By Enver Murad and John Cashion Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston-Dordrecht-New York-London, 2004, $165 hard cover (418 pp.) ISBN 1-40207726-2

What is the niche for Mössbauer spectroscopy in the study of minerals and their products? Why is it currently under-utilized in areas such as mineral processing? These two questions, put by the authors in the introduction of the book, serve as a guiding line through all 12 chapters. The authors are well known researchers in the Mössbauer community, actively working in the area since 1979 and 1973, respectively, and having published 84 and 117 papers (according to the MEDC database).

Targeting a broad audience ranging from graduate students to experienced researchers in the field, the book starts traditionally with a theory overview, which is intentionally not lengthy on details but covers major concepts of Mössbauer spectroscopy: recoilless fraction, hyperfine interactions, relaxation effects, and line intensity. In addition, a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of different aspects of the method is provided in the form of a condensed table.

The Instrumentation chapter describes componental arrangement of a standard set up. Going through the main parts and functions of a conventional spectrometer - transducer and wave forms, calibration, detectors, pulse electronics, counting rate and collimation aspects - and continuing with an overview of highly specialized variations of Mössbauer spectroscopy - CEMS (and its variations), SEDMS, milliprobe and remote field modifications to synchrotron radiation sources - the authors essentially explain why Mössbauer spectroscopy has not yet become an instrument "out of the box." In addition, sample condition and preparation questions are addressed.

The Data Analysis and Interpretation chapter is highly recommended reading for all Mössbauer spectroscopists working in any application area. The problems of ambiguity of spectra interpretation are usually under-addressed in publications, if not swept under the carpet. Fitting with Lorentzian, Voigt profiles, distribution of hyperfine parameters, and goodness of fit analysis are covered, ending with a glimpse at statistical fundamentals of the situation the non-uniqueness problem associated with the task in general.

Chapter 5 goes over nine iron oxides and hydroxides (hematite, magnetite, maghemite, goethite, akaganeite, lepidocrocite, feroxyhite, ferrihydrite, and bernalite), connecting some well known magnetic properties to observed spectral transformations, e.g., Morin transition in hematite and Verwey transition in magnetite. Chemical and structural aspects, such as Fe charge state and distribution over different crystal sites, are addressed, as well as particle size effects.

Chapters 4, 7, and 11 deal with characterization of four clay minerals: kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, and nontronite, showing both the strength of the method in determining the charge state and coordination of iron and problems associated with variation of structure, resulting in difficulty of distinction of iron in cis- and trans- octahedral sites and verification of tetrahedral coordination. Special attention is paid to detailed analysis of phase transformations in clays during various firing treatment modes. This information is used in the reconstruction of ancient pottery production techniques.

Chapters 6, 7, 8, and 9 cover terrestrial, freshwater, marine sediments and soils, as well as chemical weathering of iron bearing minerals in the natural environment and laboratory conditions.

A separate chapter is devoted to an overview of the characterization of different raw coals, their weathering, changes during processing, pyrolysis, coking, combustion, and hydroliquefaction.

Chapter 12 deals with processing iron, titanium, and gold ores, focusing on the determination of iron charge state and coordination in slags, titanium concentration and distribution in ilmenite, pseudobrookite, and pseudorutile, and gold mineralogy.

Backed up by 966 references, 37 book references, 19 major review references, and 14 major conference proceedings, the book is also a valuable source of reference information.

The Editors