Magmatism and geodynamics : terrestrial magmatism throughout the Earth's history /

Magmatism and Geodynamics, a translation from the Russian of a work by four leading geologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences, explores the relationship between igneous activity and the forces that operate within the earth, but it does so by examining that relationship at various periods throughout Earth's history. The authors conclude that Earth's magmatism and tectonic activity have evolved systematically and irreversibly through time. The evidence, they suggest, shows Earth to have systematically progressed from the magmatic and tectonic regimes suggested by lunar rocks and Martian landscapes, to the plate tectonic regime that they conclude has existed on Earth for the past two billion years. This book is among a relative few to cover this topic and fewer still to attempt to document these changes throughout the complete history of Earth. In addition, its Eurasian emphasis includes data from Russia and the states of the former USSR not previously available to non-Russian readers. Although translated, the text reads well; illustrations, however, are generally of low quality. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. ; University of Texas at San Antonio