ALBERT

Description / Table of Contents: We seek to understand the timing and processes by which our solar system formed and evolved. There are many ways to gain this understanding including theoretical calculations and remotely sensing planetary bodies with a number of techniques. However, there are a number of measurements that can only be made with planetary samples in hand. These samples can be studied in laboratories on Earth with the full range of high-precision analytical instruments available now or available in the future. The precisions and accuracies for analytical measurements in modern Earth-based laboratories are phenomenal. However, despite the fact that certain types of measurements can only be done with samples in hand, these samples will always be small in number and not necessarily representative of an entire planetary surface. Therefore, it is necessary that the planetary material scientists work hand-in-hand with the remote sensing community to combine both types of data sets. This exercise is in fact now taking place through an initiative of NASA's Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTEM). This initiative is named "New Views of the Moon: Integrated Remotely Sensed, Geophysical, and Sample Datasets." As preliminary results of the Lunar Prospector mission become available, and with the important results of the Galileo and Clementine missions now providing new global data sets of the Moon, it is imperative that the lunar science community synthesize these new data and integrate them with one another and with the lunar-sample database. Integrated approaches drawing upon multiple data sets can be used to address key problems of lunar origin, evolution, and resource definition and utilization. The idea to produce this Reviews in Mineralogy (RIM) volume was inspired by the realization that many types of planetary scientists and, for that matter, Earth scientists will need access to data on the planetary sample suite. Therefore, we have attempted to put together, under one cover, a comprehensive coverage of the mineralogy and petrology of planetary materials. The book is organized with an introductory chapter that introduces the reader to the nature of the planetary sample suite and provides some insights into the diverse environments from which they come. Chapter 2 on Interplanetary Dust Particles (IDPs) and Chapter 3 on Chondritic Meteorites deal with the most primitive and unevolved materials we have to work with. It is these materials that hold the clues to the nature of the solar nebula and the processes that led to the initial stages of planetary formation. Chapter 4, 5, and 6 consider samples from evolved asteroids, the Moon and Mars respectively. Chapter 7 is a brief summary chapter that compares aspects of melt-derived minerals from differing planetary environments.

Description / Table of Contents: Resources of coalbed methane (CBM), methane trapped within the porous system of coal, are many times greater than the collective reserves of all the known conventional gas fields. Yet only in the United States has this energy source been tapped. As coal is both the source rock and the reservoir for CBM there is a major paradox whereby, in order for gas sourced by the coal not to have migrated, the coal must either be sealed or possess very low permeability. And yet for the coal bed to be an effective reservoir the gas must readily migrate into the production well. The solution to this paradox lies in a wide-ranging understanding of the geology of coal, and this volume aims to provide some of the answers. The 24 papers in the volume have been written by experts in CBM and coal geology from a range of countries in which CBM is either currently being produced commercially (USA) or in which there is active exploration (Europe and Australia). The CBM industry is relatively young and only now are exploratory wells being sunk in the UK, Europe and elsewhere in the World. There is a dearth of texts describing the geology of CBM and this volume will help to fill this gap. It will appeal to geologists involved with the CBM industry, and also to those connected with coal and conventional hydrocarbon resources, as well as to lecturers and students.

Description / Table of Contents: Fluid flow is fundamental to many geological processes, including the development of natural resources of hydrocarbons, ore deposits and water. Modelling of these processes requires information on the timing of fluid flow events and the interaction of fluids with surrounding rocks. In addition to isotopic methods, a diversity of approaches has been developed to assess the timing of events, including palaeomagnetism, fission track analysis and fluid inclusion studies. Many techniques also provide information on the duration of fluid flow events. The papers in this volume represent the range of approaches available to determine the dating and duration of fluid flow events and fluid-rock interaction: • first overview of methods of dating fluid flow • examples of commercial application of dating methods • explanations of methodology suitable for advanced teaching • extensive bibliographies This volume will be of interest to geologists in the hydrocarbon and minerals industries and in academia, and to geochemists and hydrogeologists.

