Bücher der Reihe Minerals, Rocks and Mountains

My goal in writing this book was to provide an introduction to meteorite science and a handbook on meteorite classification. These chapters would have been useful chiefly to meteorite researchers looking for a quick summary of group properties;

The first edition of this book was published in 1973, the second, totally rewritten, followed 7 years later in 1980. Because the field of stable isotopes is still grow- ing and exerting an increasing influence on geosciences in general, it seems to be necessary, after a further 7 years, to revise the edition again accordingly. Not only has the previous edition been updated, but two completely new chapters on the isotopic composi- tion of mantle-derived material and on the isotopic composition of the ocean during the geologie past, have been added. The references concentrate on re cent literature. In some cases, older references have been omitted to save space. I do not intend to underrate the value of older publications, but only to keep the reference list - al- ready very voluminous in relation to the totallengt- from becoming even larger. An early draft has been reviewed by Russell Harmon and Alan Matthews. John Valley has se nt me a preprint of an artic1e on metamorphie rocks. To all three of them I owe my deepest thanks.

Isotopes in Geology

Although the "norm" is not intended to equal the "mode" or actual mineral composition of a rock, at least a qualitative agreement between the norm and the mode is desirable. For a number of rocks and rock groups, especially the leucocratic and silicic rocks, the deviation of the norm from the mode is generally within tolerable limits.

This series of monographs represents continuation on an inter nationai basis of the previous series MINERALOGIE UND PETRO GRAPHIE IN EINZELDARSTELLUNGEN, published by Sprin ger-Verlag.

In this book metal deposits, in particular those of non-ferrous and precious metals, are classified and analyzed in terms of their plate tectonic settings. This approach allows a meaningful treatment of metal deposits of different types and provides significant insights into both their genesis and formative environments.

Most other carbonate minerals of similar composition which are known to occur in the younger sediments are metastable with respect to calcite, dolomite, and magnesite. This is another viewpoint from which mineralogy is important to carbonate petrology, if we regard the crystal chemistry of minerals as a part of mineralogy.

The idea for a book on anorthosites came to me in January of 1986 while returning to Houston after holiday festivities in Dallas. The original idea was a review paper on anorthosites, but by the time I reached Houston, the subject material I contemplated induding was obviously too extensive for a single paper.

During this period ophiolite, an obscure European geological term, has attained an ever-increasing importance, is now used to include all fragments of ancient oceanic lithosphere incorporated into the orogenic zones of modern and ancient continental margins, and is a standard part of the plate tectonic paradigm.

At first glance it may seem presumptuous to want to add yet another to the numerous books on Differential Thermal Analysis (DT A).

Isotopes in Geology

There are several books emphasizing the mineralogical and petrological aspects of granites, but this book is the only one emphasizing the experimental aspects.

The first was to provide a review of research involving the application of neodymium isotopic measurements to pro blems in earth science. In the process of organizing to do this, I realized that the research in this field had produced a need for an updated review of the underlying paradigms.

Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the physicochemical evolution of natural rocks through systematic analysis of the compositional properties and phase relations of their mineral assemblages.

This series of monographs represents continuation on an international basis of the previous series MINERALOGIE UNO PETROGRAPHIE IN EINZELOARSTELLUNGEN, published by Springer-Verlag.

Students of a phenomenon as common but complex as andesite genesis often are overwhelmed by, or overlook, the volume and diversity of relevant information. Thus there is need for periodic overview even in the absence of a dramatic breakthrough which "solves the andesite problem" and even though new ideas and data keep the issues in a state of flux.

First, in this book I have concentrated on kimberlite as an individual rock-type and a sampler of the upper mantle, in the hope of complementing such monographs as Deep seated inclusions in kimberlites and the problem of the composition of the upper mantle by N.