Folding and Fracturing of Rocks (International Series in the Earth and Planetary Sciences) [Paperback]

John G. Ramsay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 193066589X | ISBN-13: 978-1930665897 | Publication Date: February 2004

Folding and Fracturing of Rocks was first published in 1967. It was one of the first major publications aimed at developing for geologists the basic theory of stress and strain in mathematical terms and explaining how this theory could be used to solve practical problems in structural geology and tectonics. Although out-of-print for many years, it is still one of the most frequently cited and quoted texts in modern research publications in structural geology. Although texts discussing the basic theory of stress and strain had been long available in engineering, metallurgic and materials science, very few of these texts made any reference to the application of these principles to the study of rock strain, fracturing and folding processes commonly arising in geology. Folding and Fracturing of Rocks developed the theory of both small and large finite strain with particular emphasis on progressive deformation and its geological implications for the development of the structures actually observed in naturally deformed rocks. It was one of the first textbooks to discuss the practical methods for evaluating the states of finite strain in two and three dimensions and the implications of these methods to further our understanding of structural geometry. The book set out the concepts of displacement and finite strain and showed how strain states could be represented in diagrammatic forms as originally devised by Otto Mohr for states of stress. Many of the developments were novel at the time of publication and have had major applications in subsequent research. The discussions and methods of strain analysis set out in Folding and Fracturing of Ricks have stood the test of time and many of the subsequent research developments in structural geology have their origins in this book. The reasons for the relevance of this book to current research are first, the book is based on sound mathematical principles that have not become dated and second, the discussions of deformation theory are illustrated with many photographs of the structures seen in naturally deformed rocks. The author has always been of the opinion that the structures actually observed in naturally formed rocks form the key to our understanding of tectonic processes and that the development of mechanical models for the origin of these structures must always be compared with natural systems if they are to be truly relevant. John Ramsay was born in London in 1931. He did his doctoral research in the Scottish Highlands working on the deformation patterns seen in complexly folded rocks of the Moine Series and the relationships seen in folded basement and cover rocks obtaining his Ph.D. in 1954. After undertaking his military service in the Corps of the Royal Engineers (as Violoncellist and Tenor drummer) he was appointed to the teaching staff of Imperial College in 1957. Subsequently he held Professorships at London University and Leeds University. In 1977, he was appointed to a Professorship of Geology at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule and University of Zürich, Switzerland. John Ramsay has been author and co-author of four books and many papers in structural geology. His work in advancing structural geology has been recognized by the awards of the Bigsby and Wollaston medals of the Geological Society, the Prestwich Medal of the Société Géologique de France, the Holmes Medal of the European Union of Geosciences, the Tranenster Medal of the University of Liège, and in 1992 he was appointed to the Order of Commander of the British Empire in the Queen's Honours list.

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About the Author

John Ramsay was born in London in 1931 and took his first degree in Geology at Imperial College, London University graduating with 1st class honours in 1952. He did his doctoral research in the Scottish Highlands working on the deformation patterns seen in complexly folded rocks of the Moine Series and the relationships seen in folded basement and cover rocks obtaining his Ph.D. in 1954. After undertaking his military service in the Corps of the Royal Engineers (as Violoncellist and Tenor drummer) he was appointed to the teaching staff of Imperial College in 1957. Subsequently he held Professorships at London University and Leeds University. In 1977 he was appointed to a Professorship of Geology at the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule and University of Zürich, Switzerland, and he currently is Professor Emeritus in these departments. He holds a "Doctorat Honoris Causa" of the University of Rennes, France and an Honorary Professorship at the University of Cardiff.

John Ramsay has been author and co-author of four books and many papers in structural geology. His work in advancing structural geology has been recognised by the awards of the Bigsby and Wollaston medals of the Geological Society, the Prestwich Medal of the Société Géologique de France, the Holmes Medal of the European Union of Geosciences, the Tranenster Medal of the University of Liège, and in 1992 he was appointed to the Order of Commander of the British Empire in the Queen's Honours list. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, and holds Honorary Fellowships of the Geological Society of America, the Société Géologique de France, the American Geophysical Union, the Indian National Science Academy, the US National Academy of Sciences and the Geological Society of the UK.

He continues to do scientific work and over the past years he has made structural field studies in the Moine thrust zone of Western Scotland as Honorary Research Associate with the British Geological Survey. Although officially retired from active geological teaching at the University of Zürich he currently teaches Violoncello and Chamber Music performance in France and is active in musical composition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 568 pages
• Publisher: The Blackburn Press (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193066589X
• ISBN-13: 978-1930665897
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,302,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making structural geology a science, August 22, 2009

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This review is from: Folding and Fracturing of Rocks (International Series in the Earth and Planetary Sciences) (Paperback)

This is a reprint of the 1967 volume that effectively changed Structural Geology from a purely (almost) descriptive science to an analytical science. Ramsey introduced into the geology mainstream concepts and techniques that had been previously found to be necessary in analysis of deformed materials in the fields of metallurgy and engineering, but which had not made it into the textbooks of structural geology and hardly into the literature. Prior to Ramsey's research, much of which was summarized in that effort, few studies had been undertaken with sufficient attention to detail and quality/quantity of measurements. (A notable exception in America is the study of deformed oolites in the Appalachians by Earnst Cloos, a study to which all students of structural geology should be exposed.)

Ramsey begins with discussion of stress and strain via the respective tensors. From these he derives the stress and strain ellipsoids, concepts that have baffled generations of geology students. He then proceeds systematically to demonstrate how to use these concepts to determine the strains recorded in the rocks.

In the mid 1970's I found this book to be ideal for a graduate level course in which the emphasis was the measurement of strain in deformed rocks. The biggest problem I encountered there was student weakness in mathematics. However, when they saw how the general stress and strain tensors (nine components) can be resolved to three components by a rotation of the reference axes students joyfully embraced the formerly "difficult" ellipsoids. I have been a fan of that book since. Now, after a hiatus of three decades I again find myself teaching structural geology. Hence the necessity for my purchase of this replacement for my unlocatable original copy.

If you are familiar with the original printing you'll probably already have a copy. For graduate students in structural geology this is a "must-have" book. The book is, as I indicated above, suitable for a graduate course. However, in my opinion it is not the best choice for an introductory undergraduate course. But teachers of undergraduate courses should have a copy within easy reach.

Ramsey has published three volumes of a sequence that is the obvious update to this volume. These are titled "The Techniques of Modern Structural Geology Volume 1: Strain Analysis", "..... Volume 2 Folds and Fractures", and "... Volume 3: Application of Continuum Mechanics in Structural Geology". Unfortunately these appear to all be out of print and all to be rather expensive. Only the first of these three volumes has an Amazon review, and that only one. I'm saving my pennies and will buy copies of all three because I know the quality of the product without having to see it. However, unless you are already deeply enmeshed in study of deformed rocks or computer modeling of the deformation processes you'll probably find your needs satisfied by this reprint of the 1967 book.

DISCLAIMER - I met John Ramsey in the early 1970's and was privileged to spend a semester working with and being instructed by him. I had previously taken three different courses in structural geology from three different professors at three different universities. All of these courses were, and still are in my mind, excellent; but it was John Ramsey who showed me how to extract the most information from the deformed rocks.