Description / Table of Contents: The two main aims of this Special Publication are to capture the wide range of rapidly expanding research in this area, which reflects the increasing importance of comprehensive ‘structural characterization’ in static reservoir descriptions, and to help promote synergy between the geosciences and petroleum engineering disciplines. The first aim is addressed by the sixteen papers of the volume, the majority of which cover a range of structural geological features, particularly faulted and fractured reservoirs, fault gouge properties, fault seal potential and fluid flow/simulation modelling in faulted and fractured reservoirs. The papers draw heavily on experience obtained in the North Sea. This volume is for geologists, geophysicists and reservoir simulation/petroleum engineers studying faulted and fractured reservoirs, particularly those interested in studying petroleum traps, predicting fluid flow or modelling structurally heterogeneous reservoirs.

Description / Table of Contents: This volume was prepared for a short course by the same title, organized by Russell J. Hemley and Ho-kwang Mao and sponsored by the Mineralogical Society of America, December 4-6, 1998 on the campus of the University of California at Davis. High-pressure mineralogy has historically been a vital part of the geosciences, but it is only in the last few years that the field has emerged as a distinct discipline as a result of extraordinary recent developments in high-pressure techniques. The domain of mineralogy is now no less than the whole Earth, from the deep crust to the inner core-the entire range of pressures and temperatures under which the planet's constituents were formed or now exist. The primary goal of this field is to determine the physical and chemical properties of materials that underlie and control the structural and thermal state, processes, and evolution of the planet. New techniques that have come 'online' within the last couple of years make it possible to determine such properties under extreme pressures and temperatures with an accuracy and precision that rival measurements under ambient conditions. These investigations of the behavior of minerals under extreme conditions link the scale of electrons and nuclei with global processes of the Earth and other planets in the solar system. It is in this broad sense that the term 'Ultrahigh-Pressure Mineralogy' is used for the title of this volume of Reviews in Mineralogy. This volume sets out to summarize, in a tutorial fashion, knowledge in this rapidly developing area of physical science, the tools for obtaining that knowledge, and the prospects for future research. The book, divided into three sections, begins with an overview (Chapter 1) of the remarkable advances in the ability to subject minerals-not only as pristine single-crystal samples but also complex, natural mineral assemblages-to extreme pressure-temperature conditions in the laboratory. These advances parallel the development of an arsenal of analytical methods for measuring mineral behavior under those conditions. This sets the stage for section two (Chapters 2-8) which focuses on high-pressure minerals in their geological setting as a function of depth. This top-down approach begins with what we know from direct sampling of high-pressure minerals and rocks brought to the surface to detailed geophysical observations of the vast interior. The third section (Chapters 9-19) presents the material fundamentals, starting from properties of a chemical nature, such as crystal chemistry, thermochemistry, element partitioning, and melting, and moving toward the domain of mineral physics such as melt properties, equations of state, elasticity, rheology, vibrational dynamics, bonding, electronic structure, and magnetism. The Review thus moves from the complexity of rocks to their mineral components and finally to fundamental properties arising directly from the play of electrons and nuclei. The following themes crosscut its chapters. Composition of the mantle and core Our knowledge of the composition of the Earth in part is rooted in information on cosmochemical abundances of the elements and observations from the geological record. But an additional and essential part of this enterprise is the utilization of the growing information supplied by mineral physics and chemistry in detailed comparison with geophysical (e.g. seismological) observations for the bulk of the planet. There is now detailed information from a variety of sources concerning crust-mantle interactions in subduction (Liou et aI., Chapter 2; Mysen et aI., Chapter 3). Petrological, geochemical, and isotope studies indicate a mantle having significant lateral variability (McDonough and Rudnick, Chapter 4). The extent of chemical homogeneity versus layering with depth in the mantle, a question as old as the recognition of the mantle itself, is a first-order issue that threads its way throughout the book. Agee (Chapter 5) analyzes competing models in terms of mineral physics, focusing on the origin of seismic discontinuities in the upper mantle. Bina (Chapter 6) examines the constraints for the lower mantle, with particular emphasis given to the variation of the density and bulk sound velocity with depth through to the core-mantle boundary region (Jeanloz and Williams, Chapter 7). Stixrude and Brown (Chapter 8) examine bounds on the composition of the core. Mineral elasticity and the link to seismology The advent of new techniques is raising questions of the mineralogy and composition of the deep Interior to a new level. As a result of recent advances in seismology, the depth-dependence of seismic velocities and acoustic discontinuities have been determined with high precision, lateral heterogeneities in the planet have been resolved, and directional anisotropy has been determined (Chapters 6 and 7). The first-order problem of constraining the composition and temperature as a function of depth alone is being redefined by high-resolution velocity determinations that define lateral chemical or thermal variations. As discussed by Liebermann and Li (Chapter 15), measurements of acoustic velocities can now be carried out simultaneously at pressures that are an order of magnitude higher, and at temperatures that are a factor of two higher, than those possible just a few years ago. The tools are in hand to extend such studies to related properties of silicate melts (Dingwell, Chapter 13). Remarkably, the solid inner core is elastically anisotropic (Chapter 8); with developments in computational methods, condensed-matter theory now provides robust and surprising predictions for this effect (Stixrude et aI., Chapter 19), and with very recent experimental advances, elasticity measurements of core material at core pressures can be performed directly (Chapters 1 and 15). Mantle dynamics The Earth is a dynamic planet: the rheological properties of minerals define the dynamic flow and texture of material within the Earth. Measurement of rheological properties at mantle pressures is a significant challenge that can now be addressed (Weidner, Chapter 16). Deviatoric stresses down to 0.1 GPa to pressures approaching 300 GPa can be quantified in high-pressure cells using synchrotron radiation (Chapter 1). The stress levels are an appropriate scale for understanding earthquake genesis, including the nature of earthquakes that occur at great depth in subducted slabs (deep-focus earthquakes) as these slabs travel through the Earth's mantle. Newly developed high-pressure, high-precision x-ray tools such as monochromatic radiation with modern detectors with short time resolution and employing long duration times are now possible with third-generation synchrotron sources to study the rheology of deep Earth materials under pressure (Chapter 1). Fate of subducting slabs One of the principal interactions between the Earth's interior and surface is subduction of lithosphere into the mantle, resulting in arc volcanoes, chemical heterogeneity in the mantle, as well as deep-focus earthquakes (Chapters 2 and 3). Among the key chemical processes associated with subduction is the role of water in the recycling process (Prewitt and Downs, Chapter 9), which at shallower levels is essential for understanding arc volcanism. Mass and energy transport processes govern global recycling of organic and inorganic materials, integration of these constituents in the Earth's interior, the evolution (chemically and physically) of descending slabs near convergent plate boundaries, and the fate of materials below and above the descending slab. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss the evidence for entrainment and passage of slabs through the 670 km discontinuity, and the possibility of remnant slabs in the anomalous D" region near the core-mantle boundary (Chapter 7). The ultimate fate of the materials cycled to such depths may affect interactions at the core-mantle boundary and may also hold clues to the initiation of diapiric rise. The evolution and fate of a subducting slab can now be addressed by experimental simulation of slab conditions, including in situ monitoring of a simulated slab in high-pressure apparatus in situ x-ray and spectroscopic techniques. The chemistry of volatiles changes appreciably under deep Earth conditions: they can be structurally bound under pressure (Prewitt and Downs, Chapter 9). Melting Understanding pressure-induced changes in viscosity and other physical properties of melts is crucial for chemical differentiation processes ranging from models of the magma ocean in the Earth's early history to the formation of magmatic ore deposits. (Chapter 13). Recent evidence suggests that melting may take place at great depth in the mantle. Seismic observations of a low-velocity zone and seismic anisotropy at the base of the mantle have given rise to debate about the existence of regions of partial melt deep in the mantle (Chapter 7). Deep melting is also important for mantle convection from subduction of the lithosphere to the rising of hot mantle plumes. Very recent advances in determination of melting relations of mantle and core materials with laser-heating techniques are beginning to