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Abstract

"...represents a timely and welcome contribution to the field as it comprises semi-review articles dealing with magma generation and break-up processes, as well as syntheses from selected examples of CFB provinces. In addition there are several case studies (both geochemical and geophysical) which examine specific issues in detail. Even in isolation many of these articles are exceptionally useful, either as distillations of current thinking, or as new contributions of ideas and~or data. Together, however, they combine to create a comprehensive volume covering much of our present understanding.., of the causal relationships between lithospheric extension, rifting, thermal anomalies and magmatism. 'Janet Hergt in Chemical Geology, vol. 109, p356 '...should be within reach of all geoscientists seriously interested in continental flood volcanism and mechanisms of continental break-up. It provides a fascinating picture of the current state of knowledge of continental break-up on a global scale and highlights the complexity of the driving forces of break-up and the origins of associated basaltic rocks... In general, this is an important book which provides a solid foundation for developing understanding of modern continental rift tectonics and for the interpretation of continental rift geology and magmatism in the geological record. Every university geology library should buy it.' G. Wheller in Australian Geologist No 88, p41 '...breadth of subject matter, the diversity of the authors and the speed of publication all conspire to make this an excellent 'research in progress' volume. This is not a collection of similar papers reporting a consensual view, but a far more useful picture of the state of the art. In particular, it covers both the well-known examples of continent break-up apparently related to 'plume' magmatism, as well as examples where break-up manifestly has nothing to do with hot upwellings... This book should be in every library of Earth Science.' D. Pyle in Geological Magazine, vol. 131, p732 '...provides a wealth of information and stimulating ideas for geologists interested in breakup tectonics, magmatism and stratigraphy.., should be a required acquisition for university and research libraries.' Warren Manspeizer in Earth Science Reviews, vol. 35, p327