388 The American Geologist. December, i904. 
REVIEW OF RECENT GEOLOGICAL 
LITERATURE. 
A Treatise on Metamorphism. By Charles Richard Van Hise. Wash- 
ington, D. C. : Monograph XLVII. The United States Geological 
Survey. Pages 1286; illustrated with 13 plates. Price $1.50. 
The following is a summary of the volume : 
This treatise isi an attempt to reduce the phenomena of metamor- 
phism to order under the principles of physics and chemistry, or more 
simply, under the laws of energy. Metamorphism is broadly defined to 
include all alterations of all rocks by all processes. The metamorphism 
of the sedimentary rocks was the first subject studied by the author and 
metamorphism has been a chief line of investigation with him for more 
than twenty years. Finding that the alteration of rocks was nowhere 
s'ystematically treated, he took up the task of preparing such a work. 
It was supposed that this work would occupy two or three years, but as 
a matter of fact it required seven years, and an eighth j^ear has been 
needed to put the volume through the press. 
The book consists of twelve chapters. Chapter I discusses the geo- 
logical principles upon which a classification of metamorphism may be 
based. From this discussion it is concluded that the only practicable 
classification of metamorphism is geological. It is found that the al- 
terations of the outer zone of the earth are radically different from 
those of the deep-seated zone. Moreover, it is shown that the altera- 
tions in the upper zone result in the production of simpler compounds 
from more complex ones, whilst those in the deep-seated zone result 
in the production of complex compounds from more simple ones. The 
upper zone is called that of katamorphism, and the lower zone that of 
anamorphism. 
Chapter II, upon the forces of metamorphism, discusses chemical en- 
ergy, gravity, heat, and light. The manner in which each of the classes 
of energy produces various mechanical and chemical eff^ects upon rocks 
is set forth. 
Chapter III treats of the agents of metamorphism. The agents of 
metamorphism are gaseous solutions, aqueous solution^, and organisms. 
Under aqueous solutions the chemical and physical principles controlling 
the action of ground water and the circulation of ground water are 
fully discussed. This involves a full resume of the science of physical 
chemistry so far as applicable to the alterations of rocks. This resume 
is not simply a summary from text books of physical chemistry, but 
discusses the applications of the principles to the phenomena of meta- 
morphism. 
Chapter IV, upon the zones and belts of metamorphism. discusses 
these zones and belts from the physical-chemical point of view. It is 
shown that the alterations of the zone of katamorphism occur with 
liberation of heat and expansion of volume, the chief reactions being 
