People have been fascinated by minerals since prehistory. The attractions lies in their colors, their beautiful crystal formations, the discoveries of their uses, and the metals that can be obtained from them. Minerals receive attention from a wide variety of people - mining executives, collectors, prospectors, and scientists unraveling their molecular structure and origins. However, for someone new to mineralogy, the subject can appear to be overwhelmingly complex. In a clear and logical manner, this book introduces the essence of mineralogy. It begins with the basic chemistry of minerals...

Over the many millennia that the human race has inhabited the planet, a practical use has been found for almost every natural resource that is here. However, since the Industrial Revolution, many of the resources that we have come to rely on are being depleted, some at an alarming rate. The misuse of others, such as fossil fuels, is causing such damage to the environment that measures are being taken at an international level to restrict their use. This book explains how the natural resources of the Earth originated, by outlining the astronomical and geological evolution of the planet in the...

Metamorphic rocks are the third great type of rock found in the lithosphere. Originally of other types these rocks have been changed mainly by heat and pressure into new forms. This introductory guide explains metamorphic processes and the resulting rocks.