Petrology of the Metamorphic Rocks 2nd Edition - Practical Field Guide

In this review of Petrology of the Metamorphic Rocks, 2nd Edition, the bottom line is simple: this is a focused, readable guide for students and practicing geologists who need an interpretation-led approach to metamorphic processes. Roger Mason updates the original work with a clear emphasis on how metamorphism relates to plate tectonic settings rather than pure geochemistry, and the book's strongest selling point is its emphasis on interpreting mineral chemistry, textures and rock histories so readers can reconstruct burial, heating, deformation and fluid events.

Key Features

• Interpretation-focused: Emphasises plate tectonic settings of metamorphism so readers can relate rocks to regional geologic processes.
• History-aware: Shows how minerals, chemistry and textures preserve traces of burial, heating and deformation for practical field interpretation.
• Accessible explanations: Presents complex advances in metamorphic methods in a way intended to be understandable to non-specialists.
• Updated content: Reflects significant advances since the previous edition in methods for determining temperatures and pressures.
• Discusses the role of fluids and deformation in producing the mineralogical records seen in metamorphic rocks.

Who It's For

Petrology of the Metamorphic Rocks is best suited to upper-level undergraduates, graduate students and professional geologists who need a conceptual, tectonics-oriented treatment of metamorphism rather than a purely geochemical textbook. The book is also useful as a reference for fieldworkers who want to interpret metamorphic assemblages in terms of burial and tectonic history.

Those seeking a laboratory manual rich in geochemical methods and datasets or a purely mineral physics treatment should look elsewhere; this edition prioritises interpretive frameworks and textural evidence over exhaustive analytical procedures.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear focus on plate tectonic settings helps readers place metamorphism in a broader geologic context.
• Explains how minerals record a history of burial, heating, deformation and fluid flow, aiding practical interpretation.
• Updates on temperature and pressure determination methods reflect modern practice, making the book current.

Cons

• Not a step-by-step geochemical laboratory guide, so readers wanting detailed analytical protocols will need supplementary texts.

Specifications

Title	Petrology of the Metamorphic Rocks, 2nd Edition
Author	Roger Mason
Edition	Second edition
Focus	Interpretation of metamorphism in plate tectonic settings
Topics covered	Temperatures & pressures, mineral chemistry, textures, fluids, deformation
Audience	Students, field geologists, practicing petrologists

Our Verdict

Petrology of the Metamorphic Rocks, 2nd Edition offers a valuable interpretive approach that makes recent advances in metamorphic science accessible to students and practitioners. It is good value for those who want a tectonics-oriented, history-aware treatment of metamorphism rather than a lab methods compendium.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this edition cover modern temperature and pressure methods?
Yes. The text notes that methods for determining temperatures and pressures have become almost routine and integrates those advances into interpretations.

Is this book suitable for field use?
Yes. Its emphasis on textures, mineral chemistry and tectonic settings makes it useful for field interpretation, though it is not a field handbook of procedures.

Who should not buy this book?
Readers seeking a detailed geochemical protocol or exhaustive analytical datasets should consider a specialized laboratory methods volume instead.