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For experts and armchair enthusiasts alike, Rocks and Minerals: A Photographic Field Guide will appeal to anyone interested in uncovering the mysteries of this subject. A general introduction is followed by an introduction to rocks covering the three groups: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary, plus their formation and occurrence, main characteristics and economic uses. A number of examples from each category will be detailed and illustrated. The second part of the book begins with an int...

Discussions of "systems" and the "systems approach" tend to fall into one of two categories: the panegyrical and the disparaging. Scholars who praise the systems approach do so in the belief that it is a powerful and precise method of study. Scholars who try to shoot it down fail to see any advantage in it; indeed, many deem it periIicious. Van Dyne (1980, p. 889) records a facetious comment he once heard, the gist of which ran: "In instances where there are from one to two variables in a study...

This book is about the more than 4,000 beach systems that form most of the 9000 km long Brazilian coast. It focuses on the beaches of each of the seventeen coastal states and three oceanic islands, their nature, morphodynamics and status. It is a must for anyone who wants to know more about this great coast and its beach systems. This is the first book ever written about the beach systems of Brazil, and actually the very first about the beaches of an entire country. The Brazilian coast extends f...

Reservoirs generally consist of sandstones or carbonates exhibiting heterogeneities caused by a wide range of factors. Some of these formed depositionally (e.g. as channels, palaeosols, clay seams or salts), others may be diagenetic in origin (e.g. carbonate or silica cemented zones, authigenic clays, karstic surfaces). The severity with which diagenesis affects rock systems results from the interplay between the diagenetic process itself and the timescale over which it operated. The b...

This book discusses the recession of alpine glaciers since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA), which has been accelerating in the past decades. It provides an overview of the research in the field, presenting definitions and information about the different proglacial areas and systems. A number of case studies are from the PROSA project group which encompasses the expertise of geomorphologists, geologists, glaciologists and geodesists. The PROSA joint project (High-resolution measurements of mo...

Formation and Properties of Clay-Polymer Complexes provides a comprehensive account of the reactions between clay minerals and organic polymers. The book opens with a discussion of the structures of common clay minerals, clays colloid chemistry, and the behaviour of organic polymers at clay surfaces. This is followed by a systematic treatment of complex formation between clay minerals and various classes of synthetic and naturally occurring polymers, a description of the properties of the result...

In some parts of the world the shape of the land surface has altered little, even over many millions of years, yet elsewhere significant landform changes may take place quite rapidly, often with serious practical consequences. Traditional approaches to landform change tended to produce ambitious general theories based on limited evidence from one particular area. `Landforms and Time', is, by contrast, a textbook which acknowledges the wealth of information provided by deep-sea cores in recent ye...

This book analyzes the formation and evolution of the giant hydrocarbon reservoirs based on major basins onshore China. It discusses exploration and research advantages of major basins in China, such as Sichuan, Tarim, and Ordos Basins and also systematically analyzes and summarizes the formation conditions, distribution rules, and main controlling factors of deep oil and gas fields. On this basis, it forecasts the exploration prospect of China's onshore deep oil and gas, providing theoretical g...

The creep, or extension with time, that takes place in geosynthetics under load is an essential parameter to consider in the design of reinforced soil walls. This report describes the phenomenon of creep, how it is measured and how the data could be presented for use by a civil engineer. It presents creep data for test durations of up to six years for three woven fabrics, a coated polyester strip, and a polyethylene grid. In addition, the report examines the use of the technique of time-temperat...

"Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability" is primarily based upon papers presented at a 1996 conference on soil degradation. The book integrates physical and economic modelling for the environmental impact of farming. It covers basic concepts and global issues, nutrient and water inputs, soil quality management in Asia, Africa and the Tropical Americas, and future priorities. The 26 chapters provide a portrait of the current state - and future prospects - of worldwide agronomic viability.

The aim of this comprehenvise book is to present the most important results achieved in the research of the clay minerals palygorskite and sepiolite. Palygorskite and sepiolite have found to be useful in a huge variety of industrial and medical applications. As a result, research on these clays has been intensified during the last two decades, and important advances in their characterization have been made. The book contains contributions from distinguished scientists in the field.

Computerized modeling is a powerful tool to describe the complex interrelations between measured data and the dynamics of sedimentary systems. Complex interaction of environmental factors with natural variations and increasing anthropogenic intervention is reflected in the sedimentary record at varying scales. The understanding of these processes gives way to the reconstruction of the past and is a key to the prediction of future trends. Especially in cases where observations are limited and/or...