provide accurate constraints (Shen and Heinz, Chapter 12). Sometimes lost in the debate on melting curves is the fact that a decade ago, there simply were no data for most Earth materials, only guesses and (at best) approximate models. Moreover, it is now possible to carry out in situ melting studies on multi-component systems, including natural assemblages, to deep mantle conditions. These results address whether or not partial melting is responsible for the observed seismic anomalies at the base of the mantle and provide constraints for mantle convection models (Chapter 7). The enigma of the Earth's core The composition, structure, formation, evolution, and current dynamic state of the Earth's core is an area of tremendous excitement (Chapter 8). The keys to understanding the available geophysical data are the material properties of liquid and crystalline iron under core conditions. New synchrotron-based methods and new developments in theory are being applied to determine all of the pertinent physical properties, and in conjunction with seismological and geodynamic data, to develop a full understanding of the core and its interactions with the mantle (Chapter 7). There has been considerable progress in determining the melting and phase relations of iron into the megabar range with new techniques (Chapter 12). Constraints are also obtained from theory (Chapter 19). These results feed into geophysical models for the outer and inner core flow, structural state, evolution, and the geodynamo. Moreover, there is remarkable evidence that the Earth's inner core rotates at a different rate than the rest of the Earth. This evidence in turn rests on the observation that the inner core is elastically anisotropic, a subject of current experimental and theoretical study from the standpoint of mineral physics, as described above. The thermodynamic framework Whole Earth processes must be grounded in accurate thermodynamic descriptions of phase equilibria in multi-component systems, as discussed by Navrotsky (Chapter 10). New developments in this area include increasingly accurate equations of state (Duffy and Wang, Chapter 14) required for modeling of phase equilibria as well as for direct comparison with seismic density profiles through the planet. Recent developments in in situ vibrational spectroscopy and theoretical models provide a means for independently testing available thermochemical data and a means for extending those data to high pressures and temperatures (Gillet et aI., Chapter 17). Accurate determinations of crystal structures provide a basis for understanding thermochemical trends (Chapter 9). Systematics for understanding solid-solution behavior and element partitioning are now available, at least to the uppermost regions of the lower mantle (Fei, Chapter 11). New measurements for dense hydrous phases are beginning to provide answers to fundamental questions regarding their stability of hydrous phases in the mantle (Chapters 3 and 9) and the partitioning of hydrogen and oxygen between the mantle and core (Chapter 8). Novel physical phenomena at ultrahigh pressures One of the key recent findings in high-pressure research is the remarkable effect of pressure on the chemistry of the elements, at conditions ranging from deep metamorphism of crustal minerals (Chapter 2) to "contact metamorphism" at the core-mantle boundary (Chapter 7). Pressure-induced changes in Earth materials represent forefront problems in condensed-matter physics. New crystal structures appear and the chemistry of volatiles changes (Chapter 9). Pressure-induced electronic transitions and magnetic collapse in transition metal ions strongly affect mineral properties and partitioning of major, minor, and trace elements (Chapter 11). Evidence for these transitions from experiment (Chapter 18) and theory (Chapter 19) is important for developing models for Earth formation and chemical differentiation. The conventional view of structurally and chemically complex minerals of the crust giving way to simple, close-packed structures of the deep mantle and a simple iron core is being replaced by a new chemical picture wherein dense silicates, oxides, and metals exhibit unusual electronic and magnetic properties and chemistry. In the end, this framework must dovetail with seismological observations indicating an interior of considerable regional variability, both radially and laterally depending on depth (e.g. Chapters 6 and 7). New classes of global models Information concerning the chemical and physical properties of Earth materials at high pressures and temperatures is being integrated with geophysical and geochemical data to create a more comprehensive global view of the state, processes, and history of the Earth. In particular, models of the Earth's interior are being developed that reflect the details contained in the seismic record but are bounded by laboratory information on the physics and chemistry of the constituent materials. Such "Reference Earth Models" includes the development of reference data sets and modeling codes. Tools that produce seismological profiles