Leaving aside the atmosphere and hydrosphere, rocks are the stuff of which the earth is made. Because of this, the study of rocks, petrology (from the Greek petra, “rock,” and logos, “discourse or explanation”), occupies a central position among the earth sciences. The study of rocks is the source of virtually all of our ideas about the history of Earth. Knowledge about rocks, their origin and ages, and their distribution is potentially capable of contributing to the solution of a wide variety of problems that run the gamut of geological interests.

The goal of generations of igneous geochemists is to use mineralogical and chemical laws in an attempt to explain the geological processes they are investigating. This scientific approach is both simple and rigorous. Initially it consists of highlighting magmatic differentiation trends and determining the possible underlying petrogenetic mechanism(s).

In this book the author attempts to provide up-to-date information about the geochemistry, exotic mineralogy, petrology, and experimental studies on ultrapotassic feldspathoid-bearing mafic and ultramafic rocks, which are quite distinct from the rocks of basalt family. The parental liquids for this intriguing group of rocks bear definite signature of their deep mantle source.

Mantle metasomatism--perspective and prospect

Alkaline rocks and their inclusions: a window on the Earth's interior

The genesis of alkaline magmas with emphasis on their source regions: inferences from experimental studies

Nephelinites and carbonatites

Alkalic carbonatite magmas: parental or derivative?

The kimberlite clan: relationship with olivine and leucite lamproites, and inferences for upper-mantle metasomatism

Lamproites and other potassium-rich igneous rocks: a review of their occurrence, mineralogy and geochemistry

The nature and origin of lamprophyres: an overview

Рудные месторождения делятся на три группы; 1) месторождения, образованные осадочными процессами; 2) месторождения, отложенные метеорными водами, и 3) месторождения, возникшие в связи с магматическими процессами.
Последняя группа наиболее важна. В состав этой группы входят магматические сегрегации, которые представляют собой изверженные породы в тесном смысле слова, а также жилы и связанные с ними месторождения, которые образовались путем осаждения в каналах из растворов, происходящих из охлаждающихся интрузивных тел.

Данное пособие является актуализированным переизданием пособия «Номенклатуры и структуры изверженных пород» 2007 г. В 2009 году был обновлён «Петрографический кодекс», основные положения и рекомендации которого взяты за основу курса «Петрография изверженных пород» на геолого-геофизическом факультете НГУ. Сам кодекс является библиографической редкостью, что затрудняет его использование в учебных целях, и это побудило авторов подготовить данное пособие.

The purpose of this book is to stimulate the reader ’ s interest in magmatic rocks and processes, to develop key skills of describing,
classifying and naming such rocks, and to show how much we can learn about igneous processes from careful, informed interpretation of rock textures, mineralogy and geochemistry. The book is aimed primarily at the intermediate - level student of geology who already has a basic knowledge of igneous rocks, but anyone starting from scratch should fi nd that the opening chapter and relevant boxes –together with the Glossary –provide the minimum introduction they require. The emphasis throughout the book will be on practical investigation, mainly by means of the polarizing microscope; basic mineral - identifi cation data have therefore been included to provide –between one set of covers –all that the student needs during a typical igneous practical class. <...>

In Chapter 1 we noted that magmas with distinctive major element characteristics are associated with specific tectonic settings. For example, calc-alkaline series magmas are apparently associated uniquely with subduction, while low-K tholeiitic basalts are the typical products of magma generation at constructive plate margins. However, in general, the major element characteristics of primary mantle derived magmas are * not particularly sensitive indicators of tectonic setting.

The use of computers as primary tools for carrying out geological research and databases for storing geological information has grown considerably in recent years. In the same period there has been a dramatic increase in the degree of collaboration between scientific institutions, universities and industry, and between geologists working in different countries. To facilitate collaborative work amongst geologists and to maximise efficiency in the use of geological databases a common approach to classifying and naming rocks is essential. This publication presents a scheme for the classification and nomenclature of igneous rocks that is practical, logical, systematic, hierarchical and uses clearly defined, unambiguous rock names.