Prof. Paterson is a world expert in Mineral deformation. After early research on the fatigue of metals, the author joined the newly established Department of Geophysics of the Australian National University (later named the Research School of Earth Sciences) and pioneered the study of the plastic deformation of rocks there.  He established a high-temperature high-pressure laboratory in which he and his students carried out research of international standing.  After retirement he became involved in the manufacture and marketing of high-pressure machines for laboratory rock deformation studies and thirteen of these machines were provided to laboratories around the world.

• From the Contents: The Nature of Rocks and Minerals as Materials.- Thermodynamics.- Rate Processes.- Mechanical Fundamentals – Macroscopic.- Deformation Mechanisms - Atomic Transfer Flow.- Deformation Mechanisms - Crystal Plasticity.- Deformation Mechanisms - Granular Flow.

From the reviews: "The present book ... highlights the behavior of geological materials in the long term range and at geological conditions, i. e. at high pressures and temperatures. ... Every chapter comprises at the end a substantial list of references for further studies in the respective field of interest. In total, the book represents a very valuable introduction into the mechanical behavior of rocks and minerals for every scientist and engineer interested in this field." (Materials Testing, Vol. 55 (7-8), 2013)

Prof. Paterson is a world expert in Mineral deformation. After early research on the fatigue of metals, the author joined the newly established Department of Geophysics of the Australian National University (later named the Research School of Earth Sciences) and pioneered the study of the plastic deformation of rocks there.  He established a high-temperature high-pressure laboratory in which he and his students carried out research of international standing.  After retirement he became involved in the manufacture and marketing of high-pressure machines for laboratory rock deformation studies and thirteen of these machines were provided to laboratories around the world.

• From the Contents: The Nature of Rocks and Minerals as Materials.- Thermodynamics.- Rate Processes.- Mechanical Fundamentals – Macroscopic.- Deformation Mechanisms - Atomic Transfer Flow.- Deformation Mechanisms - Crystal Plasticity.- Deformation Mechanisms - Granular Flow.

From the reviews: "The present book ... highlights the behavior of geological materials in the long term range and at geological conditions, i. e. at high pressures and temperatures. ... Every chapter comprises at the end a substantial list of references for further studies in the respective field of interest. In total, the book represents a very valuable introduction into the mechanical behavior of rocks and minerals for every scientist and engineer interested in this field." (Materials Testing, Vol. 55 (7-8), 2013)

Prof. Paterson is a world expert in Mineral deformation. After early research on the fatigue of metals, the author joined the newly established Department of Geophysics of the Australian National University (later named the Research School of Earth Sciences) and pioneered the study of the plastic deformation of rocks there.  He established a high-temperature high-pressure laboratory in which he and his students carried out research of international standing.  After retirement he became involved in the manufacture and marketing of high-pressure machines for laboratory rock deformation studies and thirteen of these machines were provided to laboratories around the world.

• From the Contents: The Nature of Rocks and Minerals as Materials.- Thermodynamics.- Rate Processes.- Mechanical Fundamentals – Macroscopic.- Deformation Mechanisms - Atomic Transfer Flow.- Deformation Mechanisms - Crystal Plasticity.- Deformation Mechanisms - Granular Flow.

From the reviews: "The present book ... highlights the behavior of geological materials in the long term range and at geological conditions, i. e. at high pressures and temperatures. ... Every chapter comprises at the end a substantial list of references for further studies in the respective field of interest. In total, the book represents a very valuable introduction into the mechanical behavior of rocks and minerals for every scientist and engineer interested in this field." (Materials Testing, Vol. 55 (7-8), 2013)