Optical Mineralogy Principles And Practice

This book is the successor to A practical introduction to optical mineralogy, which was written in the early 1980s, and published by George Allen & Unwin in 1985. Our intention, once again, is to introduce the student of geology to the microscopic examination of minerals, by both transmitted and reflected light. These techniques should be mastered by students early in their careers, and this text has been proposed in the full awareness that it will be used as a laboratory handbook, serving as a quick reference to the properties of minerals. However, care has been taken to present a systematic explanation of the use of the microscope, as well as to include an extended explanation of the theoretical aspects of optical crystallography in transmitted light. The book is therefore intended as a serious text that introduces the study of minerals under the microscope to the intending honours student of geology, as well as providing information for the novice or interested layman.

Covering theory and practice, this wide-ranging introductory textbook covers the main optical properties of rock-forming minerals that can be recognized under the polarizing microscope. The authors elucidate the basic elements of microscopy, the theory of light transmission through translucent minerals, and the properties of light reflected from opaque minerals. They discuss properties of the main silicate and non-silicate minerals, both translucent and opaque and how the optical properties may be used to identify a mineral. The book features many diagrams, summary tables, and four pages of color illustrations, making it an ideal textbook as well as an authoritative reference.

This early work on mineralogy and petrography is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. It contains details on polarizing microscopes, mineral determination, igneous rock types, geological mapping and much more. This is a fascinating work and is thoroughly recommended for anyone interested in geology. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This textbook presents the fundamental concepts and application of optical mineralogy in a very simple, systematic, and comprehensive way. The book is organized into 2 parts: Part I deals with the theory and techniques, and Part II provides a description of the optical properties of common minerals. The book is written in a lucid manner so that students are able to understand the realization behind the concepts in optics and the methods employed to elicit information about the interior of mineral crystals. All the subject fundamentals and related derivations are discussed in an easy and comprehensive way to make the students strong in the basics of optical mineralogy. The key features lie in the illustrations, examples, and questions at the end of each chapter to provide students with practical usage insights into optical mineralogy. The book benefits students who are taking introductory courses in optics to characterize rock minerals.