Earth as an Evolving Planetary System, Second Edition, explores key topics and questions relating to the evolution of the Earth's crust and mantle over the last four billion years. This updated edition features exciting new information on Earth and planetary evolution and examines how all subsystems in our planet—crust, mantle, core, atmosphere, oceans and life—have worked together and changed over time. It synthesizes data from the fields of oceanography, geophysics, planetology, and geochemistry to address Earth's evolution. This volume consists of 10 chapters, including two new ones that deal with the Supercontinent Cycle and on Great Events in Earth history. There are also new and updated sections on Earth's thermal history, planetary volcanism, planetary crusts, the onset of plate tectonics, changing composition of the oceans and atmosphere, and paleoclimatic regimes. In addition, the book now includes new tomographic data tracking plume tails into the deep mantle. This book is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, with a basic knowledge of geology, biology, chemistry, and physics. It also may serve as a reference tool for structural geologists and professionals in related disciplines who want to look at the Earth in a broader perspective. - Kent Condie's corresponding interactive CD, Plate Tectonics and How the Earth Works, can be purchased from Tasa Graphic Arts here: http://www.tasagraphicarts.com/progptearth.html - Two new chapters on the Supercontinent Cycle and on Great Events in Earth history - New and updated sections on Earth's thermal history, planetary volcanism, planetary crusts, the onset of plate tectonics, changing composition of the oceans and atmosphere, and paleoclimatic regimes - Also new in this Second Edition: the lower mantle and the role of the post-perovskite transition, the role of water in the mantle, new tomographic data tracking plume tails into the deep mantle, Euxinia in Proterozoic oceans, The Hadean, A crustal age gap at 2.4-2.2 Ga, and continental growth

The eruption of deep-seated xenoliths in basaltic, alnoitic, kimberlitic, etc volcanoes provides the geologist with an important direct means of examining the fragments of the earth's mantle and lower crust.

Though largely inaccessible, the geochemistry of Earth's mantle and core can be examined through a wide variety of approaches. Volume 2 focuses first on "remote" sensing using evidence from cosmochemical, seismic, petrologic and geochemical approaches. Mantle composition is then examined in detail through descriptions of mantle samples brought to Earth's surface through tectonic, volcanic, and volatile-outgassing processes. The volume concludes with examination of processes that modify the composition of the mantle and core including an early magma ocean, partial melting, element partitioning between minerals and melts, and physical mixing caused by plate subduction, mantle convection and mass exchange between mantle and core. Reprinted individual volume from the acclaimed Treatise on Geochemistry, (10 Volume Set, ISBN 0-08-043751-6, published in 2003) - Comprehensive and authoritative scope and focus - Reviews from renowned scientists across a range of subjects, providing both overviews and new data, supplemented by extensive bibliographies - Extensive illustrations and examples from the field