Three Branches of Petrology

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Nature Vol. 278 1 March 1979 Student books supplement 81 The book also has chapters on meta disappointing on the topic of meta morphic reactions (including a dis morphism itself: it is not particularly cussion of facies), isotope geology, the stimulating, at least partly because it use of the electron-probe, and a final gives very little coverage to some of SUSSP chapter on metamorphic rocks and the the fundamental problems of meta evolution of the Earth. The theoretical morphism such as where the heat 1960-1978 sections are on the whole somewhat comes from and how the study of The Scottish Universities Summer condensed and the reader will probably metamorphism is applied to the under Schools in Physics announce the only acquire a superficial familiarity standing of tectonic processes. On the publication of the proceedings of the 1978 school held at St. Andrews in with the topics discussed. For example, other hand the accounts of meta August: in the section on isotopes there is no morphic rocks are rather well done, mention of the fundamental equation and the book is worth it for these parts of radioactive decay and its derivatives alone. One sympathises with the desire THE METAL TO as used in isochron diagrams. Similarly, to keep the text short (and cheap) and NON-METAL in discussing metamorphic reactions it may perhaps be impossible to cover TRANSITION IN thermodynamics is more or less all aspects of the subject satisfactorily avoided. These are both cases where in a work of this length. None-the-less DISORDERED more detail would have enabled prob this book should provide useful back SYSTEMS lems and exercises to be inserted, ground reading for most courses in Editors: D. P. Tunstall, L. R. Friedman probably with a considerable benefit to metamorphic petrology. K. G. Cox Contributors: the understanding gained by the N. F. Mott (Cambridge), D. J. Thouless reader. K. G. Cox is Lecturer in Petrology at the (Birmingham), M. Pollak (California In summary, the book is rather University of Oxford, UK. Riverside), N. H. March (Oxford), H. Fritzsche (Chicago), N. E. Cusack (East Anglia), L. R. Friedman (St. Andrews), D. F. Holcomb (Cornell), M. Pepper standardise nomenclature. A more (Cambridge), J. P. Doumerc (Bor• Three branches serious drawback is the persistent em deaux), H. Kanimura (Tokyo), T. M. phasis on speci·tic examples, many of Rice (Bell Telephone), K. Berggren of petrology which come from obscure localities and (Linkoping), J. E. Enderby (Bristol). Petrology for Students. By S. R. Noc represent material the average student 510 + xx pages. Hard covers £15 (or kolds, R. W. O'B. Knox and G . A. is unlikely to meet in the flesh. This $30 USA) ISBN 0 905945 02 6 Chinner. Pp. 435. (Cambridge Univer whole section has a distinctly old ******* sity Press: Cambridge, I 978.) Hard fashioned flavour; the collection of lrevious Publications still available: back £1 7.50; paperback £6.50. tacts is carefully curated, but the pre sentation is lifele~. 1977 The treatment of sedimentary and NUCLEAR ALTHOUGH Harker's Petrology for Stu metamorphic rocks is generally more dents is discontinued after more than effective in that it manages to combine STRUCTURE 80 years, this book with the same titl:e the systematic petrography with some PHYSICS and from the same stable is obviously di·scussion of the rock-forming pro Editors: S. J . Hall, J. M. Irvine its natural successor. It now has three cesses. The sedimentary section con xiv + 708 pages, Hard covers £15 (or authors, one for each of the main tains a useful introductory chapter on $30 USA) divisions of petrology. With its em textures, followed by a logical and up A review of recent advances in phasis on the description of rock thin to-date treatment of the main groups theoretical and experimental Nuclear sections under the microscope it is v.ery of terrigenous and chemical sediments. Physics with particular attention to much in the Harkerian mould. This The metamorphic section is less con developments in heavy ion physics and electromagnetic interactions with impression is reinforced by the use of ventional in that a chapter on nuclei. many of Harker's original 'microdraw textures is followed by discussions of ings'. From the amount of detailed metasomatism and melting, facies 1976 information presented, the book seems classification, regional metamorphism, to he most suitable for the second granulites and •eclogites, blueschists, FUNDAMENTALS year of a conventional three-year and low-grade metamorphism. OF QUARK MODELS geology course, hut as the three This hook is quite good value in Editors: I. M. Barbour, A. T. Davies branches of petrology are usually terms of the quantity of information xiv + 600 pages, Hard covers £12 (or taught separately at this level, its suc provided, hut it is not altogether suc $24 USA) cess depends on a consistent approach cessful as a coherent treatment of the A systematic presentation of quark and level of achievement. three branches of petrology. It would models with special attention to the The section on igneous rocks (ap seem more sensible to invest in separate problems of confinement. proximately half the book) provides a books on igneous, sedimentary and thorough and systematic account of metamorphic rocks, as these generally ******* the petrography of the main igneous provide a more complete picture, com The above volumes may be obtained rock groups. with useful supporting in bining the descriptive material w.ith a from: formation on the major element discussion of processes and geological SUSSP Publications, chemistry. The introductory chapter on context. Without these petrography Physics Department, textures would be more •effective if it can be extremely arid. University of Edinburgh, was illustrated in situ (rather than EDINBURGH EH9 3JZ, referr.ing to the appropriate figures in W. J. Wadsworth Great Britain. later chapters). and the chapter on Private subscribers are courteously classification is disappointingly brief invited to enclose payment with their W . J. Wadsworth is Senior Lecturer in order. There is no charge for postage. and makes no concession to other Geology at the University of Manchester schemes or to recent attempts to UK. Circle No. 22 on Reader Enquiry Card.