G. O. Raasch. Geology of the Arctic: proceedings of the first international symposium on Arctic geology held in Calgary, Alberta, January 11–13, 1960. G. O. Raasch, ed. Geology of the Arctic: proceedings of the first international symposium on Arctic geology held in Calgary, Alberta, January 11–13, 1960 under the auspices of the Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists. 2 vols., map folder. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 1961. (Distributed in G.B. by Oxford University Press.£ 10 4s.)

At last the many fascinating facets of Arctic regional geology have been brought together in one volume of 732 pages and containing 60 papers. The majority of the papers provide detailed information on restricted topics and only one or two present thoroughly complete geological summaries of any one area. The downfall of this volume is the lack of co-ordination of the stratigraphy, etc., from one area to another—this is a symposium volume, not a textbook, and the reader is left to deduce any correlations there may be.

The second volume of 462 pages is in two separate sections; the first contains a selection of 30 papers and abstracts on glaciology, permafrost, climatology, geomorphology, etc., whereas the second has 13 papers on the problems of logistics and exploration.

There is no single theme in the glaciological papers. They cover a wide range and include such diverse topics as seismic refraction sounding in permafrost, thrust fracture patterns in young sea ice and the more routine glaciological studies in Arctic Canada or Greenland.

The two volumes are superbly printed and bound, and all the illustrative maps (including those in the separate folder) are generally of a high standard. The editor is to be congratulated on bringing together so many interesting papers in such an attractive form.