Planetary Crusts

Planetary Crusts explains how and why solid planets and satellites develop crusts. Extensively referenced and annotated it presents a geochemical and geological survey of the crusts of the Moon Mercury Venus Earth and Mars the asteroid Vesta and several satellites like Io Europa Ganymede Titan and Callisto. After describing the nature and formation of solar system bodies the book presents a comparative investigation of different planetary crusts and discusses many crustal controversies. The authors propose the theory of stochastic processes dominating crustal development and debate the possibility of Earth-like planets existing elsewhere in the cosmos. Written by two leading authorities on the subject this book presents an extensive survey of the scientific problems of crustal development and is a key reference for researchers and students in geology geochemistry planetary science astrobiology and astronomy.