Introduction to Linear Algebra in Geology

Linear algebra can serve as an analytical tool in science and engineering. Geologists have made much progress in the application of linear algebra, most notably in the fields of structural geology, petrology, petroleum geology, computer modelling and geostatistics. "Linear Algebra in Geology" introduces linear algebra to students of geology and explores the possibilities of using the techniques as an aid to solving geological problems which can be solved numerically. This text applies multivariate statistical methods extensively to geological data processing; a chapter discussing the basic matrices used and linking them to the mathematics of the methods is therefore included. Key topics include: solution of simultaneous linear equations; basic matrix algebra methods, including vectors and matrices; Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors; and multivariate regression, discriminant function analysis and factor analysis. This book should be of interest to advanced undergraduate and postgraduates studying structural geology, petrology and petroleum geology.