Petrology. The study of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks / Петрология. Изучение магматических, осадочных и метаморфических пород

Petrology is a required subject of study in a majority of geology programs in the United States and is an integral part of geology curricula in Canada and elsewhere in the world. The subject merits this important position because rocks make up much of the Earth. Furthermore, many subdisciplines in geology incorporate petrologic knowledge. Thus, petrology provides the foundation for the study of the Earth and its history. Available petrology texts designed for middle-level undergraduate students (sophomores and juniors) take a variety of approaches. Some concentrate on principles, others deal only with igneous and metamorphic rocks, and sdll others tend to emphasize the descriptive aspects of the field (petrography). Only a few books incorporate recent advances in crystal growth studies, isotopic analyses, chemical petrology, sedimentary environmental analysis, and petro-tectonics, as well as basic petrographic information.
This text, designed for the middle-level undergraduate geology major, incorporates both fundamentals and information on recent advances in our understanding of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. It provides an overview of the field of petrology and a solid foundation for more advanced studies. For each class of rocks—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic—I describe textures, structures, mineralogy, chemistry, and classification as a background to discussing representative occurrences and petrogenesis (rock origins). I have not tried to summarize all occurrences, but the explanatory notes at the end of each chapter provide additional sources the student can use to expand his or her understanding and knowledge.
Advances in petrologic knowledge come about through the efforts of individuals and groups of individuals. Individuals do not operate in a vacuum; rather, they work within a social and political environment. Whether or not an idea is accepted or has an impact on a specific scientific milieu is influenced by the quality of the idea (e.g., its ability to explain phenomena) and the quality of the data that support it; by the social, scientific, and political <...>