Book Description

This volume reviews the microtextural literature of the last twenty-five years since thepublication of Sand Grain Surface Texures by D.H. Krinsley and J. Doornkamp, in 1973, which inaugurated the use of the SEM in sedimentology. For over four decades, the SEM has proved itself to be the instrument of choice in the analysis of microstructures, whether they be mineral collages or intergrowths, whole grain or partial grain microfeatures including microtextures, dissolution characteristics and/or precipitates-coatings of various thicknesses and compositions. Its high resolution stereo imagery, coupled with energydispersive spectrometry, provides a level of compositional analysis that far exceeds the traditional light microscope. With magnifications from 25 to 100,000X, virtually the surface of any molecualr structure can be seen and studied from microphotographs or electronic imagery together with printouts from an interlinked energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Offering an expanded list of microtextures, new interpretations of them and an assessment of how they may be used to discriminate sedimentary environments, this volume builds on the original "Atlas" and the work of practitioners worldwide. Including engineering tests designed to reproduce "glacial grains" under controlled conditions in the laboratory, new information on microtextures of heavy minerals, applications in the earth, forensic, archaeologic, and nutrition sciences, together with the use of the secondary and CL modes of the SEM, this book is a state-of-the-art presentation of where sand grain microfeature analysis lies at present and where it intends to go in the future. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Short Review of Mines, Minerals and Miners
Finally, a book about the mining industry in Western North Carolina and the families who made their living in this hard industry. The reader will develop a good foundation of knowledge regarding the specific mining operations in Western North Carolina. Mr. Presnell made sure he gave credit to the miner and their families by relating several stories about both the good times and some very sad moments those families endured.

I would highly recommend this book as both educational and entertainment value. Mr. Presnell has a very interesting style of writing and I look forward to his next book. Thank you. ... Read more

Book Description

Minerals arise out of the earth in a vast array of shapes, colors, and sizes--some glittering and elegant, others rough and sturdy. The Complete Mineral Encyclopedia is a user-friendly guide to this dazzling world, with comprehensive information on over 600 minerals from all around the globe. Arranged according to the mineralogical system, this volume also includes symbols to help you find the information you need quickly, such as chemical formulas and properties, and rate and location of occurrence in nature. Fully illustrated with hundreds of exquisite photographs, this is an invaluable reference tool. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

great book
great book, lots of beautiful pictures. One of my favorites ... Read more

Book Description

The last two decades have brought a near exponential increase in the amount known about mineral surfaces. Get a handle on this overwhelming mountain of information with The Physics and Chemistry of Mineral Surfaces. This much-needed text will save you hours of tedious journal searches by providing an excellent condensation and overview of the entire field, including its future direction. Top researchers outline atomistic controls on mineral surface structure and reactions; apply these concepts to explain sorption, mineral corrosion and growth; and ultimately consider the role of surfaces in environmental and geochemical processes. This unique text provides a rich and rigorous treatment of these subjects by combining surface physics and chemistry - highlighting their useful, yet often ignored, complementary nature. Unlike other texts, The Physics and Chemistry of Mineral Surfaces also stresses the linkage between fundamentals of mineral surface science and specific real-world problems. This connection facilitates the application of surface physics and chemistry to macroscopic, global processes, such as the origins of life, global warming, and environment degradation. Nowhere else will you find a text on this topic that combines expansive coverage with clear-cut practical applications. Don't miss out! The Physics and Chemistry of Mineral Surfaces has it all. ... Read more

Book Description

An introduction to the use of thin sections in the study of petrography—the scientific description of rocks. It covers all rock types—igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic—and provides readers with an excellent overview of the subject. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Covers polarised and cross-polars nicely
I believe this book is ideal for a second year University student to learn to identify rocks and common forming minerals under the microscope.
Regardless of earlier critics, this book is only intended as a help to identify common minerals and nothing else. I personally found it very useful, the colour images are worth more than a thousand printed words.

Avoid confusion!
I agree with the reviewer from Fairbanks: this book should not be confused with the Mackenzie and Guilford atlas. The Atlas of *Rocks* and Minerals tries to be too comprehensive (by including both rocks and minerals) and in doing so has lost all of the information about less common and accessory minerals that was in the Mackenzie and Guilford text. Of course, much of what's in both books is now available on the Web, but it's still hard to find large format color photos like the ones in Mackenzie and Guilford.

Another (less expensive) alternative is A.R. Philpotts' "Petrography of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks." In my experience as a student and then a TA in a mineralogy course, Philpotts' book does a better job of pointing out the distinctive characteristics of minerals than do the photographic atlases.

