Introduction.to.mineral.sciences.pdf

The subject of mineralogy is moving away from the traditional systematic treatment of mineral

groups toward the study of the behaviour of minerals in relation to geological processes.

A knowledge of how minerals respond to a changing geological environment is fundamental

to our understanding of many dynamic earth processes.

By adopting a materials science approach, Introduction to Mineral Sciences explains the

principles underlying the modern study of minerals, discussing the behaviour of crystalline

materials with changes in temperature, pressure and chemical environment. The concepts

required to understand mineral behaviour are often complex, but are presented here in simple,

non-mathematical terms for undergraduate mineralogy students.

After introductory chapters describing the principles of diffraction, imaging and the

spectroscopic methods used to study minerals, the structure and behaviour of the main groups of

rock-forming minerals are covered, and the role of defects in the deformation and transformation

of a mineral are explained. The energy changes and the rate of transformation processes are

introduced using a descriptive approach rather than attempting a complete and rigorous

treatment of the thermodynamics and kinetics.

Examples and case histories from a range of mineral groups are set in an earth science context,

such that the emphasis of this book is to allow the student to develop an intuitive understanding

of the structural principles controlling the behaviour of minerals.

Cover from the top:

Crystals ofVanadinite, Pb 5 (VO 4 ) 3 Cl

The structure of garnet

Optical micrograph (crossed polars) of olivine crystals in an igneous rock

High resolution transmission electron micrograph of cordierite

Introduction to mineral sciences

Introduction to

mineral sciences

ANDREW PUTNIS

University of Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE

UNIVERSITY PRESS