Understanding Minerals and Crystals

by Terence McCarthy, Bruce Cairncross

Overview

Minerals 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 examines the nature of atoms and the way they bind together to form minerals with distinctive crystal structures; discusses the nature and classification of these crystals (with a mineral identification key); and offers 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-color 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781431700844
Publisher:	Struik Christian Media
Publication date:	03/19/2016
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Professor Bruce Cairncross is head of the geology department at the University of Johannesburg. He has an inherent interest in Southern African mineralogy and geology, and his research efforts are aimed at documenting important geological sites and promoting the preservation of the region's mineralogical heritage. He is the author of four books, The Minerals of South Africa, The Manganese Adventure, The Desmond Sacco Collection - Focus on Southern Africa and the First Field Guide to Gemstones of Southern Africa. He is consulting editor for an American journal, Rocks & Minerals, and is an accomplished photographer of minerals and gemstones.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 6

2 Atoms: The Building Blocks of Minerals 9

The nucleus 10

The distribution of electrons around the nucleus 11

The Periodic Table 13

The Periodic Table and the properties of atoms 14

Abundances of elements 18

The abundances of elements on Earth 20

3 Chemical Bonding and the Formation of Minerals 22

The covalent bond 22

The ionic bond 25

Bonds intermediate between covalent and ionic 25

The metallic bond 26

Van der Waals bonds 28

Mixed bonding 29

4 The Formation of Crystalline Solids 31

The structure of ionic and metallic bonded solids 31

The structure of metals 35

Structures with ionic bonding 36

Structures with covalent bonding 38

Structures with mixed bonding 39

The origin of crystal faces 42

Ionic substitution in minerals 46

Polymorphism 49

Crystal growth 51

Twinned crystals 55

Pseudomorphism 56

5 The Morphology of Crystals 58

Natural crystals vs crystal models 58

Elements of symmetry 59

Crystallographic systems 60

Common crystal classes 67

Describing crystals 73

Twinned crystals 73

6 The Physical Characteristic of Minerals 78

Density and specific gravity 78

Properties that depend on light 79

Mechanical properties 86

Magnetic properties 90

Habit 91

Reaction with hydrochloric acid 97

7 Minerals Classification and Identification 98

Classification 98

Identification 98

Key to minerals 99

8 Native Elements 110

9 Sulphides 122

10 Oxides and Hybroxides 145

11 Halides 167

12 Carbonates 172

13 Sulphates 200

14 Phosphates and Vanadates 209

15 Tungstates 216

16 Silicates 220

Nesosilicates 220

Sorosilicates 237

Cyciosilicates 240

Inosilicates 249

Phyllosilicates 263

Tectosilicates 276

17 Mineraloids 292

Appendix 1 Abundances of the Elements 294

Appendix 2 Making Your Own Crystal Models 296

Further Reading and Sources 302

Photographic Credits 302

Acknowledgements 303

Glossary 303

Index 308