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Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Guide

Robin Gill
February 2010, ©2010, Wiley-Blackwell
Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Guide (EHEP002306) cover image

This book is for geoscience students taking introductory or intermediate-level courses in igneous petrology, to help develop key skills (and confidence) in identifying igneous minerals, interpreting and allocating appropriate names to unknown rocks presented to them. The book thus serves, uniquely, both as a conventional course text and as a practical laboratory manual.

Following an introduction reviewing igneous nomenclature, each chapter addresses a specific compositional category of magmatic rocks, covering definition, mineralogy, eruption/ emplacement processes, textures and crystallization processes, geotectonic distribution, geochemistry, and aspects of magma genesis. One chapter is devoted to phase equilibrium experiments and magma evolution; another introduces pyroclastic volcanology. Each chapter concludes with exercises, with the answers being provided at the end of the book.

Appendices provide a summary of techniques and optical data for microscope mineral identification, an introduction to petrographic calculations, a glossary of petrological terms, and a list of symbols and units. The book is richly illustrated with line drawings, monochrome pictures and colour plates.

Additional resources for this book can be found at: http://www.wiley.com/go/gill/igneous.

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Table of Contents
Preface.

Acknowledgements.

1. An introduction to magmas and magmatic rocks.

2. Basalts and related rocks.

3. Magma differentiation.

4. Gabbroic rocks.

5. Ultramafi c and ultrabasic rocks.

6. Andesite, dacite and rhyolite.

7. How magmas erupt – an introduction to pyroclastic processes and products.

8. Granitic rocks.

9. Alkali rocks.

Appendix A – Mineral identifi cation using a polarizing microscope.

Appendix B – Petrographic calculations.

Appendix C – Symbols, units and constants used in this book.

Glossary.

Answers to exercises.

Bibliography.

Index.

Colour plate section.

Companion website for this book: wiley.com/go/gill/igneous.

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Author Information
Robin Gill has lectured in igneous petrology and geochemistry at the University of London for 22 years, and before that held postdoctoral posts at the Universities of Manchester, Western Ontario and Oxford. He is author of Chemical Fundamentals of Geology (Springer) and editor of Modern Analytical Geochemistry (Addison Wesley Longman).
Hallmark Features
* First text to incorporate student laboratory/microscope work with igneous geochemistry and petrogenesis
* Can act as either the core text for an igneous petrology course, or as a supplement to existing text
Reviews
"Igneous petrology is difficult to master using only a single course resource. Thus, instructors often steer students toward supplementary readings on how to work with geochemical data or identify igneous minerals in thin section. Gill takes a big step toward resolving this challenge, integrating content in a way that instructors will value as a holistic presentation of concepts and tools." (Choice, 1 March 2011)

"This textbook will be an invaluable guide for undergraduates in the laboratory and will allow them to develop their interpretative skills in petrology in the most intuitive way. The breadth of topics, clear layout and level of detail will no doubt lead it to become an essential, always on- hand reference for students." (Geological Magazine, 2010)

Available Versions

Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Guide
by Robin Gill
ISBN 978-1-4443-3065-6
February 2010, Wiley-Blackwell
Hardcover, 440 pages
US $159.95 Add to Cart
Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Guide
by Robin Gill
ISBN 978-0-632-06377-2
February 2010, Wiley-Blackwell
Paperback, 440 pages
US $109.95 Add to Cart
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E-book
Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Guide
by Robin Gill
ISBN 978-1-118-30271-2
March 2012, Wiley-Blackwell
Wiley E-Text, 440 pages
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