Mind over Magma chronicles the scientific effort to unravel the
mysteries of rocks that solidified on or beneath Earth's surface from
the intensely hot, molten material called magma. The first-ever
comprehensive history of the study of such igneous rocks, it traces the
development of igneous petrology from ancient descriptions of volcanic
eruptions to recent work incorporating insights from physical chemistry,
isotope studies, and fluid dynamics.
Intellectual developments in the field--from the application of
scientific methods to the study of rocks to the discovery of critical
data and the development of the field's major theories--are considered
within their broader geographical, social, and technological contexts.
Mind over Magma examines the spread of igneous petrology from western
Europe to North America, South Africa, Japan, Australia, and much of the
rest of the world. It considers the professionalization and
Anglicization of the field, detailing changes in publication outlets,
the role of women, and the influence of government funding. The book
also highlights the significant role that technological
developments--including the polarizing microscope, high-temperature
quenching furnaces, and instrumental analysis--have played in the
discovery of new data and development of revolutionary insights into the
nature of igneous rocks.
Both an engagingly told story and a major reference, Mind over Magma
is the only available history of this important field. As such, it will
be appreciated by petrologists, geochemists, and other geologists as
well as by those interested in the history of science.
