Radiogenic Isotope Geology [Paperback]

Alan P. Dickin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 1997

Modern isotope geochemistry is a rapidly expanding field that has a part to play in a broad range of earth and planetary sciences - from extra-solar system processes to environmental geoscience. This book provides a comprehensive review of the field of radiogenic isotope geology and highlights the use of isotopic dating and tracer studies in solving geological problems. The author presents current ideas in their historical context, thereby leading the reader to an appreciation of the development of modern interpretations. The text is illustrated with over 400 diagrams to allow easy visualisation of all the important concepts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'... a masterly overview of the history, principles, experimental techniques and practical applications of this wide-ranging and burgeoning field ... This book will be of very widespead interest and will be routinely used by practising academic and industrial geologists and geochemists.' Anthony E. Fallick, Times Higher Education Supplement

'Dickin clearly and concisely reviews an enormous breadth of literature ... This is a notable contribution to the scientific literature on radiogenic isotope geology. It provides a readable introduction to applications of radiogenic isotopes for scientists from other disciplines and an important reference for students and researchers working in isotope geology.' Joel D. Blum, Nature

'I enjoyed Dickin's writing style; it is authoritative, and his historical perspective both places ideas in context and provides well-paced introductions to the more difficult topics.' C. J. Hawkesworth, Journal of Petrology

'This book will undoubtedly be 'the' handbook of isotope geology for some time to come.' Christopher Kendall, The Leading Edge

'The author takes us on a well written tour of nearly all methods of investigating Earth and planetary sciences using isotopes produced by radioactive decay ... the book is recommended without reservation.' Ian W Drummond, OUGS Journal

'... should have a major impact on the teaching is isotope geology at both undergraduate and graduate student level, as well as offering an authoritative reference book for specialists in other fields.' C. J. Hawkesworth, Journal of Petrology

Book Description

Modern isotope geochemistry is a rapidly expanding field that has a part to play in a broad range of earth and planetary sciences. This advanced level text reviews the field of radiogenic isotope geology in a concise and visual manner and provides an introduction to the subject and its wide variety of applications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 506 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (June 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521598915
• ISBN-13: 978-0521598910
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,885,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars decent book (and discount that creationist review), December 16, 2002

By 

"peterzeitler" (Bethlehem, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radiogenic Isotope Geology (Paperback)

First, to actually say something about this book, it's a solid and comprehensive look at a burgeoning field. The use of radiogenic isotopes as geochemical tracers and for age determinations of various sorts is now a crucial component of studies of all parts of the Earth system. Inevitably, a single text that tries to cover such a diverse suite of rapidly developing subdisciplines will run into some glitches and not be completely current, but Dickin has provided a very good starting point for an advanced undergraduate or graduate course in isotope geochemistry and/or geochronology. This book is just about the only survey text available, and fortunately, it's good.

A second point: the "review" posted by the 'reader from Washington State' is a dogmatic creationist screed that doesn't address the content of the book and gets the story of the Jack Hills zircons wrong. The comments by this person could be taken as the type example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. For those that are really interested, I suggest that they look at the original papers involved in the controversy. For those that are just skimming this site, let me point out that the "rock unit" that was dated at Jack Hills is a sandstone, so of course the zircons showed a "confusion of information" because they were derived from all manner of different parent rocks by erosion! If you want to understand the complexities and nuances of geochronology, and learn how these very different techniques are used for purposes like characterizing geochemical reservoirs, determining the temperature history of rocks, and --yes-- determining the absolute age of rock units, read Dickin's book, and only then visit the creation science sites for a hoot.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to isotope geochemistry, December 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Radiogenic Isotope Geology (Paperback)

This book provides a good overview of the topic of isotope geochemistry. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to begin building an understanding of this material

3.0 out of 5 stars equations were wrong, March 22, 2011

By 

science man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radiogenic Isotope Geology (Paperback)

The content was there but the form for the saturating exponential had an incorrect sign. That just really bugged me as it was repeated in many places in the book.