284

Sinha-Royspaper stresses on the importance of shears/

lineaments, some of which he equates with sutures in the
Aravalli and Delhi fold belts. According to the author, the
Aravalli trough initially caused by intra- continental rift
tectonics is closed by obduction of ophiolitic melange
along the prominent Rakhabdev and Kaliguman
lineaments. These represent the Sutures, which separate
the eastern Mewar and the western Marwar block. This
view is in contrast to the pop-up hypothesis proposed
by Roy and his co-workers. Evidences for the presence of
typical ophiolitic assemblages have to be proved
unequivocally, only then Sinha-Roysviews can be upheld.
Bhushans work concerns itself with Neo Proterozoic
magmatism of Rajasphan. The author divides the
magmatic episodes into two components: 1) the syn
tectonic Erinpura and the late tectonic Abu granite and
2) the post tectonic Malani igneous suite (940 -700 Ma).
The author correlates these orogenic and anorogenic
events to the early stages of Pan-African magmatism. After
the intrusion and slow subsidence of the Malanis, the
Marwar group of rocks got deposited in the Sag basin.
Amalkars work deals essentially with the geomorphic
processes that were responsible for the present landscape
of Rajasthan. The Quaternary geology of Rajasthan is
dealt with in great detail. Variable geomorphic processes
are related to climatic changes and Neotectonic
movements, and the data on the evolution of Thar desert
are notable contributions.

The last p a p e r by Mihir Deb deals w i t h t h e

important aspect, the metallic mineral deposits of
which Rajasthan is the largest repository in Pb-Zn, Ag
and W. The state has also substantial proven deposits
of Cu, U a n d Ag. Mihir Deb has reviewed t h e
metallogenic history in a chronological order, starting
with the Uranium mineralization along the BGCAravalli unconformity (-2.1 Ga), followed by Pb-Zn,
Cu,U in intra-continental rift related or marginal type
sedimentary basins of 1800 Ma. Arc related volcanism
at 1000 Ma, culminated with granite intrusions at
800 Ma, which are rich in Uranium.
In summary, the compilation deals with the present
status of Rajasthan geology starting from Archaean to
Phanerozoic. All aspects including hydrocarbon deposits
and the formation of Thar desert have been covered.
Articles dealing with chemical aspects seem to be a notable
omission. One of the important things is that most of the
papers have brought out the importance of Proterozoic
events in the geology of Rajasthan. It would have been
better if the volume had included some papers linking
the geology of Rajasthan to Himalayan geology and more
to Gondwana reconstruction.
The volume brought out in honour of Professor A. B.
Roy which brings out the present status of Rajasthan
geology will be a valuable addition to researchers and to
any library.

Gondwana Research (Gondwana Newsletter Section) V 3, No. 2, p p . 284-286.

02000 International Association for Gondwana Research, Japan.

GNL

BOOK REVIEW

Organic Petrology
Atul Kumar Varma
Department of Applied Geology, lndian School of Mines, Dhanbad 826 004, India

G.H.Tay1oG M.Teichmuller, A.Davis, C.EK.Diesse1, R.Littke

a n d P.Robert ( I 9 9 8 ) Organic Petrology. Gebriider
BorntraegeG Berlin, Stuttgart. ISBN: 3-443-01 036-9, mi
704p. Price: U.S. $ I 1 6/ DM- 196.
The book is new but with antecedents like E.Stachs
Lehrbuch der Kohlenpetrographie published in 1935,
Stachs Lehrbuch der Kohlenmikroskopie published in

1949 and Stachs Textbook of Coal Petrology (called

second completelyrevised edition) published in 1975 with
six authors of repute like E.Stach, M.Th. Mackowsky,
M.Teichmuller, G.H.Taylor, D.Chandra and R.Teichmuller
published by the same publisher - Gebriider Borntraeger.
Third revised and enlarged edition was brought out by
the same authors and the publisher in 1982,with addition

