This book is a survey of techniques used in archaeological geology or as it is more widely known, today—geoarchaeology. It is less a discussion of theory or methodology with regard to the various geological techniques that are presented. It is not an exhaustive presentation of the diversity of earth science methods that can be utilized in the service of archaeology. Earth science can be used in many ways in archaeology.

The notion that the desert areas of the world possess a distinct geomorphology has a long history and, in many ways, is informed by the popular concept of deserts as places that are different. Not surprisingly, early explorers in deserts, particularly Europeans travelling in the Sahara from the late 18th century onwards, were impressed by, and reported on, the unusual features of these areas.

Layered intrusions have received continuous interest since the publication of the treatise on ‘Layered Igneous Rocks’ by Lawrence Wager and Malcolm Brown, updated in books edited by Ian Parsons in 1987 and Grant Cawthorn in 1996. The study of these fossilized magma chambers keep inspiring a number of scientists with a range of interests including petrology and igneous differentiation, geochronology, geochemistry, mineralogy, rock textures and fabric, fluid dynamics, and ore deposits. The goal of this book is to further our understanding of magma chamber processes and crystal-liquid relationship during magma cooling magma. Physical and chemical processes are now better quantified thanks to the development analytical and computing tools such as compositional mapping, 3D X-ray computed tomography, in situ analyses for trace elements and isotopes, development of new experimental facilities, and progress in instrument sensitivity <...>

We may be faced with natural and anthropogenic environmental changes never found in instrumental observation records, not only locally but also globally. Generally, it is comparatively easy to find the cause and effect of local and shortterm changes, whereas it is difficult to establish causal relationships for global and long-term environmental issues. One of the most significant issues in environmental changes to be discussed is knowing how earth surface environments responded to the changes in the past, because that knowledge is required in order to estimate future environmental responses to changes. We have only limited short-term observational data in the instrumental observation period to provide some clues to find causal relations for the estimation. Most areas lack past quantitative records, especially data available for quantitative discussion, although data on earth surface responses to large and long-term global changes are included in past proxy records. <...>

This book summarizes the results of the experimental studies of phase relations in the chemical systems relevant to Earth, carried out by the author in a time period of over 20 years between 1979 and 2001. It is based on 1,000 pistoncylinder experiments at pressures up to 4 GPa and close to 700 experiments carried out with a multi-anvil apparatus at pressures up to 24 GPa. The emphasis in these studies was on internal consistency. Large sets of data were produced using the same sample assembly, high-pressure apparatus, experimental procedures and calibrations by the same experimentalist to maximize the internal consistency. The results were published in 70 peer-reviewed articles listed at the end of the book. These are referenced only by the corresponding number, while the full reference is given for all other sources. <...>

Early studies of continental flood basalts, particularly those of the North Atlantic Tertiary Province, played a major role in the development of igneous petrology. Petrologists, geochemists, geophysicists and field geologists have never looked back. The literature on various aspects of continental flood basalts is as vast as it is varied. Flood basalts have been investigated for the light they shed on petrogenesis, as sites for nuclear waste storage, as a cause for the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinctions, and for a host of other reasons <...>

Since its first application to geodynamical problems, GPS geodesy has gradually revealed the nature of motion and deformation for most active areas of deformation across the Earth. One of the last remaining regionalscale problems is the motion and associated deformation in the peri-Adriatic region. Selected local-scale studies have examined aspects of this motion, but to date no regional team has systematically attacked the full regional scope of designed to bring together an international group of scientists working in the peri-Adriatic region to: (1) review research activities and results completed to date, (2) share technical expertise, and (3) provide a springboard for future collaborative research on Adria geodynamics <...>

The vast region of Siberia is expected to experience potentially rapid land-cover changes, which are among the earliest indicators of the Earth’s response to climate warming. Moreover, climate change affects both the boreal ecosystems and socioeconomic infrastructure.

The promise of the Spacefaring Age - the era of human activities in space - is that it will link human expertise to the unlimited resources of space. When that linkage is established, the people of Earth will be supplied with an abundance of energy and material resources from space; the solar system will be explored in depth; human settlements will be established on multiple planets and moons; and voyages to the stars will be undertaken. The present “closed Earth” mindset - of limits to human potential related to the depletion of Earth’s resources and the vital need to preserve Earth’s environment - will be replaced by a much grander “open space’’ vision of broad-scale human advancements based upon access to unlimited resources and the opening of endless frontiers. <...>

At a time of surplus of nearly all metals and the inevitable closing of many mining operations, it is a matter of the industry's survival to seek new commodities that are in high demand. The lanthanides, better known as the rare-earth elements (REE), tantalum (Ta) and niobium (Nb) are among the promising alternatives. Bibliographies of the metallogeny and related aspects of these elements are surprisingly short, despite their rapidly increasing importance in modern technology. A need to review and condense the available expertise has been ernerging in the recent past <...>