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Lea, D. and Sparks, S. Montserrat’s Andesite Volcano,

London (Geological Society), 1999. Video tape, 52 min. Price £30.00, US $50.00.

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

This is really a 52-minute video-tutorial in volcanology, using the Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat as the single field example. The volcano’s convulsions between 1995 and 1998 have been documented graphically on video by David Lea. Professor Steve Sparks provides the on-camera explanations and voiceovers describing and the rich variety of eruption phenomena exhibited by this volcano.

This publication is clearly aimed at teaching some important aspects of volcanology to first-and second-year geoscience students. The presentation is rather too technical for the general public or school students, but should be of interest to amateur geologists.

The presentation style reminds one of an updated version of the OU geology course videos made in the 1970s and 80s. A major difference is that Prof. Sparks attempts to be more natural than most of the old OU presenters were, while still clearly following a script.

In terms of factual correctness there is nothing to criticize concerning the historical and volcanological aspects of the video. However, one or two pronouncements, early on in the piece, may cause igneous petrologists to sit more erect in their arm chairs. One example is the apparent suggestion that andesitic . . . [Full Text of this Article]