Understanding Minerals & CrystalsMinerals are the building blocks of rocks – they make up the solid Earth’s crust. Understanding Minerals & Crystals takes a close look at minerals, how they form, why they differ and how to go about identifying them. It begins by examining the nature of atoms and the way they bind together to form minerals with distinctive crystal structures; and it discusses the nature and classification of these crystals, and includes a mineral identification key. The second part of the book contains detailed descriptions of some 80 common and important minerals, including how they were named, their properties, ID pointers, uses and where in the world they are found. All are lavishly illustrated with full-colour photographs. This book will be invaluable to those interested in any of the earth sciences, or in mineral/crystal collecting – from academics and students to general enthusiasts. |
Contents
6 | |
9 | |
22 | |
31 | |
5 The Morphology of Crystals | 58 |
6 The Physical Characteristics of Minerals | 78 |
7 Mineral Classification and Identification | 98 |
8 Native Elements | 110 |
13 Sulphates | 200 |
14 Phosphates and Vanadates | 209 |
15 Tungstates | 216 |
16 Silicates | 220 |
17 Mineraloids | 292 |
Abundances of the elements | 294 |
Making your own crystal models | 296 |
302 | |
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Common terms and phrases
anions aragonite arrangement Associated minerals atomic number axes axis azurite beryl blue calcite carbon cations cerussite chalcopyrite chemical cleavage colour colourless common commonly copper corundum covalent bonds Crystal class crystal faces crystal forms Crystal system crystallographic cube cubic deposits diamond dipyramidal Hardness dolomite electronegativity electrons elements feldspar field of view fluorite galena garnet gemstone gold graphite Greek green gypsum hexagonal hexoctahedral hydrothermal igneous rocks inosilicate ionic bonds ions iron Isometric layer linked magnetic malachite manganese mass metallic bond Miller Symbol monoclinic monoclinic Crystal class muscovite Named Namibia negatively charged nesosilicate nucleus occurs octahedral olivine orbital orthorhombic orthorhombic Crystal class oxide pegmatites Periodic Table phyllosilicate pinacoid plane prismatic Hardness properties pyrite pyroxenes quartz quartz variety resinous silicates silicon smithsonite sodium solid solution South Africa Specific gravity specimens sphalerite spinel Streak structure sulphide sulphur surface symmetry Tetragonal tetrahedra trigonal Tsumeb twin unit cell vitreous white Lustre yellow Zimbabwe