285

of new text regarding considerable advances in Coal

Petrology during 1975-1982. The present book Organic
Petrology authored by G .H .Taylor, M .Tei chmull er,
A.Davis, C.F.K. Diessel, R. Littke and P. Robert belonged to
scientific and industrial research organisations of different
parts of the world which shows growth and spread of
interest in the subject throughout the globe. Apart from
emphasis on coal, the strong sections on petrology and
geochemistry of source rocks for oil and natural gas and
other rocks containing organic carbon are included which
justify the title of the book. Graphite, graphitic rocks and
most manufactured materials are referred to but are not
dealt in detail with exception of coke which is discussed
thoroughly. The book seems to be a natural evolution of
Stachs text book of Coal Petrology (1982 edition).
Each chapter begins with a short introduction and then
individual topics are developed. Chapters are of variable
strength. The first chapter which is the shortest, contains
only 5 pages whereas the seventh chapter consists of 113
pages. The fundamental petrographic entities of coal are
macerals which are not defined until chapter - 4.
The book is divided into nine chapters. The first chapter
entitled Introduction and Historical Survey written by
Taylor has introduced the book and growth of the subject
with photographs of some pioneers of Organic Petrology.
This chapter should have included the photographs of
reputed and active organic petrologists of the recent.
The second chapter entitled The Origin of Organic
Matter in Sedimentary Rocks authored by Teichmuller,
Littke and Taylor discusses organic productivity and
preservation of organic matter as peat and coal (origin of
mires, peat growth, compression and the time needed for
a seam t o form, development of coal facies and
peatification) and also in sedimentary rocks other than
coal (depositional environments of oil and gas source rocks
viz. d e e p marine environments, shallow marine
environments, lakes, fluviodeltaic coal bearing strata and
early alteration and diagenesis of sedimentary organic
matter other than coal, e.g. alterations of organic matter
in water column, during early diagenesis, accumulation
rates of organic matter rich sediments other than coal)
and migrabitumen in rocks. The triangular diagram of
Littke and Sachsenhofer, 1994 has been included in this
chapter as well as logo on the book cover depicting
petrographic compositions in small oceanic basins (rifted
continental margins, back arc basins) and along passive
continental margins as well as in progradational submarine fans, central oceans, on guyots (eroded volcanic
islands) and in trench slope transition zones which should
be welcomed.
The third chapter on Coalification and Maturation
written by Teichmuller, Littke and Robert deals with
Gondwana Research, V. 3, No. 2,2000

geological causes of coalification and maturation,

coalification and maturation process, kinetics of
coalification and maturation, parameters of rank and
maturity, thermal alteration and the formation of natural
coke, heat alteration of oxidized organic matter. The book
lacks in discussion of views on the action of hydrothermal
fluids and their lateral transmission on coalification and
maturation of coal as investigations in several places like
the Canadian Rockies, Appalachians have shown the
significance of thermal waters.
The fourth chapter entitled The Nature of Organic
Matter - Macerals and Associated Minerals authored by
Teichmuller, Taylor and Littke elaborates nature of
petrographic constituents, macerals of huminite/vitrinite,
liptinite and inertinite groups, macerals in oil shales and
other petroleum source rocks and inorganic matter
associated with macerals of coal and oxidized organic
matter. Authors have discussed micrinite as a maceral
difficult to isolate but it is lacking alternative views of
Feraj (1993). Authors have also incorporated the
classification of vitrinite group of macerals as per ICCP
System 1994 which makes the book more useful for new
organic petrographers. A subsection on Trace Elements
by D.J.Swaine is also included in this book. The book lacks
discussion on barkinite, funginite and O/P ratio
(oxysemifusinite and oxyfusinite to pyrosemifusinite and
pyrofusinite) .
The fifth chapter entitled Lithotypes and
Microlithotypes by Taylor, Teichmuller and Littke
elucidates lithotypes of humic coals and brown coals,
mineral rich lithotypes (other than tonsteins), tonsteins
and microlithotypes of humic coals, sapropelic and
liptobioliths and organic matter rich sediments other than
coal. Strong section on brown coals are incorporated
which should be welcomed.
The sixth chapter on Some important coals and other
carbonaceous rocks of the World written by Taylor deals
with Precarboniferous, Carboniferous, Permian, Mesozoic,
Cenozoic, and Quaternary Carbonaceous rocks with
reference to important addition of Appendix-I, a
stratigraphic column showing distribution of some coals
and other carbonaceous rocks of the world. Fig.Al mixes
general entries with specific entries. No importance is
given to the Namurian and Westphalian coals of the
central and southern Appalachians, Silesian Coalfields in
Fig.A3. However, the addition of Appendix-I should be
appreciated which may be rectified in later editions. The
most remarkable omission is the boundary between
Mississippian - Pennsylvanian which falls within the
Namurian, not Westphalian as shown in Fig.A3. Given
the volume of production and export from India, Australia
and South Africa, only eight pages allocation to the
southern hemisphere coals seem to be unjatified although

