Understanding Minerals & Crystals

Bruce Cairncross

Sep. 2015 · Penguin Random House South Africa

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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 begins by examining the nature of atoms and the way they bind together to form minerals with distinctive crystal structures; and it discusses the nature and classification of these crystals, and includes a mineral identification key. The second part of the book contains 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-colour 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.

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Bruce Cairncross is 'n professor en voorsitter in die Departement Geologie aan die Universiteit van Johannesburg. Hy is 'n kenner van Suider-Afrika se minerale, edelstene en geologiese erfenis. Benewens talle wetenskaplike publikasies, het hy vyf boeke oor die streek se geologie geskryf. Hy is ook 'n erkende fotograaf van gesteentes en minerale. Bruce Cairncross is Professor of Geology and Chairman of the Geology Department at the University of Johannesburg. He has a special interest in documenting and preserving southern Africa’s mineralogical heritage, and is the author or co-author of a number of books, including Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa and Pocket Guide: Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa. Terence McCarthy is 'n Professor in Minerale Geochemie aan die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand. Hy het 'n wye navorsingsbelangstelling in die aardwetenskappe, waaronder ekonomiese en omgewingsgeologie, geochemie en geomorfologie. Hy is 'n voorste kundige in die geologie van vleilande (veral die van die Okavango Delta in Botswana) en mede-outeur van die hoogaangeskrewe boek, The Story of Earth & Life. Terence McCarthy is a retired Professor of Mineral Geochemistry at the University of the Witwatersrand. He has wide research interests in the earth sciences, including economic and environmental geology, geochemistry and geomorphology, and is a leading expert on the geology of wetlands. He is co-author of The Story of Earth and Life and How on Earth?