AmericanMineralogist, Volume63, pages1020-1022, 1978 BOOK REVIEWS ATLAS OF THE TEXTURAL PATTERNS OF BASALTS ships in basaltic systemsand does not require metasomatism. AND THETR GENETIC SIGNIFICANCE. By S. S. Augus- Kinetics are not used for the interpretation of textures in spite of tithis. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam, the classical acceptance of this approach. Cooling rates, growth 1978 x + 323 pages.$73.95. rates, nucleation rates, and diffusion rates, along with the physio- chemical variables which affect these rates, are completely ignored. This book is divided into two sections, 100pages of text and 202 In the past ten years very significant advances,in both theoretical pagesof figures-mostly photomicrographs.The quality of print- and experimental areas, have been made in our knowledge of the ing of the book and especiallythe reproductionof the 500 photo- kinetic controls on textures (for reviews see Kirkpatrick. 1975; micrographs is very good. This collection of photomicrographs Lofgren, 1978).The author chose not to use a systematic,observa- displays many of the interesting textures found in basaltic rocks. tional approach, nor one based on the kinetic processeswhich can Although the general theme of the book is concerned with basalt be used to interpret textures. textures, nearly half of the text is a discussion of the origin of igneousrocks The conceptsdeveloped are of basaltsoriginating References by fusion of a gabbroic lower crust, and intermediate and silicic rocks by varying degreesof sediment assimilation and metasomat- Kirkpatrick, R. J. (1975)Crystal growth from the melt: a review. ism by basalticmagma. Am. Mineral . 60. 798-814 Three chapters (about 20 pages) are concerned with the nature Lofgren, G. (in press) Experimental studies on the dynamic crys- of xenoliths found in basalts. The last ten chapters (about 30 taf lization of silicate melts. ln R. B. Hargraves,Ed., Physics of pages) cover a variety of topics from trace elements to volcanic Magmatic Processes. Princeton University Press, Princeton, rock series.The half of the text which deals with textures reflects New Jersey. many of the author's personal ideas and interpretations.Many petrologists will find these ideas contrary to current concepts on Genv Bvrnlv the nature of silicate melts and crystallization from these melts. Department of Geology Most of the referencescited are prior to 1972.The author usesa Louisiana State Uniuersitv complex terminology which is not defined in the text or in the AGI Glossary of Geology. Such terms as collomorph, tecoblast, nema- toblast,velonoblast, interleptonic, topo-tectically, and synisotropi- SUGGESTIONS TO AUTHORS OF THE REPORTS OF THE zation are often confusing and probably unnecessary."Animated" UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 6th Edition. terms such as invasion, autocatharsis,and digestion are frequently Edited by Elna E. Bishop, Edwin B. Eckel, and others. U. S. usedin textural descriptions. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1978. 273 Several debatable aspectsof the author's treatment of textures pages.$6.25. are: It is 20 years since the previous edition of this classicappeared. It (l) Crystalswhich deviatefrom a closed,euhedral form do not and its predecessors(lst edition, 1909) have provided a guide necessarilyindicate corrosion. Many skeletal growth forms have through the pitfalls and perils of manuscript preparation and pub- been documented as resulting from rapid growth rates. Ground- lication not only to successivegenerations of Survey authors but mass included in these skeletal crystals has not resulted from also to geologiststhroughout the world. Thus the appearanceof a invasion, nor does it represent post-groundmass crystal growth of new edition is an event to be applauded by writers, reviewers,and the skeletal crystal. editors. Its format and content follow quite closely those ofthe 5th (2) Two minerals may commonly grow together, either because edition but have been revised and updated in many places. Short of mutual nucleation sites or coupled growth. Intergrowths do not sections are included on petrologic terminology, chemical termi- require "invasion" of one crystal by another nology, and mineralogic terminology and description. I would urge (3) Colloidal structures in plagioclase do not represent the ef- afl contributors to The American Mineralogist to obtain a copy of fects of hydrous colloids prior to crystallization of the basaltic this book, to read it carefully, and to use the procedures recom- magma. Thesestructures in palagonite are clearly related to hydra- mended therein. tion of basalticglass after solidification. (4) Radial segmentation of augite in basalt may relate to defects BnrnrMnsoN and strain produced during growth