The origin of different kinds of igneous rocks can be understood in terms of the tectonic setting in which they form and in terms of the isotope compositions of strontium, neodymium, and lead they contain. This book explains the petrogenesis of igneous rocks as a consequence of tectonic processes resulting from interactions between asthenopheric plumes and the overlying lithospheric mantle. The relevant principles of isotope geochemistry are explained in Chapter 1 making this book accessible to university students as well as to professionals. The relevant isotopic data are presented in diagrammatic form. In addition, the text avoids the use of acronyms.

The book emphasizes various aspects of processing secondary sources for recovery of uranium. The field of secondary resource processing is gaining ground over the last few years as it is eco-friendly, economical and in tune with the philosophy of sustainable development. The book is the first one of its type in the area and includes a succint and comprehensive description of related areas of ore mineralogy, resource classification, processing principles involved in uranium solubilisation followed by separation and safety aspects. The clear organisation and the carefully selected figures and tables makes the treatment invaluable for practising engineers, research workers and academic institutions.

The Earth's rocky mantle convects to lose heat, which comes from the liquid iron core below. The mantle's interfaces - the core-mantle boundary, and the lithosphere - may hold the key to understanding mantle motion because of the seismic anisotropy present in these parts of the Earth.
In this thesis, Andy Nowacki presents a precise but comprehensive review of the current state of the art in studying flow with anisotropy, mineral physics and geodynamics. New measurements of shear wave anisotropy in the lowermost mantle and at mid-ocean ridges are used to constrain mechanisms of creep and melt extraction in the mantle. A model of global flow is used to predict anisotropy in the deep Earth, and novel methods to forward model shear wave splitting are described. Future studies of mantle flow must incorporate the understanding gained in this thesis.
The thesis contains a substantive introduction to the structure of the Earth, seismic anisotropy in general and in the core-mantle boundary region, and mid-ocean ridge processes. It also describes novel methods for forward modelling and interpreting shear wave splitting data. Three chapters present timely research into dynamics at divergent plate boundaries and at the core-mantle boundary.

Precious stones, gems and crystals have been valued throughout history not only for their rarity and expense, but for their mystical properties too. Garnet is rumoured to stimulate the heart, while the pearl offers the protection of the goddess Diana – coral, so-called 'witch-stone', is said to guard against the evil eye, and amethyst is said to prevent drunkenness. Gem Magic guides the reader through the uses of and stories surrounding a cornucopia of stones. Introducing the inherent properties of dazzling selection of gems, gemologist Raymond Walters describes how each stone is formed and its key properties, what beliefs have been associated with them through history and around the world, and both their scientific and occult uses. Famous stones, both real and mythical, are lyrically described – from the infamous Koh-i-Noor diamond to unicorn horn and bezoar.

In this reference, the author thoroughly reviews the current state of condensed phosphate chemistry. A unique feature of this volume is an examination of the recent developments in X-ray structural techniques, reporting on fundamental results obtained through their use. Enhanced by comprehensive tables reporting crystal data, chapters identify and characterize more than 2,000 compounds. Additional features include a concise survey of the historical development of condensed phosphate chemistry; the presently accepted classification system; a review of each family of condensed phosphates and much more.

A knowledge of clay is important in many spheres of scientific endeav our, particularly in natural sciences such as geology, mineralogy and soil science, but also in more applied areas like environmental and mater ials science. Over the last two decades research into clay mineralogy has been strongly influenced by the development and application of a num ber of spectroscopic techniques which are now able to yield information about clay materials at a level of detail that previously would have seemed inconceivable. This information relates not only to the precise characterization of the individual clay components themselves, but also to the ways in which these components interact with a whole range of absorbate molecules. At present, however, the fruits of this research are to be found principally in a somewhat widely dispersed form in the scientific journals, and it was thus considered to be an appropriate time to bring together a compilation of these spectroscopic techniques in a way which would make them more accessible to the non-specialist. This is the primary aim of this book. The authors of the various chapters first describe the principles and instrumentation of the individual spectro scopic techniques, assuming a minimum of prior knowledge, and then go on to show how these methods have been usefully applied to clay mineralogy in its broadest context."

