geology of Continental Margins is a These and other concepts developed by the 0-08-023804-l. (Pergamon: 1981.) Hbk translation of a book first published in author are generally not acceptable to £13.50, $32.50; pbk £8.35, $19.95. French in 1978. No subject in the earth many of us, but deserve publication. If we Mineralogy for Students, 2nd Edn. By sciences has evolved more rapidly in the cannot explain more adequately the geo M.H. Battey. Pp.355. ISBN 0-582-44005- past five years, which renders the book tectonic evolution of the Earth, and do not X. (Longman: 1981.) £8.95, $19.95. introductory at best and outdated at worst. continue to test all reasonable hypotheses, While some of the material presented is still earth science will stagnate. Crystallography is presented in two evenly generally valid, recently developed details Except for a five-page discussion of plate divided parts: the first deals with of continental margin evolution, particu tectonics near the end of the book and morphological crystallography, symmetry larly passive margin evolution, are another seven pages of critique, the book is and systems, stereographic projections, obviously missing. all Beloussovian tectonics and will be of and derivation of symmetry and forms in Instead of focusing on the great wealth interest to only avid scientists interested in all 32 crystal classes, while Part II covers of information which now exists about the the subject. the fundamental features of X-ray crys geology of the continental margins of the The purpose of Tectonics and Land tallography, the 14 Bravais lattices, the world, the book concentrates on plate i orms is to relate tectonics and structure to interpretation of powder photographs, tectonic models of continental margins and landforms on a scale which ranges from X-ray diffraction by single crystals and presents little real data; if readers are continents and oceans to local surficial symmetry in repeating patterns. Part I thus looking for factual information on par features. This is truly an admirable purpose somewhat overlaps in coverage with An ticular continental margins, they won't and potentially very exciting and inter Introduction to Crystallography (4th Edn, find it in this book. I was also surprised to esting. With such a broad purpose but Longman; 1971) by F.C. Phillips and find lengthy discussions of subduction, the abbreviated length, the presentation has A.C. Bishop's An Outline of Crystal deep seismic structure of subduction zones, some successes, but inevitably some Morphology (Hutchinson, 1967) though,