An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals

The authors began about ten years ago to write a text book for university students, but this aim was gradually relinquished as the text grew into the five volumes of Rock-Forming Miner!s. We have now reverted to our original purpose by condensing the latter work into this single volume, which is intended to provide a short account of the more important minerals encountered in many undergraduate courses in mineralogy and petrology. We have attempted to present the basic data which are essential to the understanding of minerals, especially in relation to the environment of their formation. The study of minerals is commonly presented largely as a listing of optical and physical properties which can be used for mineral identification. While this is without doubt an essential aspect of the subject, the study of minerals, particularly in relation to petrology, requires also the detailed consideration of crystal structure, chemistry and paragenesis, and we make no apologies for the prominence we have given these topics.