from hypothesized mineralogies (Chapters 4 and 5) are now possible, as are tools for testing these models against 'reference' seismological data sets (Chapter 6). These models incorporate the known properties of the Earth, such as crust and lithosphere structure, and thus have both an Earth-materials and seismological orientation. Other planets The Earth cannot be understood without considering the rest of the solar system. The terrestrial planets of our solar system share a common origin, and our understanding of the formation of the Earth is tied to our understanding of the formation of its terrestrial neighbors, particularly with respect to evaluating the roles of homogeneous and heterogeneous processes during accretion. As a result of recent developments in space exploration, as well as in the scope of future planetary missions, we have new geophysical and geochemical data for the other terrestrial planets. Models for the accretion history of the Earth can now be reevaluated in relation to this new data. Experiments on known Earth materials provide the thermodynamic data necessary to calculate the high-pressure mineralogy of model compositions for the interior of Mars and Venus. Notably, the outer planets have the same volatile components as the Earth, just different abundances. Studies of the outer planets provide both an additional perspective on our own planet as well as a vast area of opportunity for application of these newly developed experimental techniques (Chapter 1 and 17). New techniques in the geosciences The utility of synchrotron radiation techniques in mineralogy has exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic. New spectroscopic methods developed for high-pressure mineralogy are now available for characterizing small samples from other types of experiments. For example, the same techniques developed for in situ studies at high pressures and temperatures are being used to investigate microscopic inclusions such as coesite in high-pressure metamorphic rocks (Chapter 2) and deep-mantle samples as inclusions in diamond (Chapter 3). With the availability of a new generation of synchrotron radiation sources (Chapter 1) and spectroscopic techniques (Chapter 17), a systematic application of new methods, including micro tomographic x-ray analysis of whole rock samples, is now becoming routinely possible. Contributions in technology. Finally, there are implications beyond the geosciences. Mineralogy has historically has led many to conceptual and technical developments used in other fields, including metallurgy and materials science, and the new area of ultrahigh pressure mineralogy continues this tradition. As pointed out in Chapter 1, many highpressure techniques have their origins in geoscience laboratories, and in many respects, geoscience leads development of high-pressure techniques in physics, chemistry, and materials science. New developments include the application of synthetic diamond for new classes of 'large-volume' high-pressure cells. Interestingly, information on diamond stability, including its metastable growth, feeds back directly on efforts to grow large diamonds for the next generation of such high-pressure devices (Chapter 1). Microanalytical techniques, such as micro-spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction, developed for high-pressure research are now used outside of this field of research as well. The study of minerals and mineral analogs under pressure is leading to new materials. As in the synthesis of diamond itself, these same scientific approaches promise the development of novel, technological materials.

Description / Table of Contents: Fourteen years ago the American Geological Institute (AGI) sponsored a Short Course on Chain Silicates. At that time, a substantial amount was known about the crystal chemistry and phase equilibria of pyroxenes, and this knowledge has been of fundamental importance in guiding research on pyroxenes in the years following the AGI Short Course. In 1966, single-crystal x-ray diffractometry was well advanced and good crystal structure refinements were available for jadeite, spodumene, hypersthene, c1inoferrosi1ite, orthoferrosi1ite, and omphacite; the distinction between the c1inoenstatite (pigeonite) and diopside (augite) structures had been established, and the structure of protoenstatite was known, although some doubt existed about the space group of protoenstatite. Phase diagrams for several joins in the pyroxene quadrilateral had been published, but often equilibrium had not been established in the experiments and not enough was known about the effects of pressure, oxygen fugacity, and non-quad elements such as aluminum on the phase equilibria. Also, inversion relations of Ca-poor pyroxenes were not well understood, and petrologists had just become aware of the effect of stress on orthoto-clinopyroxene transitions. In 1966 few of us would have guessed how-much new data and new analytical results would become available in the next fourteen years. Although most, if not all, of the important instrumental techniques we use today were