A practical field and cabinet reference for identifying minerals found in the United States.
This Fifth Edition, revised, offers clear, concise guidance for mineral determination, description, and classification. It combines structured tests, descriptive species notes, and a user-friendly layout to support quick, reliable identification for students, hobbyists, and professionals.
The book frames the work around essential apparatus, reagents, and standardized tests, including hardness and fusibility scales, crystallization systems, blow-pipe reactions, and step-by-step determination tables. Descriptions of minerals are organized for easy comparison, followed by a systematic chemical classification that helps place specimens in their proper groups.
- Step-by-step determination tables to guide identification
- Alphabetical description of species for quick reference
- Chemical classification by basic elements and ores
- Practical lists of apparatus and reagents for hands-on testing
Ideal for students, amateur mineral collectors, museum staff, and anyone seeking a reliable, field-ready mineral identification resource.