Mineralogy: An Introduction to the Scientific Study of Minerals (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Mineralogy: An Introduction to the Scientific Study of Minerals

The student Will not find in the following pages any systematic account of the modes of occurrence of minerals, their geological distribution, their origin, their alterations, or their artificial reproduction, although these constitute the most important, and, perhaps, the most interesting section of Mineralogy proper. There are no chapters upon these subjects because, in my Opinion, they deserve to form a separate volume, and cannot be treated adequately in a volume dealing with the characters and properties of minerals. The essential characters of a mineral, moreover, are quite independent of its source or previous history, and may well be made the first and separate object of study.

In the description of mineral species the modern text-book often endeavours to give too much information, and ends by becoming a book of reference rather than a treatise which can be read by the student. This should no longer be necessary, now that Dana's System and Hintze's Handbuch are available; in the present volume an attempt is made to select for the student all that he requires for an elementary acquaint ance with the subject. The species described are those which he will find in all museums, and most of them he may collect for himself. The customary lists of localities are replaced by a description of a few typical occurrences for each important species by a careful study of the corresponding specimens the beginner should obtain the information which will enable him to pursue the subjects of geological and chemical mineralogy with some previous knowledge of minerals. The few angles given are generally only such as are sufficient for the calculation of the axial ratios or for simple exercises in the calculation of indices.

In the discussion of optical characters, the introduction of two ellipsoids may appear unnecessary and even confusing; the Fresnel Ellipsoid has been introduced in order to avoid incorrect statements about optic axes, but it will be found that the indicatrix is the only ellipsoid subsequently employed.

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