The physics of minerals in a broad sense implies the fundamental aspects of understanding mineral matter: the electronic structure of atoms related to their behavior in geochemical processes; the atomic and electronic structures of minerals; the properties of minerals, with their genetic, geophysical, and technical significance, and their pressure and temperature dependence; the mechanisms of phenomena and reactions in mineral formation and transformation processes; the physical me thods applied in mineralogical, geochemical and petrological studies, and to a great extent in geological...

The development of mineralogy, the evolutionary changes in compre hending the mineral substance of the earth are closely associated with the progress of research methods. Over a space of more than two and half centuries, from the goniometry of the mineral crystals to microscopic petrography and optical mineralogy, to crystal structure determinations, electron micros copy and electron diffraction and finally investigations into their electri cal, magnetic and mechanical properties, all this has led to the formation of the existing system of mineralogy, its notions, theories and to a proper...

All existing introductory reviews of mineralogy are written accord ing to the same algorithm, sometimes called the "Dana System of Mineralogy." Even modern advanced handbooks, which are cer tainly necessary, include basic data on minerals and are essentially descriptive. When basic information on the chemistry, structure, optical and physical properties, distinguished features and para genesis of 200-400 minerals is presented, then there is practically no further space available to include new ideas and concepts based on recent mineral studies. A possible solution to this dilemma would be to...