286

the author has presented very positive and improved

discussion of coals and organic matter based on various
ages.
The seventh chapter on Methods and Procedures by
Davis offers one of the greatest improvements in detailed
and diversed techniques over Stachs textbook of Coal
Petrology (1982 edition). The incorporations of the subsections on Image analysis and automated specimen plane scanning by D.C.Glick and on Some geochemical
methods which complement Organic Petrology by
M.Vanderbroucke and J.Eapitali6 have also contributed
in making this book upto date. The absence of alternative
coke classification (White,1976; Grint and March,1981
and ICCQ1988) is noted which should have found their
place in the text.
The eighth chapter entitled Geological Applications
by Teichmuller, Robert and Littke and the Ninth Chapter
on Technological Applications by Diessel are the
backbone of this new book. The incorporation of
significant changes in fluorescence microscopy during last
two decades through last three chapters are of added
value. Among the various methods of coal utilization, coal
carbonization is placed with extensive discussion. The
other topics of future scientific and industrial interest e.g.
coal liquefaction, coal gasification, coal combustion, coal
bed methane, fuel cells, magneto hydrodynamics (MHD),
fluidized bed combustion (FBC), coal for fertilizer, coal
for chemicals should have more discussion in the text.
The book is rich in illustrations having 344 figures and
70 tables. The book has vast number of references - 1745

spread into 63 pages. The photographs are of good quality.

Colour plates are needed more to discuss oil shales and
source rocks which might have increased the cost of the
book.
This landmark and impressive book contains a treasure
of informations which will serve the purpose of Organic
Petrologists, Fuel Scientists and Fuel Technologists. This
book will have significant reference for several years to
come. This volume should find a place as an important
reference book in geological libraries and organic
petrologists shall feel proud to own it.

References
Feraj, B.S.M. and Mackhnon, I.D.R. (1993) Micrinite in southern
hemisphere sub-bituminous and bituminous coals: redefined
as fine grained kaolinite. Organic Geochemistry, v. 20, pp.
823-841.
Littke, R. and Sachsenhofer, R.F. (1994) Organic Petrology of
deep sea sediments : A compilation of results derived from
the Ocean Drilling Program and the Deep Sea Drilling Project.
Energy and Fuels, v. 8, pp. 1498-1512.
Grint, A. and March, H. (1981) Carbonization of coal blends :
mesophase formation and coke properties. Fuel, v. 60, pp.
1115-1120.
ICCP (1988) International Committee for Coal and Organic
Petrology, Minutes from Meet. ICCP Comm. 111. Aachen, Sept.
1988, App. 5/6, pp. 1-10.
White, J.L. (1976) Mesophase mechanisms in the formation of
the microstructure of petroleum coke in M.L.Deviney and
T.M.OGrady Petroleum based carbons. American Chemical
Society Symposium Series, No.21, pp. 282-314.

Gondwana Reseurch (Gondwana Newsletter Section) V 3, No. 2, pp. 286-287

02000 International Association for Gondwana Research, Japan.

GNL

BOOK REVIEW

Engineering Geology for Civil Engineers

A.P. Pradeepkumar
Focal Image (India) Pvt.Ltd., St. Josephs Press Bldg., Trivandrum-695 014, India, e-mail: pradeepariver-valley.com

D. V e n k a t Reddy (Ed.) Engineering geology for civil

engineers. Oxford and IBH, N e w Delhi, 390 p . ISBN: 81 204-0987-6.
A geologist authoring a book primarily meant for
engineers or would-be engineers faces a dilemma- the
more verbose treatment, the less likely for the audience
to lap it up. But most topics in geology do not admit much

conciseness, and it is within this constraint that Venkat

Reddy has authored this book on engineering geology.
Basically, any civil engineering work has to begin from
ground zero. The earth provides the very basis for
engineering-its building blocks, its structures, its
landscaping, its architecture, its aesthetics-all are
fashioned out of the earth. Pre-historic man found a niche