MacKenzie produced a better text with C. Guilford
This book is overpriced and almost useless. It only serves as eye candy for someone with exposure to the petrographic microscope. Outside of pictures it contains terse explanations and alot of blank wasted space. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn Where and How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems and Minerals

Northwest

Whether you're an experienced rockhound or "prospector," or digging for the first time, with a simple rock hammer and a little luck, you too can strike it rich...or at the very least, have fun trying.

This guide offers you easy to use information on the ins and outs of "fee-dig" mining, complete with locations, costs, tips on technique, entertaining legends and important information on everything from safety kits to where the nearest restrooms are.

Included are resources for use in identifying your finds, having them made into jewelry, and further pursuing an exciting, and possibly profitable, hobby.

*Equipment and Clothing: What you need and where to find it (or how to make it yourself)

*Mining Techniques: Step-by-step instructions on panning for gold, sluicing for gems and other methods

*Gem and Mineral Sites: Locations of sites with directions and maps, the gems and minerals to be found, hours, fees, and equipment needed. Also includes info on guide services, additional attractions and features at each site, local camping facilities and more.

*Museums and Mine Tours: Where to visit commercial and historical mines, as well as museums with exhibits of gems and minerals (for help in learning what to look for).

*Special Events and Tourist Information: Listings of regional events involving gems and minerals, and sources of general travel and tourism information for every state.

*Other Features: Where to find your birthstone...your anniversary stone...your zodiac stone; Index by State; Index by Gem/Mineral; U.S. State Gems & Minerals Chart; and more! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

SOUTHWEST edition is excellent and useful
Re: SOUTHWEST edition

Some of the other reviews seem to be looking at the NE or a different book. This is about the SOUTHWEST edition, which is excellent!

Sure, there is some information for tourists, special events, museum hours, camping and guide services. But that's not all!

What about the excellent material on mining techniques?! The chapter on "Equipment and Safety Precautions" is very valuable for all newcomers, serious hobbyists, and children.

Other great chapters: Mining Techniques, Notes on Gem Faceting-Cabbing-Mounting, separate Indexes by State and by Gem, State Gem and Mineral Symbols. Some nice map drawings.

More ... Equipment & Clothing: Not only what you need and where to find it, but also how to make it yourself!

More ... the authors ask for your own pesonal "Rockhounding Story" (page 184). How many books do that?

How many books tell you WHERE to find you birthstone?

More ... the back of the book contains eight great pages of advertising for OTHER related source books and also some equipment!

Gem and Mineral Guide ( Northeast)
This book is loaded with useless information. If your looking for someplace to mine gold or gems. This book will not tell you. It does however provide you with guide services contact information.So if your looking for a river or area in your state where you can pan some gold. Don't look in this book! I didn't see anything you can't see in the yellow pages of your local phone book.

Not a good value.
Very few sites listed, and mostly out-of-date info. Of no use in planning a trip. Save your money.

Fee Dig sites and Museums
A real disappointment. I have looked over the "Quadrant" series by Eckart and it was much better. I would recommend a book search for the "Gems and Minerals of America" by Jay Ellis Ransom, it has much more comprehensive information and a lot more than even the "Quadrant" series contains. But of course local "collecting guides" are even better. Contact the clubs in the area you are going to visit and see if they will let you go on one of their field trips or suggest a location. I'm VP of the Montgomery Gem and Mineral Society, we would love to take you on a trip.

Big Disappointment
This book was a Big disappointment. It has useless information. This is not worth your money. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The mineralogists 'bible'
The student edition of Deer Howie and Zussman is the most important mineralogy book that geology students should have in their collection. It provides information that not only helps while learning mineralogy, but becomes an essential and much consulted reference in later years. By limiting itself to the rock forming minerals it provides the solid information for learning real-world mineralogy without the trivial frills. This is the most consulted book on my bookshelf.

Essential Mineral Reference
Includes chapters on every major rock-forming mineral, with sections on structure, chemistry, optical and physical properties, distinguishing features, and paragenesis for almost every mineral. All this is presented in a clear and organized fashion.

Extremely useful reference book. As a grad student studying mineralogy, I couldn't do without it. A+

An Introduction to the Rock Forming Minerals
An great book. I have the 13th impression of this book published in 1982. We used this book in second year mineralogy and found it very useful not only in mineraology but throughout the remaining years of our geology program at University. The book is easy to use and has all the different groups, ortho- ring silicates, chain silicates, sheet silicates, framework silicates and non silicates and provides information pertaining to properties, crystal structure, chemistry and paragenesis.

