Presents a collection of papers discussing various hypotheses and models of planetary plumes.

Contributed articles.

The book includes a synthesis of research findings on the structure and evolution of the Central Indian Ocean Basin and its ferromanganese deposits, in particular, on the exploration campaign since 1980s. A comprehensive mixture of recent studies along with classical theories starting from the 1960s is the hallmark of the book. Recent concepts and hypotheses, and also critical appreciation of the state-of-the-art knowledge on nodule formation and resource management are incorporated. After limiting the geographical extension of the nodule field and describing its physiographic, geological, biological, physical and chemical characteristics in chapter 1, the various structural, tectonic and volcanic elements are described in chapters 2 and 3. The bottom sediment characteristics that floor the nodules and crusts are dealt with in chapter 4. The nodules and crusts are described in detail in chapter 5, and their process of formation in the light of variable source material, local and regional tectonic activities, and midplate secondary volcanisms are discussed. The mining, environment, metallurgy, legal and economic aspects of the nodule resources are discussed in chapter 6. This title fulfils the growing need to bring voluminous, but scattered information in the form of a book for easy dissemination to students and researchers.* First dedicated book on the Indian Ocean manganese nodule resources * Comprehensively discusses the dynamics of nodule formation in the Indian Ocean Nodule Field (IONF) * Independently assesses the influence of tectonics and volcanism on the manganese nodule resource potential in local and regional scales

This book presents in a concise format a simplified and coherent geological-dynamical history of the Indian subcontinent (including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Southern Tibet and Pakistan). Encompassing a broad array of information related to structure and tectonics, stratigraphy and palaeontology, sedimentation and palaeogeography, petrology and geochemistry, geomorphology and geophysics, it explores the geodynamic developments that took place from the beginning around 3.4 billion years ago to the last about 5,000 years before present. Presented in a distilled form, the observations and deductions of practitioners, this book is meant for teachers, researchers and students of geology, geophysics and geomorphology and practitioners of earth sciences. A comprehensive list of references to original works provides guidance for those seeking further details and who wish to examine selected problems in depth. The book is illustrated with a wealth of maps, cross sections and block diagrams — all simplified and redesigned.

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 88. This volume focuses on the volcanic, fluid, sedimentary, and tectonic processes occurring in the trencharc-backarc systems of the western Pacific—a natural regional focus for studies of these themes. The results of ocean drilling and associated site surveys in the western Pacific have brought fundamental changes to our understanding of volcanism, crustal deformation, fluid circulation, and sedimentation in active margins and marginal basins. Our goal here is to synthesize the results of ocean drilling in a multi-disciplinary manner, including a comparison of the findings from drilling legs having similar themes, and to emphasize the significance of these results to the broader geoscience community.