Mind over Magma: The Story of Igneous Petrology

Description

Mind over Magma chronicles the scientific effort to unravel the mysteries of rocks that solidified on or beneath Earth's surface from the intensely hot, molten material called magma. The first-ever comprehensive history of the study of such igneous rocks, it traces the development of igneous petrology from ancient descriptions of volcanic eruptions to recent work incorporating insights from physical chemistry, isotope studies, and fluid dynamics. Intellectual developments in the field--from the application of scientific methods to the study of rocks to the discovery of critical data and the development of the field's major theories--are considered within their broader geographical, social, and technological contexts. Mind over Magma examines the spread of igneous petrology from western Europe to North America, South Africa, Japan, Australia, and much of the rest of the world. It considers the professionalization and Anglicization of the field, detailing changes in publication outlets, the role of women, and the influence of government funding. The book also highlights the significant role that technological developments--including the polarizing microscope, high-temperature quenching furnaces, and instrumental analysis--have played in the discovery of new data and development of revolutionary insights into the nature of igneous rocks. Both an engagingly told story and a major reference, Mind over Magma is the only available history of this important field. As such, it will be appreciated by petrologists, geochemists, and other geologists as well as by those interested in the history of science. Cover Title Page Copyright Page CONTENTS List of Figures List of Tables Preface THE FOUNDATIONAL ERA 1. Breath-Pipes and Ignivomous Mountains-Early Concepts of Volcanism 2. Basaltes Prismatiques-Lava, Columnar Basalt, and Ancient Volcanoes 3. Fire or Water?-The Debate over the Origin of Basalt 4. The "Insolently Triumphant Dogma"-The Collapse of the Concept of Aqueous Basalt 5. Subterraneous Lava-The Recognition of Intrusive Granite THE PRIMITIVE ERA 6. Wet or Dry?-The Origin of Granite 7. Classes and Orders-Petrography and Classification in the Early Nineteenth Century 8. Basalt and Trachyte-Early Theories of Diversity THE MICROSCOPE ERA 9. Minute Objects, Great Conclusions-The Rise of Microscopic Petrography 10. Basalt or Melaphyre?-Igneous Rocks in Time 11. Provinces and Plugs-Igneous Rocks in Space 12. Spaltung und Keme-The Emergence of the Theory of Differentiation 13. Physical Chemistry and Petrology-The Mechanism of Differentiation 14. The Language of Petrology-Nomenclature and Classification 15. Meldometers and Thermocouples-Early Experimental Petrology THE EXPERIMENTAL ERA 16. Clearing the Mists-The Theory of Crystallization-Differentiation 17. An Unsurpassed Natural Laboratory-Differentiated Sills and Layered Intrusions 18. Cone Sheets and Cauldrons-The Mechanics of Igneous Intrusion 19. Magma or Emanations?-The Beginnings of the Granite Controversy 20. Pontiffs and Soaks-The Resolution of the Granite Controversy 2l. Modes and Norms-Classification in Crisis THE GEOCHEMICAL ERA 22. Structures and Spectra-The Geochemical Revolution in Petrology 23. The Sea Below, the Heavens Above-The Extension of Petrology 24. Delta and Epsilon-Stable and Radiogenic Isotopes in Igneous Petrogenesis 25. Mathematical Modeling-Trace-Element Studies in Igneous Petrogenesis 26. Bombs and Buffers-Experimental Petrology after Bowen 27. Classification Salvaged?-IUGS to the Rescue THE FLUID DYNAMICAL ERA 28. Rayleigh and Reynolds-The Fluid Dynamics of Magma Chambers 29. Paradigm Lost, Paradigm Regained?-Cumulate Theory under Fire 30. Past and Future-Some Concluding Remarks Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects