Orogenesis: The Making of Mountains

by Michael R. W. Johnson, Simon L. Harley

Overview

Orogenesis, the process of mountain building, occurs when two tectonic plates collide – either forcing material upwards to form mountain belts such as the Alps or Himalayas or causing one plate to be subducted below the other, resulting in volcanic mountain chains such as the Andes. Integrating the approaches of structural geology and metamorphism, this book provides an up-to-date overview of orogenic research and an introduction to the physico-chemical properties of mountain belts. Global examples are explored, the interactioning roles of temperature and deformation in the orogenic process are reviewed, and important new concepts such as channel flow are explained. This book provides a valuable introduction to this fast-moving field for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of structural geology, plate tectonics and geodynamics, and will also provide a vital overview of research for academics and researchers working in related fields including petrology geochemistry and sedimentology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521765565
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/08/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	398
Product dimensions:	7.64(w) x 9.92(h) x 0.83(d)

About the Author

Michael Johnson is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and taught structural geology and tectonics in the University of Edinburgh for forty years. He has undertaken research on orogenic belts in many parts of the world – Scotland, North America, the Alps and the Himalayas – and has continued his researches since his retirement in 1997. Dr Johnson has written over 80 papers, co-edited and contributed to several books, and organised and given keynote lectures at many international conferences. For many years he was on the editorial board of Tectonophysics and has served on international committees such as IGCP.

Simon Harley is Professor of Lower Crustal Processes at the School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh. For 25 years, he has taught metamorphism and tectonics, Earth evolution and aspects of isotope geology at the University of Edinburgh and Oxford University and is recognised internationally as a world authority on metamorphism at extreme temperature conditions in the crust. He has undertaken field and laboratory-based research on mountain belts from around the globe, and has a particular interest in Antarctica, its evolution and environment. Professor Harley has written 110 papers, co-edited several conference proceedings and special volumes, and acted on the editorial boards of several key journals in geosciences, including Geology and the Journal of Petrology. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a recipient of the Imperial Polar Medal for contributions to Antarctic science.

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Major features of the Earth and plate tectonics; 2. Driving mechanisms for plates, slab retreat and advance, a reason for orogenesis; 3. Physical and chemical principles: rock deformation and heat production in the lithosphere; 4. Large scale features of orogenic belts: thrusts, folds, orogenic wedges; 5. Evolution of orogens; 6. Lateral spreading of orogens: foreland propagation, channel flow and weak zones in the crust; 7. Orogenic metamorphism; 8. The erosion, uplift and exhumation of orogens; 9. The sedimentary history of foreland basins; 10. Deep structure: the support of mountains and the importance of phase changes; 11. Mountains and climate; 12. Precambrian orogenesis; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Mike Johnson and Simon Harley have produced a book that provides an overview of orogenic research and an introduction to the physico-chemical properties of mountain belts. Both are leading authorities in their fields and their excellent understanding of the issues involved comes though in the clearly-structured text. ... this book deserves to be widely read." - Chris Hawkesworth, Geoscientist August 2012

"is an excellent in-depth, up-to-date, well-written overview of the various proposed processes and mechanisms involved in mountain building..Summing Up: Essential" - M.E. McCallum, CHOICE, December 2012

"Overall, this book offers plenty of food for thought...would be a useful addition to the library of a geologist desiring an overview of the diverse array of topics associated with modern approaches to mountain building and orogenic tectonics." - Rebecca A. Jamieson, Elements, December 2012

"...Logical arrangement, attractive narrative style, that leads a reader through complex topic of the formation of mountains without weariness, legible and very well prepared illustrations, makes this volume an important position for geologists, geophysicists, petrologists and geochemists." - Marek Lewandowski, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pure and Applied Geophysics

From the Publisher