A must if you study minerals
This book is an absolute must for anyone working with minerals in any way. Beeing an introduction to rockforming minerals it is very conprehensive. It is very valuable not only as a textbook but also as a handbook in the lab. As the title says it covers the rockforming minerals so dont expect to find exotic minearls. You can though expect to find a relatively detailed introduction to the most important minerals. It far surpasses any student minaralogy to my knowledge. ... Read more

Book Description

Applied Mineral Inventory Estimation presents a comprehensive applied approach to the estimation of mineral resources/reserves with particular emphasis on the geological basis of such estimations, the need for and maintenance of a high quality assay data base, the practical use of comprehensive exploratory data evaluation, and the importance of a comprehensive geostatistical approach to the estimation methodology. Practical problems and real data are used throughout as illustrations. Each chapter ends with a summary of practical concerns, a number of exercises and a short list of references for supplementary study. This textbook is suitable for any university or mining school that offers senior undergraduate and graduate student courses on mineral resource/reserve estimation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Applied Mineral Inventory Estimation
This is an excellent book covering all aspects of the subject including data collection, verification, and analysis along with geostatistics. Good sections on making sure that the statistically derived answers make geologic sense, a most important aspect. Anyone in the mineral inventory estimation field should get a copy. ... Read more

Book Description

Meteorite research is fundamental to our understanding of the origin and early history of the Solar System. This book considers the mechanism and timing of core formation and basaltic volcanism on asteroids, and the effects of heating water-rich bodies. Results from meteorite research are placed in a galactic setting, and a theory is proposed for the origin of the planets of our Solar System. This advanced yet succinct introduction classifies meteorites in the context of their ages and origin. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the only professional comprehensive meteorite books
This book is an invaluable source of information for the professional, and is also useful for those who have some background in geology. I've had this book checked out of the library for 2 years! It's time to get my own copy!

recommended by NASA for meteorite thin section analysis
If the person from Canada thought "it bit", perhaps they he would like to sell it to someone that finds the information invaluable. No other book published before or since focuses on the subject better!

It Bites!
I learned nothing form this book ... Read more

Book Description

Since it was first published in 1962 `Gems', written by Robert Webster and revised in its fourth edition by Basil Anderson, has become universally recognised as the most comprehensive and authoritative treatise on gem materials in the English language.
In this fifth edition, edited by Peter Read, the forty chapters, appendices and tables have been revised by fifteen gemmologists chosen for their expertise in the relevant sections.


Aimed at the professional jeweller and student gemmologist, Gems also caters for the collector of gems and the layperson who is interested in precious stones. ... Read more

Book Description

This text summarises the state-of-the-art in the study of mineral surfaces and some of the key applications of surface science inmineralogy and mineral chemistry. Each chapter covers a particular aspect of the subject and is written by an expert who raises the key issues involved for those requiring an introduction to the subject, whilst highlighting most recent developments. Advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers alike will find this essential reading as it is the first book to review the fast developing field of mineral surfaces. ... Read more

Book Description

`his fifth edition of Catalogue of Meteorites will, like previous editions, be the essential reference volume for all those with an informed interest in meteorites.It is the definitive descriptive list of the British Natural History Museum, which maintains the offical world database of all known meteorite falls and finds.Coverage includes the 10,000 new specimens recovered since the publication of the fourth edition, including those from Antarctica.Plus, for the first time, a CD-ROM accompanies the book, which includes greatly expanded information and an important search facility. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Catalogue of Meteorites, Edited by Monica Grady
The Big Blue Book is back. This time around the cover has a close-up photo of olivine laths in a barred olivine chondrule, and at 689 pages, is bigger and better than ever. There is a listing of 22,507 authenticated meteorites up to December 1999 which also come on a CD-ROM.

The origins of the Catalogue go back to 1847 with a listing of the 62 meteorites of the British Museum. Subsequent periodic updates were issued and in 1923, George Prior, the Keeper of Minerals of the British Museum, issued the first worldwide Catalogue of Meteorites. The well-known 4th edition, edited by Graham, Bevan, and Hutchison was published in 1985.

The 5th edition not only has ten thousand more meteorites (including such recent discoveries as the Martian Los Angeles meteorite or a Saharan EL4-5 called Grein 002), but it also reflects the multitude of changes that have taken place in the field of meteoritics in the past 15 years. Type 3 chondrites now have petrologic subtypes (3.0 to 3.9), enstatite chondrites are now distinguished as EH or EL, there are new carbonaceous chondrite groups, CH, CK, and CR, as well as the new groupings of acapulcoites, brachinites, rumurutiites and winonaites. The SNCs are now described, perhaps with a bit of British understatement, "probably from Mars". There are also various stylistic changes like dropping the ordinary chondrite terms "bronzite", "hypersthene", and "amphoterite", replacing them simply with H, L, and LL. However, the overall format is the same as the 1985 edition and readers of the latter will be right at home with this one.

