Energy Dispersive Spectrometry of Common Rock Forming Minerals

"This book came about because of my poor memory: it is amazing how quickly and easily an experienced electron microscopist/mineralogist can identify minerals with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). It is also amazing how long it takes someone who is not good at mineralogy to search through a mineralogy text, trying to match the peaks on their unknown spectrum with the chemical formula of some mineral. After the mineral is finally identified, it is easy to identify other specimens of similar composition as EDS spectra have very distinctive patterns. For me, however, as I move between projects, it is easy to forget the patterns. After several episodes of having to relearn the spectra of some all too common rock forming minerals, I decided that a book of EDS ‘flashcards’ would be useful - a catalogue of the minerals that are commonly found in rocks. In addition, why not make a key? This would save a fair amount of time for those who are less experienced mineralogists, but, for whatever reason, use an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer to identify minerals."

Ken Severin

Providing a very basic introduction to Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry, the book’s importance lies in its containing the largest compiled collection of EDS spectra ever published, covering most rock forming minerals.

Audience: An easy-to-use reference tool for all scientists and researchers using Energy Dispersive Spectrometry for identification of minerals.

Student suitability: useful supplemental material for any geologically oriented electron microscopy or electron microprobe class.

From the reviews:

"Everyone using scanning electron microscopy with EDX and anyone who is not the expert will thoroughly appreciate this novel book with flashcard-like spectra for 182 minerals. ... this useful work is a true hands-on practical guide particularly to anyone (student or professional) working occasionally or with limited experience with SEM-EDX. For those it will quickly become an almost indispensable reference ... . It is ... as such, most welcome and will certainly find many friends." (Environmental Geology, Vol. 49 (6), 2006)

"This book is a useful addition to reference works kept in geological SEM and EPMA labs that routinely use EDS detectors for phase identification. It provides a welcome update to the SEM Petrology Atlas ... . The book provides a branching ‘key’ to identifying an unknown spectrum. ... There is also a searchable index by mineral type and by name. ... This is an excellent and useful book for its intended audience. ... I highly recommend this book." (John Fournelle, American Mineralogist, Vol. 92, 2007)