Customer Reviews

excellent student textbook - By: , 20 Sep 2001
Some of the 696 pages were beyond me, but the majority of the content was excellent background material for an undergraduate course. The indexing & cross-referencing are good. The organisation is good, with a consistent approach to subdivision of material. The major divisions are Ortho- & ring- silicates, Chain silicates, sheet silicates, framework silicates, non-silcates. Choosing chlorite as a typical example, the subdivisions are (general summary table of properties, 14- line general introduction), structure, chemistry, optical & physical properties, distinguishing features, paragenisis (metamorphic, igneous, sedementary rocks). This description of chlorite is supplemented with two tables & seven diagrams. I have found answers to nearly all my questions relating to the study of minerals, on an undergraduate course.