Cornwall is renowned for the diversity and complexity of its geology. A literature of great historical interest exists, and this is analysed alongside a wide-ranging review of the current position and assessments of the environmental consequences of rock and mineral exploitation.
List of Plates, x; List of Figures, xi; List of Tables, xiv; Contributors, xv; Abbreviations, xvi; Preface-Geological Field Work, xvii; A Code for Geological Field Work, xviii; Acknowledgements, xxi; CHAPTER ONE-INTRODUCTION C.M. Bristow, E.M. Durrance and E.B. Selwood, 1; Historical Review, 4; Summary of Geological Development, 5; CHAPTER TWO-THE PRE-DEVONIAN TECTONIC FRAMEWORK E.M. Durrance, 16; CHAPTER THREE-THE LIZARD COMPLEX J.R. Andrews, 21; Geological Setting, 21; The Crousa Downs Ophiolite, 23; The Western Tectonic Unit, 26; Age, 28; Ridge-Axis Tectonics, 29; Emplacement/Obduction, 30; CHAPTER FOUR-DEVONIAN, 31; K.P. Isaac, E.B. Selwood and R.K. Shail; Lower Devonian: R.K. Shail, 34; Gramscatho Basin: R.K. Shail, 40; Trevone Basin: E.B. Selwood, 48; Liskeard High: E.B. Selwood, 55; South Devon Basin: K.P. Isaac, 56; CHAPTER FIVE-CARBONIFEROUS K.P. Isaac and J.M. Thomas, 65; South of the Culm Basin: K.P. Isaac, 66; Culm Basin: J.M. Thomas, 76. CHAPTER SIX-VARISCAN STRUCTURE AND REGIONAL METAMORPHISM J.R. Andrews, K.P. Isaac, E.B. Selwood, R.K. Shail and J.M. Thomas, 82; Intrabasinal Shelf: R.K. Shail, 82; Gramscatho Basin: R.K. Shail, 87; Trevone Basin: E.B. Selwood and J.M. Thomas, 95; Liskeard High: E.B. Selwood, 102; The Structure of East Cornwall: K.P. Isaac, 103; Culm Basin: J.R. Andrews, 111; The Boscastle-Tintagel-Tregardock Culmination: J.R. Andrews, 113; Metamorphism: D. Robinson, 114; CHAPTER SEVEN-GRANITES AND ASSOCIATED IGNEOUS ACTIVITY D.A.C. Manning, 120; Granitic Rock Types, 121; Alteration of the Granites, 125; Rhyolite Porphyry Dykes (Elvans), 125; Kingsand Rhyolites, 126; Lamprophyres, 127; Compositional Variation, 127; Geochronological Data, 133; Petrogenetic Models, 134; CHAPTER EIGHT-MINERALIZATION R.C. Scrivener and T.J. Shepherd, 136; Nature of Deposits, 137; Pre-granite Mineralization, 144; Granite Related Mineralization, 147; Post-granite Mineralization, 152; Chronology of Mineralization, 153; South Crofty Mine, 155; CHAPTER NINE-MODELLING THE MINERALIZATION FRAMEWORK F.W.A.A. Lucas and J. Willis-Richards, 158; Cataclastic Flow and Lode Formation, 158; Heat Flow, 160; Convection Modelling, 162; Metasomatic Zoning of Greisen-Bordered Veins, 163; Fracture Propagation in Endo-granitic Sheeted Vein Systems, 165; CHAPTER TEN-CHINA CLAY C.M. Bristow, 167; Historical Development of Cornish China Clay Production, 167; The Formation of China Clay, 168; Mineralogy and Properties of Kaolinized Granite, 175; Resources, 177; CHAPTER ELEVEN-OFFSHORE AND MESOZOIC GEOLOGY M.B. Hart, 179; Basement Geology, 179; Post-Carboniferous Development, 181; Mesozoic History, 182; CHAPTER TWELVE-THE TERTIARY K. Atkinson, 188; Eocene, 188; Oligocene and Miocene, 191; Pliocene, 196; Tertiary Weathering Phenomena, 198; CHAPTER THIRTEEN-THE QUATERNARY R.A. Cullingford, 199; Glacial Phenomena, 199; Periglacial Phenomena, 203; Sea-level Changes, 207; Palaeobotany, 208; The Quaternary Sequence, 209; CHAPTER FOURTEEN-HISTORY OF METALLIFEROUS MINING R. Burt, 211; Early Tin Mining, 211; The Beginnings of Copper Mining, 214; Lead and Silver Production, 215; The Diversification of Output, 216; Competition and Decline, 218; Contraction and Collapse, 219; International Action, 221; Estimates of Total Output, 224; CHAPTER FIFTEEN-THE CONTEMPORARY EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY C.M. Bristow, 226; Metalliferous Mineral Production, 226; Development of the China Clay and Chinastone Industries, 229; Raw Materials for the Construction Industries, 231; CHAPTER SIXTEEN-ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY R.P. Edwards, P. Grainger and M.J. Heath, 235; Hydrology and Water Quality: M.J. Heath, 236; Environmental Impact of Metalliferous Mining: R.P. Edwards, 237; Radon: M.J. Heath, 240; Engineering Geology: P. Grainger, 243; Appendix-Geological and Geomorphological Conservation Sites; C.M. Bristow, 249; References, 263; Subject Index, 285; Locality Index, 294.
Altogether this is a most informative and readable book, and the paperback version is very reasonably priced. It is recommended for anyone who wishes to gain an informed up-to-date introduction to the geology of this geologically complex, yet historically important area. -Mineralogical Magazine, October 1999