Minerals & Crystals: Morphology - Properties - Identification

Minerals & Crystals: Morphology, Properties, Identification examines a selection of important minerals, how they form, their physical characteristics, and how to go about identifying them.
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978-1-77584-779-3
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Title: Minerals & Crystals: Morphology - Properties - Identification
Authors: Terence McCarthy; Bruce Cairncross
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Struik Nature
Cape Town, South Africa 2021
ISBN 9781775847793 / ISBN 978-1-77584-779-3
Softcover, 15 x 21 cm, 312 pages, throughout colour photos and illustrations

About: Minerals & Crystals: Morphology - Properties - Identification

Minerals are solid, naturally occurring inorganic substances that form the building blocks of rocks that make up the solid portions of the Earth. Minerals & Crystals: Morphology - Properties - Identification takes a close look at how minerals form, why they are so varied and how to go aoout identifying them. The guide begins by examining the nature of atoms; the way they bind together to form minerals with distinctive crystal structures, and the nature and classification of these crystals.

The second part of the Minerals & Crystals: Morphology - Properties - Identification contains detailed descriptions of common and important minerals, including how they were named, their properties, ID pointers, uses and where in the world they are found. Explanatory figures, diagrams and detailed, full-colour photographs support the text throughout. Please check the below given table of content for details.

This well-constructed volume will be extremely valuable for those with a developing interest in minerals, providing useful detail on what minerals are, how they form, how they differ chemically and physically, and how they can be identified. At the same time, more experienced readers will benefit from the more technical aspects of minerals and mineralogy, which are covered in significant detail.

TERENCE MCCARTHY is emeritus Professor of Mineral Geochemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. He has wide research interests in the earth sciences, including economic and environmental geology, geochemistry and geomorphology, and is a leading expert on the geology of wetlands. He is co-author of The Story of Earth and Life and How on Earth?

BRUCE CAIRNCROSS is Professor of Geology at the University of Johannesburg. He has a special interest in documenting and preserving southern Africa's mineralogical heritage, and is the author or co-author of a number of books, including Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa and Minerals 8t Gemstones of East Africa.

Content: Minerals & Crystals: Morphology - Properties - Identification

INTRODUCTION
ATOMS: THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF MINERALS

The nucleus
The distribution of electrons around the nucleus
The Periodic Table
The Periodic Table and the properties of atoms
Abundances of elements
The abundances of elements on Earth
CHEMICAL BONDING AND THE FORMATION OF MINERALS
The covalent bond
The ionic bond
Bonds intermediate between covalent and ionic
The metallic bond
Van der Waals bonds
Mixed bonding
THE FORMATION OF CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
The structure of ionic and metallic bonded solids
The structure of metals
Structures with ionic bonding
Structures with covalent bonding
Structures with mixed bonding
The origin of crystal faces
Ionic substitution in minerals
Polymorphism
Crystal growth
Twinned crystals
Pseudomorphism
THE MORPHOLOGY OF CRYSTALS
Natural crystals vs crystal models
Elements of symmetry
Crystallographic systems
Common crystal classes
Describing crystals
Twinned crystals
THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MINERALS
Density and specific gravity
Properties that depend on light
Mechanical properties
Magnetic properties
Habit
Reaction with hydrochloric acid
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION AND IDENTIFICATION
Classification
Identification
Mineral identification key
NATIVE ELEMENTS
SULPHIDES
OXIDES AND HYDROXIDES
HALIDES
CARDONATES
SULPHATES
PHOSPHATES AND VANADATES
TUNGSTATES
SILICATES

Nesosilicates
Sorosilicates
Cyclosilicates
Inosilicates
Phyllosilicates
Tectosilicates
MINERALOIDS
Appendix 1: Abundances of the elements
Appendix 2: Making your own crystal models
Further reading and sources
Photographic credits
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Index