available in 1966, the truly spectacular development and application of these techniques did not take place until the Apollo 11 samples and the attendant funding from NASA became available. Pyroxene research has profited immensely from the application of Mossbauer, optical, and infrared spectroscopy, x-ray and electron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, automated electron microprobes, and digital computers. During these years experimentalists extended the capabilities of their equipment to examine the behavior of pyroxenes under conditions of controlled oxygen fugacity, pressure, and temperature, conditions more nearly like those under which pyroxenes crystallize in natural systems. Looking back, one remembers the excitement of seeing the first lunar samples. We were surprised at the large amounts of pigeonite and the quality of crystals unaffected by water or the presence of sodium. The influence of the lunar program on pyroxene research was extraordinary, and our understanding of pyroxene relationships in terrestrial occurrences benefited tremendously because the lunar pyroxenes provided a basis for comparison with the more complex chemical and structural behavior of terrestrial environments. Probably the most impressive development in the early lunar sample studies was the application of transmission electron microscopy to mineralogy. We were able to see exsolution and other textural features in crystals that looked homogeneous in the optical microscope, thus opening up a wide range of research possibilities that had not existed previously. Advanced crystal growth experiments, detailed phase equilibria, x-ray diffraction at high temperatures, and statistical analyses of microprobe data were all applied to lunar pyroxenes and then extended to terrestrial and meteorite investigations, making this period one of the most productive in history. In the compilation of this volume, an attempt has been made to review the essential aspects of pyroxene research, primarily those of the last ten or fifteen years. Although the largest fraction of pyroxene research has been performed in the U.S.A., significant advances have been made in other countries, particularly in Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia, with interest and activity in these countries probably growing at a faster rate than in the United States. Recently, Deer, Howie and Zussman (DHZ) published a second edition of their volume in the Rock-Forming Minerals series, Single-Chain Silicates, Vol. 2A (John Wiley, New York, 1978). The present volume is intended to be complementary to DHZ and to provide material covered lightly or not at all in DHZ, such as electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and detailed thermodynamic treatments. However, because the range of pyroxene research has grown so much in recent years, there still are important areas not covered comprehensively in either of these volumes. Some of these areas are kinetics, diffusion, crystal defects, deformation, and nonsilicate pyroxene crystal chemistry. Because of these omissions and because this volume is intended for use with the MSA Short Course on Pyroxenes to be held at Emory University in conjunction with the November, 1980 meeting of the Society, a Symposium on Pyroxenes was organized by J. Stephen Huebner for the meeting that is designed to present the latest research results on several different topics, including those above. With DHZ, this volume, and publications from the Symposium, the student of pyroxenes should be well-equipped to advance our knowledge of pyroxenes in the decades ahead.

Description / Table of Contents: The South Atlantic continues to be a globally important focus for the oil and gas industry. This book is, therefore, a timely reference work that provides both the geological background needed to understand the habitats of the discoveries of Nigeria, Angola and Brazil, and the background data required for preparing work programmes. The book presents five thematic sections: ‘The geological and geophysical framework of the South Atlantic’, ‘Oil and gas habitats’, ‘Organic geochemistry studies’, ‘Biostratigraphic appllications’ and ‘Exploration studies and issues’. Extensive use is made of colour and, for the time in this series, a CD-ROM is included that provides a tectonic map of the South Atlantic as well as play maps of both Brazil and West Africa.

Description / Table of Contents: This volume contains a series of 26 articles presenting new developments in the areas of reservoir characterization, water and gas injection, oil rim developments, chemical recovery and thermal recovery. The results of both laboratory studies and field applications are discussed. The contents of this volume demonstrate that, on the whole, improved oil recovery methods have a bright future, even though some of the more advanced processes are uneconomic at current prices. The contributions in this volume were carefully selected from recent papers on improved oil recovery methods and are written by an international field of authors from both industry and academia.