30% discount for members of The Mineralogical Society of Britain and Ireland

This book contains review papers covering such issues as the geometrical characterization of porous solids and particle aggregates using synchroton radiation techniques. A review of the phenomenon of overpressuring primal global distribution of clay minerals, and the use of clays as barriers in waste disposal are also included.

This volume presents essential information on chemical reagents commonly used in flotation processes. It comprehensively summarizes the properties, preparation and applications of collectors, frothers, depressants and flocculants. It also discusses the microanalysis of flotation reagents and adsorption measurement. The book offers a valuable resource for all university researchers and students, as wells as R&D engineers in minerals processing and extractive metallurgy who wish to explore innovative reagents and technologies that lead to more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions.

This thesis presents geological, petrological, geochemical, and zircon U-Pb-Lu-Hf isotopic field data for representative Precambrian lithologies in the Western Liaoning-Northeastern Hebei Provinces along the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC). It describes late Neoarchean (2.64-2.48 Ga) supracrustal metavolcanic rocks and granitoid gneisses; late Paleoproterozoic (1.72-1.68 Ga) Jianping alkaline plutons and Pinggu alkaline volcanic rocks; and newly discovered ~1.23 Ga mafic dykes. The nature of magma sources and genesis of each magmatic episode are investigated, and the Precambrian (~2.6-1.2 Ga) lithospheric mantle evolution and crust-mantle interaction processes are established for the first time -aspects that provide important constraints in our understanding of the Precambrian crustal evolution and geodynamic processes in the region studied.

Presented here is the story of the mining and sale of uranium and radium ore through biographical vignettes, chemistry, physics, geology, geography, occupational health, medical utilization, environmental safety and industrial history. Included are the people and places involved over the course of over 90 years of interconnected mining and sale of radium and uranium, finally ending in 1991 with the abandonment of radium paint and medical devices, Soviet nuclear parity, and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.

This book reviews the main energy sources, production problems and energy perspectives in Germany and Mexico. It surveys the status of traditional and alternative energy sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear, hydraulic, eolic, solar, and hydrogen cells. The book emphasizes the search for answers to such questions as What are the main problems of industries based on fossil fuels, and What is the present status of hydraulic and nuclear energy?

A physics book that covers the optical properties of quantum-confined semiconductor nanostructures from both the theoretical and experimental points of view together with technological applications. Topics to be reviewed include quantum confinement effects in semiconductors, optical adsorption and emission properties of group IV, III-V, II-VI semiconductors, deep-etched and self assembled quantum dots, nanoclusters, and laser applications in optoelectronics.

Identificationof rock-forming minerals in thin section is a key skill needed by all earth science students and practising geologists. This translation of the completely revised and updated German second edition (by Leonore Hoke, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, New Zealand) provides a comprehensive guide to identifying 140 of the most important rock-forming mineral species. The book is divided into three main parts. Part A is a practical guide to the fundamentals of crystal optics, polarization microscopy and the practical use of microscopes. Part B gives a detailed description of the characteristic optical features, special features, and the paragenesis of the most common rock-forming minerals. This well-illustrated part is divided into opaque minerals, isotropic, uniaxial and optical biaxial mineral groups. Part C contains identification tables for the minerals and diagrams showing the international classification of magmatic rocks, as well as a colour plate section showing crystal forms of minerals. The book will provide an invaluable guide to all undergraduate earth scientists, as well as to professional geologists requiring an overview of mineral identification in thin section.

