Rocks and their Origins

Abstract

IT speaks well for the discrimination of the readers of popular science that a new issue of this thoughtful introduction to the study of rocks should be called for. Prof. Cole is equally at home in tracing the history of the development of scientific theories and in describing the relation of scenery to the geological structures of the rocks that underlie it. He discusses without too much technical detail the origin of the different types of rocks of which the earth's crust is composed, and gives a very fair résumé of the controversies which have been waged on the subject, many of which are still as active as ever. There are a number of happily chosen illustrations of rock scenery, mostly reproduced from the author's own photographs. This little volume is honourably distinguished from others of a similar character by the clearness of its style and the abundant references which will prove useful in directing the student's attention to scientific contributions that he might otherwise overlook. There are few of our geologists who have read so widely and to such good effect as Prof. Cole. Rocks and their Origins. By Prof. Grenville A. J. Cole (Cambridge Manuals of Science and Literature.) Second edition. Pp. viii + 175. (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1922.) 4s. net.