Another new feature to the 2000 edition is the listing of tables of Antarctic meteorites, meteorites from the Nullarbor region, Australia, meteorites from Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and over 1500 meteorites recovered from the Sahara Desert.

Even some of the citations have changed. For example, the TKW of Nakhla is now 10 kg, due to the research of Kevin Kichinka (Meteorite! Aug. '98) down from the original 40 kg and the infamous phrase, "one of the stones killed a dog", now reads, "one of the stones reputedly killed a dog". Divnoe has been upgraded to an "ungrouped achondrite", and although this reviewer thought it was actually a brachinite, Alan Rubin informs me that Monica is correct. Gao and Guenie have now been amalgamated into the one fall denoted Gao-Guenie. The recently found Nadiabondi individuals have maintained their status under that name even though there was some speculation they might be associated with the Gao-Guenie fall. Apparently not.

The inclusion of a CD-ROM makes this edition of the CM so much more useful than previous editions and more in keeping with modern databases. Once it is installed on your computer you do not have to put the disk in again as it resident on your harddrive ready to use. You can search for a single entry, or use the data fields to do more complex searches, like finding all CM2 carbonaceous chondrites from Australia (Adelaide, Lookout Hill, Murchison). Filling in the search form is easy and you do not need a manual to run it. You do have to remember to select "valid" from one of the drop down lists as otherwise you get doubtful returns as well. The search speed probably depends on the speed of your computer: my 600 MHz Gateway took about 10 seconds for multiple searches, but was virtually instantaneous if searching for a particular meteorite. The CD-ROM also has more analytical data and more complete reference citations for the researcher than the book itself.

Of course in any work of this great magnitude, there are a few misprints/glitches, but I won't dwell on these. There are some people who would go to a concert by Heifetz and listen only for the wrong notes (if any!)

It is entirely fitting that there are meteorites named Grady (p.220). This book represents a prodigious amount of human endeavor, and the meteorite community owes Monica Grady an enormous debt of gratitude. If you are a serious amateur or a professional, you will want to have this book.

New fifth edition
The enclosed CD-ROM is for PC only. With a MAC version, my rating would be five stars. ... Read more

Book Description

Includes notes on the sampling, treatment and microscopical examination of detrital sediments, the crystallographical, physical and optical properties of the principal detrital minerals, the principles and practice of correlation of sediments by petrographic methods, the bearing of sedimentary petrography on palaeogeographical problems. ... Read more

Book Description

Includes recovering gold from color waste, the copperas process, the zinc process, the old iron binding wire process, the complex process, recovering gold from electro gilding waste, the zinc acid process, gold from rinsing waters and wash waters, the hydrogen sulphide process, recovering gold from dip gilding waste, recovering gold from old stripping solutions, recovering gold from photography old toning solutions, useful hints and tables, gold precipitating reagents, recovering silver from silver plating solutions, the zinc acid process, the sulphide of sodium process, reducing silver sulphide to metal, recovering silver from electro silvering rinsing waters, reducing chloride of silver to metallic silver with metallic iron, recovering silver from dip silvering solutions and their rinsing waters, recovering silver from old stripping solutions, recovering silver from nitric acid solutions, washing precipitates, recovering silver from glass mirror makers' solutions, recovering silver from photography old hypo solutions, recovering silver from sundry salts of silver, silver precipitating reagents, recovering silver from mixed solutions, recovering platinum from platinum solutions, recovering platinum from electro platinating solutions, separating platinum from gold united by soldering in a manner that both metals can always be distinguished, separating platinum from gold, separating platinum from silver in dental alloy, separating platinum from copper, separating platinum from lemel without any gold in it, separating platinum from lemel containing both gold and silver, separating platinum from gold, silver, copper, nickel, and other metals, the assaying of platinum wares, platinum precipitating reagents, recovering gold, silver, and platinum from waste liquid residues of every description by one operation, the electrolytic method and melting sedimentary residues. ... Read more

Book Description

Used as a reference by both researchers and workers in the industry, X-Ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals, now in its newly revised second edition, explores the applications and limitations of data produced by the interaction of X-rays with crystalline minerals, adding two completely new chapters on disordered polytypes using X-Ray powder diffraction, and clay minerals in soils. Essential in agriculture and in making informed engineering decisions, this book offers the necessary knowledge of the properties of these minerals, combining theoretical discussion with recipe-like directions. ... Read more