Description / Table of Contents: Geochemistry is a science that is based on an understanding of chemical processes in the earth. One of the principal tools available to the chemist for understanding systems at equilibrium is thermodynamics. The awareness and application of thermodynamic techniques has increased at a very fast pace in geosciences; in fact, one may be so bold as to say that thermodynamics in geology has reached the "mature" stage, although much future thermodynamic research is certainly needed. However, the natural processes in the earth are often sluggish enough that a particular system may not reach equilibrium. This observation is being supported constantly by new experimental and field data available to the geochemist e.g. the non-applicability of the phase rule in some assemblages, the compositional inhomogeneities of mineral grains, the partial reaction rims surrounding original minerals, the lack of isotopic equilibration or the absence of minerals (e.g. dolomite), which should be present according to thermodynamics. The need to apply kinetics has produced a large number of papers dealing with kinetics in geochemistry. As an initial response to this growing field, a conference on geochemical transport and kinetics was conducted at Airlie House, VA, in 1973, sponsored by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The papers there dealt with several kinetic topics including diffusion, exsolution, metasomatism and metamorphic layering. Since 1973 the number of kinetic papers has continued to increase greatly. Therefore, the time is ripe for a Short Course in Kinetics, which brings together the fundamentals needed to explain field observations using kinetic data. It is hoped that this book may serve, not only as a reference for researchers dealing with the rates of geochemical processes, but also as a text in courses on geochemical kinetics. One of us has found this need of a text in teaching a graduate course on geochemical kinetics at Harvard and at Penn State during the past several years. Finally, it is our hope that the book may itself further even more research into the rates of geochemical processes and into the quantification of geochemical observations. The book is organized with a rough temperature gradient in mind, i.e. low temperature kinetics at the beginning and igneous kinetics at the end (no prejudices are intended with this scheme!). However, the topics in each chapter are general enough that they can be applied often to any geochemical domain: sedimentary, metamorphic or igneous. The theory of kinetics operates at two complementary levels: the phenomenological and the atomistic. The former relies on macroscopic variables (e.g. temperature or concentrations) to describe the rates of reactions or the rates of transport; the latter relates the rates to the basic forces operating between the particular atomic or molecular species of any system. This book deals with both descriptions of the kinetics of geochemical processes. Chapter one sets the framework for the phenomenological theory of reaction rates. If any geochemical reaction is to be described quantitatively, the rate law must be experimentally obtained in a kinetically sound manner and the reaction mechanism must be understood. This applies to heterogeneous fluid-rock reactions such as those occurring during metamorphism, hydrothermal alteration or weathering as well as to homogeneous reactions. Chapter 2 extends the theory to the global kinetics of geochemical cycles. This enables the kinetic concepts of stability and feedback to be applied to the cycling of elements in the many reservoirs of the earth. Chapter 3 applies the phenomenological treatment of chapter 1 to diagenesis and weathering. The rate of dissolution of minerals as well as the chemical evolution of pore waters are discussed. The atomistic basis of rates of reaction, transition state theory, is introduced in Chapter 4. Transition state theory can be applied to relate the rate constants of geochemical reactions to the atomic processes taking place. This includes not only homogeneous reactions but also reactions that occur at the surface of minerals. Chapter 5 discusses the theory of irreversible thermodynamics and its application to petrology. The use of the second law of thermodynamics along with the expressions for the rate of entropy production in a system have been used successfully since 1935 to describe kinetic phenomena. The chapter applies the concepts to the growth of minerals during metamorphism as well as to the formation of differentiated layers (banding) in petrology. Chapter 6 describes the phenomenological theory of diffusion both in aqueous solutions and in minerals. In particular, the multicomponent nature of diffusion and its consequence in natural systems is elaborated. Chapter 7 provides the atomistic basis for the rates of reactions in minerals. Understanding of the rates of diffusion, conduction, order-disorder reactions or exsolution in minerals depends on proper description of the defects in the various mineral structures. Chapter 8 provides the kinetic theory of crystal nucleation and growth. While many of the concepts in the chapter can be applied to aqueous systems, the emphasis is on igneous processes occurring during crystallization of a melt. To fully understand both the mineral composition as well as the texture of igneous rocks, the processes whereby new crystals form and grow must be quantified by using kinetic theory. Due to space and time limitations (kinetics!) some topics have not been covered in detail. In particular, the mathematical solution of diffusion or conduction equations is discussed very well by Crank in his book, Mathematics of Diffusion, and so is not covered to a great extent here. The treatment of fluid flow (e.g. convection) is also not covered in the text.