Twtonophysrcs, 111 (1985) 163-172

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.. Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands

163

Book Reviews

Lu Fracturution des Roches. Manuels et Methodes No. 1. Jean-Louis Bles and

Bernard Feuga. B.R.G.M., Orleans, 1981, 123 pp.

This small, compact book admirably covers the fundamental concepts and certain

of the applications of fracture mechanics in rock material, as related to naturally

occurring fractures. Such considerations as mining-induced fracturing are not in-

cluded.

The division into two main sections is a very useful idea which, perhaps

fortuitously, in many cases allows students in engineering disciplines to go straight

to the deuxieme partie: “Les Fractures Naturelles: Observation et Interpretation”.

Less numerate students in geology or geomorphology, for instance, can gain a great

deal from the straightforward and concise treatment of the rock mechanics laws and

concepts in the first section.

This appears to be a good teacher’s book as well as being useful for students. It is

set out in logical steps which are clearly stated.

It is interesting to see that this book draws together a number of strands of the

topics of natural rock fractures which are not usually dealt with in such a systematic

way. For example I found Chapter 3 in Part 2 a very useful comparative study of

fracture formation in rocks with different geological history. Speaking as a mining

engineer, I would be able to introduce much of this type of work to my students as

offering clear and well-illustrated explanations of observed behaviour in the mining

rock mechanics context.

My only real criticism concerns the lack of a detailed index. The reference lists

are biased towards European researchers and experience, but this is understandable

for an initially French-language publication. I would like to see an English transla-

tion available some time in the future, for which I feel confident there would be a

ready market.

R.L. BLACKWOOD (Kensington. N.S.W.)

The Origin and Evolution of the Earth’s Continental Crust, A Royal Society Discus-

sion organized by S. Moorbath and B.F. Windley, held on 21 and 22 February

1980. (First published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of

London, Ser. A, Vol. 301 (No. 1461) pp. 183-487. The Royal Society, London.

1981, pp i-vii, 191-487, &stg. 32.95 (U.K.)/&stg. 34.50 (overseas), hardcover.

One of the first impressions of this volume is of the high standard and impeccable

quality of the printing, the paper and the binding. This may not be unique to the

publications of the Royal Society of London but the large page size with clear