This major revision takes place some 25 years after the publication of the first edition. The intervening years have seen great changes in all aspects of the earth sciences, including that of mineralogy. There have been many improved and new techniques for investigating minerals, producing a new body of data and often a better understanding of their nature, properties and relationships. Such changes are evident in each section under which each major mineral is treated. It discusses each of the common minerals of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks in terms of structure, chemistry, optical and physical properties, distinguishing features and paragenesis (the latter is now more detailed). It also shows quantitative and qualitative correlations between the various aspects of minerology wherever possible. The identification and description of each mineral with tabulated data and optic orientation sketches at the head of each section is given and the text now includes unit cell parameters, reflectances and vickers hadness for opaque minerals. This edition also includes a colour, fold-out birefrigence chart. An ELBS/LPBB edition is available

Table of Contents

PART 1 ORTHO: Di- and ring silicates: olivine group; humite group; zircon; sphene (titanite); garnet group, vesuvianite; sillimanite, mullite, andalusite, kyanite; topaz; staurolite, chloritoid; epidote group; lawsonite, pumpellyite; melilite group; beryl, cordierite, tourmaline; axinite. PART 2 CHAIN SILICATES: pyroxene group; wollastonite; sapphirine; amphibole group. PART 3 SHEET SILICATES: mica group; stilpnomelane; pyrophyllite; chlorite; serpentine; clay minerals; apophyllite; prehnite. PART 4 FRAMEWORK SILICATES: feldspar group; silica minerals; nepheline group; petalite, leucite; sodalite group; cancrinite - vishnevite, scapolite; analcite, zeolite group. PART 5 NON-SILICATES: oxides; hydroxides; sulphides; sulphates; carbonates; phosphates; halides