Anisotropy, i.e., the dependence of structure and properties on direction in space, is the most striking characteristic of crystals. Anisotropy is a result of the discrete nature of the crystal lattice, and it is the characteristic which distinguishes the crystalline state from another solid state of matter, the amorphous. The anisotropy of the structure and properties of crystals (this can be called their 'internal anisotropy') is also reflected in their external structure, i.e., morphology. The reflection is, however, non-linear: properties such as mechanical hardness ... do not change strongly (typically several tens of percents, depending on direction) while the morphology ... : the linear sizes in different directions of individual crystals often differ by several multiples or even several orders of magnitude, depending on the symmetry of the crystalline lattice and/or of the crystal prehistory. The enhanced anisotropy of morphology is, as a rule, a result of growth kinetics of different crystalline faces; it reflects a non-linear character of the kinetic laws of growth. This book is devoted to high morphological anisotropy. No strict classification of highly-anisotropic crystals exists. However some typical forms, or habits, can be singled out: first, whiskers (or needles, or fibers) as quasi-one-dimensional crystals, and second, platelets as quasi-two-dimensional crystals.

This book sheds valuable new light on the genetic mineralogy of lower-mantle diamonds and syngenetic minerals. It presents groundbreaking experimental results revealing the melting relations of ultrabasic and basic associations and a physicochemical peritectic mechanism of their evolution. The experimental investigations included here reveal the key multicomponent, multiphase oxide-silicate-carbonate-carbon parental media for lower-mantle diamonds and syngenetic minerals. Consequently, readers will find extensive information on the diamond-parental oxide-silicate-carbonate-carbon melts-solutions that supplement the general features of lower-mantle diamond genesis and the most efficient ultrabasic-basic evolution. The experimental results on physicochemical aspects, combined with analytical mineralogy data, make it possible to create a generalized composition diagram of the diamond-parental melts-solutions, there by completing the mantle-carbonatite concept for the genesis of lower-mantle diamonds and syngenetic minerals. This book addresses the needs of all researchers studying the Earth's deepest structure, super-deep mineral formation including diamonds, and magmatic evolution.

The book presents isotope-geochemical investigations of the world's largest reserves of copper, nickel, and platinum-group elements in the Norilsk ore region. Ever since its discovery, generations of geologists have been fascinated by the geology of these deposits, described as a 250 Ma magmatic formation with mafic and ultramafic layered intrusions, disseminated ore and continuous copper-nickel ore bed. The book includes the results of more than 5,000 analyses of eleven isotopic systems, performed at the Russian Research Geological Institute's Center of Isotopic Research between 2005 and 2014. The book is intended for specialists in isotope geology, metallogeny, ore geology and students of geology.

Plan of Review This review of clay microstructure is aimed at the diverse group of professionals who share an interest in the properties of fine-grained minerals in sediments. During the last several decades, members of this group have included geologists, soil scientists, soil engineers, engineering geologists, and ceramics scientists. More recently, it has included significant numbers of marine geologists and other engineers. Each of the disciplines has developed special techniques for investigating properties of clay sediments that have proven to be fruitful in answering questions of central interest. Knowledge of clay microstructure-the fabric of a sediment and the physico chemical interactions between its components-is fundamental to all these disciplines (Mitchell 1956; Lambe 1958a; Foster and De 1971). Clay fabric refers to the spatial distribution, orientations, and particle-to-particle relations of the solid particles (generally those less than 3. 9 /Lm in size) of sediment. Physico-chemical interac tions are expressions of the forces between the particles. In this review, we trace the historical development of under standing clay microstructure by discussing key scientific papers published before 1986 on physico-chemical interactions in fine grained sediments and on clay fabric. Since the development follows an intricate path, the current view of clay microstructure is summarized. This summary includes a discussion of the present state of knowledge, the observations made so far, and the facts that are now established."

This volume of Advanced Mineralogy encompasses six different areas having two features in common: they are related to one of the largest enterprises of the second half of this century; and represent the ultimate and final extension of the concept of mineral matter. - Understanding mineral matter in Space is one of the principal purposes of cosmic exploration. This includes the results of compa rative planetology, lunar epopee, sophisticated meteorite studies (now more than 500 meteorite minerals), discovery of the interstellar mineral dust forming some 60 trillion of earth masses in the Galaxy, and terrestrial impact crater studies. It is possible now to speak of mineralogy of the Universum, and the mineralogical type of the states of matter in the Universe. Direct samples of mantle xenoliths and ultrahigh pressure-tem perature experiments make it possible to consider the mineral ogical composition of the Earth as a whole, including the upper an lower mantle and the Earth's core. Deep ocean drilling programs, a scientific fleet of hundreds of vessels and several submersibles have brought about great dis coveries in the geology, metalogeny, and mineralogy of the ocean floor the largest part of the Earth's surface, in particular revealing new genetic, crystallochemical, and ore types of min eral formation."

