Customer Reviews

Petrology: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic, 2nd Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very good introductory petrology text which combines igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic petrology in one volume. With a publication date of 1996, it may be getting a little long in the tooth, however. For example, the book discusses the Wilson hot spot model without reference to mantle plumes. With the exception of some apparent confusion about the effect on seismic velocity of the asthenosphere, I found no significant errors nor editing problems. My only significant criticism is that all of the photographs are in black and white, and some are printed so darkly that details are hard to make out. One would think that, with a price approaching $100, the publisher would be able to include a bit of color in the appropriate places.

Note: This review is of the first edition; perhaps the problems with the figures have been addressed in the second edition.

I was a student of Brent Owens in the Geology Dept. at William and Mary. He is an absolute first rate teacher and this text reflects aptitude for teaching. The desciptions are precise, the reading easy, and the subject material is up-to-date. I liked the text enough to keep it and not re-sell it to an incoming student.

In this new edition of 'Petrology,' veteran author Harvey Blatt and well-known scholar Robert Tracy combine efforts to provide a contemporary, highly accessible overview to the three basic rock groups. Blatt has refined the sedimentary chapters to include the latest information about soft rocks, while Tracy has applied his cutting-edge knowledge to the hard rock chapters, updating information about igneous and metamorphic rocks. The result is a comprehensive introduction to petrology, ideal for students in their first course.

The second edition focuses on the methods petrologists use to do their work and acknowledges the dramatic changes that have shaped petrology over the past 25 years - from technological advances that have deepened our understanding of rock-forming processes to the increasing interaction between petrologists and other earth scientists who determine how petrologic processes and products fit into a tectonic framework. Blatt and Tracy consistently address the needs of students by keeping the mathematics simple whenever possible and introducing concepts such as crystallization and melting processes in logical order.

This was the textbook I had when I was in undergratuate petrology and is a good basic petrology text. I have not seen the latest edition but I would expect it to be about the same.

This book took me back to my college days. This is probably one of the less complex book that you can find. Collect it if you can. The author gives you a lot of for for thoughts. I enjoyed the Igneous and metamorphic part far better than the sedimentary part.

I have tried reading this book several times for my Petrology class, but everytime I crack it open, I can't seem to comprehend what I'm reading. It's a slightly difficult and boring read. Its also not in color which makes the pictures completely dull and useless. But if I need to look up vocabulary or terminology, this book is useful.

I needed a reference book of this type, and read the customer reviews, which were mostly favorable. It is an excellent source for petrology on the undergrad level. It has many illustrations and diagrams, etc.

I bought it because my Prof. said so, very much in detailed for higher level Geology Major students!

This book can be very informative if you know what you're looking for in it. I would reccomend it to students who are geology majors if it is not already required.