A study of transmitted-light photomicrographs, scanning electron microscope micrographs, and X-ray diffractograms of unaltered, altered, and mineralized samples from the Roberts Mountains and Popovich Formations in the Carlin mine area, Nevada.

The first edition appeared fourteen years ago. Since then there have been significant advances in our science that warrant an updating and revision of Sand and Sandstone. The main framework of the first edition has been retained so that the reader can begin with the mineralogy and textural properties of sands and sandstones, progress through their organization and classification and their study as a body of rock, to consideration of their origin-prove nance, transportation, deposition, and lithification-and finally to their place in the stratigraphic column and the basin. The last decade has seen the rise of facies analysis based on a closer look at the stratigraphic record and the recognition of characteristic bed ding sequences that are the signatures of some geologic process-such as a prograding shallow-water delta or the migration of a point bar on an alluvial floodplain. The environment of sand deposition is more closely determined by its place in such depositional systems than by criteria based on textural characteristics-the "fingerprint" approach. Our revi sion reflects this change in thinking. As in the geological sciences as a whole, the concept of plate tectonics has required a rethinking of our older ideas about the origin and accumu lation of sediments-especially the nature of the sedimentary basins.

A major reason for the lack of understanding of argillaceous rocks is that the key to understanding their history lies in their microfabric. Argillaceous Rock Atlas addresses this aspect by taking a systematic approach to the analysis of shale fabrics. This approach combines such techniques as scanning electron microscopy, x-radiography and thin-section petrography. Thus the book is amply illustrated with scanning electron and thin section photomicrographs and x-radiograms which show the salient features of shale at a variety of scales. A great portion of the book is devoted to case studies, supplemented by mineralogical and geochemical data, which demonstrate the utility of these techniques in the interpretation of depositional environments, diagenetic processes and possible economic significance of argillaceous rocks. Argillaceous Rock Atlas is a valuable and unique reference for students and researchers involved in the fields of sedimentology and stratigraphy, petrology, petroleum geology, hydrogeology and geochemistry.

The first edition of Practical Sedimentology contained dis ACKNOWLEDGMENTS cussions of principles and techniques that could be applied to the analysis of sediments in the field and in laboratories sup Colleagues at the University of Canterbury and the Univer plied with inexpensive and commonly available equipment. sity of New England, Lismore, have helped with practical When considering a revised edition, we felt that it was inap advice on their experiences with various methodologies dis propriate to restrict consideration to the simple and common cussed in this volume. At the University of Canterbury, we techniques because so many modern analyses of sediments are particularly grateful to K. Swanson for advice on prepar use sophisticated and often expensive equipment to examine ing materials for scanning electron microscopy and paleonto sediments and sedimentary rocks. A review of the wide range logical specimens; to G. Coates (working at the university at of available techniques and equipment was not feasible in the the time of the first edition of Practical Sedimentology) for same volume as a review of principles. The original intent to compilation of, and additions to, the procedures for textural analysis and some tables and sketches; to Ted Montague for produce a concise summary of practical sediment studies in an inexpensive format was maintained, but now in the form the bulk of the chapter on borehole sedimentology; to Dr. J.