Description

A key reference for researchers and advanced students of petrology, Archaean geology and economic geology. Komatiites provide important evidence about the thermal and chemical evolution of the planet. This monograph presents a complete account of their characteristics including their volcanic structures, textures, mineralogy and chemical compositions. Komatiite is a key reference for researchers and advanced students of petrology, Archaean geology and economic geology. Komatiites provide important evidence about the thermal and chemical evolution of the planet. This monograph presents a complete account of their characteristics including their volcanic structures, textures, mineralogy and chemical compositions. Komatiite is a key reference for researchers and advanced students of petrology, Archaean geology and economic geology. Komatiites erupted billions of years ago as pulsating streams of white-hot lava. Their unusual chemical compositions and exceptionally high formation temperatures produced highly fluid lava that crystallized as spectacular layered flows. Investigation of the extreme conditions in which komatiites formed provides important evidence about the thermal and chemical evolution of the planet, and the nature of the Precambrian mantle. This monograph, written by three experts with long experience in the field, presents a complete account of the characteristics of komatiites including their volcanic structures, textures, mineralogy and chemical compositions. M