The role played by earth sciences in the scientific community has changed considerably during this century. Since the revolutionary discoveries of global processes such as plate tectonics, there has been an increasing awareness of just how fundamental many of the mechanisms which dominate in these processes depend on the physical properties of the materials of which the earth is made. One of the prime objectives of mineral sciences is now to understand and predict these properties in a truly quantitative manner. The macroscopic properties which are of most immediate interest in this context fall within the conventional definitions of thermodynamics, magnetism, elasticity, dielectric susceptibilities, conductivity etc. These properties reflect the microscopic contributions, at an atomistic level, of harmonic and anharmonic lattice vibrations, ionic and electronic transport as well as a great variety of ordering and clustering phenomena. The advances made by solid state physicists and chemists in defining the underlying phenomena lnvolved in the thermal evolution of materials have stimulated major new research initiatives within the Earth Sciences. Earth Scientists have combined to form active groups within the wider community of solid state and materials scientists working towards a better understanding of those physical processes which govern not only the behaviour of simple model compounds but also that of complex materials like minerals. Concomitant with this change in direction has come an increasing awareness of the need to use the typical working tools of other disciplines.

30% discount for members of The Mineralogical Society of Britain and Ireland

This volume addresses the fundamental factors that underlie our understanding of mineral behaviour and crystal chemistry - a timely topic given current advances in research into the complex behaviour of solids and supercomputing.

Switching off the pumps of a mine is one of the last steps in the lifetime of a surface or underground mine. As the water in the open space raises, the water might become contaminated with different pollutants and eventually starts to flow in the open voids. This book addresses the processes related to mine abandonment from a hydrogeological perspective. After an introduction to the relevant hydrogeochemical processes the book gives detailed information about mine closure procedures. Based on in-situ measurements the hydrodynamic processes in a flooded mine are described and some of the mine closure flow models exemplified. As all investigations base on precise data, the book gives some key issues of monitoring and sampling, especially flow monitoring. Then the book shows some new methodologies for conducting tracer tests in flooded mines and gives some hints to passive mine water treatment. At the end 13 well investigated case studies of flooded underground mine and mine water tracer tests are described and interpreted from a hydrodynamic point of view.

This book is the proceedings of the 11th Kongsberg seminar, held at the Norwegian Mining Museum in the city of Kongsberg, about 70 km Southwest of Oslo. The Kongs berg district is known for numerous Permian vein deposits, rich in native silver. Mining activity in the area lasted for more than 300 years, finally ceasing in 1957. The first eight Kongsberg seminars, organized by professor Arne Bj0rlykke, now director of the Norwegian Geological Survey, were focused on ore-forming processes. These seminars have always been a meeting point for people with a variety of geological backgrounds. Since 1995, the Kongsberg seminars have focussed on geological processes, rather than on specific geological systems, and the selection of invited speakers has been strongly influenced by their interest in the dynamics of geological systems. In 1995 and 1996, various aspects of fluid flow and transport in rocks, were emphasized. The first "Kongsberg proceedings" (of the 1995 seminar) published by Chapman and Hall (Jamtveit and Yardley, 1997) contained 17 chapters dealing with a wide range of topics from field based studies of the effects of fluid flow in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks to computer simulations of flow in complex porous and fractured media. In 1997, the focus was changed to growth, and dissolution processes in geological systems."

Essentially, Orientations and Rotations treats the mathematical and computational foundations of texture analysis. It contains an extensive and thorough introduction to parameterizations and geometry of the rotation space. Since the notions of orientations and rotations are of primary importance for science and engineering, the book can be useful for a very broad audience using rotations in other fields.