from the melt, and not neces- Smithsonian Ins titution sarily to explosive volcanism, magmatic collisions, or post-solidi- fication deformation. (5) The author suggeststhat apatite can occur inclusions as in THE PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOCY OF all mafic phasesand thus crystallizes early; however, many studies, SOILS.VOL II: SOILSIN PLACE.By C. E. Marshall.Wiley, both petrographic and geochemical,have shown that apatite must New York, 1977.xiii + 313pages. $25.00. be a late crystallizingphase. (6) Granophyric quartz in residual patcheswithin basalt is com- Chapterl, "Pedologyin Relationto Physicochemicaland Min- pletely consistent with experimentally determined phase relation- eralogicalProcesses," gives a historicalperspective, beginning with 0003-o04x/78/09l 0- r020$00.50 1020 BOOK REVIEWS l02l Dokuchaev's work on soil-forming factors (climate, vegetation, ences;however, it is too complex and uneven in level oftreatment topography, parent material, and time) and soil horizonation (ani- for a class textbook lt will, nonetheless,serve as a valuable refer- sotropic character along a line more or less at right angles to the ence for graduate students and instructors. surface). Heterogeneity of solid phases-amorphous us. crystal- line, and variability of gas and liquid compositionsare mentioned. M. L. J.rcrsoN For example, how the presenceor absenceof CaCO, has a drastic Uniue rsily of Wisconsin- M adison effect on pH and the calcium hydroxide potential is set forth. Effect of past regimes of climate and vegetation are mentioned, but the parent continual influence of influx of new material by fluvial and PALEOCURRENTS AND BASIN ANALYSIS, SecondEdition. eolian processesis not mentioned. By P. E. Potter and F. J. Pettijohn Springer-Verlag, Berlin, New Rock Chapter 2,"Early Stagesof Weathering," considersaltera- Y ork, 1977.425 pages.$25.70. tion of rock minerals to secondary products, as particularly af- fected by climate. The Garrels and Christ type stability diagram is Considerableattention was paid during the 1950'sto field-ori- introduced. ln an author-by-author review, specific effects of ented studies involving the interpretation of paleocurrents and humus, temperature, and character of the rock are considered. sedimentary structures. Potter and Pettijohn provided leadership Volcanic glass is contrasted to more solid rocks. Free energy in this research area during that period. Sedimentologists and changes and chemical potentials are introduced, mainly for stratigraphers found useful their first edition (1963) on this subject, gibbsite and kaolinite systems.The extreme slownessof reaction of which synthesized directional properties of sediments and their many minerals in water is pointed out as a limitation of the application to basin analysis. I believe that the updated second usefulness of thermodynamics in defining soils "in place " The edition is also a valuable reference volume, and it should be well illustration of the interesting concept of weathering mean (Fig. 6) received by student and researcheralike. unfortunately has lost all reference to its source (Tamura et al.). The present Paleocurrents and Basin Analysis follows the first- Chapter 3, "Hydrothermal Synthesisof Minerals in Relationto edition format but, in addition, provides a supplement and anno- Pedology," examines trends of mineral change at elevatedtemper- tated references at the end of each of the original ten chapters. atures and pressures,as clues to what ultimately may happen in These supplement sections are interesting in that they record and soils. Later in the chapter the effect of Al-complex formers on discuss recent developments. As might be expectedin an evolving kaolin-type synthesisat room temperature is reviewed. field, there have been some changesin direction ofstudy during the Chapter 4, "The Chemical Expression of Climatic Factors," thirteen years that have elapsed since the publication of original considers the chemical potential of soil water as affected by soil volume. The present phase,which follows the spectacularperiod of dryness and temperature. As the vapor pressure of water in soils growth from the late 1940's to early 1960's, is characterized by changes,the direction of mineral transformation reactions may be consolidation, synthesis,and formulation of classifications-a reversed.Particle size, valence change, complexation, and peptiza- rather classicevolution The publishedrecord continuesto mush- tion are considered in relation mainly to podzols. Humus character room, while the number of descriptivepapers on sedimentary and distribution in grasslandsoils is mentioned. structures is clearly on the decline. Cross-bedding and ripple-mark Chapter 5, "Quantitative Aspects of Soil Profiles," presents a analyseshave become